Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Santo Exhumed; Goes 15/16!

Amputation of the heels he so famously used to click wasn’t enough, not even on top of an assortment of other ailments that included the diabetes through which he played his entire career. A long stint as the Cubs’ ambassador to a whole new generation of fans wasn’t enough either. And clearly the impressive resume he amassed as a player wasn’t enough by itself. No, Ron Santo finally had to pony up his very life to get what he deserved and so craved; induction at Cooperstown. After he paid that price too, the contrivance known as the Golden Era Committee finally, belatedly in my view, did the right thing and let the man in. Now, after almost exactly a year in purgatory since he died on December 2, 2010, Santo can move on to the HOF; proof positive, if you need it, that there is such a thing as life everlasting. I knew it would happen this way if it was ever going to happen at all. I bet Santo couldn’t pronounce the word ‘posthumously’ any better as it’s written than Harry Caray could backwards. But he sure as hell knows what it means. It means that he won’t get to celebrate with his family until such time as they’re all ever in the same place at the same time again, by whatever mysterious means such a thing might ever be accomplished. I listened to Santo play on the radio with my dad. My own kids got his autograph when I took them to Wrigley Field. I was there the day his #10 was retired and I was there the night they unveiled his statue outside the ballpark. I toyed with the idea of going to Chicago for his funeral, just as I’m toying now with the idea of making my first ever pilgrimage to the Valhalla of baseball for his induction next summer. By then I expect I’ll have come to my senses – probably. Understand that I feel obliged to write this. And I appreciate a forum on which to post it. Please indulge me and do not engage in a statistical dissection of his worthiness or lack thereof - enough of that already. Just let it be. Too bad he didn’t get in while he was still alive but at least he did while I still am. I can check that item off of my Cub bucket list. Let’s see; there’s only one thing left…

Comments

LaHair at Winter Meeting luncheon today to collect Joe Bauman Home Run Award. Met Epstein and Hoyer. In reference to his recent hitting funk in Venezuela, says "I'm just tired"--which seems like a good excuse to me. Says, though, that his team has convinced him to go back for a few more weeks. On a related Caribbean note, Junior Lake played two games for DWL Estrellas de Oriente (Eastern Stars?) about ten days ago, in which he hit a home run and stole three bases. But he came out of the second game late and hasn't been in the lineup since. I haven't seen anything about the nature of his injury. Fun fact: in his second game, Lake batted second, just ahead of Felix Pie and Jake Fox. Pie seems to be solving DWL pitching better than he used to.

- Hanley seems to have already agreed to move to 3B without making much of an issue about it, although Beinfest wouldn't comment on specific players being there on Opening Day. - Dodgers and Harang nearing a 2-year deal. - CJ Wilson allegedly has a 6-year offer (Nats, Angels the most interested so far with RSox, Marlins and Rangers in the mix) - Rays making serious run at Josh Willingham - Chapman likely to start 2012 in pen - some Rollins to Brewers buzz

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

on that note, would adding 2 of 3 out of Aramis, Rollins and Pena be better than retaining Fielder for Brewers? depends on the deals of course, but say 3/39 range for Ramirez and Rollins and 2/16 for Pena??

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Hanley at 3B has the potential to be just as big and issue as Hanley at SS if he doesn't show significant dedication on learning to be a good fielder at the new position. He'll also need to hit a lot more than he did last year to be considered a good producer there.

cubs linked to cj wilson (via rosenthall) as a new interest...also, someone out there has already offered him (today/yesterday) a 6year deal for undetermined money.

hanley ramirez making noise about not wanting to move from SS, but vowing to be professional about working it out... ...countdown til FLA signs pujols and trades h.ramirez + g.sanchez starts now also, via twitter... "LoMoMarlins Logan Morrison Just to clear up any confusion, I will be playing SS for the Marlins next season..." lulz.

"there's a rumor you met with pujols's agent" - chris rose "he's also rodrigez lopez's agent." - theo

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Ian Stewart was a top 10 MLB prospect and a guy who has a 900+ ML OPS. I'd deal Flaherty,Vitters or LeMahieu for him today if it seals that deal. Would rather have Chase Headley instead though if he could be had for anything close to similar as what Stewart would cost. Not really opposed to trading for both guys. Best case is that they both thrive in Wrigley and you can fill the 3rd and 2nd/LF spots with them as well.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

True, however even with the total loss that 2011 was. He still has a MLB career OPS of 751 For comp sake. Here is the career MINOR LEAGUE OPS's of the rest of the suspects to fill the job in house. Vitters .758 LeMath .753 Flaherty .809 Not to mention that Stewart has been a little better than average with the glove and neither of the 3 guys we have can field 3rd at all. Bottom line is we need SOMEBODY to fill that spot from outside. Might as well be a young guy who has the upside to fill it for several years. The next guy who looks like a real prospect played SS ball this year.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

"Not to mention that Stewart has been a little better than average with the glove and neither of the 3 guys we have can field 3rd at all." Not sure where you get your info. AZ Phil has seen LeMahieu a fair amount in Arizona and has praised his glove (and his hitting). LeM had zero errors at third in 61 games at Tenn and Iowa last year.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Josh Vitters is a pretty bad defensive 3B and Ryan Flaherty isn't much better (although he is versatile), but D. J. LeMahieu is a good defensive 3B (better than 2B). It's just that LeMahieu still hasn't developed the HR power most teams look for at 3B, but he did show improved patience in the AFL (he was also 2nd in the AFL in stolen bases, behind only Junor Lake), and he is the Cubs best pure hitting prospect. I also believe Josh Vitters will hit and hit with power in the big leagues, but it won't be at 3B (much more likely 1B, LF, or RF). While it's true that Ian Stewart is a former Rockies #1 prospect and a one-time BA #4 prospect in all of baseball, he had a season at the plate last year that rivaled Tyler Colvin's. Stewart is still only 26. and while he would probably have to be considered somewhat of a reclamatiion project, he does have a track record pre-2011 that would at least make him more a more-attractive option at 3B than Blake DeWitt. But I would not give up Vitters or LeMahieu to get him. I would consider trading LeMahieu or Vitters in a deal for Chase Headley, though.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Tue, 12/06/2011 - 3:40pm — Dr. aaron b New Re: Santo Exhumed; Goes 15/16! As would I. I just don't see any way that LeMahieu can be a full time Third Baseman anywhere with that bat of his. Just don't see guys holding that spot on MLB rosters with hollow batting averages without Power or On -Base skills. At least not since the mid 80's. ============================= DR AARON B: Playing home games in San Diego Caverns is probably the best possible place for LeMahieu, because he isn't a HR hitter and it's not a HR hitter's park. I could see the Padres taking LeMahieu back in a Headley deal, playing him at either 3B or 2B, hitting him in the #2 hole, and being happy with his game.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I am assuming that Cubs offer will act as the floor and will just keep everyone else honest. I guess we will see.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

My first reaction to this is- strange. SOMEone will overpay mightily for Pujols, and overpaying mightily for free agents, it seems, is not the Epstein MO. On the other hand, sometimes a guy will take a lower offer to play in the city of his choice and, who knows, maybe the pooh holes loves Chicago or something weird like that. So why not put a respectable offer on the table a let it play out. After thinking it over (with absolutely no details) I guess putting an offer on the table for Pujols can make some sense.

I'm starting to like this idea more and more, even though the Cubs are supposedly not contenders in 2012, for several reasons. 1) I don't think a major market team with the kind of money the Cubs have should ever bail out on a year. Ricketts bought a major market team, and he knew about the bad contracts. He still has to play with the big boys. Thinking small is no way for this team to forge ahead 2) Fielder is still young, and despite his body type, has fared well and had very little downtime. It seems safe to assume (ugh, I know, but there it is) that there will be an NL DH, and even if there isn't, if he works hard and stays in shape, he should be able to play first base for a long time. I can't believe he isn't working hard now, despite his body type. If he wasn't, he'd be injured more than he is. 3) The team needs a player or three it can build around. The guy is a masher. Perfect candidate for Wrigley. 4) He takes away wins from the one of the division contenders. 5) The Cubs currently don't have a first baseman. I like LaHair's chances, I really do, but I don't think he'll be putting up Fielder-like numbers, and he's actually a couple years older already, I believe. If it doesn't happen, I'm not gonna piss and moan about it. But the idea intrigues me a lot more than it did a few months ago.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Re: 2) Plus, if Fielder continues to hit the way he has, he might actually be tradeable to an AL team in the future if for some reason he can't play 1B anymore (unlike, for example, Soriano). Re: 5) As Rob G. has said a few times, LaHair could always still platoon with Soriano in LF (or just play there full time if the Cubs manage to ditch Soriano somewhere along the way). I'm to the point now where I wouldn't be particularly upset if the team decided to give Fielder a shot. Makes more sense than most free agent signings for the Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

All of those except No. 2 also implicate Pujols, and in fact No. 2 in a sense also implicates Pujols, not on the 'young' part, but if you assume the Cubs will have a DH by 2016 at the latest, which I say is 80 percent likely. Edit: Pujols makes a stronger argument for No. 4 also, as you take wins away from a division contender that has a realistic chance of re-signing the player.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I completely oppose of the Cubs signing the best player in baseball. :) Of course, the issue, as always, is getting good value for the money. It will be difficult to get good value from Pujols for the money he will command.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Tue, 12/06/2011 - 12:13pm — Rob G. Re: Santo Exhumed; Goes 15/16! as far as I know 10/5 rights aren't anything negotiable, but I could be wrong... my understanding is Marlins have a NTC policy and Pujols wants one for the first 5 years, the other story I read was that he'd be willing to not have one, but their major incentives in his deal if he was traded. ========================= ROB G: Per the CBA, 10/5 "no trade" rights are usually automatic full NTC, with one exception. A 10/5 NTC is negotiable (in advance) for any player signing a contract that extends beyond when the player would normally hit 10/5. For instance, if the Marlins (or Angels) sign Pujols for six years or more, Pujols could agree in advance (as part of the contract) to waive his 10/5 (which would kick-in after the 2016 season), and then the Marlins (or Angels) could trade him after he hits 10/5 with them. But Pujols would first get to name no fewer than 14 teams as "no go" (the exact number is negotiable, but it can't be less than 14). However, a player cannot waive his 10/5 NTC in advance if he already is a 10/5 player and re-signs with the same team. So if Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals, he cannot waive his 10/5 rights in advance like he could if he signs with FLA, LAA, or ???. (If he had not yet reached 10/5 status and then signed a contract extention with STL he could waive the 10/5 NTC in advance, but not now). And of course a player can always agree to waive a 10/5 NTC (or any other "full" NTC) if asked, but it would almost certainly mean the player agrees to go to just one team in particular. For instance, Derrek Lee (who had 10/5 rights) OK'd the deal to go to Atlanta in August 2010, but he might not have agreed to a trade if it had involved a different club.

Anyone that likes Ian Stewart should LOVE Colvin. they are pretty much the same player at a different position.

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In reply to by DavidP

Other than the fact that Stewart was considered a real prospect, has always maintained at least a 10% to 5% BB advantage, plays a much tougher defensive position and has maintained a 120 Point OPS advantage through the minors. They are indeed almost and nothing like the same player. In the same way that Lyle Overbay and Price Fielder are the exact same player.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.