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

In Which We Get to Mock My Fantasy Draft

It's a 14-team league this year, 25 roster spots, start the standard 8 positions(LF, CF, RF specific) and a utility spot and 9 pitchers (4 SP, 3 RP, 2 P). It's a points-based system, with the only real difference from a roto league being that SB's aren't that big of a component. Essentially if you're high on the OPS or wOBA scale, you're a good offensive player  or VORP for a pitcher with closers and relievers really helping your points per innings (1500 IP limit). You must keep 6 keepers on your roster and they are assigned a draft round depending on their performance from last year.

It was a standard snake-style draft, I had the 11th pick based on reverse standings from last year (finished 4th).  So 4-4 means 4th round, 4th pick. I then listed the next 3 non-keeper picks to go and next 3 at the position I went for with my pick. (K) is of course for keeper.

1st-11: Pujols (K) - Duh! Winning!

2nd-4: Cliff Lee (K) - prefer not to carry over too many pitchers but trading was down this offseason

3rd-11: Josh Johnson (K) - worried about him staying healthy, but too good to put him back in the universe.

4th-4: Starlin Castro - shortstops are weak this year past anyone that wasn't already a keeper. I didn't think he'd last to my 6th round pick and also a total homer pick.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): Alexi Ramirez(4-7), C. Billingsley(4-9), Corey Hart(4-10)

(next 3 Shortstop non-keeper picks): Alexi Ramirez(4-7), S. Drew(6-13), R. Furcal(7-1)

5th-11: Alex Rodriguez (K) - can't trade him away to save my life

6th-4: Ben Zobrist - looking for a 2b-men here and also like Zobrist's versatility (1B, CF, RF eligible as well). It was between him and Aaron Hill.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): Chris Young (DBacks) (6-5), J. Valverde(6-8), Chris Perez(6-9)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): Aaron Hill (7-2), Neil Walker(9-8), Brian Roberts (10-7)

7th-11: Torii Hunter - looking at CF here, Hunter's also eligible at RF. Consistent if anything. Was also looking at Vernon Wells at this point.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Axford(7-12), W. Rodriguez(7-14), C. Kimbrel(8-2)

(next 3 CF non-keeper picks): G. Sizemore(8-4), V. Wells (9-4), A. Torres (10-3)

8th-4: Grady Sizemore - too early, but need some upside on this team. He'll open up a roster spot when he goes on the disabled list.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): M. Napoli (8-5), JJ Putz(8-6), B. Abreu (8-7)

(next 3 CF non-keeper picks): . V. Wells(9-4), A. Torres(10-3), Pagan (11-3)

9th-11: Fernando Rodney - the closer run was winding down, had to make my move.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): JP Arencibia (9-12), D. Hudson (10-1), D. Storen (10-2)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): . D. Storen (10-2), R. Franklin (10-4), L. Nunez (10-10)

10th-4: Ryan Franklin - few remaining closers left

(next 3 non-keeper picks): JP Arencibia (9-12), D. Hudson (10-1), D. Storen (10-2)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): L. Nunez (10-10), B. Lyon(11-6), F. Francisco (11-11)

11th-11: Frank Francisco - pays to research and I did not. Francisco is off to see Dr. Andrews and will not be ready to start the season.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Hanrahan (11-12), Carlos Lee(11-14), D. Aardsma (12-1)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): J. Hanrahan (11-12), D. Aardsma (12-1), B. League (12-3)

12th-4: E. Volquez - probably should be scared by the wildness, but I've always had good luck with guys on their 2nd year of TJ recovery.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): L. Gregerson(12-5), R. Nolasco(12-7), B. Myers(12-8)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks):R. Nolasco(12-7), B. Myers(12-8), C. Lewis (12-14)

13th-11: R. Ibanez - I was hoping A. Soriano or Manny Ramirez would have lasted this long,  but LF was picked apart by this point. Here's to a contract year.

(next 3 non-keepr picks): M. Minor(13-13), J. Vazquez(13-14), J. Motte (14-1)

(next 3 LF non-keeper picks): W. Venable (14-3), J. Kubel (14-10), A. Gordon (15-13)

14th-4: A. Harang - I'm counting on the the Petco bounce back year.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): R. Soriano(14-5), K. Farnsworth(14-6), J. De La Rosa(14-7)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): J. De La Rosa(14-7), T. Cahill(14-12), J. Jurrjens(14-13)

15th-11: J. Shields - was hopefully a victim of bad BABIP luck last year.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): E. Jackson (15-12), A. Gordon(15-13), P. Polanco(15-14)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): E. Jackson (15-12), J. Peavy(16-8), CJ Wilson (16-9)

16th-4: B. Hall - wanted 2B back-up so I can move Zobrilla around and like Hall's chances with the short porch in left, plus he's LF, CF, and RF eligible so at the very least a good guy to throw in there if a regular gets the day off. I was hoping for Howie Kendrick in one of the earlier rounds, but once he was taken(13-5), I held off and picked up pitchers. I was also considering O. Infante here.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): R. Madson(16-5), Y. Escobar (16-6), J. Peavy(16-8)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): O Infante (17-9), J. Uribe (17-10), D. Espinosa (21-6)

17th-11: K. Wood - wanted to fill out my relievers and the set-up men were starting to go. A bit surprised he lasted this long to be honest.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): D. Fowler(17-12), J. Lackey(17-13), J. Santana (17-14)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): M. Adams (19-2), J. Rauch (19-4), M. Wuertz (19-12)

18th-4: B. Hawpe - we get small points for assists and he's RF eligible, which can get him some garbage points. One of the first I'm sure to give up on waivers. I was hoping Lackey would last the 6 picks from here to my previous pick, but alas, it was not meant to be. Was deciding between him, Ordonez, JD Drew and Fukudome.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): G. Sanchez(18-5), J. Pierre(18-7), A. Cabrera (18-8)

(next 3 RF non-keeper picks): R. Doumit (18-10), M. Ordonez (18-13), K. Fukudome (19-11)

19th-11: K. Fukudome - Mr. April!!! Worked for me last year when I took him just for the first month...see if it works again.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): M. Wuertz(19-12), Chipper(19-13), H. Takahasi (19-14)

(next 3 RF non-keeper picks): D. Murphy (20-1), D. Brown (21-1), G. Jones (21-9)

20th-4: JJ Hardy - wanted a back-up shortstop and if healthy at least Hardy has some power

(next 3 non-keeper picks): S. Downs (20-5), AJ Burnett(20-6), Adam LaRoche(20-7)

(next 3 SSnon-keeper picks): Peralta (21-2), Theriot (21-7), A. Gonzalez (21-12)

21st-11: T. Clippard - one of the last set-up men left

(next 3 non-keeper picks): A. Gonzalez (21-12), J. Niese(21-13), J. Jaso (21-14)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): C. Hensley (22-1), A. Ogando (22-2), K. McLellan (22-6)

22nd-4: R. Wells - between him and Scott Baker and I went with my Cubs heart.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Duchscherer(22-5), K. McLellan (22-6), A. Escobar (22-7)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): J. Duchscherer(22-5), B. Arroyo (22-14), JA Happ (23-1)

23rd-11: H. Matsui - left field back-up for now, first guy I'll dump most likely. Totally forgot about L. Morrison.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): H. Bailey (23-12), K. Jepsen (23-13), J. Contreras (23-14)

(next 3 LF non-keeper picks): L. Morrison (24-10), J. Rivera (25-12)

24th-4: J. Posada (K) - 24th round starter at catcher who will be DH'ing and playing most everyday.

25th-11: P. Alvarez (K) - take a utility spot for now and trade bait as I already have A-Rod.

UPDATE: I did trade A-Rod and Josh Johnson away for Evan Longoria and Matt Garza today. I had been eyeing Longoria for a long time as a perpetual keeper and generally hate myself when I have to root for Rodriguez. Not the wisest trade for this year, but such is the price of youth.

Overall I kind of hated my draft this year, but I've really liked it in year's past and that hasn't worked out any higher than 3rd place, so we shall see.

Final Roster with Trades:

Likely Starters: Posada, Pujols, Zobrist, Castro, Longoria, Ibanez, Hunter, Fukudome, Alvarez

Pitchers: Cliff Lee, M. Garza, A. Harang, E. Volquez, J. Shields, R. Wells, R. Franklin, F. Francisco, F. Rodney, K. Wood, T. Clippard

Bench: Sizemore (will take over CF with Hunter moving to RF most likely), B. Hall, JJ Hardy, B. Hawpe, H. Matsui

Comments

destroys a 3-run HR fastball in the lefty happy zone

The only real headslapper I see in that draft is Ibanez over Alex Gordon. If memory serves Wells pitched essentially as well as Grienke last year by VORP, so that's a nice late roundish get. Alvarez will probably be a top 3 3rd basemen or a top 10 first basemen by the end of the year - maybe they'll move him to left for you. One idea for your keeper league which I am floating in mine is instead of having a yearly fee, have a 5 year "franchise" fee, where you payout 1/5th (plus interest) every year. So say you put in $250 per team and each year the winner(s) get $50/team back. The idea is to keep people from punting their future for deadline deals, and then dropping the league the next year. In theory, an owner could "sell his team" if he doesn't want to continue after two years for some discounted rate $120 or something.

Really, the Cubs should just cut bait on DeWitt, what's the point of keeping him around? Moore or Scales makes a lot more sense, and both are at least better SLG guys than DeWitt, and probably better with the glove and on the bases, too. I wish the Dodgers would have given us a decent mid-level minors prospect instead of a washout like DeWitt.

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...