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

McDonald & Lake Lead Cubs to Victory

Darnell McDonald and Junior Lake each had a single, a double, and an RBI, leading the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Cactus League action this afternoon at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.

box score

Scott Feldman made his first game appearance as a Cub today, getting the start and throwing two innings. He allowed one run on two hits (a single and a triple) and two walks, with two strikeouts (one swinging & one looking) and a 2/1 GO/FO. Feldman struggled with his control over the 2.0 IP (37 pitches - only 18 strikes), and benefited from two outstanding defensive plays behind him or his day could have been much worse.

After retiring the first two men he faced on a 4-3 ground out and a strikeout, Feldman walked Josh Reddick, and then surrendered a Brandon Moss one-hop line-drive single to right. RF Jorge Soler fielded the ball cleanly and fired a one-hop strike to 3rd base to nail Reddick trying to advance for the third out of the inning.  

Feldman also retired the first two men he faced in the 2nd inning (F-7 and a strikeout), before walkng Derek Norris and giving up a Michael Choice RBI triple off the CF fence. Miles Head then topped a "swinging bunt" between home and 3rd that was fielded by Feldman, but the pitcher's throw to 1st base bounced once and was a bit off line. 1B Brent Lillibridger adjusted to the situation, however, and with some fancy footwork, managed to keep his other foot on the bag as he stretched into foul territory to corral the bouncing ball for the third out, as the ball just barely missed hitting the baserunner.    

Travis Wood threw the next two innings, allowing a Derek Norris solo HR onto the LF berm and a single. He threw 41 pitches (25 strikes) with a 1/4 GO/FO over the two innings, and struck out one (the final better he faced) with no walks.  

It appears that Feldman and Wood are battling for what will eventually be the #5 starter slot (once Matt Garza and Scott Baker are ready to join the rotation), so it was interesting to see them pitch back-to-back in the same game. Wood looked much sharper than Feldman today, although (obviously) it is still very early.

After being shutout through the first two innings by LHP Brett Anderson, the Cubs scored three runs (one earned) on five hits off veteran RHP Bartolo Colon in the 3rd & 4th innings to take a 3-2 lead. 

Brent Lillibridge grounded a single through the box leading off the 3rd, and scored on a Dave Sappelt one-out RBI double off the top of the LF fence (near-HR). Then in the bottom of the 4th, Darnell McDonald grounded a lead-off single to center, and after Jorge Soler and Dioner Navarro struck out, Javier Baez ripped a line-drive single to CF, with McDonald advancing to 3rd. Lillibridge then reached base on what should have been a 4-6 FC and the third out, but A's SS Hiroyuki Nakajima dropped the toss from 2B Scott Sizemore as Baez slid hard into the bag, allowing McDonald to score. Junior Lake followed with a rocket line-drive single to left to score Baez, who put on the after-burners to just barely beat the throw home.

Carlos Marmol threw the 5th inning and did not allow the ball to leave the infield, striking out one (swinging) and inducing an infield pop up and a weak ground out. He did walk one batter, but otherwise looked very good (17 pitches - 11 strikes).

The Cubs scored again in the bottom of the 5th, as Darwin Barney led-off and reached base on a bloop single to left. Then with two outs, Darnell McDonald laced a double down the line into the LF corner, as Barney scored all the way from 1st, sliding home in a cloud of dust. 

McDonald has looked good so far, and although there are probably only five slots available on the 25-man roster for outfielders (with Soriano, DeJesus, Hairston, Schierholtz, and Sappelt the likely finalists), McDonald could win a job if Soriano gets traded, or if one of the outfielders gets hurt, or if Sappelt (who coiuld be optioned to the minors) falls flat (but so far Sappelt has played very well).

Japanese import Kyuiji Fujikawa worked the 6th and allowed one harmless single, Rule 5 pick Hector Rondon had an impressive 1-2-3 7th (3-1 GO, strikeout swinging, and a 3-U groundout), and Zach Putnam (who has been impressive so far) pitched a scoreless 8th, allowing a lead-off single before retiring the side on three straight ground outs.  

The Cubs scored their 5th and final run in the 8th. Edwin Maysonet led-off the inning by roping a double into the LF corner, advanced to 3rd base on a Brad Nelson 4-3 GO, and scored on a Christian Villanueva sacrifice fly (with plenty of distance) to CF. Villanueva (acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Ryan Dempster trade last July and rated the Cubs #12 prospect by Baseball America going into the 2013 season) has been impressive both at the plate and in the field, and while he isn't MLB-ready yet, he could be in another year (he will likely spend te 2013 season at AA Tennessee). He has shown HR power in games and an advanced approach at the plate, and he is a steady (if not spectacular) defender at 3B. He obviously has been well-coached (props to the Rangers Player Development Dept).

Both Maysonet and Nelson will likely be at Iowa in 2013, providing insurance in case of injury on the big league club (Nelson in the event Rizzo goes down, and Maysonet if something happens to Castro or Barney). It's possible that Maysonet could win a job on the Cubs MLB Opening Day 25-man roster even if there are no injuries in the infield, if Ian Stewart is released, and Luis Valbuena is the everyday third-baseman.

NRI RHP Jensen Lewis pitched the 9th and recorded the save, although it wasn't easy. He dug himself into a hole right from the gitgo by allowing two doubles (both on long fly balls that bounced over the fence) and a single, resulting in one run scoring and runners at 2nd & 3rd (the potential tying run on 2nd base) and no outs. But after a visit to the mound by Pitching Coach Chris Bosio (and with Blake Parker warming up in earnest in the Cub bullpen), Lewis reached back and struck out the next two batters swinging, before recording the final out on an easy 3-1 GO. 

Among the pitchers competing for spots in the Cub bullpen, both Hector Rondon and Michael Bowden have a built-in advantage because neither can be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers. Bowden is out of minor league options (and he also can elect free-agency if outrighted, because he has been outrighted previously in his career), while Rondon (as a Rule 5 player) must be offered back to the organization from which he was drafted (the Cleveland Indians) even if waivers are secured.

One other thing to keep in mind about Rondon is that he is not your trypical Rule 5 draft pick. A one-time Indians Top 10 Prospect who has been slow to recover after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery in August 2010, Rondon is out of minor league options, and he can elect free-agency if he is sent outright to the minors (he was outrighted previously in his career), which means if he isn't kept on the Cubs MLB 25-man roster in 2013, the Cubs would have to outright him to the minors (presuming waivers are secured and the Indians decline to take him back), and then if he is outrighted, he can (like Michael Bowden) elect to be a free-agent. BTW, this also will likely impact Cleveland's decision to re-claim Rondon should it get to that point. The Indians would have to pay the Cubs $25,000 (half the Rule 5 Draft price) if they re-claim Rondon, but will they risk spending the $25,000 for nothing since Rondon can elect free-agency if outrighted (and a returned Rule 5 player MUST be sent outright to the minor league club from which he was drafted, in this case AAA Columbus).  

 

Comments

If I have a heart attack this week, I swear to god my last words will be, "But I never got to see Soler field the ball cleanly and fire a one-hopper to third and nail a guy trying to advance from first!"
Your coverage is the best, Phil.

Hey AZ Phil, really love reading your posts. Had a question for you. From all I can tell, it seems like these guys are the ones in the running for the final 2 bullpen spots: Dolis, Cabrera, Bowden, Rondon, D. Carpenter, Chapman, Coleman, Lewis, Parker, Putnam, Takahashi, Wade Just curious as to what you think of what you've seen of them, and what you think will happen to them (make the 25 man, go to AAA, opt out, get released, etc).

[ ]

In reply to by Koyies Bansaw

K Bansaw: Hector Rondon and Michael Bowden came into Spring Training with a leg up because of their roster situations (as I discussed in the post), and neither has done anything to pitch himself off the team (yet).

The young guys who have options left (Cabrera, Dolis, and McNutt) will almost certainly be sent to Iowa (all three have issues that need to be resolved), and unless Rondon and/or Bowden stumble or an injury bug hits the bullpen, Drew Carpenter, Jaye Chapman, Casey Coleman, Jensen Lewis, Blake Parker, Zach Putnam, and Cory Wade are essentially pitching for jobs at Iowa. (I suspect Hisanori Takahashi has an opt out if he doesn't make the Cubs Opening Day MLB 25-man roster).

Also keep in mind that there are a number of other pitchers (Frank Batista, Esmailin Caridad, Marcus Hatley, Kevin Rhoderick, Tony Zych, Jay Jackson, Jason Berken, Brian Schlitter, Ty'Relle Harris, Casey Harman, Jeffry Antigua, Marcos Mateo, Carlos Gutierrez, Casey Weathers, and Dontrelle Willis) at Minor League Camp who are competing for bullpen jobs at Iowa, too (and most of them will get an opportunity to throw in a Cactus League game or two along the way), so there will be blood and heads will roll the last week of Spring Training. (BTW, Lendy Castillo and Dayan Diaz will almost certainly begin the season at either Tennessee or Daytona).   

There also will be competition for the five slots in the starting rotation at Iowa, although Chris Rusin, Brooks Raley, Nick Struck, Barret Loux, and Dae-Eun Rhee look to be the front-runners to win those jobs, with the possibility that a AAA veteran like J. Jackson, Coleman, or Berken, or perhaps Cuban refugee Yoannis Negrin (who pitched well in Winter Ball) could sneak into the I-Cubs rotation if injuries bite one or more of the starters. (Rob Whitenack will likely be a starter at AA Tennessee).  

2013 season has already gotten better for tv viewers... --- In a controversial decision certain to be associated with some symbolic meaning by Cubs fans everywhere, the Chicago Cubs have said they will no longer invite celebrities visiting Wrigley Field to lead seventh-inning stretch renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The tradition, started by legendary Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray, will be limited to celebrities with strong ties to the city or team.. "I think the last couple of years we had gotten away to a couple of people who weren't tied to Chicago," said Jim Oboikowitch, the Cubs in-game programming director. The Associated Press reports: Oboikowitch said the new plan calls for handing the microphone over to people like former Cubs players and various Chicago celebrities like actors Vince Vaughn and Gary Sinise. Always welcome would be any member of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears, of course.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.