Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Fit to Be Tied at Fitch Park

Max Kwan laced a line-drive single through a drawn-in infield to score Reggie Golden from 3rd base, as EXST Cubs Squad “A” rallied for a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie EXST Cubs Squad “B” 6-6 in an Extended Spring Training intra-squad game played this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.

Daytona IF-OF-C David Macias (on a rehab assignment at Fitch Park) was a DH for Squad “A” and got five at bats, going 1-5 with a single, two ground outs, and two strikeouts (one looking and one swinging). Macias was placed on the D-Cubs 7-day DL on May 10th.

Hunter Ackerman, Austin Reed, and Ben Wells all pitched multiple innings in the game, with mixed results. Ackerman struggled through his four innings (two of the innings were stopped early--“ROLL-IT!”--when the lefty reached his max pitch limit for that inning), allowing four runs on six hits and three walks (and a WP) in 3.1 IP, Reed allowed four runs (one earned) on two triples, three singles, and a walk in four innings of work (Reed also committed a costly error that led to three unearned runs scoring)), and Wells tossed three innings of one-hit ball, allowing one unearned run (Cub Squad “A” defenders committed four errors while Wells was on the hill).

RHP Dustin Fitzgerald had his best outing of the spring, throwing two innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts.

21-year old Dominican RHP Felix Pena made his U. S. debut, and was the victim of the Squad “A” 9th inning rally that tied the game. While F. Pena did allow one run on two hits and a walk, he also induced a timely DP ball with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs to help ease the pressure, and then struck out Wilson Contreras (swinging) with high gas for the final out.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry, Player Personnel Director Oneri Fleita, Scouting Director Tim Wilken, and a number of members of the Cubs Scouting & Player Development departments are spending the week at Fitch Park, with the scouts evaluating potential draft picks in pre-game morning work-outs, and the minor league instructors and coordinators evaluating the players who are assigned to the squad at Extended Spring Training in preparation for the start of the short-season leagues later this month. (Perhaps having so many eyes of importance watching was the reason Cubs players committed eight errors in the intra-squad game).

In EXST Cubs roster news, LHP Jeffry Antigua has been moved up to Daytona.

Here is the box score from today’s intra-squad game:

NOTE: David Macias was DH #1 for SQUAD “A” and batted 1st in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 8th innings

SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Vismeldy Bieneme, 2B: 1-5 (L-1, F-7, F-7, 1B, L-4, R)
2. Eduardo Gonzalez, RF: 1-5 (4-3, 1B, E-1, 4-3, E-6, 2 R, 2 SB)
3. Marco Hernandez, SS: 2-5 (K, 1B, 3B, E-4, E-6, R, 2 RBI, SB)
4. Brandon May, 1B: 0-3 (BB, 5-3, F-8, P-4)
5. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 1-4 (2B, 6-3, 6-3, K, R)
6. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-4 (4-3, 4-3, 1B, E-6, R, SB)
7. Brian Inoa, C: 2-3 (1B, BB, 3B, 4-3, 2 RBI, SB, 2 CS)
8. Oliver Zapata, CF: 0-4 (K, P-4, K, 4-3)
9. Johan DeJesus, DH: 0-4 (5-3, 4-3, F-8, P-6)

SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
X. David Macias, DH #1: 1-5 (1B, 6-3, K, K, 4-3, R)
1. Wes Darvill, SS: 1-3 (4-3, 6-3, BB, 1B, SB)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 2-4 (1-3, 2B, 1B, K, RBI)
3. Reggie Golden, RF: 2-4 (1B, 1-3, P-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB)
4. Max Kwan, LF: 2-4 (1B, K, 1-3, 1B, 2 RBI)
5. Blair Springfield, CF: 1-1 (BB, BB, 1B, BB, R, CS)
6. Carlos Romero, C: 1-4 (1B, K, 5-3, 5-4 DP, R)
7. Wilson Contreras, 1B: 0-3 (BB, F-8, K, K)
8. Jesus Morelli, DH #2: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, K, 2 RBI)
9. Gregori Gonzalez, 3B: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, R, SB)

==============================================================

SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Hunter Ackerman: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 63 pitches (38 strikes), 5/0 GO/FO
NOTE: 1st and 2nd innings were stopped with two outs when Ackerman reached max pitch limit
2. Brian Smith: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 38 pitches (23 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
NOTE: 5th inning was stopped with two outs when B. Smith reached max pitch limit
3. Dustin Fitzgerald: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 30 pitches (22 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
4. Felix Pena: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 25 pitches (15 strikes)

SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Willengton Cruz: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches (21 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
2. Austin Reed: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 64 pitches (43 strikes), 6/4 GO/FO
3. Ben Wells: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 33 pitches (24 strikes), 4/4 GO/FO

==============================================================

SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 1
C Brian Inoa - E2 (throwing error on stolen base attempt at 2nd base allowed base-runner to advance to 3rd base)

SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 7
1. 1B Wilson Contreras - E3 (throwing error allowed runner at 3rd base to score unearned run)
2. P Austin Reed - E1 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
3. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E4 (errant relay throw to 3rd base on an RBI triple allowed batter-runner to score)
4. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score)
5. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
6. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
7. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

======================================================

SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE
Brian Inoa: 1-4 CS, 2 PB, 1 E (see above)

SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Carlos Romero: 2-7 CS

=============================================

ATTENDANCE: 5

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

from the previous thread... Pilliere's mock draft from yesterday http://rangers.scout.com/2/1076134.html The Cubs love George Springer in this spot, but most evaluators agree that it will be hard for them to pass on Bubba Starling. They’ve looked into Archie Bradley, and they have heavy interest in Mikie Mahtook as well. None of these players would be surprising but ultimately Starling will be too tough to pass. -edit- Pilliere later said that Nats at #6 are targeting Starling

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Despite the Cubs history in development (or lack thereof), I am always a fan of drafting a player with the highest ceiling. Unless one of the ridiculous pitchers falls, Starling is actually my hope for the Cubs pick. Most likely, he won't make it to us. I am not as sold on Mahtook and am concerned about the Springer's hitting troubles this year (high Ks, not as strong production as was expected) (though I do root for him based on having the same last name as me!). But the draft is deep in pitching and so I hope the Cubs can grab a top hitting prospect with their pick. I don't really want Lindor, as he looks like a gap hitting shortstop, something I don't think the Cubs need right now, so I would prefer Springer if Starling isn't around. However, if Starling isn't around, I think the most likely picks are either Bradley or Sonny Gray (particularly because the Cubs appear to like to draft someone they previously selected, such as Cashner and Fuld).

McNutt goes 2 inning (47 pitches), gives up 2 ER on 4 hits, 1 BB and 0 K. Not sure if he had a pitch limit or if an injury led to his removal.

Both Robert Coello and Jeff Stevens cleared waivers and have been outrighted to the minors, Coello to AA Tennessee, and Stevens to AAA Iowa. Both Coello and Stevens will be eligible to be MLB Rule 55 Minor League Free-Agents (Six-Year Minor League FA) post-2011, unless added back to a 40-man roster by the 4th day following the conclusion of the World Series.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

There's no way of telling. This isn't even about turning a profit, specifically, it's just sort of a rule of thumb about acquiring debt. If you have debt at 10% intererest, it's much more of a concern than say 1% interest, but their rule of thumb doesn't talk about that. Selig is sort of caught between dueling desires here. On one side, he wants the baseball teams to be sold for as high a value as possible, because, well, that's pretty much his job. On the other hand, he doesn't want to have to bail out owners who bite off more than they can chew, because that would tend to lower the values of the teams. I was looking around for Selig's steroid testimony the other day and found this - which is just a great and amusing read. http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php/20188-Rob-Neyer-on-Bud-Selig-s… The way baseball owners make money is by selling their franchise, not in general, by profiting on a year-to-year basis. That's the exact plan the Ricketts have - to give them selves some nice salaries as board members to pay the bills, but to just own the team for 20 years and then sell it and become even wealthier than they were, and have the fun of owning a ballclub in the interim. So in short, it's all a bunch of bullshit. You're not going to be able to get any real information if the Congress can't, but you can get enough little soundbites and snippets here and there to get you pissed off at the owners or players, regardless of whose side you come down on.

[ ]

In reply to by Mike Wellman

Espn 1000 just played soundbite from Papa Joe rickets, undated, saying in part kids came to him in 2005 saying that Cubs are for sale and that the should buy. Papa Joe said why, I don't like sports not interested. The kids replied "Wrigley sells out win or lose." Joe said that's good business now I'm interested. Yikes ! Here's a dick poll for you- which happens first- Ricketts sells or moves Cubs to suburbs?

You may wonder why I haven’t branded the Cubs as a EBITDA offender. True enough, the Cubs debt is more than twice what the MLB rules allow. But the MLB rules do not consider the Cubs’ debt to be debt! The Cubs’ lender is the Ricketts family, the Ricketts family is also the team owner, and MLB rules provide an exception where the lender is the owner. But the Cubs’ debt is still debt, no matter what baseball might think. The Cubs still have to pay interest on the debt (3% per annum, a nice interest rate if you can get it), and the debt still has to be repaid (or if possible, forgiven or converted into equity). Of course, if the Cubs have trouble paying what it owes on this debt, we can hope that their lender will be reasonable. http://itsaboutthemoney.net/archives/2011/04/21/baseball-deep-in-debt-p…

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Also interesting in the highly dubious Forbes info presented there is that they missed the Astros' value by about 50% ($474 million to actual $680 million)... of course the $680 million isn't actually $680, it's a higly financed $680 million, but and I am not sure what they purport their values to represent, but the Cubs' price listed is pretty close their "sale" value.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

me confused... the article is end of April and Astros were sold in middle of May, and who knows when the actual Forbes data was compiled. A house is worth whatever anyone is willing to pay for it, isn't the same true for baseball teams? unless a team had been sold recently, like the Cubs, they're just taking educated guesses on fair market value. Also, didn't the Astros deal include part of a TV network they just started?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yes it included it, but it was already owned by the team, it wasn't like they invented the Ipod or something. Do you think that you can make $200 million by starting a regional sports network with a basketball team? And if so, shouldn't Forbes counted the ability to do so into their valuation model? Like I said, I don't know what the values are supposed to represent, but I am 99% sure that as a whole they're not very accurate. I know this because they've alwasy been wrong. If they don't represent what the team is going to be sold for, then what do you suppose they're supposed to represent? An actual valuation, like you do a publically traded company? Once again, how can Forbes do this when Congress can call Selig to a hearing and can't get the info? The answer, is that they can't.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

What I am saying regarding the regional network stakes is it isn't that the teams are spending much money to "create" them, and they're not worth $200 million if you separate the team from them. They're sort of like the Cubs ticket scalping company, their whole value is intrisinc to them being associated with the baseball (and NBA in this case) team... If the Rockets and Astros walked away from the network, then it would be worth whatever they could sell their camera and trucks. If you value it at $200 million, for the most part, you're just subtracting that value from the Astros in the first place, since the revenues they are getting were already potential revenues for the team (and potential revenue is about 50% of how you do a valuation for a company). *edit for Faulknerism

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

There's so much wrong with that article I don't know where to begin (and I'd like to know where he got that 3% interest bullshit). But let me just note that the Ricketts didn't finance the deal entirely with their own money. Not even close. They got a $350-million loan from J. P. Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Corp. and Bank of America Corp. And Barclays PLC marketed a $100-million private placement of notes with institutional investors. And as soon as they finished the deal they started looking for big buck private party investors to buy notes secured by Wrigley Field (which is why all Ricketts wants to talk about is how he's fixing up Wrigley...he's wooing investors).

Rami to take BP today and assess tomorrow whether he can play. 7 stitches inside still-swollen lip. must be tough to swing a bat with a swollen lip?

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).