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

A Real Stocking Stuffer!

For your consideration...

STUBS: A Father's Tickets to the Greatest Shows on Earth [Outskirts Press] will be formally released on Friday, December 3 at Beaverdale Books here in Des Moines. The book is already showing as "in-stock" online at both Amazon and B&N. The cover synopsis and author bio are below. I've also included a link to the preliminary Amazon listing. I think if you order more than one copy you'll trigger the magic words: FREE SHIPPING!

A boxful of old ticket stubs is the framework for this account of a father’s evolution. While his children grow his horizons expand, changing the way he sees the world. STUBS makes a case for holstering the camcorder, and the dot-to-dot of episodes intertwines with reflections on parenthood from the perspective of a man reborn by the births of his children. The venues range from Raccoon Valley Little League to Carnegie Hall; the occasions from Opening Day at Wrigley Field to Mozart’s 250th birthday party in Salzburg. The result is an album filled with illustrations of how much kids have to teach.

Michael Wellman is the author of Far From the Trees: The Troubled Sons of an American Neighborhood [Outskirts Press], a finalist in the 2009 Indie Book Awards. He is a regular contributor to the Des Moines Register whose work has also appeared in The Iowan and on Iowa Public Radio. During the summer he blogs for The Cub Reporter. He was born, raised and lives it up in Des Moines, Iowa, a place he can’t seem to get enough of. Contact him at [email protected].

Comments

Congrats Mike! Just resize the image to under Amazon's 4mb size limit and try uploading it again. If you don't know how to do that, email it to me and I'll do it for you. I sent you an email. It's also free shipping if you have Amazon Prime.

I uploaded the picture to Amazon, it should show up now for everyone. Mike, I had no idea you were 12 feet tall! :)

Congrats again Mike, can't wait to read it after thoroughly enjoying FFTT. I uploaded to cover pic but then realized your text is now a bit out of synch. From one stub collector to another...I love the book concept.

Speaking of stocking stuffers, I also ordered a copy of Keith Richards autobiography, Life, along with Stubs...isn't he the half-brother of Astro's great pitcher J.R.? (just like the half brothers Tiger and Kerry) Which book should I read first? Talk about a tough act to follow. quote from Time magazine review: "The Evel Knievel of illicit substances, Richards wears his 66 years with a jaunty gauntness." Read more: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2027583,00.html#ixzz16ltka…

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In reply to by Cubster

Thanks for the heads up on my favorite Glimmer Twin's bio. Lots of good links to visit from that article also -- Keith Richards photos, photos of the Stones' 1969 Tour, a book on their '69 Tour (with lots of additional photos), a list of Time's 100 Greatest Albums and list of Top 10 music festival moments. I got significantly sidetracked by all of that stuff for awhile. Gotta love the Internet.

If I haven't expressed it before, I appreciate that a writer of your quality graces our virtual pages. Thanks for all your posts over the years.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

actually, you have, but thanks [again]... dropping tcr's name has gotten me into a lot of ballgames in the last few years!

10 years/157.75M, essentially a 6/119M extension. Rox also signs De La Rosa for 3/33, same as Lilly money.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

obviously they feel like he's a franchise player, which he is. Puts him under contract until 36 and he can move to 3b pretty easily if his fielding slips. $15M average for Tulo, adjusting for inflation is probably gonna work out for them just fine over the long haul. He's been worth $25M each of the last 2 years by Fangraphs goofy money ratings(and $22M his rookie year).

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In reply to by Rob G.

They are paying him 20 Million per year on this extension though. The cheap part of it is the 4 years already remaining on his existing contract. I'm not saying he isn't worthy of being locked up. I just question the need to do it when he already has 4 years remaining on his current deal? It wasn't like they got a discount in doing so? I would have let it play out until maybe ST of his final contract year. Then you have a better idea of what kind of health shape he will be in.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

It wasn't like they got a discount in doing so? I would have let it play out until maybe ST of his final contract year. and then his agent and him smell free agency and decide they'll test the market or at least you risk that happening. They like the guy and by all accounts he's one of those team leader types that works his ass off and is well on his way to to a HOF career(if he stays healthy, etc). It's obviously the guy they want to center their franchise around like the Yanks did with Jeter.

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In reply to by Rob G.

We have Brian LaHair at the top of our 1st base depth chart. There are whispers of Dumpster diving to fill our massive offseason roster holes. AND JIM HENDRY IS LOOKING TO SPEND ON THE BULLPEN? Sometimes I wish my dad was a Cardinals fan (dies a little inside)

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Colvin's probably at the top of 1b chart at the moment, but there's 6 guys out there that can be had and probably some trade options as well. Pena, Berkman, LaRoche, Dunn, Konerko, Lee They have to pay Marmol anyway, I assume they're attempting to buy out a free agency year for a slight discount. Anyway, allegedly the article said they just talked briefly about it with no offers made. I assume that'll intensify once arbitration cases need to be settled.

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In reply to by QuietMan

other noteworthy items from Levine... - lots of Carlos Pena mentions - calls them a $135M small market team this offseason looking for bargains - looking at injured starting pitchers (aka cheap), Webb, Harang, etc. - doesn't think Greinke's would fit Cubs plans, meaning they don't seem keen on moving top prospects in any deal. - would eat up to half of Fuku's contract, but only if deal makes sense, not aggressively trying to move him. - Colvin will work at 1b in spring, more for late-inning options or fill-in then as a regular - Cubs asked about Loney but currently not available - Ricketts suggested they'll continue to be in top 3-4 payroll in NL for the foreseeable future.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 2:12pm. We have Brian LaHair at the top of our 1st base depth chart. There are whispers of Dumpster diving to fill our massive offseason roster holes. ========================================== DR AARON B: Tyler Colvin and Geovany Soto are at the top of the Cubs 1B depth chart. One thing to keep in mind about 1B is that Soto might have to play 1B next season if his shoulder surgery rehab is still in progress, and even if he's 100% healthy and able to catch from the gitgo, Soto is not going to catch more than 120 games (max), and if he is the Cubs best hitter, would you rather have him sit on the bench for those 40 games he's not catching, or be in the lineup playing another position (1B) on days he's not catching? And if 1B needs to be kept available for Soto (at least part-time), having a player who can play 1B and then move to the OF on days Soto plays 1B would be ideal. In-house that 1B-OF would be Tyler Colvin. Luke Scott would be a good candidate if the Cubs look to make a trade for one. If Soto reverts to the 2009 version, then he can certainly sit on days he's not catching,. But if the Real Soto is the one we saw in 2008 and 2010, then I don't want him sitting on the bench for 40 games. And 1B is the only other position he can play.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I enjoy watching him pitch, but a 4 year extension is going to lead to uncounted strokes and heart attacks among the Cubs faithful.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Why sign a guy to a multi-year contract when you don't have to? The best thing about players who aren't yet eligible for free-agency is that you can sign them year-to-year. And then if the player suffers a career-ending or career-limiting injury, you're not on the hook beyond just the one year. A player (especially a pitcher, even a really good one) can have his career suddenly and irrevocably derailed by injury. And that doesn't even include the ones who just go south for no apparent reason. I wouldn't approach Marmol about a long-term deal until he gets to his last year of arbitration (the 2012 season), and even then I wouldn't offer more than three years. The best example of a GM going nuts and jumping the gun with contract extentions was ex-AZ GM Josh Byrnes, who gave Chris Young, Chris Snyder, Justin Upton, and Mark Reynolds long-term deals before they were anywhere close to free-agency. Reynolds, Upton, and Young got their deals before they were even eligible for salary arbitration! A GM doesn't have to "lock these guys up." They are under club control for six freakin' years before they can be a free-agent. ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS FOR PLAYERS NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR FREE-AGENCY ARE GOOD. MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS FOR PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT WITHIN A YEAR OF BEING ELIGIBLE FOR FREE-AGENCY ARE BAD.

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

Why sign a guy to a multi-year contract when you don't have to? cost certainty? save a few bucks? Reynolds and Young seemed like silly deals. Tulo's has already paid for itself as has Longoria's. Padres saved a ton on Gonzalez I assume and there are tons of examples on both sides of it working and not working. Ryan Howard and Lincecum have pretty much scared the shit out of teams.

curious to see why all these relievers are declining arbitration, haven't they learned? why would anyone sign Scott Downs and give up a draft pick?

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

notice a lack of adam dunn news regarding the cubs or anyone looking a 1st baseman yet? just simply wanting something doesn't make it any team's priority. there's a young SS with a wild arm, dunn not liking 1st and showing it by being stiff and clumbsy with no range (he's not fast enough to see plays unfold off the bat and that is his main range issue, imo), and there's a huge ass 1st FA market with 20-30HR power...it's not like it's dunn or nothing though on bat alone he's obviously the best option. it doesn't seem like anyone's in a hurry to fill the excessive 1st slots (or pick up a DH/1st for the AL). speaking of a lack of news...wonder who will give dlee 6-8m bucks...he's been almost non-existent in the 1st FA talk all over MLB

Theriot to Cards for Blake Hawksworth... B. Ryan/Theriot middle infield? or Theriot/Schumaker middle infield? possibilities are endless

suggests Cards want Theriot for SS. Passan says Dunn's agent asking for 4/60 and "executives" believe Berkman will go for $7M. if Dunn has finally accepted life as a DH, some AL team should pay that happily for him. Passan also says Greinke would waive NTC for big market team, assuming he gets an extension or likes the situation. Your move Hendry... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-greinkehotstove113010 owed $13.5M the next 2 years... I imagine 3 top 10 prospects would be needed to make that deal.

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In reply to by Mornington Crescent

neat. "The Athletics will host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a traditional doubleheader July 16 — their first old-fashioned twinbill since 1995 and the first scheduled doubleheader anywhere since June 7, 1996, when the Minnesota Twins hosted the Athletics."

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In reply to by Rob G.

Well, I doubt that the 6 games of playoffs will make up for 120 regular season games. The off-days are so that MLB can schedule the games on their prime spots, away from the NFL and other nights when there's something else to watch. Shortening the existing playoffs will make revenue decline. Plus it's going to still going to look like a real stupid idea when the first 100 win wild card team loses to a 88 win wild card team.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

well nonetheless, the 3-game WC playoff is coming in 2012. Whether a 7-game LDS is coming with it, I don't know, although I read in this phantom article that I can no longer find that is what most of the GM's and players want. -edit- http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5728656 that's not the story I read, but the suggestions from the players are if the owners want expanded playoffs they need to shorten the season and most want a 7-game LDS as well. The article I keep recalling in my mind was one from Stark or one of those types that also asked executives and such and a 7-game LDS is something a lot people want. We'll see what gets negotiated, but Selig already said that he does plan to try to trim the off days in the playoffs.

forgot who Steve Dalkowski was...so for those who didn't remember
He is sometimes called the fastest pitcher in baseball history and had a fastball that probably exceeded 100 MPH...Dalkowski was also famous for his unpredictable performance and inability to control his pitches. His alcoholism and violent behavior off the field caused him problems during his career and after his retirement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Dalkowski

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...