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 Whitewash Dodgers at HoHoKam Park

LHP Anthony Prieto and three relievers combined to throw a three-hit shutout, Ben Carhart doubled, singled, walked, and drove-in a run, and Neftali Rosario singled, doubled, and scored two runs, as the AZL Cubs blanked the AZL Dodgers 4-0 in Arizona League action tonight at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

box score

The 18-year old wispy 5'11 Prieto was the Cubs 2012 5th round draft pick out of Americas HS in El Paso ($200K bonus), and he features a low 90's fastball and secondary stuff that needs work (although he probably is still a bit rusty after missing much of his senior season with a forearm injury).

He had command issues in his first two starts (lasting only one inning each time, while walking four), but he retired all six men he faced tonight (P-2, K, F-8, K, 5-3, 6-3) and mostly threw strikes (26 pitches - 16 strikes).

Carhart was the Cubs 35th round pick in last month's draft out of Stetson University, and while he is listed as 5'8 180, it's probably more like 5'8 220. He is bottom-heavy and a slow runner, a third-baseman with a strong arm and occasional power, an ideal candidate to get converted to catcher at Instructs post-2012 or next year at Minor League Camp (but only if the Cubs offer him the opportunity and he agrees to do it).

The Cubs 6th round pick in the 2011 draft out of the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy, Neftali Rosario is comparable to Welington Castillo at a similar age (VERY raw... plus-HR power... a strong but erratic throwing arm... poor receiving skills... slow runner... will swing at anything...).

Tonight he showed off his raw power, blasting a double off the top of the CF "Green Monster" (Batter's Eye) 430+ feet from the plate. Then he committed an error making a needless throw to 3rd base.

Rosario will probably move very slowly through the system. He needs a LOT of polish. EARLIEST PROBABLE MLB ETA - 2018

Comments

See that Tim Saunders was promoted to Daytona. What do you think of him. Might a guy drafted that low be the real thing? Guess we'll have an idea after we see how he does after a BIG promotion.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Sure, he belongs there--but how did he get there in the year he was drafted? I'm trying to find a precedent with the Cubs. Campana and Rohan were both drafted at 22, and both went to Boise, and then to Peoria the following year (where they both got midseason promotions to Daytona). Ridling was drafted at 23 and went to Boise and then to Peoria the next year. Under new Cub management this year at age 22, Chadd Krist went to Boise and then got a quick promotion to Peoria. I guess these are the players who finished college, whereas Colvin and Jackson didn't. You're right that 22 is a little late to start climbing the ladder, but it's also a little early to mess up a guy's career by putting him in over his head. In other words, I think they must really like Saunders. (By the numbers, what's not to like?)

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 5:07pm — Rob G. it's great for Saunders and hopefully he runs with it, but I doubt it's some indication he's being fast-tracked. this is a little old, but I'm sure it's still a good guideline on what age players should be at each class level, i.e. another good reason to be really excited about Javier Baez. ========================== ROB G: There were a series of roster moves made as the result of Daytona SS Arismendy Alcantara going on the DL. 1. Elliot Soto (who had been the back-up SS at Tennessee) was sent down to Daytona from Tennssee to be the #1 SS at Daytona. 2. Dustin Harrington (the utility INF at Daytona) was moved up to AA to be the utility INF at Tennessee. 3. Tim Saunders (who started games at 2B, SS, 3B, and CF at AZL Cubs) was promoted to Hi-A to replace Harrington as the utility INF at Daytona. The other option would have been to move Saunders up to Peoria and utility INF Wes Darvill up to Daytona from Peoria, but despite just having signed with the Cubs, the 22-year old Saunders is more-polished and a better defensive player than Darvill, and probably better-able to handle DSL pitching, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

"Tim Saunders (who started games at 2B, SS, 3B, and CF at AZL Cubs) was promoted to Hi-A to replace Harrington as the utility INF at Daytona." Minor-league baseball is an up-or-out system. The concept of a utility INF is foreign to such a system. If you're not starting somewhere, you have one foot out the door. It would be strange if a guy was drafted and signed, hit .493 in the one uniform they gave him. and then was given a spot on the bench at a higher level to watch other guys compete. Soto had 445 PAs last year. Cerda had 467. Saunders will get his opportunity, just as they had theirs.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 7:55am — VirginiaPhil Minor League baseball is an up-or-out system. The concept of a utility INF is foreign to such a system. If you're not starting somewhere, you have one foot out the door. It would be strange if a guy was drafted and signed, hit .493 in the one uniform they gave him. and then was given a spot on the bench at a higher level to watch other guys compete. Soto had 445 PAs last year. Cerda had 467. Saunders will get his opportunity, just as they had theirs. ===================================== VA PHIL: Tim Saunders started games at 2B, SS, 3B, and CF in his short stay with the AZL Cubs, so it appears to me that he is being groomed as a multi-positional INF-OF "super-sub." Any player can hit his way to regular playing time in the minors, even if he gets moved around on a daily basis and doesn't play just one position. It is to Saunders benefit that he has the athleticism and versatility to play multiple positions this early in his pro career, after playing just SS in HS and college. It is never a bad thing to show the organization that you are not limited to playing just one or two positions. There are utility infielders in the Cubs minor league system (they are sometimes known as "organizational players"), and some survive for several seasons in that role. The concept of a "utility infielder" is definitely NOT "foreign to such a system." A good example would be somebody like Jonathon Mota (before he got hurt), who lasted long enough as a minor league utility infielder to be a 6YFA after last season. Others get released when they get bumped in a roster crunch, usually at the end of Minor League Camp. I would say that Dustin Harrington, Brad Zapenas (out for the year with shoulder surgery), and Kenny Socorro (who accepted a position of player-coach this season at Peoria) are likely to go that route.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil, I don't get the groomed part: "[Saunders] is being groomed as a multi-positional INF-OF super-sub." Any shortstop can play other positions. That doesn't mean that it is in a shortstop's interest to be thought of as a super-sub. Did Barney make the majors as a super-sub or as a 2B? It is better for Saunders--and probably also for the organization--if he is thought of as having a chance to be a better all-around 2B than Barney, or as a guy who can fill the vacancy at third. Let's let him get a few at-bats outside of Mesa before we typecast him as a utility player or an organizational guy or a player-coach.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 4:36pm — VirginiaPhil Phil, I don't get the groomed part: "[Saunders] is being groomed as a multi-positional INF-OF super-sub." Any shortstop can play other positions. That doesn't mean that it is in a shortstop's interest to be thought of as a super-sub. Did Barney make the majors as a super-sub or as a 2B? It is better for Saunders--and probably also for the organization--if he is thought of as having a chance to be a better all-around 2B than Barney, or as a guy who can fill the vacancy at third. Let's let him get a few at-bats outside of Mesa before we typecast him as a utility player or an organizational guy or a player-coach. =============================== VA PHIL: As I said: Any player can hit his way to regular playing time in the minors, even if he gets moved around on a daily basis and doesn't play just one position. That applies to Saunders. If he hits at Daytona, he will get regular playing time. If he doesn't, he won't. Being groomed as a "super-sub" does NOT mean he is being tracked as a player-coach, although most of the player-coaches in the Cubs system are utility guys. But Saunders was NOT moved up to Daytona at this time because that's where he belongs. There was a temporary need for a utility infielder (and one who can play INF-OF is even better) at Daytona, and the Cubs apparently believe that Saunders was the best choice (rather than moving Wes Darvill up to Daytona from Peoria and Tim Saunders up to Peoria from Mesa). You said: Minor League baseball is an up-or-out system. The concept of a utility INF is foreign to such a system. If you're not starting somewhere, you have one foot out the door. And as I said, that is just not true. A utility infielder (and utility players in general) can survive for years in the minor leagues, even if the player is considered nothing more than an "organizational player." There are minor league players who function as ad hoc player-coaches, too. Like the "Crash" Davis character in Major League.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Well, Socorro hasn't had an at-bat this year, so is that one foot out the door, or both? I don't see David Macias getting at-bats at any level this season. Injured or released? Mota was a not-half-bad SS last year in the high minors, so I don't think he was just hanging around. We also have a new regime, one that is less sentimental and perhaps more inclined to hand out lunch pails to players who seem to have shed their prospect status. But I agree with what you say about Saunders, that he'll be given a chance to show whether he can hit. The fact that he was given a look in CF might be just another hint that the Cubs are looking for an alternative to Jackson as their CF-in-waiting.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The question on the table was why Saunders played three games in CF in Arizona. Skeptical of the idea that the Cubs were grooming a super-sub, I speculated that they might think they need a CF. They did, after all, just draft an 18-year-old who plays that position in the first round; and some recent trade rumors had them seeking a CF. When McLeod came on board, he referred to Jackson and Lake as "high-risk." Trey McNutt was a 32nd rounder. I don't remember anyone here objecting when he was anointed the Cubs' top pitching prospect based on his first-year work at Peoria and Daytona.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

cubs 2015! makes sense. the team has like 6 bat spots to deal with...or 1-2...one of those....and the team needs more SP even with a good 1-2 combo already in house and at least 2 good 3-5 options. the money saved by not paying castro, ninja, and rizzo now can be used to pay castro, ninja, and rizzo a few years from now...brilliant! it's a shame chicago isn't as big of a city or draw as det/mia/etc...plus the team is only drawing 30K+ a game (poor, poor team)...and those merchandise sales are only some of the top in the nation behind the yankees. honestly, i blame rickets family more than theo...at least i assume that's where that wallet pressure is coming from...or theo's as stupid as he is when playing with Cubans (both BOS and CHC...i like the Soler signing, though). this either/or, mutually exclusive talk from the cubs since before the season even began is weak. they can do -both- without harm to one of the richest clubs in the game.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

tl;dr - this team already has some good core bats in place, 2 top SP, at least 2 good end-rotation starters, and a lot of money. building via FA and inner-system isn't an either/or thing for a club this rich. both can be done. there is -no- impact on a FA signing for this club aside from potentially blocking someone, especially with the international signings and draft caps in place. btw, i'm not talking about "wow, now the cubs can give hamels $25m a year"...because i wouldn't be talking about that even if the cubs were a $150m payroll team. it's nothing against hamels...it's about value for the $ and spreading it out over a roster.

Phil, I know the significants of the 60 day DL at the Major League level. It saves a spot on the 40 man roster. What does the 60 day DL do for a Minor League team? I see that as an example, Jonathon Mota is on the 60 day, but some of the pitchers who have had recent TJ surgery are only on the 7 day DL.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 9:17am — Hagsag Phil, I know the significants of the 60 day DL at the Major League level. It saves a spot on the 40 man roster. What does the 60 day DL do for a Minor League team? I see that as an example, Jonathon Mota is on the 60 day, but some of the pitchers who have had recent TJ surgery are only on the 7 day DL. ================================= HAGSAG: Each of the minor league affiliates have a reserve list with a specific limit (38 at Iowa, 37 at Tennessee, and 35 at all of the others) and the 60-day DL is used to remove a player from a minor league reserve list during the minor league season. Also, you might have noticed that several inactive players (Rashad Crawford, Pierce Johnson, Dillon Maples, Kyle Shepard, Brian Smith, and Tony York), were "promoted" from the AZL Cubs to Boise or (in the case of Tony York) to Daytona, even though they never actually left Mesa. That's because the AZL Cubs don't have a 7-day DL, they just have a 35-man roster. (Boise has a 30-man Active List, plus five more slots available for players on the 7-day DL). So to keep slots on the AZL Cubs roster available for newly-signed draft picks (who have to be placed on an Active List within 15 days of signing), some players were moved up to the Boise reserve list so that they could be placed on Boise's 7-day DL. Then there were some others (Josh Conway, Pedro Medina, Amaury Paulino, Melvin Rosa, and Austin Urban) who were placed on the AZL Cubs 60-day DL (so that they do not count against the AZL Cubs 35-man reserve list), so they were not "promoted" before being placed on the DL. (These players will not be reactivated until after the conclusion of the AZL Cubs season).

Draft picks signed: RHP Duane Underwood (2), OF Albert Almora (1) Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kenny Socorro, RHP Randy Wells, RHP Tony York, LHP Gerardo Concepcion, LHP Matt Spencer, SS Arismendy Alcantara Reinstated from DL: RHP Justin Berg, RHP Corbin Hoffner, C Rafael Lopez, OF Rashad Crawford Justin Berg will not go quietly into the night.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Pretty interesting to see Wells just totally blow up. Hendry had touted him as a solid #3 for two years. He pitched several nice games when his control was absolutely perfect. He also though had Volstad-itis and got the bad inning yips more often than not. It basically was downhill since last year's early-season DL, to the point of him getting released if he doesn't start getting it together soon. Wonder if it was smoke and mirrors always, or some other physical problem?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 2:37pm — Rob G. Draft picks signed: RHP Duane Underwood (2), OF Albert Almora (1) Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kenny Socorro, RHP Randy Wells, RHP Tony York, LHP Gerardo Concepcion, LHP Matt Spencer, SS Arismendy Alcantara Reinstated from DL: RHP Justin Berg, RHP Corbin Hoffner, C Rafael Lopez, OF Rashad Crawford Justin Berg will not go quietly into the night. ============================== ROB G: Justin Berg was outrighted off the Cubs 40-man roster after last season and then became a 6YFA, but he opted to re-sign with the Cubs mainly so that he could continue his rehab at Fitch Park this season. And since the Cubs were paying Berg's medical & rehab bills, I guess they thought it was a good idea, too The same thing will probably happen with Marcos Mateo after this season (he had TJS last month).

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Thu, 07/19/2012 - 4:14pm — QuietMan Rosenthal just said on the MLB Network that he's been told the Cubs have summoned a pitcher from AAA to meet them in St. Louis. ================================= Q-MAN: There is a new rule in MLB this season that allows a club to recall a player from the minors and place the player on the club's "Taxi Squad" for 24 hours. A player on the Taxi Squad does not count against the club's 25-man roster and does not accrue MLB Service Time, and it also opens up a slot on the minor league club's active roster while the recalled player is absent. It is mainly designed for instances where a club is considering whether to place a player (usually a starting pitcher who is due to pitch) on the DL but has not yet decided, or as a back-up in case a player or players acquired in a trade do not report right away (players have 48 hours to report).

Paul Sullivan‏@PWSullivan Cubs acquire relieve Justin Germano from Boston for cash; Jairo Asencio designated for assignment. Coleman scratched from Iowa start.

per Rotoworld...
Germano was designated for assignment by the Red Sox over the weekend after tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his lone appearance with the club on July 7 against the Yankees. The 29-year-old right-hander is expected to join the team Friday in St. Louis and could be an option to start if the Cubs trade Ryan Dempster in the next 24 hours.

Interestingly odd note from MLBTradeRumors: "The Giants have "heavily scouted" the Cubs' and Royals' Triple-A teams." ------- Well they've had Theriot and Fontenot. Maybe they're after Blake DeWitt?

@benbadler: Juan Carlos Paniagua again turned suspension into bigger payday. Signed w/#Cubs today for $1.5 million voided yanks contract (1.1m)...20 yo, RHP, 93+mph FB, "working on" changeup + curve

Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal Source: #Cubs drawing interest in Baker, Johnson as well as the more familiar names. Both could be RH bats off bench for contenders

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.