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

Living On a What, Now?

After yesterday's heart-ripper-outer of a game, the Cubs have lost seven of eight for the first time since last June. They still have a four-game division lead and an 84.5% chance of winning the division, thanks to the Brewers losing five of their last seven, so things are not actually as bleak as they may seem. (And yes, the chances of them missing the playoffs entirely are very, very small. But we're not discussing that. Yet.). Still, with Zambrano and Harden in various levels of gimpitude, the collective angst here in Chicago is not unfounded. As Rob wrote earlier today, Harden is scheduled to pitch on Thursday, and Zambrano on Saturday, so we'll know more (and know just how freaked out to be) in a week or so.

In the meantime, maybe WXRT's Lin Brehmer is right and the Cubs are suffering under The Curse Of Jon Bon Jovi. Apparently the Cubs are playing "Living on a Prayer" during pitching changes. "Living on a Prayer"? Seriously?
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot for love
We'll give it a shot.
Whoah, we're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

I don't think "it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not" adequately captures the true feelings of Cubs fans (not to mention players and management). The Cubs aren't "living on a prayer," either; they're living on strong pitching (expect for the 9th inning yesterday), solid defense (ditto), and the best offense in the National League.

Of course, a textual analysis of the problems with "Living On a Prayer" doesn't address just how crappy Bon Jovi is. I mean, seriously, I understand how the desire to appeal to the widest possible audience often manifests itself in a rush to the lowest common denominator, but this is ridiculous.

I wish I had a long list of viable, higher-quality alternatives to offer, because we're all about solutions here at TCR, but alas the last few weeks have reduced my brain's capacity for that sort of critical thinking to almost nil. But for starters, how about "Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself)" by Oingo Boingo?

I await better suggestions in the comments. In the meantime, I will officially add my voice to Lin Brehmer's: no more Jovi at Wrigley. Not now, not ever. Life's too short to listen to bad pop metal.

Comments

Journey-- Some will win, some will lose Some were born to sing the blues Oh, the movie never ends It goes on and on and on and on (chorus) Dont stop believin Hold on to the feelin

Queen "Princes Of The Universe" "Here we are.born to be kings. We're the princes of the universe. Here we belong.fighting to survive. In a world with the darkest powers. And here we are.were the princes of the universe. Here we belong.fighting for survival. Weve come to be the rulers of your world. I am immortal.i have inside me blood of kings. I have no rival.no man can be my equal. Take me to the future of your world..." Does this exaggerate the life and death importance of baseball?

I nominate just about anything by Kings of Leon. How 'bout "Molly's Chambers"? As long as it's a fast-moving song, it really doesn't matter; you can't tell what the fuck they are saying anyway. It was good enough for a Volkswagon commercial in 2003, why not good enough for pitching changes in 2008? Maybe some "King of the Rodeo," "Pistol of Fire," or "Four Kicks." I'd like to second the "Anything But Bon Jovi" movement, regardless. Also, I'll be honest, I could do without "Go Cubs Go," mostly just because it's bad music.

I heard "LOaP" when I went to a game a couple of weeks ago and similarly shook my head in disbelief. (I think it's "It doesn't really matter if we make it or not," not that it really matters what the lyrics to a damn Bon Jovi song are). A modest proposal for a replacement, made regardless of the likelihood that the band would approve the song's use, or that non-indie-snobs actually dig the song: Fugazi, "KYEO" ("The tools, they will be swinging / We will not be beaten down"). Wrigley needs nothing less than a little Dischord.

Off the top of my head I'd probabaly have to go with the Heartbreakers: I'm all mixed up, I'm all mixed up about, All mixed up about you And no I can't find no reason To explain the way that I feel I remember things being clearer At one t ime things were more real I'm all mixed up, I'm all mixed up about, All mixed up about you I'm not lookin' for sympathy I'm just frightened by this apathy Like footsteps way in back of me On a narrow street of stone And if time will answer all questions Then perhaps a film will be shown Everyone could mail-order tickets Yeah, you could sell a lot of shirts For the last picture show I'm all mixed up, I'm all mixed up about, All mixed up about you

The New Pornographers, "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism" Scary Mansion, "Sorry We Took All Yr Money" And for Mr. Whipple... Radiohead, "Down is the New Up" :)

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

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If we're talking Boingo, I prefer "Dead Man's Party:" I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder Waiting for an invitation to arrive Goin' to a party where no one's still alive CHORUS I was struck by lighting Walkin' down the street I was hit by something last night in my sleep It's a dead man's party Who could ask for more Everybody's comin', leave your body at the door Leave your body and soul at the door . . . (Don't run away it's only me) All dressed up with nowhere to go Walkin' with a dead man Waitin' for an invitation to arrive With a dead man . . . Dead Man . . . Got my best suit and my tie Shiny silver dollar on either eye I hear the chauffeur comin' to the door Says there's room for maybe just one more . . . CHORUS Don't run away it's only me Don't be afraid of what you can't see Don't run away it's only me . . . Seemed appropriate, given the Cub's recent difficulties.

Merle Haggard: I'll Prob'ly Never See You Eye To Eye A-gain This Letter's Meant To Be My Last Fare-well But You Need To Under-stand I'm Nearly Crazy You Need To Know My Life Has Gone To Hell Write Me Back And Tell Me Why It Ended Send A Letter That I Can Show My Heart I'll Be Somewhere Between I Love You And What You're Feeling Now Lookin' For A Place To Fall A-part Looking For A Place To Fall A-part Trying To Find A Place That I Can Leave My Heart I Need To Be Somewhere Hidin' When I Feel The Teardrops Start Lookin' For A Place To Fall A-part I Can't Seem To Justify Your Leavin' Me I'm Be-wildered As To How It All Came Down I Thought Everything Was Fine Until Your Phone Call The Call That Turned My World A-round Send Me Word And Tell Me Why It Ended I Need Some Final Proof To Show My Heart I'll Be Somewhere Between I Love You And What You're Feelin' Now Lookin' For A Place To Fall A-part

Reds Blow bases loaded - 0 out opportunity. Still 3-1 Brewers, Bottom 4 5-4 Phils, Bottom of 7. So despite the Phils and Brewers not doing well, they will have gained 3 and 3.5 games respectively over the last 9 days with wins today. Cubs need to turn it on. Now.

Lance Berkman just got whacked directly in the forehead on a throw by the catcher on an attempted bunt that got deflected by the runner. He has a welt the size of an orange on his forehead although he's staying in the game (7th inning). Weirdest thing I've seen in awhile.

Also from the Reds game tonight filed under "some things never change, no matter how absurd..." Corey Patterson was Dusty's leadoff hitter tonight. 0-4. Ended the night hitting .202, OBP around .239

Reds causing two blown saves in two days... of course this isn't in cincy and the irony of Cordero having to close it out is apparent.

Wooooooooo.... 5-4 final Reds are a nondenominational spoiler. Great catch by Jay Bruce for the 2nd out.

That's huge! Now, if I'm the Brewers...I start to panic. Only 3 ahead of the Phils for the WC. Absolutely amazing that the Astros are now within 5 of playoff spot.

Dear Reds, Yesterday I hated you, I cursed your very name, I wished for the obliteration of your franchise. Today I say, and I mean this in the most heartfelt of ways, boo yah. Yours, Pell Mell

2-6 homestand for the Brewers so far. Hopefully the Reds win tomorrow as CC & Sheets to follow on Wed & Thu.

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that with the standings the way they are after the Reds' terrific win tonight, the Cubs are halfway there, whoa-oh, living on a...oops

CC & Sheets to follow on Wed & Thu. ---------------- Here's the probables as best as I can tell: Tues vs Reds, R. Ramirez (0-0) vs Suppan Wed vs Reds, Arroyo vs Sabathia Thurs vs Phillies, Sheets vs Moyer (although he pitched on sunday because of the sat. rainout...so they might use someone on a spot start) Friday vs Phillies, Parra vs Santana

Astros are 30-11 since July 26, including two 8 game win streaks. moved from 9 under .500 to 10 over. Before/After all star break: 2002: 4 under/10 over 2003: 6 over/6 over 2004: 0 under/22 over (48-26) 2005: 1 over/15 over(45-30) 2006: 3 under/5 over 2007: 11 under/5 under 2008: 7 under/17 over 7 straight years with a better record 2nd half. 18 under .500 in 1st half 82 over .500 in 2nd half The difference between 1st half and 2nd half is startling in itself...but more startling considering that they aren't good teams that get great...they are middling mediocre teams that suddenly wake up and can't be beat. Odd coincidence year after year after year.

i wondering about this weekends games in houston there seems to be a hurricane alert for texas looks like it will go south of houston but has mlb acknowledged this yet.

I will never truly defend the crap that is Bon Jovi, BUT the chorus of the song is actually appropriate: Whooah, were half way there Livin on a prayer Take my hand and well make it - I swear Livin on a prayer It's basically about having faith that everything will turn out right. Now, excuse my while I go puke.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I believe the objection, beyond the main idea that Bon Jovi is crap, is that the lyrics imply in their relation to the Cubs that this team needs a prayer. However, they've been in first place for a while and have been the best team in the NL. Needing a prayer isn't the right attitude anymore. They need something that implies they are working on total domination, not that they are hoping that they might actually win the game.

http://cubs.scout.com/2/787246.html Pitchers Ryan Acosta, RHP Jeff Beliveau, LHP Alberto Cabrera, RHP David Cales, RHP Chris Carpenter, RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Miguel Corletto, RHP Diego Encarnacion, RHP Erik Hamren, RHP James Leverton, LHP Oswaldo Martinez, RHP Toby Matchulat, RHP Dan McDaniel, RHP Tommy Mejia, RHP Tarlandas Mitchell, RHP John Muller, RHP Jake Muyco, RHP Andres Quezada, RHP Jayson Ruhlman, LHP Dustin Sasser, LHP Brian Schlitter, RHP Aaron Shafer, RHP Luke Sommer, LHP Larry Suarez, RHP Steve Vento, RHP Catchers Mike Brenly Matt Cerda Robinson Chirinos Luis Flores Juan Medina Infielders Rebel Ridling, 1B Josh Harrison, 2B Jake Opitz, 2B Starlin Castro, SS Junior Lake, SS Carlos Morales, SS Jovan Rosa, 3B Josh Vitters, 3B Logan Watkins, 2B/SS Outfielders Tony Campana Brandon Guyer Dylan Johnston

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

9/16...but thanks for noticing. Means I'm doing my job well. (No joke) mlb.com would be doing their job better if the vader head was clickable to what it's supposed to be promoting.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

I'd have to check but I think I started that sentence with the words "I'm not sure"--as in, I'm not sure that Pie will get a call-up. If Pie is his old self, he doesn't add any value, since Reed Johnson already deserves more playing time and does the things that Pie was supposed to, including (or especially) baserunning. Of course, if Pie is able to reinvent himself as a major-league-ready hitter, that's a different story. Since Pie may not get many at-bats this month, a lot is riding on how well he hits in the DR league this winter, where he usually bats .220-.230, just like in the majors. If he struggles again in the DR, he won't be a Cub next April, since according to AZ Phil they can't send him to the minors again.

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.