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

Game 2 Thread - Garza vs. Gio

Word is that the wind is blowing out briskly to left, so Sveum has loaded up on the righties to battle southpaw Gio Gonzalez in his NL debut.

Nationals Cubs
Desmond, SS Johnson, RF
#Espinosa, 2B Mather, 3B
Zimmerman, 3B Castro, SS
*LaRoche, 1B Soriano, LF
Werth, RF Baker, 1B
DeRosa, LF Soto, C
*Bernadina, CF Byrd, CF
Ramos, C Barney, 2B
Gonzalez, P Garza, P
How many walks will Cubs get off Gio?
  
pollcode.com free polls 

Rodgrigo Lopez is the first call-up from the minors, so congrats to those that picked it in our prediction contest. It appears Luis Valbuena is going back through waivers in an attempt to option him to Iowa to make room for Lopez.

Comments

Interesting fact: The 2007 Draft yielded four round-one picks - that ended up eventually as Cubs, three of which are currently on the club. One of them turned into the Auto-DL Pitcher, Rich Harden: 2007 Round 1 M. Burgess, J. Donaldson, C. Weathers, J. Vitters Hopefully one or more of them will become solid Major Leaguers.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

...accidentally caught. Fixed. LaHair with a stellar season debut. Popped out on first pitch. Also, for those interested in this type of stuff: watching the game now on Kindle Fire via MLB.TV app. Works as good as whatever wireless network you are on. Streaming seamlessly now for me. Really surprised me. Allows me to work on the laptop and have the game on next to me (so I don't have to switch between windows, etc.).

Kerry gets the first 2, then an Espinosa HR, Zimmerman broken bat single and LaRoche single with DeJesus playing on the warning track. 4-3 Cubs in the 8th with runners on the corners, 2 outs. Pitching change

Wow. How hopeless is this team that all is lost and discouraging after just TWO games? Gee, Wood only pitched what, 4 innings in Arizona? I wonder if there was a reason for that, mkay? Marmol sucks eggs and has for nearly two years. Okay Theo, impress us. DL Wood to save face, demote Marmol or dump him, who cares. Yikes.

What will Theo do? He can't like to see this even this early, when this is just the kind of stuff that must be fixed!

Two things I did like today were Dollis and early aggressiveness. As I and others said Monday, get used to this bullpen scene. So, far, the starters have been quite good. A nice thing.

Gotta say, not as worried about Woody and Marmol after watching the replays on mlbtv. Woody had a cracked bat single on a nasty pitch, and Marmol had an outside pitch pulled through the right side of infield by a lefty. Both are pretty much a bad roll of the dice. I predict both will settle down with warm weather and be fine. Gonna predict 78 wins for Cubs. Lineup will be the weak spot not the pitching.

"According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Nationals are not actively shopping John Lannan and have not talked to the Cubs about a potential deal involving Marlon Byrd." thank gawd... i don't care if byrd stays or goes, but this team has enough ass-end-rotation filler to last a few years. ...and wtf is with the crew of writers and blog people who think this guy is a good pitcher?

Bottom 5th: San Diego - O. Hudson struck out swinging - J. Bartlett singled to shallow right - K. Blanks walked, J. Bartlett to second - C. Maybin grounded into fielder's choice, J. Bartlett to third, K. Blanks out at second - C. Denorfia walked, C. Maybin to second - C. Headley walked, J. Bartlett scored, C. Maybin to third, C. Denorfia to second - J. Wright relieved C. Capuano - J. Guzman walked, C. Maybin scored, C. Denorfia to third, C. Headley to second - N. Hundley walked, C. Denorfia scored, C. Headley to third, J. Guzman to second - S. Elbert relieved J. Wright - C. Headley scored, J. Guzman to third, N. Hundley to second on wild pitch - Y. Alonso hit by pitch - O. Hudson singled to shallow left, J. Guzman scored, N. Hundley to third, Y. Alonso to second, N. Hundley out at home 3 runs scored on walks, 1 on a wild pitch, and 1 on a single that ended the inning 5 walks, 1 wild pitch, 1 hbp.

"Rodrigo Lopez..." Rob, I'm splitting hairs here, because, well, if I don't care about TCR pride then what do I care about, BUT... Did the prediction contest say who was the first called up DUE TO INJURY, or did I make that last part up? I picked R Wells, because I (naturally) assumed the first injury would be to the rotation (Hey Hey! We've made it two games so far!) and Wells is the sixth man in the rotation. Can't access the form since the 'voting' is closed. And that would have been italicized instead of all caps, if I knew how to make italics on here from my phone. There, now this whole incident has made me expose my inadequacies to the group. Thanks Rob. ........ I love it here, even if we DIDN'T have AZ Phil.

Does anybody know why Soriano has resembled an outfielder the first two games? He seems to be tracking the ball really well from what I've seen.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Reports were, as always, that he's taken a "renewed interest" in the defensive side of the game. I don't know if that's a real explanation, but in the first games he has looked to be in much more control out there. If he can continue to merely be unbaffled, he could be an average left fielder defensively. It remains or us to see whether he's going to hit this season. I think he's going to have a good season, though. Comeback Player good. There, I said it.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

It would be fun to see him do a comeback thing. He seems like a pretty likable fella and he seems to work a lot harder than the guy who watches sometimes from the batters box would make you think. The key to any comeback is going to be hitting stuff other than fastballs, though. And some seeing eye grounders between second and first. That kind of thing happens, then it's possible.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

are there too many hitters that can hit a decent breaking ball? at best they foul it off or just lay off...of which Soriano certainly does not lay off. From what I recall, he's actually pretty good, much like Ramirez, at hitting breaking balls in the zone or down. He just drops the head of the bat and gets good power. But anything outside is just a disaster.

I expect Wood will come around, but Marmol has never had strike zone control. He's gotten lucky. I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle all year.

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...