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

Cubs Unleash the Wood at Diablo Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Trey Martin laced a bases-loaded triple to key a six-run 2nd inning, and Javier Baez and Jeimer Candelario each blasted a two-run home run to highlight a five-run 9th, as the Cubs rode a 21-hit attack en route to a 14-5 thrashing of the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe, AZ.

The game was extended an extra inning so that all of the pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work.

The Cubs offense was on full display today.

Besides hitting his 6th HR in 22 EXST games, Javier Baez singled and walked (his first walk in 110+ professional PA), Trey Martin added a double to his bases-clearing triple, Jeimer Candelario singled twice and walked in addition to his two-run HR, Kevin Encarnacion had four hits including two RBI singles, and Neftali Rosario singled twice and doubled and scored two runs.

Recently-signed catcher Brian Esposito made his Cub debut in today’s game, catching the first five innings before moving to DH.

Now 33 years old, Esposito was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the 2000 draft out of the U. of Connecticut, and had spent the previous 12 seasons playing for a half-dozen different organizations, mostly at the AA level. He also saw a little bit of MLB action with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007 and with the Houston Astros in 2010. He is a career 216/254/304 hitter in 724 minor league games.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Trey Martin, CF-DH: 2-4 (F-8, 3B, 2B, E-5, R, 3 RBI)
1b. Wilson Contreras, PH: 1-1 (1B, R)
2a. Brian Inoa, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, F-9 SF, F-9, RBI)
2b. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-2 (6-3, 4-3)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 2-4 (1B, K, BB, P-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
4. Brian Esposito, C-DH: 0-4 (5-3, P-6, P-4, 4-3, BB, R)
5. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 2-5 (K, P-6, 2B, P-5, 1B, 2 R)
6. Xavier Batista, LF-DH: 1-3 (1B, K, F-7 SF, K, F-8 SF, R, 2 RBI)
7. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 3-4 (1B, 4-3, BB, 1B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
8. Neftali Rosario, DH-C: 3-5 (1B, 2B, 1B, F-9, F-8, 2 R)
9. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 4-5 (1B, 1B, 3-U, 1B, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
10a. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, F-7, 1B, R, RBI)
10b. Garrett Schlecht, CF: 0-2 (4-3, E-5)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Trevor Gretzky, DH-LF: 1-3 (1B, K, P-6)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tayler Scott: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 54 pitches (34 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO
2. Felix Pena: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 33 pitches (23 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
3. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 26 pitches (17 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Roderik Pichardo: 1.2 IP, 1 H 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 29 pitches (18 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
5. Alvido Jimenez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (8 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
1B Dan Vogelbach - E-3 (missed catch on what should have been 1-3 GO allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
LF Trevor Gretzky - threw out batter 7-4 trying to stretch a single into a double

ATTENDANCE: 18

WEATHER: Sunny & VERY breezy with temperatures in the 90’s

Tags
EXST Cubs
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Neftali Rosario
Javier Baez
Jeimer Candelario
Trey Martin
Kevin Encarnacion
Brian Esposito

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 05:31 pm

As with Randy Wells last month, Optional Assignment Waivers had to be secured before Chris Volstad could be optioned to the minors (that's because Volstad made his debut on an MLB 25-man roster more than three years ago). Optional Assignment Waivers are revocable the first time they are requested in a given waiver period, and can be requested at any time in a given waiver period starting on 2/16 up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season. Once secured, the waivers are good for the balance of that waiver period. (EXCEPTION: A player cannot be optioned to the minors and Optional Assignment Waivers cannot be requested or secured during the off-season beginning with the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, and all players on Optional Assignment must be recalled no later than the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season). The easiest way for a GM to navigate Optional Assignment Waivers is to place all players on the club's MLB Active List (25-man roster) who require Optional Waivers before they can be optioned to the minors on Optional Waivers at the beginning of each waiver period. (Clubs will often do this with Trade Assignment Waivers after the July 31st trade deadline, too). Seven players can be placed on Assignment Waivers (Trade, Optional, and/or Outright) every day, so the process can be done very quickly. And because Optional Waivers are revocable the first time they are requested in a given waiver period, if a player were to be claimed (which is unlikely), the waiver request can be withdrawn, and the club would know that if that player were to be placed on Optional Assignment Waivers again later in that same waiver period, the waivers would then become irrevocable and could not be withdrawn if a claim was made. The current waiver period commenced on the 31st day of the MLB regular season (which was May 4th), so the Cubs requested Optional Assignment Waivers on Volstad sometime earlier in the waiver period. If it had not been done this way, the Cubs would have had to DFA Volstad today and wait two days for him to clear waivers before he could have been optioned to Iowa. The current waiver period runs through July 31st, so if the Cubs were to recall Volstad sometime later in the waiver period, they could option him back to the minors again prior to August 1st without having to secure Optional Assignment Waivers again.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 05:42 pm

Yes, Frank Batista should be on the list. ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN DECEMBER 2012 RULE 5 DRAFT: Jeffry Antigua, LHP Frank Batista, RHP Justin Bour, 1B Michael Brenly, C Michael Burgess, OF David Cales, RHP Esmailin Caridad, RHP Matt Cerda, INF Hunter Cervenka, LHP Evan Crawford, OF Willengton Cruz, LHP Antonio Encarnacion, RHP Eduardo Figueroa, RHP Luis Flores, C Ramon Garcia, RHP Gregori Gonzalez, IF-OF Marcus Hatley, RHP Ty’Relle Harris, RHP Graham Hicks, LHP Brett Jackson, OF Jay Jackson, RHP Alvido Jimenez, RHP Richard Jones,1B Austin Kirk, LHP Luis Liria, RHP Jeff Lorick, LHP David Macias, IF-OF Nate Maldonado, C Trey McNutt, RHP Pedro Medina, RHP (ex-OF) Jose Montesino, INF A. J. Morris, RHP Enyelberth Pena, RHP Felix Pena, RHP Starling Peralta, RHP Nelson Perez, OF Roderik Pichardo, RHP Brooks Raley, LHP Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP Rebel Ridling, 1B Greg Rohan, IF-OF Melvin Rosa, RHP Jose Rosario, RHP Zac Rosscup, LHP Chris Rusin, LHP Julio Sanchez, RHP Brian Schlitter, RHP Ryan Searle, RHP Matt Spencer, LHP (ex-OF) Nick Struck, RHP Larry Suarez, RHP Francisco Turbi, RHP Brett Wallach, RHP Logan Watkins, INF Casey Weathers, RHP Rob Whitenack, RHP Ty Wright, OF NOTE: Player not eligible for selection if added to MLB 40-man roster by 11/20. ================================= ARTICLE XX-D MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT POST-2012: Manny Corpas, RHP Frankie de la Cruz, RHP Blake DeWitt, INF Rodrigo Lopez, RHP MLB RULE 55 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT POST-2012: SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FA: Jim Adduci, OF Alfredo Amezaga, IF-OF Juan Apodaca, C Justin Berg, RHP Kyler Burke, LHP Brian Esposito, C Mike MacDougal, RHP Jonathon Mota, INF Nate Robertson, LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith, LHP Nate Samson, INF Matt Tolbert, INF Luis Valbuena, INF SECOND-CONTRACT/PREVIOUSLY-RELEASED MINOR LEAGUE FA: Adrian Aviles, LHP (previously released by LAD) Michael de la Cruz, RHP (previously released by TEX) ++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOTES: 1. A minor league player eligible to be an ARTICLE XX-D FREE-AGENT is not eligible to be a free-agent if the player is added back to MLB 40-man roster by the end of the MLB regular season. A player eligible to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent can file for free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th. 2. A minor league player eligible to be an MLB RULE 55 FREE-AGENT is not eligible to be a FA if the player is added to his club’s 40-man roster by 5 PM (EDT) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:01 am

I'm guessing that Rhee would sort of fall into that next tier for you? ____ A lot will depend on how the rest of the season goes. If Rhee gets stronger as the year progresses, as he did last year, I think there's a higher chance that a team might take him this time around. With the shoddy shape of the bullpen, if Marcus Hatley finishes strong, I'd want to protect him because I view him as one of the few current pen guys (thus excluding McNutt) with late inning potential (Alberto Cabrera is another). That said, with the shoddy shape of the pen, wouldn't surprise if Hatley saw the bigs this year. A notch below that, I would wonder about a guy like Logan Watkins. The new regime thinned out the upper level positional depth and lucked into Cardenas/Valbuena to replace the departed. Assuming one or both of Adrian and Luis are in the bigs, having a versatile up-the-middle guy like Logan Watkins could prove nice as depth. I think Watkins would have to show some better offensive consistency, though, to get consideration. AzPhil, what do you think about the chances of the raw arms figuring into the mix, guys like Peralta and Rosario? I just wonder if a team might Lendy Castillo one of those guys, take a raw arm, see if you can hide him, and then send him to the minors next year.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:38 am

The Cubs like to use the AFL for "bubble" guys like Dae-Eun Rhee and Logan Watkins, and I would expect both to be there. Either could get added to the 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline with a strong showing in the AFL. You take a chance by leaving raw arms like Rosario and Peralta off the 40-man roster, and the fact that the Cubs selected Lendy Castillo in last year's Rule 5 Draft means they value that type of pitcher, but yet I would be surprised if either Rosario or Peralta end up on the 40 post-2012.

Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:44 pm

AZ Phil's popularity is exploding, got an email from Keith Lockhart looking for Daniel's stats. Has a cubs.com email, looks like he's an area scout for them. I've gotten quite a few requests from family members of other players over the last couple of months. So be nice to Rock Shoulders (for example) :)

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:53 pm

Welington Castillo out with a leg issue. Cubs trade cash considerations to CIN for Koyie Hill to plug the gap. I can't imagine for the life of me why we would want Koyie back. CIN undoubtedly made the trade knowing it would make us worse as a team.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 05:43 pm

*waiting for the "have faith in theocorp" post that tells us k.hill is an obvious smart gamble* hopefully he'll avoid 200pa...or 150pa...or 100pa. reality check - what soto was doing k.hill would have a hard time doing worse...sigh...

Recent comments

  • 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!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

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