Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

The I [for Invisible] Cub

Maybe Jim Hendry just came to Des Moines to escape the heat of the Chicago media. Maybe he dropped in to chat behind closed doors with the trim and ambitious Ryne Sandberg, though if/when Chicago comes calling Ryno back, the call probably won't come in the person of Hendry. In any case, big Jim's reason for being here almost certainly isn't to get a closer look at Sam Fuld, the scrappy leadoff hitter and center fielder. Hendry's mind is made up about Fuld, I imagine, which is tough luck for Sam.

He'd run into, if not through, a brick wall for the chance to stick in the big leagues. The problem is he's about the same height as Hack Wilson [listed at 5' 10" which means Eddie Gaedel wasn't a dwarf after all] without the pipes and the power.

Two nights ago he ended consecutive innings by throwing a tagging runner out at the plate and making a circus catch. Both times he trotted in to standing ovations.

Last night he went 4-4. Did you see that, Jim?

Plus he's smart. The guy holds an economics degree from Stanford. Maybe he could help the front office out with some payroll reduction strategies and cost-benefit analyses.

I want there to be a spot for players like Fuld. He plays at full tilt, like a winner. He's Fukudome without the bloated contract and personal hitting coach in many respects, except that he would have been hustling on the bobbled grounder that Kosuke trotted out yesterday.

Any team can use what Fuld supplies. Especially the one that flew over Des Moines on its way from Seattle to Chicago last night.

Comments

He's Fukudome without the bloated contract and personal hitting coach No... Fukudome is a better hitter than Fuld, and I would argue that it isn't even close. There is nothing about Fuld's minor league career that says he would even be a mediocre hitter. Defense is good, but an outfielder that can ONLY play defense isn't very useful.

but outfielders that can ONLY hit are? he's a good baserunner & would be a serviceable 4th OF who'd win a game now & then w/ his glove...*&%$#@ stats; what about 'intangibles'?

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

5th outfielder you mean. I am all for trading Fukudome or Nady and bringing him up - or trading Lee and letting Nady play first until Hoffpauir finds whatever he lost. The other problem with Fuld, besides his hitting is that he has troulbe staying healthy. So when you wrote "Any team can use what Fuld supplies." The first thing that came to mind was "DL Time?".

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

A healthy Nady is a good back-up OF and 1B, pinch hitter, and DH in IL play for a competitive NL team. But if the Cubs are out of it, there is no need to keep him on the roster. You can find someone new to fit that role any off-season. Save the money and play someone young to find out what they can do. I'd be happy to see Fuld get a half season as the 5th OF. He plays great defense, draws walks, can lay down a bunt, can pinch run and steal bases - if he shows he can hit .270 with sporadic at-bats in that role, then keep him. To me, Derrek Lee just looks old this year. He is slower running than I have ever seen him. His defense has slipped a lot. And his bat just seems slower. Of course, this happens all the time that a guy this age has a bad season, then changes his off-season program and comes back revived the next year and puts up nice numbers. So it is certainly possible that Lee has a couple of good years left in him still, but it's not worth the risk for a major market team like the Cubs, and so if I were GM I would have already decided that I am not re-signing him and be trying to trade him now to save some money. And I'd agree that Fukudome should be shipped out as well. He is overpaid for what he is, and he blocks Colvin. We need to see what he can do for an extended period. The Cubs always do this. A guy will do well in 250 ABs and they anoint him the starter next year and then the league adjusts and the guy tanks and there is a huge hole in the lineup and roster. I can see the same thing happening here. Colvin needs to start in RF everyday for the next 3 months so we can find out what he can do. As much as I am a fan of Theriot, I would not be particularly upset to see him go at this point either. My main contention all along is that Theriot is an average shorstop who gets on-base and can steal and he was making $500K. On a roster where money is tight, you need a few cheap guys who can put up average to above average numbers. I still think he did that well the last couple of years. But now Castro fills that role and has the potential to be much better. And Theriot's numbers have dropped, his pay went up 5-fold this year, and now he is at 2B. The Cubs could still do a lot worse at 2B (I don't want an overpriced Mark Bellhorn type guy there), so I won't be upset if he is the 2B next year with Castro at short, but if the Cubs can get something for him then go for it. But again I would like to see the at-bats go to someone younger, not Fontenot or Baker. Baker also needs to be traded. I don't see any real value in a guy who is a career .267 and can't play defense well at 2B or 3B, of all positions. If Hendry can get anyone to take Grabow, he needs to be out the door. And a starter should be moved so Gorzelanny can take the 5 spot in the rotation. (I'd prefer Zambrano, but that is not going to happen.) It is silly for him to have pitched THREE innings since May 26!! A) He needs to start, and B) either he is taking up a bench spot or a bullpen spot of someone who would be used more. It makes no sense. I think he'd be an adequate ML 5th starter. He's lefthanded, Ks more than a batter an inning, and has shown success in starting. Anyway, that's just me. Their 8 games out and have shown no real sign of coming out of it. I gut the team - Lee, Nady, Baker, Fontenot, Theriot, Tracy, Fukudome, Zambrano or Lilly, Grabow, Howry can all go.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I think if you were to just release him, he'd be playing SS for the Cardinals a week later. He's a "2nd division starter", to use the term bandied about by prospect evaluators. If your stars are being stars, you can make the playoffs with 2nd division starters though. Unfortunately the Cubs starts pretty much suck this year.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

LOL. Don't you think Rockies fans said the EXACT same thing about Jeff Baker last year right before the Cubs traded for him? It's funny that during this part of the season everyone talks about 4-5 guys - like Oswalt - who teams want and will likely be traded. Normally, half of those guys don't move. Meanwhile, 50 other players are traded that no one thinks anyone will want. Last year we had a handful of Lee, Rolen, Martinez, Peavy trades. But most of the guys who were traded were guys like: Ramon Castro, Ryan Langerhans, Scott Hairston, Eric Hinske, Yuniesky Betancourt, Jack Hannahan, Felipe Lopez, Cla Meredith, Adam LaRoche, Julio Lugo, Rafael Betancourt, Ryan Garko, Mark Kotsay, Brian Anderson, Jack Wilson, John Grabow, Jerry Hairston, Joe Beimel, Jarrod Washburn, Nick Johnson, Casey Kotchman, Claudio Vargas, Greg Zaun, etc. I mean the Red Sox even purchased Joey Gathright from the Orioles in late August so he could get 16 at-bats in September.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I don't disagree with anything you wrote, Wisc, but I'm just going to point this out as I see it all the time: Baker also needs to be traded. I don't see any real value in a guy... One of those, 'this guy is useless, let's trade him' sentiments we have without regard to the fact no one would want to take him. Again, not a critique. I share the sentiment. I just think Hendry (or the next GM) has a whale of a task getting rid of the low-value players the Cubs have collected.

fuky hits more homers but they are both basically slap hitting lefties with good gloves,good instincts & little more...if the season didn't start in april fuky's numbers would be somewhat fuldish...i'm just talking relative value w/o resorting to all the jamesian stat acronyms - to me fuld passes the old-school eyeball test...

hoffpauir lost his mojo - he's 30 & it ain't gonna happen; he still drives in runs though...4th, 5th, whatever & yeah, he does get hurt cuz he plays w/ abandon...who was the old brooklyn dodger OF w/ a penchant for wallbanging?

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

Not sure on your Dodger. I know why Fuld gets hurt, but since he has to play with that abandon to have really any justification for being on an MLB roster - you have to be prepared for him going on the 60 day DL at any time. I really like Adducci's bat, so having him as the 6th outfielder is OK with me.

yeah, reiser...didn't he win the batting title or something as a rookie before literally knocking himself out of the game?

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

That's him. I believe they put in warning tracks because of him, but I could be wrong. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Reiser "Reiser gave great effort on every play in the field, and was therefore very injury-prone. He fractured his skull running into an outfield wall on one occasion (but still made the throw back to the infield), was temporarily paralyzed on another, and was taken off the field on a stretcher 11 times. Pete was once given his last rites in the ballpark." As an FYI he is my wife's great uncle.

I like Fuld, but not on the ML roster. (Of course, I like him better than some of the people on the roster.) The Cubs' future-centerfielder-designate is at high-A, soon to be double-A, but there are two players already performing well at AA I like better than Fuld--Campana and Guyer. Fuld should steal bases, at least, but he never really does--why not? He has 7 SB (4 CS) in half a season. Campana, hitting .331, has 23 SBs (66 last year), although the defenses are trying hard to discourage him (12 CS). We'll see if Campana can adapt. Guyer has 12 SBs in 13 tries. Guyer is a reckless outfielder like Fuld, but he has pop. Half of his hits are extra bases. Then there is Ty Wright, who has 85 hits and 51 runs batted in. Wright plays left, though since Wilken drafted him, I'm not so sure he's limited to left. Fuld has a lot of competition, fore and aft.

reiser - carried off the field 11 times on a stretcher! once fractured his skull running into a concrete wall! fuld is reiser reincarnate [w/ notable exception of the perennial .300+ BA]the cubs should be gutted but they're unguttable w/ all the albatross contracts...the o's said to be looking for a young ss in exchange for ty [derosa] wigginton; would they take barney+ ??

i am simply suggesting that right now fuld has unquantifiable value as a bench/role player on a team that is overpaid, complacent & under-performing...he stole more bases last year @ a high rate of success; not sure why the downturn this year in that dept.

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

fuld has unquantifiable value Well, I don't really know what unquantifiable is. Fuld, frankly, is a bad offensive player. And his stolen base numbers don't make him much better. Over his minor league career he has stolen bases at a 72% clip. Different people use different numbers, but the break even point is typically 75%. While, from the little I have seen (and what I have read/heard), he plays very good defense, it simply does not make up for his HUGE shortcomings at the plate.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

hmmm...'HUGE' - that's kind of ambiguous, i.e., unquantifiable...i choose to believe that the way he goes about the game has HUGE value on a team like the cubs have degraded into...we shall just have to disagree...final footnote on fuld's defensive acrobatics the other night to end back-to-back innings: in neither case did he lead off the bottom half!

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

HUGE' - that's kind of ambiguous, i.e., unquantifiable...i Actually, no, his offensive shortcomings are VERY quantifiable. He has a mediocre SB%. He has zero power. He has a decent, but far from great, OBP. Basically, he's Ryan Theriot (if that), but plays a position where is defense is less valuable.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

What are his HUGE shortcomings at the plate? He hits for average and gets on base better than just about anyone on any team he's ever played on. His plate discipline has been the best in the entire Cubs system for several consecutive years. He hit .299 in the big leagues last year (albeit in only 120 or so PAs). Frankly, I think he's a good leadoff hitter. Not going to hit many homeruns, but that doesn't make him a bad offensive player. I'd love to hear AZ Phil's thoughts on Fuld's future (which clearly isn't very promising with the Cubs).

[ ]

In reply to by ddp33

He hits for average First, batting average is somewhat overrated. Second, his career minor league BA is .285. Decent, but barely good. gets on base better than just about anyone on any team he's ever played on This year he is 4th in OBP on his team (I used arbitrary cutoff #'s in most cases) 2009: 4th 2008: 4th and 14th (only 76 pa's) 2007: 5th (only 63 pa's), 4th 2006: 3rd 2005: 4th I would hardly call that "better than just about anyone on any team he's ever played on." And when you bring nothing else to the table, a good but not great OBP is simply not that helpful.

[ ]

In reply to by ddp33

Submitted by ddp33 on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 12:32pm. What are his HUGE shortcomings at the plate? He hits for average and gets on base better than just about anyone on any team he's ever played on. His plate discipline has been the best in the entire Cubs system for several consecutive years. He hit .299 in the big leagues last year (albeit in only 120 or so PAs). Frankly, I think he's a good leadoff hitter. Not going to hit many homeruns, but that doesn't make him a bad offensive player. I'd love to hear AZ Phil's thoughts on Fuld's future (which clearly isn't very promising with the Cubs). ======================================= DDP: Sam Fuld will be 29 years old and out of minor league options next Spring Training, and so his days are numbered as a member of the Cubs organization. He will be replaced on the organizational depth chart by James Adduci and Tony Campana, as both should be at Iowa in 2011. Fuld was drafted not once but twice by John Stockstill when Stockstill ran the Cubs Scouting Dept, and so I think Fuld will get traded during the off-season and will find a home in Baltimore. He also could end up in Oakland, or possibly even in Boston (Peter Gammons is a big-time admirer of Fuld). BTW, Micah Hoffpauir will also be out of options next ST, and so he will probably get traded during the off season, too. Hoff will be replaced on the organizational depth chart by Matt Spencer, who should be the 1B at Iowa next season.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

The break even point on stealing bases depends on the offensive environment. I've never seen anyone suggest it's 75%, though. Typically the number thrown around is 66%. It's so context sensitive, however, that any flat % is inherently incorrect. *EDIT - well I could be wrong. A lot of people think 75% is the break even point. That's from a study that is not context sensitive, however.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Agreed. I think if this team was chocked with All Stars currently producing at every outfield position, a case could be made that Fuld could be a spot starter or defensive replacement. However, considering that the team sucks now with RISP, has little power demonstrated in 2010, and is 8 games out of 1st place - it is like drinking decaf. Why bother?

who was Reiser's first major league manager, reflected many years later that in terms of talent, skill, and potential, there was only one other player comparable to Reiser - Willie Mays. Durocher also said that "he had more power than Willie — left-handed and right-handed both."[3]

DFA'd. WSux lineup Lineup #WhiteSox vs. Cubs: Pierre7, Vizquel5, Rios8, PK3, Q9, Kotsaydh, AJ2, Ram6, Beckham4. Peavy pitching. Cubs lineup: Fukudome RF, Colvin LF, Byrd CF, Lee 1B, Ramirez 3B, Soriano DH, Fontenot SS, Soto C, Theriot 2B

btw, the guy fuld gunned down @ the plate was none other than alex [#2 overall pick] gordon who now patrols LF for omaha & is hitting about .330 in the pcl...

Arguments over Sam Fuld. Brilliant. I give less than a shit about adding another outfielder this year. Bring him up, leave him, whatever.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.