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

Samardzija throws 4-2/3 of a No-No at Fitch Park

Jeff Samardzija threw 4-2/3 innings of no hit ball, Luis Flores clubbed a solo home run, Shawon Dunston, Jr hammered a two-run homer, and Carlos Penalver had three hits, scored a run, and drove-in another, in Extended Spring Training intrasquad action this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Samardzija walked one and struck out four, threw one wild pitch, and had the opposing hitters pounding his pitches into the ground (8/2 GO/FO) throughout his outing. He threw 62 pitches (42 strikes) in his 4.2 IP of work.

Frankie de la Cruz followed The Shark to the mound, and was as bad as Samardzija was good. Vying for a spot in the Cubs bullpen, de la Cruz allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits (including three doubles and a HR) and a walk in just 2.1 IP. He just flat-out got pounded... by kids who couldn't make the Peoria Opening Day roster.

Here is the abridged box score from the game:

SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston, Jr, CF: 1-5 (3-U, 4-3, 4-3, HR, F-9, R, 2 RBI)
2. Javier Baez, SS: 2-5 (5-3, 4-3, 1B, 2B, K, R)
3. Ryan Cuneo, DH #1: 0-3 (K, 4-3, 4-3, BB, R)
4. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-3 (P-6, K, 2B, BB, R, RBI)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-3 (6-3, 4-3, 1B, HBP, RBI, CS)
6. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-4 (P-1, K, K, 1B, RBI)
7. Anthony Giansanti, DH-C: 1-3 (6-3, 1B, BB, F-8, R)
8. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-2 (BB, 2B, 6-4 FC, BB, RBI)
9. Luis Acosta, 2B: 1-4 (K, P-3, 4-U FC, 1B, R)
10a. Yaniel Cabezas, C: PLAYED DEFENSE ONLY - DID NOT BAT
10b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED LAST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER

SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Brian Inoa, 2B: 1-5 (6-3, 1B, 1-3, 4-6 FC, K, R, SB)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 3-5 (K, 1B, 1B, E-5, 1B, R, RBI)
3a. Luis Flores, C: 2-2 (HR, 1B, R, RBI)
3b. Wilfredo Petit, C: 1-3 (5-4 FC, 1B, 6-3, PO)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-3 (E-6, 1B, 4-3, BB, HBP)
5. Delbis Arcila, RF: 0-2 (3-U, BB, K, BB, BB, RBI)
6. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 0-4 (P-3, K, BB, L-6 DP, 4-6 FC)
7. Trevor Gretzky, DH: 1-2 (1B, E-4, BB, BB, R, SB, CS)
8. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 2-4 (1B, K, 1B, K)
9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-3 (K, K, K, HBP)

SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 77 pitches (49 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
2. Hunter Ackerman: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 37 pitches (22 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
3. Charles Thomas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 21 pitches (12 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Brian Smith: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP, 2 WP, 38 pitches (17 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Jeff Samardzija: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 62 pitches (42 strikes), 8/2 GO/FO
2. Frankie de la Cruz: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 57 pitches (34 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO
3. Ryan Hartman: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 30 pitches (12 strikes)

SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Yaniel Cabezas: 1-3 CS
2. Anthony Giansanti: 1 PO

SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 1-1 CS

SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 5
1. SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. P Jose Rosario - E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed base-runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 2B Luis Acosta - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
4. 3B Jeimer Candelario - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
5. P Brian Smith - E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed base-runner to advance to 2nd)

SQUAD “B” ERRORS: NONE

ATTENDANCE: 19

WEATHER: Sunny, cool, and VERY breezy with temperatures in the 60’s

Comments

Peoria has posted their roster. Rosario is on it, but he pitches in an EXT intersquad the day after getaway day. Why post a roster if it isn't accurate? Geiger posts on facebook he's going to Peoria. He's not on the roster either. I know it's early, but we're making errors already. Let's go people , let's go.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Austin Reed, Bryce Shafer, and Scott Weismann took the Peoria roster slots from Hunter Ackerman, Ryan Hartman, and Hayden Simpson, who were left at EXST. Hartman and Ackerman pitched in the Fitch Park intrasquad game today, and Hartman could not throw strikes. I don't know that Roariuo was left at EXST to stay there, He might have pitched in the intrasquad game today to get his pitch count up (he threw 77 pitches today) in preparation for starting at Peoria. SS-2B Kenny Socorro was supposed to be a player-coach at Peoria, so apparently he will be activated right away. Wes Darvill was moved back up to Peoria and Eduardo Gonzalez and Taylor Davis got last-minute moves up to Peoria from Boise/Mesa, replacing Dustin Geiger, Sergio Burruel, and John Andreoli, who (apparently) got moved up to Daytona at the last minute. I know Yaniel Cabezas was left at EXST because he is unble to hit, and there was an opening for an infielder at Daytona after Elliiot Soto was moved up to Tennessee to replace Junior Lake. I'm not sure why Andreoli would have been moved up.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

I suppose it's possible that Hayden Simpson got bumped-up one level rather than the other way around. He wasn't throwing with much velocity, though. As for the names not listed, it's possible that some of them ended up on the Diabled List. The last Daytona squad I saw on the field was: DAYTONA (24+4) PITCHERS (14) Zach Cates * Gerardo Concepcion * Frank del Valle Eduardo Figueroa Ty’Relle Harris * Eric Jokisch * Austin Kirk Matt Loosen A. J. Morris Brian Schlitter * Matt Spencer (ex-OF) Larry Suarez Brett Wallach Tony Zych CATCHERS (1+1): Yaniel Cabezas (REHAB - was left at EXST) # Micah Gibbs INFIELDERS (5+2): # Arismendy Alcantara Leugim Barroso Dustin Harrington * Richard Jones Pierre LePage (INACTIVE - injury rehab) Greg Rohan (INACTIVE? - may have been released or quit) Ronald Torreyes OUTFIELDERS (4+1): Abner Abreu (INACTIVE? - may have been released) Eliecer Bonne * Nelson Perez * Rubi Silva Matt Szczur So as of this past weekend there were openings on the D-Cubs Active Roster for at least two position players (presumably why John Andreoli, Sergio Burruel, and Dustin Geiger would have been moved-up to Daytona from Peoria--if they were--although that means one more position player is either going on DL or released). From the Daytona Cubs press release, it looks like they added Hayden Simpson (from Peoria) and Casey Harman (from Tennessee), and Cates, Concepcion, and Spencer are deleted. Cates could start the year on the DL (although he looked fine a couple of days ago), and Matt Spencer could remain at EXST for a while since he is a position-player converting to pitcher. Same goes for Concepcion while he assimilates. For the position players, there is one roster opening, but no mention of Andreoli, Burruel, or Geiger, or any specific mention of the third outfielder (presumably Bonne) or the other three infielders besides Greg Rohan, Richard Jones, and Ronald Torreyes (presumably they would be Alcantara, Barroso, and Harrington, although they might have Rubi Silva listed as an infielder since he also plays 2B in addition to OF). Rohan is listed in the press release (he has been a Fitch Park MIA for a week) and so is Chad Noble (also a Fitch Park MIA for a week).

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 10:14pm — toonsterwu That'd be interesting. Another third base prospect for them that might not stick at 3rd. I forget, was it just one player we are offering, or did they get to pick 2? As an aside, any thoughts on how Brett Wallach looks as a power pen arm this spring? ================================= TOONSTER: The Padres supposedly get to pick one from a list of 12 prospects, none of whom are on the 40-man roster. There was a Padres scout at Fitch Park the past couple of weeks, and he spent most of his time studying (and taking video of) the Peoria and Daytona squads, and Geiger did have a good camp. Brett Wallach hasn't shown much improvement in the control department, although moving him to the bullpen was a good idea because he does throw hard. Now if he can just find home plate...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Just to offer a counter-argument- I think Zambrano's issues were external and more an issue of expectations. If you expected Zambrano to be what he really is, a number 3 or number 4 starter, then you would have been pleasantly-surprised every time he went out there and dominated, and been all like "Meh" the rest of the time. But when you pay a guy ace money you expect him to pitch like an ace. And when he doesn't he's branded a failure. Maybe the problem was elevating him to a level where he was ensured failure. Hendry drank the "Zambrano has 'potential'" koolaid and paid him for potential rather than results. This is a big vulnerability for us non-stat-heads when it comes to predicting future results.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

this park is so weird looking. it's got some great seats in a mix of configurations. i really like the OF seats that are flush with the ground with a mesh fence making up part of the OF wall. the upper OF pool area seats are kinda cool. the skyline view is awesome except for the freakshow of an "art sculpture" that goes into motion when someone homers. the walls are a freaky shade of green...it's pretty tacky in contrast to all the blue in the park and orange on the MIA uniforms. the electronic scoreboard is an adventure in ADHD with 10000 bits of information being shown to the audience.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Miami Marlins Construction Crew Completely Unaware They've Been Building Baseball Stadium MIAMI--Speaking with reporters while putting the finishing touches on Miami's new stadium Saturday, construction workers at Marlins Park admitted they had no idea what the structure would be used for, despite having built baseball stadiums in the past. "We installed a big pool back there, so maybe all the seats are for people waiting in line to swim?" said foreman Frank Davies... "But there's that giant rainbow thing with the pink flamingos we built at the edge of the grass that sometimes lights up and moves like a windmill, so I'd say my best guess is this is a really big miniature golf hole or a theme park for disabled children."...
God bless The Onion. :)

Catcher Alberto Mineo has left Fitch Park (actually he left Minor League Camp a couple of weeks ago) and is playing for Team Italy in the MLB Academies Tournament in Germany. Unknown when he will be returning to Arizona, but he is on the AZL Cubs Reserve List. Mineo was signed ($225K bonus) as an International free-agent in August 2010 two weeks after he turned 16. He spent that season at the MLB European Academy in Italy, then played at the MLB Australian Academy last Summer, before spending a few days at AZ Instructs last September.

h/t nsbb/raisin. Per peoriachiefs twitter, Jensen/Francescon/Rosario are the first three starters. I'm glad that guys with power stuff like Jensen and Rosario are being given a chance as starters. Francescon has command and enough polish to go with his stuff that he could move fast, so that wasn't surprising. Will be curious what Kopitzke/Villone and their bosses decide. Leaves a ton of arms for the final few piggybacking/rotation roles, though. Assuming Weismann/Lorick/McKirahan/Shafer aren't up for those spots (more because I hope higher-ceiling guys get shots than those 4), that leaves Wells/Wang/Liria/Cruz/Burke/Reed. My guess is that Reed is in the pen for now, with his mechanical consistency perhaps an issue as a starter. It's tough for me to see them have 2 lefties in piggyback roles and 2 lefties in the pen, so I imagine a lefty grabs a spot (guess is Burke on upside/age, as he could move to Daytona soon if he performs well). I'd put Wells in there on youth/sinker/frame (his biggest issue, IIRC, wasn't necessarily stamina (as many have been saying) but high pitch counts. Could be wrong ... maybe stamina is an issue, but I recall a few games where he had 80+ pitches by the 4th). One other factor may be who closes. Maybe Arizona Phil can shine some light on this. My guess is Weismann, as he was Clemson's closer, but it wouldn't surprise me if they opted to move a hard throwing arm like Liria into such a role. Also, I guess I could envision Reed in such a role, akin to when Huseby had his problems and they moved him to the pen (granted, not exactly the same problems).

"We need more talent," Epstein said in a 30-minute session with Cubs beat reporters. "We lack impact talent. We have a number of interesting guys, especially at the lower levels. Every organization has interesting guys at the lower levels. "We need some more impact talent and we need some guys who have the ability to break through. It'd be nice to get a breakthrough player or two this year and have someone move from that interesting prospect category to that potential impact category."

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Is 2 enough of a list? George Altman is suggesting that the Cubs get two pitchers who would both be better than Garza. The Cubs also have to either extend Garza or replace him with a pitcher of equal value. That means they have to be the highest bidders for three pitchers of Garza quality or higher. And while, as toonsterwu points out below, pitchers like Anibal Sanchez are interesting, they are not clearly better than Garza. If the Cubs brought in an Anibal Sanches, would that clearly push Garza back a slot in the rotation? I doubt it. Here are the "better than Garza so far" lists as I see them: 2013 Cole Hamels Zack Greinke 2014 Tim Lincecum Ubaldo Jimenez Here are the "comparable to Garza so far" lists as I see them 2013 Anibal Sanchez James Shields 2014 Matt Garza Josh Johnson (great results, but injury concerns) Jair Jurrjens (ditto) Johan Santana has an option, it looks like, plus, he'll be a bit aged at that point. I'm no expert on the contracts of these guys, nor am I an expert on their pitching. But it looks to me like the Cubs would need to sign two of Hamels, Geinke, Lincecum, and Jimenez over the next two years to do what Altman suggested. The Cubs would also have to either resign Garza or sign one of those comparable guys. That sounds awesome, but it also sounds like a fairly monumental task to put in front of a front office that also needs to build the farm system and potentially improve at positions currently filled by Soriano and Barney. Do the Cubs have a quality LF and 2B in the upper minors? We might need to replace Soto, too, and Castillo is no sure thing. Do we want DeJesus starting in RF in 2014? Will Jackson succeed at the MLB level? Will Rizzo succeed at the MLB level? There are a lot of questions in addition to the rotation, and I have a hard time imagining Lincecum, Hamels, Greinke or Jimenez getting much less $$ per year than Matt Cain. The point I really wanted to get to, though, is that Free Agency is not going to solve everything for the Cubs. Some of this stuff is going to have to come from the minors--probably via trades.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

and that's essentially the point I was trying to make. Given the lack of top of rotation arms in the system, but a somewhat interesting group of position prospects (Rizzo, BJax, Castillo, Szczur to go with Castro), the free agent focus should be on first-time FA starting pitchers (ideally #1/#2 types) and re-sign Garza. For me, it always starts with pitching and defense. As to who those targets would be in 2013 and 2014, I have no idea given who might be available. This approach would seem to fit the Theo-vision -- paying for future performance, building around core assets, etc.

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!