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

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • 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.