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

Dempster "Blindsided" by Trade, Confused by Baseball's News Cycle

So the latest on the Dempster saga is that Ryan Dempster was "blindsided" by the trade yesterday and because of this, he's going to take the full week to decide. Rumors are that he strongly prefers to go the Dodgers and seems to be trying to push the Cubs into accepting a deal from them, although it certainly won't be as good as getting Randall Delgado from the Braves.

Other things Dempster has been blindsided by (a few I'm stealing from Twitter):

- His Birthday

- the birth of his chidren

- the start of the season

- spring training

- warmer temperatures in the summer

Yeah, it would have been great if the Cubs got to him before the news leaked out, but you work in a multi-billion dollar business with reporters that are good at their job, throwing a temper tantrum over it isn't particularly professional.

It's certainly true that Ryan Dempster doesn't owe the Cubs anything and does not need to feel obligated relinquish his 10/5 rights because of pressure from the front office or the fans. But he is being a bit of a two-faced ass about the whole thing, isn't he?

Now please don't confuse that statement into thinking I'm upset at all, afterall it's just baseball and this is really nothing more than expensive entertainment. But from the reports over the last few weeks, I find it hard to come to the conclusion that Dempster was truly blindsided by yesterday's report and I do come to the conclusion that he really just wanted to go to Los Angeles, but certainly didn't make that clear to the Cubs.

Now with the caveat that I in no way know everything that was discussed, let's pick apart what has been put out in the public.

"I'm not an idiot. I know what's going on. I just try and enjoy it"

"I'm not an idiot, but what is this twitter and Internet and how does information spread so quickly? And how is this possible that news got leaked? Theo and Jed should not have let that happen!!! What do you mean there's a second party where that leak may have come out of? You lie!!! Lying liars!"

Now there's a Ken Rosenthal article out there that doesn't have any direct quotes from Dempster, but it does claim to say that the Braves were Dempster's second choice and further states, "Dempster, according to one source, has told the Cubs that he is open to many clubs and given them only a handful of teams that he would reject."

Without direct quotes from Dempster, it's nearly impossible to determine the veracity of that article. For all I know, the Cubs leaked it out in a huge long con to control public opinion in their favor and get the best deal possible for the Cubs, but that's a lot of conspiracy theory that I'm not comfortable with. It doesn't take a leap of faith to believe that Dempster told the Cubs the teams he's most comfortable with or the general parameters, the Cubs ran with that and were set to discuss in person with Dempster the deal they had in place before the things got out of hand. The Cubs are certainly the party here with the most to lose, so it would make sense they were the most cautious about leaking information and attempting to appease Dempster. I can't imagine the Cubs didn't anything foolish like promise him the Dodgers and even though there were reports that a deal was close with the Dodgers, hopefully Dempster's isn't running with those news reports while admonishing the ones he was so displeased with yesterday.

It will get worked out one way or another, and the Braves are saying all the right things at the moment that they still want Dempster and it appears the current deal is still out there. But it just takes one phone call with another offer for them to change their minds. Dempster's wish that the Cubs send him to the Dodgers is nothing more than a wish at this point. The Dodgers are certainly not going to come back with a stronger offer knowing the position the Cubs are in and the Cubs are probably not going to accept the allegedly lower offer from the Dodgers just to appease Dempster when they know they have something better out there. That's just bad for business. I guess it's better to get something than nothing, but the Cubs can presumambly still offer Dempster a contract after the off-season that would net them draft picks. They run the risk that Dempster accepts it, but at 36, he'll certainly be eyeing a multi-year deal and 1-year of Dempster at around $12M wouldn't necessarily be terrible, especially considering the current lack of Cubs starting pitching options.

Let's hope Dempster gets over the bruised ego and that Randall Delgado is one of those pitching options.

Comments

Wandy to Pirates "close" to happening according to a Rotoworld blurb a team allegedly interested in Maholm.

“It makes it harder when something that wasn’t supposed to be public knowledge becomes public knowledge, especially before I even knew it was public knowledge,” Dempster said. “That’s when it gets harder is when you get everybody’s opinions of what is going on and it really isn’t what was going on or what took place. You don’t really get to focus your full attention on what you’re trying to do you have to focus on everybody’s perception of what is going on.” http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/12118/beloved-dempster-i… "beloved" dempster is a bit of a reach, no? He was absolutely hated as a closer and just barely tolerated as a starter, even when he was doing well.

it's all probably something as simple as dumpster wanting an extension and the bottleneck is what ATL wants vs what dumpster's agent wants. if it's not done (or dead) by the time dumpster gets his next start that should be interesting.

AZ Cubs up 4-1 after first, although the official scorer might be wrong: Shawon Dunston doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Joshua McAdams. Daniel Lockhart grounds out, second baseman Claudio Bautista to first baseman Nelson Rodriguez. Shawon Dunston to 3rd. Albert Almora reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Dorssys Paulino. Shawon Dunston scores. Jorge Soler reaches on a force attempt, fielding error by shortstop Dorssys Paulino. Albert Almora to 2nd. Ben Carhart homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Albert Almora scores. Jorge Soler scores. Yasiel Balaguert singles on a ground ball to right fielder Joshua McAdams. David Bote called out on strikes. Justin Marra grounds out, shortstop Dorssys Paulino to first baseman Nelson Rodriguez.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

From Goldstein on Monday Allen Webster, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga) It's been a strange season for Webster. He entered the year as one of the best pitching prospects in the system, but not without some concerns, as he had a rough go of it during the second half of the season at Double-A. On the surface, he's struggling again, with a season line that includes a 4.06 ERA and more than a hit per inning, but in reality, there have been three parts to his year. After putting up a 7.49 ERA in his first seven starts, Webster spent three weeks in the bullpen trying to straighten things out. Since his return to the rotation, he's put up a 2.11 ERA in nine starts, including a season-high 10 strikeouts over six innings on Friday. What was going wrong is a bit of a mystery, as Webster has always had the stuff for things to go right: a heavy 93-95 mph fastball, an easy plus changeup, and a decent slider.

“The Chicago Cubs are going to do what’s best for the Cubs,” Dempster said. “I have a chance to do what’s best for me. And I’m going to try and do that.” ~snip~ “I don’t want to start saying who I’m down to or (not),” Dempster said, “because that’s how rumors start and things fly all around and things get out that aren’t supposed to get out. Something that’s supposed to be a private matter doesn’t stay private.”

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

And what exactly is the best thing here for Dempster? I understand the 10x5 rights he's earned it blah blah blah, but good lord it's 2 freakin months. He's going to get paid regardless whether he signs an extension with a team he's traded to or not. As others have mentioned, the anger/resentment/whatever emotion he has seems a bit irrational here given that rumors have been swirling for along while now. He's certainly not endearing himself to cubs fans here holding team hostage. Because that's exactly what he's doing.

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...