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

Andy McPhail snubs Ryne Sandberg

Orioles President Andy McPhail, of the royal baseball McPhail lineage (grandpa Larry, dad Lee) had a chance to snag another ex-Cub and went another direction today by hiring non-nonsense manager, Buck Showalter.  Recent speculation by Tribster, Steve Rosenbloom, had Sandberg on Andy's speed dial but it seems it wasn't so. The O's beat writer for mlb.com said the short list was former O's catcher Rick Dempsey, former Indians manager Eric Wedge and Bobby Valentine, who has recently volunteered his services as the next Cub manager.

Sandberg did add some fuel to the speculation when he was quoted in the Des Moines Register back on June 16th:

“The last time I talked to Andy was during the winter meetings, when we were on a committee together,” Sandberg said before Monday night’s Pacific Coast League game against New Orleans at Principal Park. “But I’d listen if someone called, for sure.”

Since shedding the official Tribune Tower sweatervest worn as the Cubs President at the conclusion of the abysmal 2006 season and finding refuge in the tender clutches of Oriole owner Peter Angelos in June 2007, Andy has stocked the Orioles with ex-Cubs like the Statue of Liberty says (paraphrasing now):

"Give me your near retired, your poor fielders,

Your huddled masses short of breathe rounding third,

The wretched refuse of your teeming minors.

Send these, the homeless once Cubs, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the Orange Oriole door!"

We've all enjoyed his accumulation of cast off ex-Cubs. I shall list the names with Cub ties from the McPhail (Cub) era:  Front Office: John Stockstill (Scouting/Farm director, previously O's Director of International Scouting); Manager/Coaches: Dave Trembley (former O's manager, minor league manager for the Cubs 1994-2002), Rick Kranitz (pitching coach), Alan Dunn (bullpen coach); Players: Steve Traschel, Corey Patterson, Felix Pie, Rocky Cherry, Scott Moore, Caesar Izturis, Paul Bako, Jake Fox, Luis Montanez, Will Ohman, Rich Hill.

Could you imagine the Chicago media frenzy if McPhail had named Sandberg as the next Oriole Skipper? If one imagines standing in the room where Tom Ricketts puts the phone receiver to his ear, while on the other end of the phone call, Jim Hendry tells the new Cub owner that beloved Ryno's gone orange. THUD.

Comments

Great poetic & dramatic post, Cubster. While reading the list of cast off ex-Cubs, I was reminded of the old LP record "Great Moments in Chicago Cubs History", narrated by the late, great Jack Brickhouse. At the end of the album, he intones the names of Cub greats (with lots of reverb added) while dramatic music swells in the background: "Cap Anson. Frank Chance. Johnny Evers. Joe Tinker. Rube Waddell...." etc. I was imagining Jack reading the names of the Cubs cast offs with the music swelling in the background and Jack finishing up by saying, "another championship can't be too far away for our own wild, wonderful, and unforgettable... CHICAGO CUBS!" (music ends, with horns giving a dramatic flourish). As a side note, that record was produced following the 1970 season. Exactly what would Jack have considered to be "too far away"? Anyway, thanks for taking me back. I haven't thought about that record for several years now.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Great pic! Yeah, that's the one. Of course, now I notice how I screwed up the title of the record. I always had the feeling that the record was originally conceived and largely put together during the 1969 season to coincide with the pennant that the Cubs largely had in the bag. When that fell through, they put it off for a year in hopes that the pennant would come in 1970. When THAT fell through, I think they just said, "The heck with it. We'll just put out what we've got now -- enough people will still buy it." And guess what -- we did!

Rosenthal/Morosi buzz post... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-July-070110
The Dodgers are talking to the Cubs about a trade for both left-hander Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot, according to a major-league source. It is not known whether a deal is close. The Cubs almost certainly would need to include cash to cover part of the nearly $5 million combined that Lilly and Theriot are owed for the rest of the season. ...Theriot likely would take over at second base, with the Dodgers possibly sending Blake DeWitt to Triple-A.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

If I were the Cubs, I'd take that deal. You lose one year of club control in Johnson over Theriot, and Johnson will surely get a decent raise in arbitration after this year, so he will cost more next year than Theriot or a youngster from AAA. But Johnson is 2 years younger, and is the better player. They are strangely similar in that both have really 4 full seasons 2007-2010. Of those four, Theriot has had WARs of 1.7, 1.8, 1.0, and -0.7 this year. Johnson basically had one really bad year, last year, where his WAR was 0.9, otherwise it was 4.3, 3.5, and 2.0 so far this year. Based on their past performance, I would guess Johnson has an average OPS of around .800 for the next few years, about a 100 points or so above what Theriot will put up.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

So? I never understand that argument. It's like not drafting someone and then trading for them or signing him later in their career. Yes, you could have had them for basically nothing earlier, but you didn't know their value then. Now you do. Why would Hendry have signed him after last season with the idea of Theriot-Fontenot/Baker this season at second and with Johnson coming off of a bad year? Now we have Castro, and Theriot has continued to slip at second, and Johnson has rebounded. It makes more sense now than then.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Why would Hendry have signed him after last season with the idea of Theriot-Fontenot/Baker this season at second and with Johnson coming off of a bad year? just pointing out that he could have been had at the beginning of the year for very little if Hendry/Lou had some balls to throw Fontenot/Baker to the curb. Just a player I've always liked and had some knee injuries the last two years to explain his slump and his 2008 wasn't even that bad. No biggie, Russell and Theriot seems fair to me, but as I said, I like Johnson.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Agreed. I didn't like the Fontenot/Baker platoon idea either. We needed a starting second baseman. As I said above, I'd be fine with this trade. I'd try to replace Russell with another (or maybe another two or three) of the less talented Berg-Atkins type guys, because I think he will probably end up being a decent reliever over his career, but I'd still pull the trigger if I had to.

Miles says Diamond was on a pitch count last night at Iowa - 64 pitches. He speculates that hey may get the call to take Lilly's spot in the rotation after a trade.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

It was up to Kockler, who walked 10 batters, hit three others and unleashed four wild pitches, to make the lead stand up. He never hesitated to return to the mound for the seventh inning. “I just ran out there. No conversation. I just wanted it,” he said. A mere 17 pitches later, he’d stranded two more runners and started a spirited celebration.
This won't sound very "old school", but I think that was incredibly irresponsible. Irresponsible of the pitcher and irresponsible of the manager for not stepping in and doing something.

From the Fox Sports boys: Ted Lilly remains a trade option for the Twins, but as of mid-day Friday ET, virtually every team pursuing Lilly was continuing to report that the Cubs were asking a high price for the veteran left- hander.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

I don't have much faith in Jimbo the shrewd trader. He is more Jimbo the bull charging forward to get the FA he wants, i.e., give them anything. I'm very concerned we will end up with Lilly after Saturday, and of course, he will not offer him arbitration and we will loss Lilly and get nothing for him. Mike, why has Diamond been on a short pitch count all year?

Levine latest on ESPN 1000 radio...2:30 pm, cst: Bud Selig's birthday...you can make fun of him if you want to but the guy is 75 years old. Bruce bought him a box of prunes for his BD. Otherwise, nothing new...Dodgers have no money making a trade there iffy...Lilly might not get traded by deadline but still could go later on a waiver deal. Theriot-KJohnson still possible. BL is in Colorado with Cubs (it's his punishment).

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

You know, taking a look at the Dodgers lineup, the only positions they could possibly upgrade via trade would be 2b, LF (which makes little sense since they just traded for Podsednik and they should get Manny back eventually), and...gulp, catcher. Now would they bench or trade Russell Martin? He's having a crappy year with the bat and his salary keeps going up through arbitration, and they have several other young guys in the same arbitration pattern. It would make sense that the Dodgers try to move one of those increasing salary arbitration players to save some moolah. I wonder if Hendry would be dumb enough to give up on Soto. I'd rather not take Russell Martin. For some reason he just reminds me of Paul LoDuca too much, like he's primed for a short career. His performance this year only helps fuel that theory. What do other people think, Russell Martin or Geo? Rob G., you're in LA, what do you think of Martin?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

.400-ish ob% 14hr 15 doubles in 240ab.... at least we have one of the best 7 or 8 lineup hitters in the game. ...sigh. aram 240ab in the 4 slot pre-allstar... .268 ob% .380 slg% dlee 330ab in the 3 slot pre-allstar... .330 ob% .369 slg% we should pay the next manager $10m so he'll be sure to be awesome like this. at least he didn't bat the wrong guy leadoff. that would have sunk us.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Roider-The Dodgers were trying to dump him last year when scouts noticed he didn't have the same body he used to have. An AL Scout said he wasn't as strong as he was the year before and an NL Scout said his bat speed was way down. This got in the papers and two days later Martin denied he used steroids. Dodgers told the media he might lose his starting job and were trying to shop him. So, Martin who weighed 206 in 2009 showed up weighing 231 (those magic 25 lbs of muscle)in spring training. Said he "bulked up" by lifting weights AND cutting out yoga. Then he promptly pulled his groin and has had one physical problem after another all year. The .285 .806 OPS Martin is just a fading memory. Martin has been a .248 .679 guy the last couple seasons. Please, no Martin.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I am not saying that I disagree with bringing up the possibility that Martin did 'roids. However, I am amazed at how commonly people put out blatant accusations about people, and seemingly feel that, by putting a question mark at the end, you are not actually accusing the person of anything. "Johann's mom - a whore?"

berkman to yanks...geeeeeeez. must be nice to have an upgrade you don't need or have a place to play. go spending to crush competition go.

The Red Sox were shot down in an attempt to acquire left-hander Sean Marshall from the Cubs, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

or he goes all Bill Blass on us. --- William Ralph "Bill" Blass (June 22, 1922 – June 12, 2002) was an American fashion designer, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana.[1] He is known for his tailoring and his innovative combinations of textures and patterns. vs. Steve Blass is best known for his sudden and inexplicable loss of control after the 1972 season.[1] His ERA climbed to 9.81 in the 1973 season. He walked 84 batters in 88 innings, and struck out only 27. Blass suffered through the 1973 season, then spent most of 1974 in the minor leagues. He gave it one last try in spring training of 1975. Failing to regain his form, he retired from baseball in March 1975. Thereafter, a condition referred to as "Steve Blass Disease" became a part of baseball lexicon...

Love rotoworld's commentary on howry...
Cubs released RHP Bob Howry. Howry isn't so far removed from being a useful reliever, but this is the second time he's been released this year. He had allowed 19 runs -- 13 earned -- in 20 2/3 innings for the Cubs. Considering that he struck out just eight in that span, he should probably be written off for the rest of this year, IF NOT FOREVER.

via CM...his uncle must be from a very remote part of india. #cubs Lou Piniella will miss Sat-Sun-Mon games to attend funeral of his uncle

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Kenny Williams duped? From Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald: Williams discussed the trade the netted the Sox starting pitcher Edwin Jackson earlier in the day, and he thinks the right-hander's power arm and experience is a definite upgrade over rookie Daniel Hudson, who went to the Diamondbacks for Jackson. But KW also sounded like he's been duped _ likely by Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo _ in talks for Adam Dunn. While he didn't mention any specific names, Kenny said it's been "frustrating" dealing with newer GMs, of which Rizzo is one. He also mentioned "playing games" and "being above board," so you pretty much get the picture. I'm hearing that Rizzo has taken Dunn off the market, but who really knows? These have been the most unusual days leading up to the trade deadline I ever can remember, by far. But I'm thinking the original plan was for the Sox to acquire Jackson and send him to the Nats for Dunn. http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/4450

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

I think dealing Hudson and the other prospect for Jackson is a horrible trade. Jackson has awful numbers, not just this year but most of his career, and he's owed about $13 million through next season, which the Sox are paying all of. He's been so bad, Nate Robertson, who was released by the Marlins last week has similar numbers and could have been signed for a prorated share of the major league minimum, saving the Sox $13 million plus two top pitching prospects. Robertson has a similar horrible ERA, 5.47 to 5.16, if I recall correctly. They each have 1.49 WHIP's, Jackson is k'ing more guys at 7.0 per 9 ip compared to 5.5 per 9 ip for Robertson. Robertson walks fewer guys, 3.5 per 9 ip compared to 4.0. (I might be off, those are the numbers I remember from earlier in the day but I think they're correct). The point is not that Robertson would be a good signing, although he's pitched better than some starters in the majors, but that Jackson, despite his talent, has never been consistent other than mostly consistently bad, and terribly overpaid. Factor in the two prospects the Sox gave up and Kenny must have dropped some acid before making this trade.

Per Rosenthal or Olney whoever tigers and dodgers still looking at lilly but they mentioned a third unknown team could be just BS being put out there. Are the giants that happy that they wouldnt want to upgrade say with a starter and also keep dodgers from getting Lilly.

HOLY CRAP! THIS GAME SUCKS! DUUUUUURRRRRR DERP DERP DURRRRRRRR! why do i keep clearing time to watch this trainwreck? ps- when is the last time dlee actually ran to 1st base?

On the Lee play it seemed the ball got out there fast but Lee was not close to first base i thought it was ramirez for a second. Will be interesting to see if Trammel brings out the same lineup saturday or wants to make a statement.

Give Brenley credit Cashner is geting shelled a rookie where is your TEAM LEADER going to talk to the pitcher to try to settle him down Derrick Lee take a seat for a while. Why the hell did lou put Cashner in anyways.

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In reply to by Mornington Crescent

ESPN's Bruce Levine: "The Dodgers would like to obtain both Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot. The Cubs have asked for second baseman Blake DeWitt back as part of any trade... The Cubs also have a possible deal with Arizona for second baseman Kelly Johnson. The Diamondbacks have asked for Ryan Theriot and left-handed pitcher James Russell in return. The Cubs have been going back and forth on both deals, knowing they can’t trade Theriot twice." http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/1789/cubs-suffer-a-loss-… Jump on Theriot and Russell for Kelly Johnson. Johnson would be a very nice addition for next season. Russell might become a good reliever in the future but he's not now. A middle reliever and a 2b we will likely non-tender for a legitimate starting 2b would be great. We have a ton of young pitching coming up, replacing Russell wouldn't be hard.

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In reply to by Paul Noce

I agree I do wonder what we'd get to send Lilly to LA by himself. Theriot never seemed like a sweetener before, and I can't really imagine how much better the deal would get by including him. It seems the Dodgers want the Cubs to just pay Lilly's entire salary, which wouldn't bother me a bit - hell, pay Theriot's entire salary, too. I thought I heard a trade scenario involving James Loney, he'd be nice to pick up if they had a replacement for him for the rest of the season

That game last night was just rock bottom, maybe the worst Cub performance I've seen in 35 years of watching games. I want some kind of apology from Ricketts, Hendry, Piniella and Lee.

Having Lou miss the next 3 games just might be useful. I'm thinking that we just might see how much a lame duck effect he has on this team. I remember the 2007 team played well for Trammel in Milwaukee when Lou was suspended for the 4 game tirade vs ump Wegener. Bringing up as many kids would be more useful...if they got to play. Here is the obit on Lou's 92 yr old uncle that passed away. http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Joe-M… (it is former major leaguer, Dave Magadan's dad)

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.