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

2010 MLB Rule 5 Draft

The MLB Rule 5 Draft is the last order of business at the MLB WINTER MEETINGS, and it is a mechanism that allows MLB clubs to select (draft) players off minor league Reserve Lists. There is a "Major League Phase" where MLB clubs can draft players off AAA Reserve Lists for $50,000, a "AAA Phase" where AAA Affiliates can draft players off AA rosters for $12,000, and finally a "AA Phase" where AA clubs can draft players off the reserve lists of Class "A" clubs for $4,000.

RULE 5 DRAFT ELIGIBILITY

A minor league player who was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract is eligible for selection starting with the 5th Rule 5 Draft after he signs, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft that followed his signing. (If a player signs his first contract after August 31st or after the minor league club to which the player is initially assigned has completed its regular season schedule, the next season is considered to be the player's "first season" for Rule 5 eligibility purposes). In addition, any player on a minor league reserve list who has been outrighted to the minors and/or released previously in his career is eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Also, an MLB club can designate any player on a minor league reserve list eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft even if the player would not normally be eligible, but once a player is made eligible for selection, he remains eligible for selection in all future Rule 5 drafts.

CUBS ELIGIBLE FOR DECEMBER 2010 RULE 5 DRAFT
James Adduci, OF
Adrian Aviles, OF-LHP
Austin Bibens-Dirkx, RHP
Ryan Buchter, LHP
Kyler Burke, OF
Matt Camp, IF-OF
Marco Carrillo, RHP
Hung-Wen Chen, RHP
Steve Clevenger, C-1B
Willson Contreras, INF
Manolin DeLeon, RHP
Marwin Gonzalez, IF-OF
Jose Guevara, C
Angel Guzman, RHP
Chris Huseby, OF (ex-RHP)
Dylan Johnston, RHP (ex-OF)
Bryan Lahair, 1B
Blake Lalli, 1B-C
Casey Lambert, LHP
Jordan Latham, RHP
Antoni Lugo, 3B
Alessandro Maestri, RHP
Oswaldo Martinez, RHP
J. R. Mathes, LHP
Scott Moore, INF
Ronny Morla, RHP
Jonathan Mota, INF
Craig Muschko, RHP
Jake Muyco, RHP
Jeremy Papelbon, LHP
Mike Parisi, RHP
Blake Parker, RHP
David Patton, RHP
Andres Quezada, RHP
Alvaro Ramirez, OF
Scott Rice, LHP
Chris Robinson, C
Nate Samson, INF
Bobby Scales, IF-OF
Chris Siegfried, LHP
Marquez Smith, 3B
Brad Snyder, OF
Luke Sommer, LHP
Alvaro Sosa, RHP (ex-C)
Matt Spencer, 1B
Larry Suarez, RHP
Tony Thomas, 2B
Jose Valdez, OF
Ty Wright, OF

RULE 5 DRAFT RESTRICTIONS

1. A club must have as many spots open on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players it selects in the Major League Phase.

2. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be released or non-tendered until he is given a "full trial" in Spring Training, and he cannot be outrighted to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

3. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must remain on an MLB Active List (or MLB 15-day or 60-day Disabled List) for the entire MLB regular season following selection, and must spend at least 90 days on an MLB Active List (25-man roster) before Rule 5 restrictions are removed. (If time spent on an MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Rule 5 player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List).

4. If a club decides not to keep a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 draft on its MLB 25-man Active List (or MLB 15-day or 60-day Disabled List), the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $25,000 Rule 5 waiver price and assume the Rule 5 obligations.

5. If the Rule 5 player is not claimed off Outright Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can reclaim the player for $25,000, with the player being automatically outrighted to the AAA club from which he was drafted. If he has at least three years of MLB Service Time and/or has been outrighted previously in his career, the player can elect to be an MLB Article XX-D minor league free-agent after being outrighted (he has three days to decide if he is outrighted during the MLB regular season, and he has a week to decide if he is outrighted during Spring Training), or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer the right to be a minor league free-agent under MLB Article XX-D until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (The player is not eligible to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent if he accepts the Outright Assignment and then is subsequently added back to an MLB Reserve List prior to the end of the MLB regular season).

6. If the player's original club declines to reclaim the player, the Rule 5 restrictions are removed, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors.

7. A player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be assigned to the Reserve List of the AAA or AA club that drafted the player, and the player must be given a "fair trial" in Spring Training (Minor League Camp) with that AAA or AA club, but the player can be assigned to any minor league affiliate in the MLB parent club's organization once the minor league regular season commences. Also, unlike players selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft does not have to be offered back to the club from which he was drafted if the player is ultimately assigned to a lower level minor league club after being given his "fair trial" in Spring Training (Minor League Camp).

Comments

Cubs lose no one; draft RHP Mason Tobin from the Angels. From Baseball America: "Tobin has had Tommy John surgery that cost him all but three outings in 2009 and setbacks this year in his recovery that kept him out for all of 2010. When healthy, Tobin has showed a mid-90s fastball that pushes higher." From Halo Heaven last winter: "The 2007 16th round draft pick went down last spring with an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery, so I had assumed we wouldn't see him this year. Not so. Eddie Bane reports that Tobin's up and throwing long toss in Arizona, and that we should see him on the mound come mid-May (assuming no set backs). Tobin throws a heavy sinking fastball in the low to mid 90's that ranked as one of the best in the organization before the injury ended his season. The slider has been inconsistent, and the change-up nearly nonexistent. Scouts love the fastball though, and the Halos' FO has repeatedly labeled him as a guy who could move very quickly in a bullpen role. Think Kevin Jepsen if things break right." I assume the Cubs are planning to stash him on the major league DL while they see what, if anything, he can offer...

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I wasn't that shocked. It's hard to see a team gambling on Smith. There are always surprises, but here was a guy that, as of now, was limited to 3rd base. He had average power, more of a line drive stroke than good raw power. It's hard to carry a pure 3rd base backup on the roster all year.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Royals are expecting Moustakas at some point in 2011. Mariners are locked in with Figgins. Alvarez is probably fine for the next year or so. The Dbacks were the one team that I could have seen, but you've got to be very bullish on Marquez and feel that he'll be better than Tony Abreu to make that move. That's far from certain. AzPhil notes Cle, but they are expecting Chisenhall at some point in 2011 as well.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Figgins can play 2nd, if someone else plays 3rd for half a season in KC, I don't think Moustakis has a "release me" clause in his contract. It costs probably $500K to develop a ML ballplayer. Taking someone who's played well at AAA and sticking them into your team for 250 PA's is probably a pretty good move. You don't have to be bullish on Smith at all, it's $50K. Most GM's spend that much on toilet paper this week.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 12/09/2010 - 10:17am. who was going to take him with the intent of starting him at 3rd? I'm not sure I can think of a team that would've taken that shot. =========================== TOONSTER: I had thought maybe Cleveland or Arizona would draft Marquez Smith and give him a shot to win the starting 3B job (especially the D'backs after they traded Mark Reynolds).

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

"I've seen him play a few times.He's more a 15-20 HR potential guy, etc." The interesting thing about Smith is that he started crushing the ball regularly in the second half last season. He had twelve HRs in August, another on 9/1, and then five in 97 ABs in winter ball. If he shows consistent power in spring training, other people who have "seen him play a few times" will take another look.

[ ]

In reply to by ruz

in the minor league phase, Cubs lost Ronny Morla to the Mets and Casey Lambert to the Orioles. Lambert was coming off TJS and working his way back. The former 6th round pick from UVA in 2007 had a plus curve and a upper 80's fastball at his peak. I think he can probably still make a good LOOGY type. I was intrigued with Morla when we got him as a part of the Jake Fox deal. As a starter, he was a low-mid 90's type on the fastball. Out of the pen, it was more consistently in the mid-90's. Off the top, I believe his breaking ball was a slider and that it was fairly solid, and he had a change in the bag. He really had a solid year in Peoria's pen (9.84 K/9, 2.29 BB/9, 0.80 HR/9). I think he's an intriguing raw arm, but the Cubs have enough raw arms, so not that big a loss. Would've liked to keep Morla and Lambert around, but the Cubs have built up enough lefty pen depth in the system in recent year, and Morla was far away.

Isnt the major league roster full at 40 players before the Rule 5? Somebody has to go.He has been traded to Texas.

Oh shit, my number is up for season tickets. I've been on that evil list since late 2004 or early 2005. I got 4 terrace reserved IF seats in the last row(23). Now I just need to figure out how to pay for em. Anybody have a spare $11k?

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

This made me think to check my own place on the list. After inching forward for a couple of years, I've noticed I jumped from 28K+ to 15K+. Did the Rickettses release a bunch of new seats, or did the turnover just start to pick up? I've been hoping this one isn't an impossibility such as my presence on the Bears waiting list.

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.