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

Cubs Unleash the Wood at Diablo Park

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

Comments

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.

[ ]

In reply to by Koyies Bansaw

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.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

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.

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

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.

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) :)

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.

*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

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.