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

Sunday morning Cubs Crossword puzzle

Well,it's been awhile since I did one of these.
Just...something to do to pass the time waiting for the next Cubs World Series.
If you want to do it, print it out.
(There's alot of bad language in here, btw.)

ACROSS:
1 In 2009, the most "important" thing the Cubs could do was get more ________ - handed.
8 Trademarked name of a pill which, when swallowed, has the same effect as the 2011 Cubs.
12 A frequent result of Soriano fielding a fly.
13 Initials for stat I just made up called Cub Got Error.
15 The part of some lyrics to a song you'd sing at Wrigley during the 7th: ____, _____ ____ for the Cuuuuuubiiieeeeeeeeesss...
16 Favorite Wrigley beverage.
17 When the Cubs lose badly, one might say "___________ on the Cubs". (go here and press on the pronunciation button quickly and repeatedly. For some reason it makes me laugh.)
18 When Albert Pujols gets bad diarrhea, or hits a late inning homer against the Cubs and does his home run _______.
19 A machine gun, only missing the "47" part.
20 The flawed computerized college football ratings system.
21 On the odd chance that he gets on, you might say Tony Campana can really _________ around the bases.
22 Fans who sit in the bleachers. Been there since 1969. Joe Montegna made a play of the same name, only this answer is singular rather than plural.
23 What happens to one's skin when one spends alot of time in the bleachers.
24 Tom Ricketts' favorite dog.
25 Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins.
27 A common red traffic sign, or "_______ losing to the Pirates, please."
28 After watching the 2011 Cubs, I became _______ - depressive.
30 Starting Cubs pitcher who won 20 or more games 5 times in his career. A lefty.
31 Double play.
32 Ryan Dempster and John Grabow often sport this beard.
33 As a Cub Fan, I often feel like the subject of this quote: "A _______ and his money are soon parted."
34 Left on base.
35 I sit in a cheap ______.
36 Have the Cubs won a WS since 1908?
37 Last name of the dickhead who ruined our lives in 1984 playoffs.
39 This year, Aramis Ramirez rarely seems to go _________.
41 Dusty Baker claimed someone left a pile of this for him outside the dugout.
44 Men pee in these at Wrigley.
47 Worst Cub ever.
49 Marlon Byrd got hit here.
51 Albert Pujols wants too long of a contract and he just _____ too much.
53 Text laugh out loud.
54 3rd baseman who hit .348 in 4 World Series for the Cubs.
55 Famous Tiger Cobb.

DOWN
2 Often heard on the golf course, it means LOOK OUT I SHANKED IT AT YOUR HEAD.
3 Popular film featuring long-haired guy with a hammer. You may have elected to watch rather than the Cubs.
4 They just made a movie about him. Rhymes with "Cartman".
5 When the guy next to me orders a beer, I look at the bartender and say, ________.
7 Potential next Cub HOFer. Closer.
9 Common term I use when referring to myself as a Cub fan of many, many years. Rhymes with "snore on".
10 Should Jim Hendry get the _________?
11 Have the Cubs won a WS since 1908?
12 The shortened version of "decoy" - it sort of means "fake out".
13 Famous Tiger Ty.
14 People are often disappointed they don't get to sing this after a game at Wrigley.
16 Under Mike Quade's hat.
23 Sometimes while batting, Kosuke Fukudome spins like a _____.
24.5 Ryan Braun
25 Phrase copyrighted by Pat Riley meaning 3 championships in a row. He wasn't talking about the Cubs.
26 No, the Cubs _____ _____ won a WS since 1908.
28 Splinter that stabbed Colvin.
29 Common term used on TCR referring to general not-so-goodness regarding the Cubs. Rhymes with "shrubbery".
31 Reed Johnson _______ headfirst into the wall, came out with his hat brim turned up.
32 Jim Hendry, __________ manager.
35 It looks like the ____ clown of life has returned to Wrigley Field this year.
40 Carlos Pena is mostly this kind of hitter.
42 At the beginning of the season, the Cubs were at least able to _________ water.
43 Lyrics "If it wasn't for bad _______, (the Cubs) wouldn't have no _______ at all." Listen to it here.
45 This season, when the Cubs are losing I usually ___ home about the 7th.
46 Initials of famous tv star who says "DOH!"
48 _____ Baylor.
49 Describe Carlos Silva in one word.
50 The Cubs don't have ______ chance to win the division this year.
52 First name of "The Chairman".

Comments

Recent comments

Sonicwind75 04/18/2024 - 04:45 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:02 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:47 am (view)

Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.
TarzanJoeWallis 04/18/2024 - 04:41 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:21 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:02 am (view)

Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.
Dolorous Jon Lester 04/18/2024 - 04:00 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:59 am (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 04/18/2024 - 04:02 am (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).
TarzanJoeWallis 04/18/2024 - 04:11 am (view)

So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.
If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.
I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?