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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024

* 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
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12
Kevin Alcantara, OF
Michael Arias, P
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF
Jose Cuas, P
Brennen Davis, OF
Porter Hodge, P
* Luke Little, P
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B
Daniel Palencia, P
Luis Vazquez, INF
Hayden Wesneski, P

10-DAY IL: 1
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL:
* Justin Steele, 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

Dolorous Jon Lester 04/19/2024 - 04:51 am (view)

Indeed they do TJW!
For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.
That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.
Childersb3 04/19/2024 - 04:45 am (view)

The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18. We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!
TarzanJoeWallis 04/19/2024 - 04:21 am (view)

Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.
If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.
Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.
Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!
Dolorous Jon Lester 04/19/2024 - 04:57 am (view)

That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.
When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.
TarzanJoeWallis 04/19/2024 - 04:46 am (view)

Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?
But I digress…
Sonicwind75 04/19/2024 - 04:00 am (view)

Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.

At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.
Childersb3 04/19/2024 - 04:42 am (view)

AZ Phil:
Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
crunch 04/18/2024 - 04:08 pm (view)

masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around. i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.
TarzanJoeWallis 04/18/2024 - 04:51 pm (view)

I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.
That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.
Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.
Childersb3 04/18/2024 - 04:39 pm (view)

Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa
Taillon and Wisdom up
Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.