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

AZL Angels Jett Past AZL Cubs at HoHoKam

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Jett Bandy laced three doubles, including a two-run two-base hit with one out in the top of the 8th that drove-in the tying and go-ahead runs, leading the AZL Angels to a 4-3 victory over the AZL Cubs in Arizona League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa this evening.

box score

The Cubs went into the top of the 8th inning leading 2-1, thanks to a solo HR by Dustin Geiger in the 4th and a Ryan Durrence RBI ground out in the 6th. But AZL Cubs 8th inning set-up man Colin Richardson could not hold the lead, issuing a one-out four-pitch walk, followed by back-to-back doubles and consecutive singles, as the Angels took a 4-2 lead.

The Cubs did score a run in the bottom of the 8th on a leg-double by lead-off hitter Oliver Zapata, an Angels error, and a sacrifice fly, but it wasn't enough, as Angels closer Brandon Efferson threw a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

18-year old LHP Brian Smith (Cubs 2010 40th round draft pick out of Pickering, Ontario) got the start for the AZL Cubs, and threw a solid four innings (61 pitches - 40 strikes), allowing just one unearned run on five hits and a walk, while striking out three. A member of the Canadian Junior National Team prior to signing with the Cubs right at the August 16th signing deadline last year, Smith had his second quality outing in a row, especially significant since he was absolutely terrible in his pro debut at AZ Instructs last fall (30.00 ERA, 4.33 WHIP, and a .527 OppBA) and got a late start to the 2011 season, not pitching in a game until more than halfway through Extended Spring Training. But he has looked OK in AZL action so far (albeit just 7.1 IP over two games), displaying a high-quality curve and change-up, and the poise and stamina needed to throw multiple innings.

19-year old Dustin Geiger (Cubs 2010 24th round draft pick out of Merritt Island HS - Brevard County, FL) continues to be the offensive leader for the AZL Cubs. After two more hits tonight (including the 390-ft+ home run to left-center that gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead, and a picture-perfect hit & run single to right that advanced a runner from 1st to 3rd and led directly to the Cubs second run), Geiger is hitting a robust 400/423/769 (including three doubles, two triples, and a HR) through his first six AZL games, while playing adequate defense at both 3B and 1B (although he looks better at 1B). Geiger has showed tremendous improvement in his power stroke over the last few weeks (having hit 325/367/525 with three doubles, two HR, and 12 RBI over his last 13 Extended Spring Training games), and I had thought that just based on that he would get assigned to Boise, but the Cubs chose to place 3B-1B Wilson Contreras on the Boise roster instead, while keeping Geiger in Mesa. But if he keeps slugging the way he has over the last few weeks, I would expect Geiger to get a promotion to Boise (if not to Peoria) before much longer.

While Geiger has been the offensive star of the AZL Cubs, 19-year old Dominican switch-hitter Brian Inoa has struggled to find a position. Inoa was used mainly as a DH in the DSL last season where he hit 279/356/369 for DSL Cubs #2, but he was worked exclusively at catcher throughout Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training this year. However, it became quite clear over time that Inoa did not have the defensive chops to succeed as a backstop, so he was moved to 1B, and now (more-recently) to 2B, with poor results at each stop. Inoa made two more errors (on successive plays) leading to an unearned run in tonight's game, and was pulled out of the game in the top of the 7th. Next stop? Maybe LF. But to play LF Inoa will have to show the slugging he displayed at times in Extended Spring Training, like when he hit for the cycle against the Diamondbacks on May 23rd.

 

Tags
AZL Cubs
Dustin Geiger
Brian Smith
Brian Inoa

Comments

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:43 pm

For all six teams (Boise and above) to win yesterday, a couple of improbable things had to happen: Peoria had to break a 10-game losing streak, and the suddenly impotent post-LeMahieu Smokies--punished by Jackson's and Lake's deep slumps and then KO'd by the Vitters beaning--had to actually score a run in thirteen innings. More impressive, though, were the seven consecutive scoreless innings spun by Maine and Gaub in Iowa's 15-inning 6-5 win over Albuquerque. Maine pitched three innings, Gaub four(!). Both gave up 1 hit, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Add starter J. Jackson's 5 strikeouts and you get 19 total.

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:56 pm

Jason Parker(?) on SS prospects with all kinds of Hak-Ju Lee love. Puts him in his top 3... http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14377 TCF: Lee is one of my favorite prospects in the game, and a player with the potential to be Leader of the Pack (Future) in this crazy deep talent pool. At the plate, the 20-year-old Korean has great hands and hand-eye coordination, which leads to heavy doses of contact. The power isn’t there, and it might not show up, but he can sting a ball; he’s not an empty hitter. I like his overall approach: It’s aggressive yet under control, giving him some on-base ability and high-batting average projections. The glove is flashy and slick, though he still needs refinement, which he will find through repetition; the actions for a plus defender are already present. The arm is plenty strong for the position and his quick feet, natural instincts, and plus-plus raw speed given him excellent range. The total package could be an All-Star with a plus glove, the ability to hit for a very high average (not empty average), and enough strength to work the gaps. He’s not going to hit 15-plus home runs per season, but you can’t put him in the speed/slasher box, either.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:32 pm

Later Picks of Note: With a mid-90s fastball that consistently touches 97-98, fourth-round pick Tony Zych was one of the hardest throwers in this year's draft, but he doesn't have another plus offering. Sixth-round catcher Neftali Rosario is a very good defensive catcher with a bit of pop. He'll be a nearly impossible sign, but many think 11th-round pick Shawon Dunston Jr. will be a first-round pick in 2014 after honing his skills at Vanderbilt. Analysis: The Cubs focused more on teenage upside than in recent drafts, which fits well with the system needs. Tough signs like Dunston and seventh-round pick Trevor Gretzky give them a chance to make this an excellent crop. better place to hone skills? Vanderbilt or Cubs farm system?

Submitted by TJ on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:06 pm

There isn't much to cheer about this year, but I was hoping Castro could make a run for the batting title. However, I am upset every day when I see Q-ball put him in the third spot. When will he realize that for whatever reason, Castro is not comfortable there. I hope it doesn't ruin him.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:42 pm

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 5:31pm. mateo down, barney up should happen soon enough. doug davis DFA will hopefully happen before that. ============================================ CRUNCH: If Rodrigo Lopez has an (unexpectedly) reasonably decent outing tonight, I would think the Cubs might keep Lopez in the starting rotation and Marcos Mateo in the bullpen and DFA Doug Davis when Darwin Barney is reactivated tomorrow. Davis has the potential to earn about $1M in incentives tied to GS and IP, so I doubt that the Cubs would think twice about releasing him. He has zero trade value. As for other trade possibilities, I could see Kerry Wood going home to Texas once he proves his blister issue has been resolved, and (as I have mentioned here before) the Giants should have some interest in acquiring Geovany Soto. And Alfonso Soriano for Adam Dunn is just too supersilious for it not to happen.

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 06:18 am

Interesting to read Von Joshua analyzing someone's swing again. Reminds me when he gave a long dissertation about Milton Bradley, on how the top half of his body was turned the wrong way and out of synch with his legs. "You can't hit like that." He got that right. I think I prefer him to Teflon Rudy. I find the whole Colvin deal very disturbing in terms of what the coach was doing in his day job. Here is a talented young hitter--maybe not too sharp--who is just floundering. He has to go to Iowa to get any answers.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 06:26 am

Colvin's line drive percentage this year is 9.9 compared to last year's 17.0. His HR/FB this year is 6.3 compared to last year's very strong 19.4. It looked to me like Colvin was making plenty of contact, it was just poor contact. And it looked to me like most of the time that he was in the majors he was hitting the very top of the ball a lot of the time that he was pulling it, resulting in weak grounders to the right (or into foul territory). The numbers also suggest that he was getting as much of the fly balls that he hit either. I would say that those are probably symptoms of some mechanical problems which may lead to, be caused by, or just combine with some small timing issues. I think some of it had to do with all the time he spent on the bench, but I don't have any evidence for that.

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 06:47 pm

"LOL," etc. Do you think Von Joshua was analyzing Bradley's swing when he was with Texas? With the Cubs, he slugged .397. His OBP was fine, because he was focused like a laser on drawing walks. Fukudome draws walks, too, and many observers would look at him and say, "You can't hit like that." I do find it odd that the Cubs get beaten up every day in these pages for not stressing plate discipline, after spending $80 million since '08 on the two most extreme non-producing OBP specialists in the game. "He just didn't swing the bat. He didn't get the job done. His production, or lack of (production), was the only negative." --Hendry on Bradley

Submitted by Paul Noce on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 06:03 pm

Here's Mike Quade's lineup for Game 2 vs. Barry Zito: 1. Reed Johnson, cf. 2. Starlin Castro, ss 3. Aramis Ramirez, 3b 4. Carlos Pena, 1b 5. Geovany Soto, c 6. Jeff Baker, 2b 7. Alfonso Soriano, lf 8. Lou Montanez, rf 9. Rodrigo Lopez, p

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 06:42 am

Fukudome was the latest in the succession of left handed hitting RF's that Hendry has failed in the quest to acquire anyone really good after Sosa shrunk. Burnitz, Jacques Jones, Fuk and thinking Fuk can play CF, Uncle Milty. ...plus a few minor attempts to catch lightning in a bottle: Jody Gerut, Ben Grieve, Todd Hollandsworth, Matt Lawton Fukudome's failure is that he came here with the expectation to drive in some runs and provide 20 HR power as well as the history of great April and meh May-Sept. He has succeeded in the OBP and RF defense areas. Tyler Colvin is somewhere in that mix too although he was a farm product and should be lumped in with Pie and CPat.

Recent comments

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (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 (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 (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!

Click HERE for the last 50 comments