Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Roger Clemens indicted for allegedly being a big fat steroid-taking liar!

(Click on image for full size version)

If you were a baseball player, there are words and phrases you just don't want in the same sentence as your name. Words and phrases like: "federal grand jury", "indicted", "lying to Congress", and of course, "steroids" and "growth hormone".

And yet there it is: "A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress about using steroids and growth hormone."

Awesome.

There's an old joke I've never told out loud because... well, I'm terrible at telling jokes. But I found it online:

A Scottish old timer in Scotland, in a bar, talking to a young man.

The Old Man says, "Lad, look out there to the field. Do ya see that fence? Look how well it's built. I built that fence stone by stone with me own two hands. I piled it for months."

"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Fence-Builder? Nooo..."

Then the old man gestured at the bar. "Look here at the bar. Do ya see how smooth and just it is? I planed that surface down by me own achin' back. I carved that wood with me own hard labour, for eight days."

"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Bar-builder? Nooo..."

Then the old man points out the window. "Eh, Laddy, look out to sea...Do ya see that pier that stretches out as far as the eye can see? I built that pier with the sweat off me back. I nailed it board by board."

"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Pier-Builder? Nooo..."

Then the old man looks around nervously, trying to make sure no one else is paying attention.

"But ya fuck one goat..."


This the exact same story that Roger wrote for himself with his own actions and mouth.

Now, his nickname won't be as simple as McGreggor's.

It'll probably have a bunch of asterisks and hyphens, wouldn't you think?

Roger that.


You can view Tim Souers work on a daily basis at Cubby Blue.


Comments

I hope they fry all the bastards, I really do. My grandmother (God rest her) loved Sammy, but fuck it, he should be next. And about lying to congress, where the fuck is Palmeiro's charge? I think just like Kennesaw Mountain Landis had gambling, Selig should have had steroids. And about what else AT ALL does anyone say "At least Congress is doing something about it!"

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Your article says "insufficient evidence", not no evidence. Potentially big difference. And just because he didn't get caught sooner, or there's "insufficient evidence", doesn't mean he's not a crooked bastard like the rest of them. "Though he never officially retired, Palmeiro has not played since 2005." For a guy with 3000 hits, etc., why did his career end in infamy? Where is the tearful retirement for him, clemens, etc.?? I'll grant that Palmeiro was 40 years old when he got suspended, but by golly, if I was trying to clear my name of this shit I'd damn sure be motivated to play another year. The truth is that the fucking league knows damn well all these idiots were using. It's just Clemens' (and Bonds') bad luck that there's enough evidence to bust them for lying in court about it.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Look. Bruce Levine discussed today that, like it or not, Colvin has had a lot of shit to deal with as a young player, in his first season: - Makes the team, told "Will get 3-5 startys a week" - Does NOT get the above. - When he DOES get starts, he excels. Yes - - He doesn't get much playing time in the first 90 days of the season until "Pinhead", as you call him, decides, "Yes, I guess he is outplaying Nady, who can't throw anyway. - He is then put in the #1 spot in the order when Theriot can't do much, and further, is traded. Why Lou puts him here where he completely is not suited, in inexplicable (of course, now, realizing this, Fuku is in this spot) - He goes through a slump, and K's 25% of the time, having difficulty with breaking pitches (I was in attendance yesterday, and the great Justin Heyward has the same problem. His BA is not any better than Colvin's, btw) - Now, with DLee gone, management decides to train him by the seat of his pants, during the last two months of the season, to play 1B. I do not know when the last time you played in the Majors under the above circumstances CRUNCH, but I would guess the pressure to perform, while going through all of the other shit (and lack of experience), is dramatic. This was Levine and Hood's point on Talking Baseball today.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

In context IIRC, the discussion was that due to his CONSTANT INJURIES, training at 1B would not be the worst idea IF the team does not pursue other options. It is easy to take pot shots as we all do ananomously, but locally in my opinion, Bruce Levine is the best in the business. If you have never heard his argument on-tape with Ed Lynch ("Without the fans, you don't have a job..." ) in the locker room, then this would win any consummate Cub fan's loyalty. I have met the guy in a professional capacity in the press area, and he certainly was nice to me - didn't know me at all. Just sayin'. - (paraphrased) 1984, after the Cubs swept the Mets in a double header. Levine went into the Mets locker room and asked Lynch about a home run he'd given up.Lynch's reply was "that's a horseshit question,pal"... It went back and forth, with the now still-Cubs employee saying he didn't care about the media, etc., etc., Levine told Lynch that he wouldn't have a job if it weren't for the media. Lynch asked "Without you,I don't have a job??". Bruce went on to explain about how the media inform the fans, and it is part of the job, and entertainment, etc. After the incident, Levine was kicked out of the locker room.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

I listen to his show every Saturday. He has long-term relationships rivaling any national writers. Further, he is well-respected by GM's, managers, many scouts, etc. Both Ken Williams and Hendry have, on-air - gone out of their way to pay respects to his professionalism. Today he had on Oneri Fleita. You may have heard this, but Fleita gave a report on Archer as well as other youngsters and admitted shortcomings in what management's MiLB performance had been overall in years previous. I do not even know if I have heard him interviewed one time by anyone in 2010 - except at Cubs Convention time. But - Levine is in his mid-late 60's... Who knows how long the run goes? He fucks up too. With his trade predictions, comments, etc. But gets plenty more right, than wrong, imo.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

As I recall it, (with help from Baseball-Reference) the Mets came to Chicago in Aug. of 1984 .5 games behind the Cubs to play a four game series. The Cubs swept all four games to move 4.5 games ahead in 1st place. Games 2 & 3 were a doubleheader the Cubs took 8-6 and 8-4. During a 6-run 5th inning in game 1, both Cey and Moreland homered. Later, in game 2, the Cubs scored 5 runs in the 4th inning off Lynch, all after 2 outs (3 runs unearned due to an error by Wally Backman). After the fifth run scored, Lynch drilled Moreland with a pitch. Immediately following in the top of the 5th, Sanderson drills the second Met batter in the inning. Sanderson is immediately removed from the ballgame (the box score does not indicate that he was ejected). After the game, Levine asks Lynch if there is any role in baseball for a "purpose pitch". Lynch responded, "What?" and Levine repeated the question, to which Lynch replied, "that's a horeshit question, pal." Levine said, "Just doing my job" to which Lynch says, "I don't give a (bleep) about your job, pal." (I assume he said "fuck" but I never heard it unedited.) Levine then said, "If I don't do my job, then you don't have a job." After which the conversation deteriorated along the lines that E-man mentioned -- towards the end of the tape you heard Lynch, followed by several other Mets players shouting at Levine to "get the (bleep) out of here."

damn billy wagner...didn't know it was that bad out there =p "Me and my family have made plans for retirement," he said Saturday. "I don’t need it anymore. I’m tired of the expectations, tired of the criticism, tired of people who never played trying to tell me how to play." that's a lot of angst for a guy who hasn't had a bad season in a decade aside from a few time-eating injuries.

via ye olde world o roto: Dontrelle Willis has joined up with Triple-A Fresno. Willis apparently hit 93 MPH in his last outing in Arizona and could join the Giants in September if he continues to make progress. The left-hander signed a minor league deal with San Francisco in mid-July.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks

  • crunch (view)

    just waiting to hear patrick wisdom and masterboney are spotted at the airport going in opposite directions...

    aj puk going for the marlins (lefty)...gotta imagine we'll see wisdom in the lineup.

    someone has to make room for taillon, too.

  • crunch (view)

    he's a low-level cubs star in the modern history of the cubs (c.zambrano, k.wood, r.dempster, etc), but that star has dimmed...and has been dimming since 2021.

    2024 has been ugly the whole way and we're only in mid-april.  homers aside (even though there's been 7 in 17ip) he gave up 29 hits in 20 spring innings and 31 in 17 regular season innings.

    he's pretty much only got 2 pitches at this point in his career and the mix isn't fooling anyone.  he threw a noticable amount more curves in his last start to add to the mix and it didn't help his issues.  he don't have many moves left to break out.

  • Eric S (view)

    Definitely needs a 10 day stint for the hangnail - have to nip those things in the bud or suffer the consequences (ie, more opponent home run derby, etc)