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

This is Your 2011 Cubs

via Rotoworld...

Marmol entered a 3-1 game and allowed the six runs on five hits and a walk before being yanked having recorded just one out. The last time a Cubs pitcher allowed six runs in the ninth inning with Chicago leading entering the frame came in 1911.

Also it seems that Q-Ball doesn't have the respect of everyone in the clubhouse...a response to Z breaking a bat over his leg last night.

‘‘I don’t like that,’’ Quade said. ‘‘I’m glad he’s OK. I get his frustration, but he can do something else. I cringe because he can hurt himself.’’

‘‘I work hard. My legs are strong,’’ said Zambrano, who was upset at himself because he missed a hanging breaking ball he thought he should have hit. ‘‘It’s nothing to worry about. If you want to see how I can break bats over my legs, come back tomorrow and watch me lift weights.’’

But what about the manager’s concern?

‘‘What manager?’’ Zambrano said.

Don't forget that Dempster was picked over Z for Opening Day and Dempster couldn't have been more vocal about wanting Q-Ball to get the manager gig. It could be nothing, could be something....

I heard Darwin Barney on XM Radio this morning, nothing earth shattering as you'd expect, but I have to say he does come off quite professionally and says all the right things. Said that Carlos Pena could be a preacher if he wanted, seems to be a very vocal and encouraging presence in the clubhouse. Also had good things to say about Marlon Byrd, relating a story in spring training that after Byrd got on him a little bit in the batting cage that Barney encouraged him to keep doing it whenever he caught Barney messing up and that he was committed to improving himself.

Today's lineup vs. Brett Myers: Fuku RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, Pena 1B, Ramirez 3B, DeWitt LF, Soto C, Colvin CF, Davis P

Comments

Yeah, I remember Barney talking in ST about Byrd and how he's in his face about his diet. I seem to remember that Byrd was bringing Barney breakfast every day, because he didn't like what he was eating...

Barney also said Byrd was trying to be back in 2-3 weeks, although either Sun-Times link or another story I read said something like 6 weeks and mid-July.

"Don't forget that Dempster was picked over Z for Opening Day and Dempster couldn't have been more vocal about wanting Q-Ball to get the manager gig. It could be nothing, could be something...." It is likely that neither Z or Dempster will be on the roster the next time the Cubs make the payoffs.

well I'm surprised Cubs are 1st in BA, 3rd in OBP, 5th in SLG and OPS and Runs Scored Per Game. AVG and OPS drop to 11th though with RISP

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In reply to by navigator

worst BABIP in the league at .314 thanks to the shitty defense, also looks like the second worst LOB% HR rates actually aren't too bad, .99 HR/9 and 9.5 HR/FB% K/9 is 4th best in majors, but BB/9 is worst in league. Fangraphs has their ERA at 4.80 fwiw (don't know why the discrepancy to ESPN), and FIP at 4.10.

shall we take bets that the Cubs decide to option Randy Wells if he doesn't pitch well this weekend and keep Davis and Lopez when Garza gets back?

I don't know how his receiving skills are, but it looks to me like this guy is ready to play somewhere in the majors. I seem to remember that AZ Phil thought he would be at least a capable backup. Too bad we have 'yeah, boy Koyieee' and Castillo in front of him... Trading chip?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

well if Robinson Chirinos can be one, sure... probably not a big market for a guy projected to be utility bench guy. I'll take him over Koyie though and at the moment Soto. He is knocking a few more over the fence this season and his BB and K totals have always been good.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:54pm. I don't know how his receiving skills are, but it looks to me like this guy is ready to play somewhere in the majors. I seem to remember that AZ Phil thought he would be at least a capable backup. Too bad we have 'yeah, boy Koyieee' and Castillo in front of him... Trading chip? ===================================== JACE: As I have mentioned here before, I believe Steve Clevenger profiles as an ideal back-up C-1B-LHPH at the big league level. Although his receiving skills are just average (he is a converted infielder, having played SS in college and 2B his first year in the Cubs organization) and although he has a slightly below-average arm, pitchers who have worked with him (minor league guys) have told me they really like to throw to him because he is a student of the game (probably a future manager) and can really pick-apart the other team's hitters, probably because he is a good hitter himself. Back when AZ Phil was a young fart, there was a back-up catcher in the big leagues named Charlie Lau, and he would later become a reknowned hitting coach with the Kansas City Royals in the 1970's. Clevenger reminds me a lot of Charlie Lau as far as his ability to analyze the game. I strongly suspect that Steve Clevenger will eventually be an MLB back-up catcher (and sooner rather than later). And I know of at least one scout from an organization other than the Cubs that feels the same way. So if the Cubs don't add him to the 40-man roster post-2011, I would say he would be a good candidate to get selected in next December's Rule 5 Draft. BTW, the reason Clevenger keeps getting assigned to AA Tennessee is because the Cubs want to maximize his playing time, which would be a problem if both he and Welington Castillo were on the same team. And since W. Castillo projects as a #1 MLB catcher (although maybe not with the Cubs), Castillo gets to play at AAA Iowa, while Clevenger is (seemingly) stuck at AA. Also, Clevenger is better working with kid pitchers, while W. Castillo (who still has some rough edges behind the plate) functions better with older and more experienced AAA pitchers who can help get him through the tough times.

christ... this team takes more balls to the face than a crackhead hooker. now it's aram.

brings in Marshall to face Bourn in a tie game with bases loaded, Bourn singles of course.

re: aram took a ball to the face while diving/fielding...busted open his nose and/or mouth.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

by what...1 or 2 walks or something? there's nothing about colvin's game now or in the past that involves caring about whether he walks or not because he never walks enough to consider it. he's pure contact. he needs consistency and power or his bat game is crap.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

That's fine and all, but if he is walking more than he did last year, is it not reasonable to assume that he isn't swining at anything more than he did last year, or not appreciably more? According to the numbers at Fangraphs - Colvin has swung at 0.5% more pitches that he's seen outside of the strikezone this year, and 4.2% more pitches inside the strike zone, while swinging and missing 20% less often overall. Just call it reverse LeMahieuing it and let it go.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

if you count his 2bb in 60-ish pa in the minors he's walking less. the point is, he doesn't walk enough to even care. projecting to walk even 5-10 times more a year doesn't even matter. if he doesn't make quality contact his hitting game is crap. if he's not hitting for power while doing it he's not a starter. jacque jones jr. will hopefully start hitting for power.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Uhh, you are aware that I WROTE past #42, right? I'm not sure what you think I am saying... I am saying that he has failed to impress since the call-up... Have you read the cubs.com article about how he feels he has his timing back? What have you seen that would lead you to believe he has it back? Walks have little to do with timing... The sac bunt from last night?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

You are judging that he doesn't have his timing back based on two to three at bats. I am saying that two or three at bats is too small a sample to judge anything. A nice sac bunt, two groundouts, a pop-out and a walk, assuming you watched all five plate appearances, and you have judged that his timing is off. What does that mean that your timing is off? I thought it means that you're swinging too soon (which would be a strike or a pulled foul) or too late (which would be a strike or a opposite field foul) - none of Colvins' grand total of five PA's ended like that, so what do you mean that his timing is off?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Look... (deep breath) I am NOT saying that the 2 partial games that he has played since he has returned are proof that he is washed up, or the worst player that the Cubs have ever had. I am saying that it looks like right now, HIS TIMING IS OFF! Let's look at his ABs from today - First AB - looked at strike one swung at strike two fouled off a pitch grounded out to the first baseman. Second AB - took first pitch for a ball fouled off strike one fouled off strike two took three consecutive pitches in the dirt, WALKED Third AB - took ball one fouled off strike one took ball two foul tip strike two popped out to the third baseman What do you see above that would make you think that I am incorrect in saying that it looks like his timing is off???

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Once babe Ruth struck out four times in a game. The next game he hit two home runs. Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever look at a handful of at bats and think you've learned anything important. Ever. I don't know if he's timing is "off". I am smart enough, however, not to worry about three fucking at bats.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"Never ever ever," etc. You can learn a lot about a hitter watching individual at bats. In the week before Colvin was sent down, I saw him take a 2-0 fastball down the middle. I thought, Hey, Genius, what are you looking for on two-and-oh? I even had a few nasty thoughts about his hitting coach. Then a couple days later, he gets a good rip at a breaking ball on 0-1, and fouls it back, so now it's 0-2. The next pitch he swings weakly at a breaking ball low and outside. Does Colvin know that pitchers try not to throw the ball in the strike zone on 0-2? That they hear about it from their coach and manager--"Why didn't you bury it?"--if they give up a hit when they're way ahead in the count? Colvin is messed up. The dumb ones take longer to learn how to hit. He's going to have his hands full keeping up with the other young outfielders, especially if (like Jackson) they're smarter than he is.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

This is one of the dumbest arguments I have ever read. It looks like you are arguing just to be arguing. It is perfectly fine to watch one game and say "he didn't really look comfortable in the field," or "his timing looked off at the plate." Hell, you can watch one at-bat and say "he didn't seem to be seeing the ball out of the pitcher's hand real well." Hell, Babe Ruth himself would have probably told you that his timing was off yesterday but he felt better at the plate today. Do any of these comments mean that whatever condition will hold for weeks, or a career, etc.? No. Jesus. This is stupid. I can't believe you wasted that much time arguing about this. And I can't believe I wasted this much time typing this.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

It's perfectly fine to do anything. It may be stupid, but it's perfectly fine. Colvin says his timing is fixed. Jace watched three at bats and decided he was wrong... Jace was right, because obviously, baseball expert that he is, he would know more than the actual player. The most important thing is knowing what you don't know. That's what I was trying to get across, not that I think Colvin's timing is fine, just that I am willing to admit that watching 3 at bats isn't going to tell me anything. It's amazing you guys aren't trying to get Jim Hendry promoted to president, or God, you think just like he does.

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In reply to by Jace

First AB - looked at strike one swung at strike two fouled off a pitch grounded out to the first baseman. Outcome - Left Handed hitter power pitcher pulls ball. Verdict, Jace is wrong. Second AB - took first pitch for a ball fouled off strike one fouled off strike two took three consecutive pitches in the dirt, WALKED Outcome - Walk. Verdict - incluclisive, lack of details on direction of foul balls, but he hit everything he swung at. Third AB - took ball one fouled off strike one took ball two foul tip strike two popped out to the third baseman Outcome - Power hitter hit opposite field pop-up. Verdict Jace is correct, though again, batter hit everything he swung at. Overall conclusion: Too little information provided to make any authoritative conclusion. He missed one pitch on the day...

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In reply to by The Real Neal

I'd feel better about his prospects if he EVER hit other than the first 6 weeks of last season. 6 years of being a mid 700's ops Minor League guy should carry more weight than 6 weeks of being a good offensive force 12-14 months ago. 4th outfielder IF he can regain some semblance of April/May 2010. AAAA slugger if not.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

2nd half of last year he had an OPS of .787 In September it was .808 And for Jace on June 25th of last year his timing was off, 0-4 with 2 K's... his next start he went 3-5 with a home run. Of course, that's impossible that he could go 3-5 in a game after May 17th of 2011.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

(says the guy who just made a joke about LeMahieu after two at-bats, that was way over my head because the joke was the whole reason LeMahieu is in the majors was based on a decision made because of too small a sample, exactly the same thing we are discussing here, and the #1 problem with the Cubs organization that happens time and time again for years and years but I cannot or refuse to recognize). Come on guys, it's really not rocket science. It's math and logic.

day off tomorrow...then the hell part of the schedule starts. cards/reds/phils/brews/yanks/wsox til the 22nd of june.

Of course, that's impossible that he could go 3-5 in a game after May 17th of 2011. --- At Iowa?

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...