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

Psandberg 23

Psandberg 23: "The Cubs are my Ballclub"
 
The Cubs are my Ballclub, I shall not want.
They maketh me to watch games in green fields.
They restoreth my soul:
they leadeth me in the path of happiness for their name's sake
Yeah, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of elimination, I will fear no Dodger:
for Harden art with us;
his fastball and his splitter they comfort me.
They preparest a pennant before me in the presence of mine enemies:
They annointest my jersey with Wood;
my beer cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and victories shall follow me in all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Cubs forever.

Comments

Because being a Cubs fan is nothing, if not about keeping a sense of faith and of humor.

[ ]

In reply to by Transmission

And always I turn to The Simpsons, when Homer goes to a Pacific island as an accidental missionary, he turns the natives church into a casino. The natives get angry afterwhile gambling and drinking, and start tearing down the place. One of the drunken natives asks Homer- "What kind of God allows ace to be one or eleven!?!?" I'm really questioning my faith in this team, and if they do not win it all this year I'll be shutting it down with them.

DLee and Rich Hill for Aubrey Huff. Who makes that trade? Discuss?

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

D-Lee has a down year offensively and a poor first 2 games of the playoffs, and now he's not even worth Aubrey Huff on one remaining year of a ridiculous contract? I don't think so. Also, wouldn't trade Rich Hill right now. I'd hold onto him in hopes that he can rebound a bit next year and then see whether he's worth much, if I'm interested in trading him at all. No, I would not give up nearly that much for Aubrey Huff. Plus, wouldn't the Orioles rather have younger players? I'd think they'd be more interested in the likes of Pie, Fontenot, Marshall, Gaudin, etc.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I'm just thinking out loud. But Huff did have a WAY better year than DLee this year. He is also a year and a half younger. And he does have Lefthandedness going for him. You know Lou will love that. Since Kfuk is here for the next 3 years, and doesn't look to have a RF bat. What about a Pie, Hill/Marshall type trade for Huff. Baltimore/McFail sheds some payroll. Huff slots into RF, while backing up 1B/3b. And some LH thunder is in a lineup that sorely needs it. Soriano Theriot Aramis Huff Lee DeRosa Soto Kfuk

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I think the biggest problem with that trade is the addition of salary to an payroll that already has a $48 million 4th outfielder. Huff, from what I hear, is also not much of a defender in right. I guess you've got Soriano, Fukudome, Huff as the outfield? That's pretty shaky. The offense would be much improved though, if Huff could even come close to what he did this year. He's been pretty hit or miss from year to year.

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In reply to by Charlie

With an outfield of Sori, Fuku, and Huff I don't think you'd be improving the offense much as you'd just essentially be replacing Edmonds with Huff. Edmonds ended up with a respectable OBP and, what, 20 HRs? Hendry needs to realize Fukudome's contract is a sunk cost at this point. The Dodgers realized they couldn't continue to throw A. Jones and Pierre out there everyday regardless of how much money they're being paid. Hendry/Lou need to come to the same conclusion with Fukudome the 1 Month Wonder.

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

don't count on it...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080929-kosuke-fu…

"Obviously, he's got the ability," general manager Jim Hendry said. "Unfortunately, he's in a real tough snag and I'm of the belief that he will figure it out and get better again. I don't have a doubt that he'll be back next year playing well. He's not an out-of-shape guy, he's a specimen. And he's a proud guy. "And I think sometimes you have to go back and lean on history a little. We've had a lot of multiyear free agents that come here for the first time and Year 1 doesn't always work out like it was planned, like [ Moises] Alou and Derrek Lee [acquired in a trade after '03], who right off the bat didn't hit well early. "Alou was the most prominent, though, and then he gave us two outstanding years. I don't have a doubt in my mind this guy is still going to be a good player for us, and to credit him, even in his darkest times here the last month, he's helped win two or three ballgames with his defense, and he's never taken it out to the field with him."

[ ]

In reply to by Timmer

That's actually not bad idea to move him to CF. Pretty much same defense as Pie, with a more useful offense (even in his current funk, w/ the possibility for big improvement once he's more comfortable here).

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Just wasn't thinking--the Cubs have had such a bad two games that it's been hard for me to think of anyone on the team as playing well, which isn't fair. Lee and DeRo have been good with the bats, though that has meant very little as far as runs go, and Zambrano pitched very well. Marshall was also at least acceptable the other night. The errors were all hard to forgive, including Theriot's barehand play that wasn't ruled an error. Lee hasn't really had an amazing first two games, but calling it poor even with the error is unreasonable. That error really hurt, though... I never would've imagined that Edmonds, Lee, DeRo, ARam, and Theriot would have errors after the first two games.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Who makes that trade? Discuss?

A retard?

you want to replace a 33 year hitter with a great glove for a 32 year old hitter with a poor glove that had 3 average season until breaking out again last year? Yeah, the Cubs definitely could use a left-handed power bat for the middle of the order, but Aubrey Huff is just rolling dice and hope you get 7's again. It's a lateral move at best.

Think big.

Sign Furcal and Teixeira (29, switch-hitter, just as good defensively as Lee) and try and trade Lee's contract (good luck, especially with a NTC).

Pitching-wise, I think your options are:

Resign Dempster or  consider moving Wood back to the rotation (and resign him of course) or go after Derek Lowe.

CC's another option, but the 6-8 years he's likely to get sounds like all kinds of stupid to me. He just doesn't seem like a guy that will hold up considering his workload and fatness.

And then do some stuff with the bullpen...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The ownership and payroll situations are why I suggest Huff. 1 year at 8 million to fill a huge offensive hole. Saying lets sign Tex,Furcal,Sabathia,Wood and Dempster is akin to me saying. Lets go ahead and raise the stock market. Make the dollar stronger. Develop alternative energy. And lets go ahead and do world peace as well. Why not?

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Come on. That's just silly. I really, really don't recommend signing Sabathia. The Cub need somehow to develop or trade for some good, young pitchers (plural, because A pitcher always seems to get hurt, so if you've got a few maybe one or two will manage to pitch most of the season).

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

what hole does Aubrey Huff fill? Do you want him to play 1b or RF? He had a good year, but that's one in his last 4. I just don't get why you want to trade someone who's just as likely to hit as well as Huff and play better defense for a left-handed stick.

But yeah, I was just throwing out a "if Mark Cuban owns the team" suggestion. I realize it's not realistic. I do think they could sign Furcal probably and if they did dump Lee's contract, could probably be in on Teixeira. 

 

Rich Hill? Didn't the Cubs used to have a pitcher named Rich Hill?

Mercifully... We're sorry, but you were not selected for an opportunity to purchase tickets to 2008 National League Championship Series games at Wrigley Field.

Funniest thing I have read at this site, a much needed laugh. I'm still going tomorrow night, but I'm not happy about it. What miserable SOBs MLB people are, making us wait two days for the inevitable.

So much for that benediction that Kenney asked for...

You have my deepest sympathies, CA Phil - but hey, at least you'll probably have nice weather at the Ravine. A few brews, a few laughs - what could be better?

Well said. It's not over yet. Fight the good fight. Keep the faith. Go Cubs.

everything was normal... yup http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1199906,CST-SPT-cubnt03.ar… Multiple team sources confirmed Thursday that Harden received an anti-inflammatory shot for the discomfort that sidelined him for 12 days between his Aug. 29 and Sept. 11 starts. It's not rare for pitchers to get anti-inflammatory injections, and insiders suggest it can be considered maintenance as much as injury relief for a pitcher with a history of problems but no structural damage.

the Red Sox were down 3 games 2 outs bottom of the ninth and losing.

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

manny, that makes no sense. We're not the 2001 Yankees (won 3 straight after facing elimination) We're not the 2003 Florida Marlins (won 3 straight after facing elimination) We're the 08 Chicago Cubs.

Some may look to the Simpsons. I looked first to Job. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear: because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away Job, book 11, verses 13-16. Then I went to Churchill: Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict Finally I went to Joey Amalfitano's advice to Bobby Bonds when he joined the Cubs at the end of his career: "Bobby, we both know what the score is here. If you have any bullets left in the gun, you better fire them."

[ ]

In reply to by dcf

I have been comparing us to Job for a long time now. I mentioned it at another board i go to. Someone ask when we would be blessed and happy and I responded I will quote Eddie Vedder, "Someday"

2003 NLCS We're not out of it by any means. Saturday and Sunday's games are being played at night when the ball doesn't carry (especially when it's a bit rainy like it's forecast to be)and that can only help Lilly and Harden keep it in the park. Win those two and bring it home for game 5.

I was thinking about those 2004 Red Sox and their impossible comeback, and I wondered if the 3-0 deficit actually helped propel them to the World Series. Hear me out. The 2004 Red Sox, like the 2008 Cubs, were under an intense amount of pressure stemming from an incredibly long World Series drought, an overzealous fanbase, and a rabid local media. Of course they played tight. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy, or some kind of vicious circle. The drought/fan expectations caused extreme pressure, the pressure caused tightness, the tightness led to losses, and the losses perpetuated the drought. Then, down 3 games to none, they suddenly had nothing left to lose. They were already written off. No one had ever come back from that kind of deficit to win. It may have been a conscious decision, or it may have just been an unnoticeable change of attitude, but I imagine when they basically already knew they had lost the series, they just said, "Fuck it, let's just play like we know how to play." When everyone's already written you off, maybe that pressure suddenly disappears. Down 0-2, the Cubs no longer have the lofty expectations of the best hope of a championship in 100 years. Everyone already thinks they're going to lose. It's a lost cause, so fuck it. Instead of adding pressure in a win-or-go-home situation, maybe that pressure somehow goes away (or at least until a Game 5). It's kind of like how some players can make an impossible web gem look easy, but have trouble with the routine plays. They're not expected to make that diving catch, so there's no pressure and their natural athletic ability just takes over, but with a routine grounder coming at them they have time to think about how bad they'll look if it goes through their legs. I think that's pretty similar to the situation the Cubs find themselves in now. Everyone expected them to win those first two games, but now no one in their right mind expects them to win the next 3. Anyway, maybe that's just me looking back at an incredibly lucky turnaround by the Red Sox and trying to explain it somehow. But I really feel like that weight may be lifted from these players' shoulders to a certain extent. The fans feel like they've already lost, the media has written them off, and the Dodgers are probably feeling pretty cocky right now, so the Cubs really have nothing left to lose.

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

You make great points. I was just saying this morning how Lou should take everybody out tonight for some drinks and fun. Go do crazy stuff. This team needs to relax. If they like, they are all invited to my house and I will provide keg beer.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

Hell, if they came over to my place I would let them have free run of the wine cellar and liquor cabinet. I shave my beard off once a year. For the past nine years I have been doing it when the Cubs are mathematically eliminated from any chance of winning the World Series. I shaved it this morning. Consider that my Fuck You to karma. Do it for yourselves guys.

To continue the literary theme, St. Crispin's Day is October 25th, which would be Game 3 of the World Series. It is the day the Battle of Agincourt was fought on (as well as, coincidentally, the day of the Battle of the Leyte Gulf and the Charge of Light Brigade). On the thought that it might as well be tomorrow (it being October and all), here's Shakespeare's great locker room speech from Henry V (Act IV, scene iii): . . . he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse; We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is call'd the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.' Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember, with advantages, What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words- Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester- Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

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In reply to by dcf

Worth noting this locker room speech is mostly bullshit. The battle is being fought for the profit of a few at the cost of people who will not benefit. Nothing in Shakespeare is so simple "Let's go win a baseball game!" Everything is more conflicted.

With my last breath I will spit at thee...Go Cubs!

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...