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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, 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

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

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

Tags
Cubs Spring Training Recap
Jeff Samardzija
Luis Flores
Shawon Dunston Jr
Carlos Penalver
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Recap
Frankie de la Cruz

Comments

Submitted by Childersb3 on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:10 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:46 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:33 pm

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).

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:33 pm

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...

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 04:26 am

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.

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:17 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 04:35 am

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. :)

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 04:07 pm

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.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 04:03 pm

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).

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 04:31 pm

"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."

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Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 04:50 am

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.

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Submitted by George Altman on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 04:14 pm

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

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

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