Cubs MLB Roster

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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 

 



 

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Rule 5 Draft 
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Game 139 Thread / Astros @ Cubs (2 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP Brandon Backe
SP Carlos Zambrano

9-12, 5.42, 122 K, 72 BB, 159.1 IP

13-5, 3.53, 114 K, 61 BB, 168.1 IP
       
CF
*Michael Bourn LF
Alfonso Soriano
LF
Ty Wigginton 2B *Mike Fontenot
SS Miguel Tejada
1B
Derrek Lee
1B #Lance Berkman
3B
Aramis Ramirez
3B
#Geoff Blum
RF Mark DeRosa
RF
Hunter Pence
CF *Jim Edmonds
2B
*David Newhan C
Geovany Soto
C
Humberto Quintero SS Ryan Theriot
P Brandon Backe
P #Carlos Zambrano

 

While Cub fans are hoping that the team's bats will come back to life (no EBH's among the club's last 27 hits), the greater concern right now is with Carlos Zambrano.

All Cubdom would like to see that the two extra days of rest Zambrano got when his scheduled Sunday start was pushed back to this evening have proven beneficial to his "fatigued" "dead" tired arm. If nothing else, in the span of those two days, the calendar turned from August to September.

As mentioned here—and everywhere else—previously, in five starts this past month, Zambrano went 1-1, 7.42, allowing opponents to hit .284 with a cumulative 917 OPS. He was 0-4, 7.06 in August of 2007, and in his career, Zambrano has gone 12-16, 4.22 in August starts. His lifetime September numbers are better: 17-10, 3.48 in 32 starts. Of course, all that really matters right now is he does this September.

His opposite number tonight, Brandon Backe, was the victim of that eight-run third inning, not to mention a grand slam by Mark DeRosa and a three-run job by Alfonso Soriano, the last time he pitched at Wrigley, the first week in August.

Backe's team, however, comes into the game having won six games in a row and closed to within two games of the third-place Cardinals. Maybe the Astros' veteran catcher, growing wistful as he nears the end of his career, can distract his mates by infecting them with his wistfulness.

(Brad) Ausmus, like most Major Leaguers, considers the Windy City the best of all road destinations. Playing day games at a historic, festive ballpark such as Wrigley Field and having nights free to enjoy some of the "best restaurants in the world," by Ausmus' estimation, make trips to Chicago a pleasure for all.

"I'll miss Wrigley," Ausmus said. "There's nothing more fun than an 80-degree day in the middle of summer at Wrigley Field...When I'm done playing, I plan on making a trip and watching a couple of games from the bleachers," Ausmus said... "That is something I definitely will do."

Comments

I do not claim to be a stat-head. I am amazed and impressed at the levels of analysis I find on this site. I am very grateful for the expertise. That said, what are the two best averages in the line-up doing in the #8 and #9 holes? That is absurd. That is all for now.

Theriot has been slumping a bit...but I think as evidence yesterday, Lou doesn't like leading off with 4/5 righties. Without any power, nowhere else really for Theriot to go if he isn't going to be in the 2 spot. I'd flip Soto and Edmonds, but that would leave 4 righties in a row in the middle of the order. Who knows. If Z pitches well and Soriano and Lee do what they are capable of, the rest is largely irrelevant.

Yeah, Howry looked like he had it back for a few games there, but back to the same old crap now. But we basically have 3 guys in the bullpen we trust, and they can't pitch everyday or from the 5th or 6th inning on.

DLee -- you have got to be fucking kidding me. Guy walks 2 in a row to load the bases, including walking Fontenot on 4 pithces, throws ball 1 to DLee, and the DP machine swings at the next pitch -- inning over. If you are going to swing in that situation, it has GOT to be a pitch you can drive in the air. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

- absolutely disgusting game. - "#1" starter can't go past 5. - 3 guys on 3rd 1 out...0 sac flies. - 2 guys failing at sac bunts in extras. - 2 on, 0 out top of the order up, can't move a guy over. - Aram making 3 errors in 4 innings. This reminds me of how we felt during the Marlins series last September...Brewers giving the Cubs chances to put it away, and Cubs just playing bad fundamental baseball.

Len said he still has no word on Z. But anyone understand why Wood was in there for 2 innings and 40 pitches? I understand he has not had much work lately, but why 2 innings? The rosters have expanded, use Lieber or someone less valuable.

Wild guess here...Cubs will stumble into the playoffs again, then get swept. Phils and 'Stros are the first decent teams we have played in a while....so far, looks like we'll be 2-4 at home. Not good.

Wow... a lot of people are freaked out by a four game losing streak, 3 of which were started by pitchers who won't be starting in the playoffs. Step away from the ledge...

went down one for the division at least.

Using Bob Howry in a tie game though was the "what the fuck" moment of the game. Good lord.

Derrek Lee hit that ball on the screws, Blum made a nice pick, decent turn and a great scoop by Berkman. Sigh. The strikeout 2 innings later were some nice pitches on the outside corner by the lefty Wright.

Bob Howry though. Please die.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Welcome to Chicago, Kevin Hart! I would guess we've just seen the last of Howry pitching in meaningful situations for the Chicago Cubs.

God is that depressing to wake up to. When BL says 'three against starters who won't be starting in the playoffs', who does he mean? Last year we went with a three man rotation and it cost us.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

When BL says 'three against starters who won't be starting in the playoffs', who does he mean? Who does he mean? Marshall, Marquis, and Lilly will not be starting, at least in the first series and barring any injuries (Z?). Last year we went with a three man rotation and it cost us. Yea... I really wish the Cubs would have started their 4th starter in one of those three games. Going with a three man rotation did not cost the Cubs. LouPa willing to pull Z early MAY have cost the Cubs.

Huge start for Dempster, in what I think will be a preview of what we can expect him doing in post-season pressure. With the way the other guys have struggled their last starts, if Dempster could through a CG 10K shutout (heh), he'd move in a tie for 2nd in Wins, and move up to 5th in K's, plus he would get a press boost for being the Cubs 'stopper'. That being said, I'll take a 11-10 victory, if it means we get off this losing streak.

Look on the bright side: The Cubs have won 7 of their last 11 games. That's a .636 winning percentage!

I was pretty discouraged while watching last night, even ranting at Lou for what I perceived to be at least one questionable decision (bunting with DeRosa in the 9th after the ARam walk). I also found myself thinking: if you are the best team in the NL by a good margin and David F. Newhan is running you ragged, it's gut-check time. I realize, though, that the Astros are just doing their play-the-2nd-half-like-it-matters thing (every damn year with these jerks!), and that Tejada in particular seems to have contracted Carlos Lee Syndrome, manifesting itself in clutch RBIs, satanic pirouettes at 2B, and the apparent belief that he must destroy all things Cub all by himself. So -- four losses, two to a very good team, two to a hot/lucky go-nowhere team. Shake it off, have some coffee, and NO MORE DPs THANK YOU.

Agree with the above point -- this will be a good test of them under pressure. Anxious home crowd and media (and TCR posters), bad news all over the pitching staff (Z, Harden, Gaudin), depleted bullpen after the last 2 days, numerous missed opportunities from the 8th inning on against mediocre pitchers last night, Howry still on the roster, etc. OK Demp -- show us it's real.

It's not so much the 4 straight losses -- it's more that it's September, and we have potential health issues with 3 key pitchers (Z, Hardin and Gaudin) -- acually, Z and Harden are more than "key". DP Lee is who he is -- good fielder, decent average, low power hitter who may have the DP thing in his head. (I know it's in mine). 2005 was a fluke year. Maybe Gooz will save us all.

On a happier note, I was doing some media stuff at the game yesterday, and I'd just like to report (for you locals): Paula Faris - even hotter in person than on TV and incredibly nice Kerry Sayers - better looking in person, bordering on extremely attractive Megan Mawicke - ibid

"...but I don't recall their #1 pitcher going down in Septemeber with an arm issue." Good point - and I don't think the entire team had any injuries of significance the entire season. As a contrast to this season, where it looks likes Danks has a dead arm as well.

Z is seeing the doctor today anything other than that and who knows. And my god we got posters running around like a chicken with their heads cut off. Recognize this....we are 85-54, 31 games over .500 with a playoff spot almost locked up. We are not like past Cubs teams struggling to be .500ish and hoping the rest of the league plays to our level of crap so we can back into the playoffs. This is a good team. An outstanding team. Don't forget that.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

After today, Cubs play 16 of last 22 on the road, with ther last 19 against winning teams, including trips to problem areas like Houston, NY and St. Louis, where our history has not been good. Last 7 in NY and MIL. "...almost locked up" Not quite yet. Agree that this is a good team, but one that got fat in August on a heavy home schedule and 15 games against the Pirates, Braves, Reds and Nats. The chickens arent so much worried about the 4-game home losing streak as we are about what lies ahead....

runners on the corners, 1 out in the top of the first already Go mets.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...