Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Cubs Roll a Big Five in 8th to Edge D-backs at Fitch

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Javier Baez, Dan Vogelbach, and Rock Shoulders hammered back-to-back-to back doubles and Gioskar Amaya ripped an RBI single to cut the deficit to one, and then Gregori Gonzalez slammed an RBI triple to tie the score and scored the go-ahead run (eventual winning run) on a suicide squeeze play (pitcher threw a ball in the dirt and past the catcher), as the AZL Cubs rallied for five runs in the bottom of the 8th to edge the AZL Diamondbacks 5-4 in Arizona League action at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning in Mesa.

 This was the final 2011 game for the AZL Cubs, who were eliminated from contention for the AZL Wild Card last Thursday.

Recently-signed 2011 draft-picks RHPs Michael Jensen and Tayler Scott made their second appearances in four days, and both looked sharp, each throwing two innings of one-hit shutout ball (although Jensen's one hit allowed was a two-out broken-bat single, while Scott allowed a booming one-out triple but the runner was left-stranded), with a combined 9/0 GO/FO between the two pitchers. Jensen threw 23 pitches (17 strikes) with a 4/0 GO/FO and two strikeouts (both swinging) in his 2.0 IP, while Scott threw 21 pitches (15 strikes) with a 5/0 GO/FO and one K (looking).

Jensen (who broke about three or four D'backs bats in his two innings of work) throws a fastball that tops out at 94 MPH and a hard slider, and reminds me a lot of Daytona RHRP and 2010 10th round pick Aaron Kurcz, and Scott throws an 89-91 MPH fastball and a slow curve.

Cubs #1 draft pick Javier Baez got the start at SS and batted 2nd in the order today.

He doubled off the top of the LF fence and then stole 3B in the bottom of the 1st, flied out to the warning track in CF in his 2nd AB in the 3rd, flied out to the warning track in LF in the bottom of the 5th, and then doubled off the top of the right-centerfield fence in his 4th PA leading off the five-run 8th. No question the kid has big-time power.

But Baez wasn't quite as impressive in the field, committing three careless errors at SS that resulted in three unearned runs scoring. While he made one nifty "no-look" back-handed stop & throw worthy of the Harlem Globetrotters in the top of the 2nd, and started a key 6-4-3 DP to help protect the Cubs one-run lead in the top of the 9th, he also bobbled two easy bouncers (one in the 6th and another in the 8th) allowing batters to reach base (both eventually scored), and then on one of the fielding errors he blew his cool, launching a totally unnecessary throw over the 1st baseman's head (the batter had already crossed 1st base) allowing the batter-runner to advance to 2nd base.

The 18-year old Baez is kind of cocky and a bit of a "hot dog" (like holding the ball an extra beat and then firing a rocket to 1st base, or trying to turn a routine play into an ESPN Sports Center highlight), and he is a bit chippy with the umpires, too. He does run OK and he is an aggressive base-runner, and while he looks like he enjoys playing SS, he probably does not have the range to stay there. He could eventually end up at 3B, or maybe even a corner OF spot (he appears to have the arm strength needed to play RF). However, the Cubs will probably leave him at SS for a while to help ease his adjustment to pro ball, since he obviously feels comfortable playing the position.

Cubs 2011 2nd round pick Dan Vogelbach played 1B and batted 3rd today, and handled himself well around the bag at 1st base. He also (once again) took an outside fastball and hammered it to the opposite field (into the LF corner) for an RBI double, driving in Baez for the Cubs 1st run in the bottom of the 8th.

DH Rock Shoulders--who struck out in each of his first three AB, looking totally lost trying to hit breaking balls and off-speed pitches--then put a hurt on a first-pitch fastball, pulling it down the RF line for a double to score Vogelbach from 2nd base.

2B Gioskar Amaya followed, lining a single to drive-in Shoulders from 2nd (the hot-hitting Amaya had two singles and a double today, as he went 17-32 over his final eight AZL games), before AZL Cubs supersub Gregori Gonzalez sliced a triple over the right-fielder's head to knock-in Amaya with the tying run.

And then with Carlos Romero squaring for a suicide squeeze bunt, G. Gonzalez scored the go-ahead run (what was the eventual winning run) on (technically) a steal of home, when the Diamondbacks pitcher threw the ball into the dirt and past the catcher. 

Cubs 2011 18th round draft pick RHP James Pugliese pitched the 8th inning and struggled to throw strikes (20 pitches - only nine strikes), and despite allowing two walks and an unearned run, picked-up the win, and RHP Rafael Diplan threw a shutout 9th for the save (as the Diamondbacks left the potential tying run stranded at 3rd base).

Tags
AZL Cubs
Gioskar Amaya
Gregori Gonzalez
Dan Vogelbach
Rock Shoulders
Michael Jensen
Tayler Scott
Javier Baez

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 08:53 pm

Besides the AZL Cubs failing to qualify for the AZL playoffs as the Wild Card team, DSL Cubs #1 did not qualify for the DSL playoffs, DSL Cubs #2 did qualify but got swept 3-0 by the DSL Mariners in the first round, Boise has not yet been eliminated from the NWL post-season but the Hawks are seemingly headed in that direction, Peoria will not qualify for the MWL playoffs, and Iowa will not qualify for the PCL post-season. However! Both Tennessee (Southern League) and Daytona (FSL) have qualified for their respective league playoffs, so baseball will continue for those two Cubs farm clubs past Labor Day.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 08:19 pm

milb.com hasn't posted today's AZL box scores yet, so until they do, here is the unofficial abridged box score (Cubs players only): LINEUP: 1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-4 (K, P-6, 1B, 3-6-3 GIDP) 2. Javier Baez, SS: 2-4 (2B, F-8, F-7, 2B, R, SB) 3. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-3 (HBP, F-8, 4-3, 2B, R, RBI, SB) 4. Rock Shoulders,DH: 1-4 (K, K, K, 2B, R, RBI) 5. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 3-4 (F-9, 1B, 2B, 1B, R, RBI, SB) 6. Brian Inoa, RF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 3-2 FC, 6-3) 7. Gregori Gonzalez, 3B: 1-4 (5-3, 6-4 FC, 5-4 FC, 3B, R, RBI, SB) 8. Carlos Romero, C: 2-4 (K, 6-3, 1B, 1B, PO) 9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-3 (L-7, BB, 4-6 FC, F-8) PITCHERS: 1. Michael Jensen: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 4/0 GO/FO, 23 pitches (17 strikes) 2. Tayler Scott: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 5/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (15 strikes) 3. Jin-Young Kim: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 2/4 GO/FO, 39 pitches (31 strikes) 4. James Pugliese: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 20 pitches (9 strikes) 5. Rafael Diplan: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1 PO, 3/0 GO/FO, 14 pitches (6 strikes) ERRORS (4): SS Javier Baez: 3 (fielding, fielding, throw) 3B Gregori Gonzalez: 1 (missed tag) WP: Pugliese (2-2) SV: Diplan (1)

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 08:05 pm

AZ Phil, Which appears to be the better natural SS, Marco Hernandez or Javy Baez? I am guessing that Hernandez is better since every scout of the draft says that Baez is a future 3B. I watched his scouting clips and agreed with much of the 3B switch talk. I am curious about the Hernandez kid. Sounds like he and Amaya made a good tandem (add Zapata before his promotion and those three were the reason to check AZL Cubs' box scores). Phil, enjoy the time off until Instructs start. Always fun to read the detailed updates. I'd like to be able to do them myself someday.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 08:58 am

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 7:05pm. AZ Phil, Which appears to be the better natural SS, Marco Hernandez or Javy Baez? I am guessing that Hernandez is better since every scout of the draft says that Baez is a future 3B. I watched his scouting clips and agreed with much of the 3B switch talk. I am curious about the Hernandez kid. Sounds like he and Amaya made a good tandem (add Zapata before his promotion and those three were the reason to check AZL Cubs' box scores). Phil, enjoy the time off until Instructs start. Always fun to read the detailed updates. I'd like to be able to do them myself someday. =============================================== CHILDERS: I would say both Marco Hernandez and Javier Baez look like natural shortstops (but then so did D. J.LeMahieu), and I would not be surprised if both stay at SS for a while. The problem is trying to project them to where they will play at the higher minor league levels and MLB. In the case of Hernandez, if he becomes an everyday player in the big leagues it will likely be at 2B, He has the range and ball-handling skills to be a middle-infielder, but his arm is not ideal for a SS. If he ends up as more of a utility infielder (and he has played SS-2B-3B this year at AZL Cubs), then he should be able to handle SS when needed, but probably not as an everyday player. Baez is sort of the opposite of Hernandez, in that he has the arm strength to play SS, but but not the range or ball-handling skills. And while arm strength can be improved (somewhat), range cannot. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it. If Baez makes it to the big leagues as a back-up, I would say he would probably be a 3B-LF-RF guy, but if he is the hitter he appears to be, he could be an everyday player at 3B, LF, or RF. All that said, I expect both Hernandez and Baez will play SS next season. Hernandez should start the 2012 season at Peoria (with Amaya and Darvill), while I would expect Baez to be at Extended Spring Training April-May before getting assigned to Boise in June.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 08:36 pm

saw the first non-MLB/sports network commercial for Moneyball (movie) on TBS...it seems they're going to market it to "normal" people stressing the relationship between beane and his daughter...it made up almost 1/2 the commerical's material. kinda a family baseball movie vibe type appeal...played up the relationship between the suddenly fat as hell paul d. character and beane pretty heavily, too.

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Submitted by Paul Noce on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 08:41 am

I read an article online somewhere about the behind the scenes making of that movie, and how to get it approved again after the famous director dropped out, I forget his name, but the next group that took over decided to expand the tiny role of the daughter/father relationship to a much larger chunk of the movie. The first director and script were going to have David Justice and Scott Hattieberg play themselves, and have interviews with other former players, some of which was already filmed before the other director dropped out and the movie studio tried to kill the film. When it got back on track the real players were all cut from the new script. At one point, the first director also talked to Art Howe about playing himself. The article didn't say what Howe wanted to do. I think Steven Soderburgh was the first director tied to the project.

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Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 08:36 am

Soderburgh did The Informant!, right? That was a movie about an incredible and interesting real-life story that was completely ruined in its movie form... partly by poor acting on Matt Damon's part, but also by draining any kind of narrative out of the movie. The thing is, you either make a documentary or you make a movie, you can't ride the fence. If you make a movie, which is what The Informant! was and what Moneyball is, you have to have a story... it can't be all gimmick. Take Frost-Nixon, for example. It's based on the real Frost & Nixon interview, but really it's the protagonist's "fish out of water" story that makes it work so well. The Informant! had an element of that, but really it seemed like they spent way too much time trying to make Matt Damon's character funny.

Recent comments

  • 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!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (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 (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 (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 (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 (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.

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