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

Friday Free-For-All

It seems the site was down for a bit, apologies.

I'm about to take off with the family to the game. Go Ninja Go!

Dejesus, Castro, Rizzo, Soriano, LaHair, Clevenger, Barney, Valbuena, Samardzija vs. Billingsley tonight.

Have a great weekend!

Tags

Comments

Javier Baez, 2-2, solo HR in the 3rd Josh Vitters, 1-2, double BJax, 0-2, 2K's Christian Villaneueva, 1-4, double Smokies postponed vs Jackson, TN Generals

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Yao-Lin Wang also getting a start and doing okay for Peoria. Questions for AZ Phil (or anyone that has an opinion) about Wang: He's been pretty good everywhere the Cubs have sent him, to the tune of 9+ Ks per 9 innings, 3-ish BBs per inning, reasonable ERAs right around 3. So why did he spend the first half+ of this season working out of Peoria's bullpen? What do you think his career path is? I know he's not a real big guy, but I've read that he's got respectable stuff and he seems to get decent results with it, and at 21 he may not exactly be young for his league, but he's not old either. I'd love to hear more about this guy. Thanks!

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Fri, 08/03/2012 - 7:52pm — Charlie Yao-Lin Wang also getting a start and doing okay for Peoria. Questions for AZ Phil (or anyone that has an opinion) about Wang: He's been pretty good everywhere the Cubs have sent him, to the tune of 9+ Ks per 9 innings, 3-ish BBs per inning, reasonable ERAs right around 3. So why did he spend the first half+ of this season working out of Peoria's bullpen? What do you think his career path is? I know he's not a real big guy, but I've read that he's got respectable stuff and he seems to get decent results with it, and at 21 he may not exactly be young for his league, but he's not old either. I'd love to hear more about this guy. Thanks! ========================================== CHARLIE: Yao-Lin Wang throws a 90-92 MPH four-seamer and a curve. Fastball can spike to 94 if he throws just one inning. Change-up is still a work-in-progress. Aggressive. Throws strikes with both the fastball and the curve. Very polished pitcher (for his age). Was a member of the Taiwan Junior National Team. Was used as closer at Peoria because he works fast and throws strikes, and he throws harder when he pitches only one inning. I would say he profiles as a reliever at the higher levels, but he needs to get as many innings as possible under his belt while he is in A-ball, so it probably makes sense for him to start right now.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks, Phil! Thought for some reason that I remembered hearing he had a more consistent third pitch, but if this is the case I can understand why that combined with his underwhelming stature means he projects as a reliever.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

CHARLIE: Just to be clear, I am basing this on what I saw of him at EXST in 2010-11 (where I saw him pitch a LOT) and then again (briefly) at Minor League Camp this past March. I don't have any info regarding his outings at Peoria this year (repertoire, velocity, command, etc).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I saw Wang a little bit ago, and his fastball may have touched 91. He got a decent amount of weak contact, but seemed like a weak prospect. His results were better than his stuff, by a lot, but I'm not sure he can continue to have success that way.

BP/Kevin Goldstein's updated top 50 prospects: 1. Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Preseason #4) 2. Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Preseason #19) 3. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Orioles (Preseason #6) 4. Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Preseason #23) 5. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles (Preseason #8) --- 10. Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Preseason #22) --- 15. Javier Baez, SS, Cubs (Preseason #66) 24. Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17781

BJax rbi fielder's choice in the 8th ties the I-Cubs vs Colorado Springs, 1-1 going into the 9th in Iowa. Jaye Chapman in for the top of the 9th.

Kevin Goldstein/BP ranks all 43 prospects recently traded: 1. Jacob Turner, RHP, Marlins (from Tigers) 2. Jean Segura, SS, Brewers (from Angels) 3. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Cubs (from Braves) Scouting Profile: 21-year-old Dominican who dominated at times last year out of big league bullpen. Tommy John surgery in spring, back for spring 2013. Undersized, with violent delivery, but stuff plays up out of the bullpen with a fastball that sits at 96 and touches 98, as well as a plus power breaking ball. Closer potential. Path With New Club: The Cubs have plenty of room for their prospects, and once fully healthy and rehabbed, Vizcaino could assume a role in the back of the bullpen as a closer-in-training while Carlos Marmol plays out the last year of his contract. --- 8. Christian Villanueva, 3B, Cubs (from Rangers) Scouting Profile: 21-year-old whose greatest strength is a lack of weaknesses. Sound approach with good bat speed and the potential for average power once he fills out. Plus defender with plus arm and athletic with at least average speed. Projects as solid-average starting third baseman with some chance at a higher ceiling. Path With New Club: Villanueva is behind Josh Vitters on the Cubs depth chart, but he's also behind him in terms of development, as Villanueva is slated to begin the 2013 in Double-A, while Vitters will get a long look for the big league job. Villanueva's picture gets more cloudy if top prospect Javier Baez slides from shortstop to the hot corner down the road. --- 15. Jake Brigham, RHP, Cubs (from Texas) Slow-to-develop starter has back-end starting potential with good command of low 90s fastball and solid breaking ball. --- 36. Kyle Hendricks, RHP, Cubs (from Rangers) Extreme command, but very fringy stuff with 86-90 mph fastball and no notable secondary pitch. --- 39. Jaye Chapman, RHP, Cubs (from Braves) Minor League veteran has outstanding changeup, but few believe his trick will work in big leagues without another good pitch. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17862

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

i liked the trade...i like it even more the cubs view him as a starter. he might have to "dial it down" to the low 90s, but he's got 2 good pitches and working with 2 others to find a 3rd...and it seems out of those 2 that some people like the changeup even if others think it's mediocre.

Jaye Chapman in for the top of the 9th. --- and Chapman promptly gives Colorado the lead on a two out single with a runner on 2nd...and a 2nd two out single makes it 4-1.

Star trek night consisted of Shatner throwing out the first pitch and announcing the lineup. He didn't even have the deceny to do it in Kirk's voice. They did play Star Trek music for the fireworks show. As you can imagine, a complete shit game to watch.

justin + bj upton both hit career HR #100 less than an hour apart. neat -click-

Baez to Daytona! --- @CarrieMuskat: RT @peoriachiefs: Chiefs fans hope you enjoyed 57 games of Javier Baez, he has been promoted to Daytona. Chiefs receive SS Tim Saunders (32nd rd '12) from Daytona. Baez hit .333 with 12 hr, 33 RBI, 10 2b, five 3b, 33 RBI and 41 runs scored. Baez slugged .596 with a .979 OPS and also stole 20 bases

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In reply to by The Joe

ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็ ส้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้้ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

والسبب أنا هنا ، قالوا لي ، هو أن لعبت المباراة بطريقة معينة ، أن لعبت اللعبة الطريقة التي كان يفترض ان يلعبها. لا أعرف عن ذلك ، ولكنى أعرف أن هذا : كان لي الكثير من الاحترام لأنها لعبة بأي طريقة أخرى ، وإذا كان هناك كان هناك سبب واحد وأنا هنا اليوم ، فذلك لأن كلمة واحدة ، احترام. احب ان العب البيسبول. أنا لاعب بيسبول. لقد كانت دائما لاعب البيسبول. ما زلت لاعب بيسبول. هذا الذي أنا.

With Volstad facing Kershaw in LA I am surprised they have even issued odds in Vegas for that game. I suppose Volstad COULD collide with Kershaw at first base in the 3rd inning or something and both teams have to go to bullpen. But damn other than that, this game is about the most lopsided matchup I have seen in years. Btw you gotta bet $350 on LA to win $100 . . .

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

His junkballs look pretty good so far tonight. From what I've seen of him, usually he has decent break on his sinker and slider, but when he flustered or under pressure he starts forcing them, hanging them up in the zone, and generally transforming into the worst pitcher in pro ball. So really, for this guy to have a decent big-league career, he needs to just learn to stay calm under pressure and keep throwing that low slop.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

That really sounds about right. He always seems to have that one inning where stuff flattens out into batting practice-like pitches. I think that's why I've had hope for him. If it's mostly psychological, he's got a chance, but I think I read once he's been working on that, too, and so far no go. Last night he did okay, didn't have a meltdown at least.

Paul Maholm pitching well but losing vs Astros, 3-2 in 7th. He has given up two HRs to Jason Maxwell, including a solo HR in the 7th after the Braves tied the game in the 6th (3 walks and a 2run single by Uggla)

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Muskat's mlb.com writeup on Mather's cubbery: They had a short spurt in the fourth...But the Dodgers answered in their half as Mark Ellis singled and Kemp followed with his 16th home run, which center fielder Joe Mather deflected with his glove over the wall. "I felt I could've caught it, honestly," Mather said. "I was pretty upset I didn't get it. It might have tipped off the top of my glove. The ball just kept going and going and going. Three inches shorter, and it's an out. If I'm three inches taller [it's an out]." Said Kemp: "You never know in this ballpark. It's tough to hit home runs at night here and I think I got a little bit of help looking at the Jumbotron [scoreboard of the replay]."

I-Cubs won last night 5-1, Vitters with a 3 run HR in the 8th (#17) BJax 1-3 with 2K's and a walk Chris Rusin 7IP, 4H, 1BB, 8K, 1R but a no decision

Sources confirmed Saturday that Cubs management did not let the Dodgers know they were letting Dempster listen in on phone calls between the team Tuesday regarding the possibility of a trade to them. The serious breach of ethics figures to affect the relationship between the two organizations, which had been on good terms until now. ..... The Cubs and Dodgers discussed several scenarios, none of which worked out. The Cubs could have had four low-level minor league prospects, but instead settled for two Class-A prospects from the Rangers. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0805-main-cub…

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In reply to by QuietMan

unpossible. theocorp had some kind of awesome plan that worked out even with the dodgers finding out because that's the plan because it's theo. paul sulivan is an old guy set in his ways and an enemy of the SABERS. he probably doesn't even know how AKNK% effects ONX%. this is simply an attack article by the enemies of progress. ron paul 2012. brb, masturbating.

@CarrieMuskat: Brett Jackson & Josh Vitters headed to LA. It's not a mirage. We'll send pix when they get here.

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In reply to by Charlie

The point is A-they have 2 months to see what they can do at the MLB level..no pressure of a pennant race, and they're not being blocked by anyone. B-From a business standpoint, it adds some watchability to the team for the rest of the year...unless we want Joe Mather and Luis Valbuena sightings.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Neither player is exactly dominating AAA. My feeling is you might as well leave them to cut down on k's/increase the BB's. Now they're in the majors and will absolutely feel pressure to perform, despite the team's place in the standings.

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In reply to by Charlie

Bryce Harper was batting lower than .250 when he was called up. Granted he's struggling now . . . but AAA/AA numbers aren't always the best indicator of success. Also in interviews they talked about maybe getting them some new looks by some new coaches. Bottom line is the braintrust thinks its a good time . . . Sometimes a player needs a little more heat or pressure to bear down. Or maybe they do not want Jackson to get discouraged after a good spring. I like the move. Let's get a 2 month look?

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Let's give them the rest of 2012 in AAA, let them settle in and work on things, and potentially delay arbitration/free agency for them. They can prove themselves at the MLB level in 2013 when the Cubs will also not be in contention.

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In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Disagree to agree. Or something. I don't care if they are starting the clocks on these two guys. Chances are they will not be superstars, therefore they won't be throwing away too much money by bringing them up now. If for some reason one or both become superstars, then fucking great, we have two superstars. For the short term, this team is now more watchable than it was last week......at least the position players. Pitching, super meh.

Campana back to Iowa to scrape out rust. Vitters not in lineup but BJax is

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.