Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Giants Stomp on Cubs at HoHoKam Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Buster Posey and Joaquin Arias collected three hits a piece, as the Giants defeated the Cubs 9-3 in Cactus League action this afternoon at Dwight Pattrerson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.

box score

Travis Wood got the start for the Cubs and labored through four innings of work (93 pitches - only 50 strikes), surrendering four runs on seven hits (three doubles and four singles) and four walks (including Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong twice, the second one a lead-off four-pitch walk) plus two WP. Wood had two especially long innings (a 26-pitch 3rd and a 28-pitch 4th) that probably precluded him from going out for a 5th inning. 

"Supersub" utility man Brent Lillibridge had an absolutely awful day at shortstop, a performance that will call into question whether he can or should ever play the position (which is his "natural" position, BTW) in an MLB regular season game. He commited a fielding error in the top of the 1st that allowed a batter to reach base (and as a result T. Wood had to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam), and made three bad throws later in the game (one a terrible relay throw on what should have been a 4-6-3 DP, another a one-hopper that first-baseman Steve Clevenger was able to snag and then tag the batter-runner for an out, and a 3rd that should have been the start of a 6-4-3 DP but ended up in RF, eventualy allowing two unearned runs to score). 

Cory Wade (battling for the last slot in the bullpen) had a poor outing, throwing two innings and allowing four runs (but only two ER thanks to the Lillibridge throwing error) on four hits (including two doubles) and a walk. Wade threw several low-pitch innings in previous appearances and looked to be efficient if not over-powering, but he did that by pitching-to-contact and probably having some luck with BABIP. But today his stuff was exposed as below average and VERY hittable, and so I doubt that he will be seeing Wrigley Field anytime soon.    

Shawn Camp and Hector Rondon were very good, however, Camp striking out the side in a 1-2-3 8th, and Rondon throwing a scoreless 9th with one strikeout. 

The Cubs offense mostly struggled against Giants SP Ryan Vogelsong, eventually scoring three runs, one on an RBI double by David DeJesus that SF CF Angel Pagan lost in the sun, and the other a two-out two-run HR into the bullpen beyond the RF fence by Dioner Navarro in the bottom of the 6th (Vogelsong's last inning), Navarro's 4th Cactus League HR of 2013. 

Tags
Cubs Spring Training Recap
Travis Wood
Brent Lillibridge
Dioner Navarro

Comments

Submitted by Hagsag on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:35 am

The defense wasnt the best, but Cory Wade did not do himself any favors in making the pitching staff.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:49 am

AZP--What's the deal with Panigua? This guy is presumably one of the Cubs' top 2-3 starting pitcher prospects, signed with much fanfare last year. Now he's gone all Waldo on us? Or have you sighted the guy in Mesa?

Submitted by Transmission on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:52 pm

I get dark visions of Lillibridge as the New Jose Macias....

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:39 pm

those are solely cubs numbers. neifi needed injuries to get more ABs after his 1-season sink/swim...barney is getting ready to go into year 3 of being handed the job as a starter. i hope they're done with him as soon as it's time to start actually paying him for his glove game...unless he's fine working injury replacement/rest replacement/late inning bench.

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Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:21 pm

He had a few good years with the team. But the knee injury robbed him of several very productive years he may have had with the team.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:19 pm

calling d.barney a better hitter is like saying having AIDS is better than having Super AIDS. hell, one could argue that d.barney is a worse hitter. neifi had .13 better BA, .08 worse OB%, and .27 better slugging...still, it's low level pathetic either way, either player, no matter who has the edge.

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Submitted by johann on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:26 pm

You can't argue he's a worse hitter and again the key here is non-competing team. Cheap player who plays very good defense and not blocking anyone that I know of. Unlike Neifi where we were actually trying to compete with that black hole at SS. This team is spending money on the players it really wants and I can guarantee if they see someone better at 2b when the time is right they will get them. There is really no comparison.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:39 pm

yeah, you can argue he's a worse hitter...there's no slam-dunk...there's even an argument you can point to with numbers that he's a worse hitter. still, this an argument about 2 of the worst full time players the cubs have had...1 got 1 full season...the other is getting a shot at a 3rd full season. ronny cedeno got a full year, too, worse than neifi or d.barney...at least he only got 1 season, though.

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Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:03 pm

Which insulted your senses more Neifi the lead off hitter or Neifi the # 5 hitter? --- I love this question. Some of this history is a bit blurry to me these days but as I recall...When DLee broke his wrist (April 2006) it was Neifi who replaced him. Todd Walker was shifted to first and Neifi played 2nd. I don't recall Neifi being put into DLee's spot in the lineup, so he probably batted in the 1-2 slot. Did Neifi really bat 5th? As I recall, they went with Todd Walker over Grudz (after 2004 season) because Walker hit lefty...foreshadowing the Hendry's Milton Bradley choice when he and Lou decided the Cubs needed to get more left handed.
With Lee out, the Cubs could move Todd Walker over from second base or use veteran utility player John Mabry, manager Dusty Baker said after Wednesday's game.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:25 pm

neifi had 7 PA batting 5th in 06...2 PA in 05. he mostly hit 2nd or 8th in 06...2nd or 7th in 05... dusty had/has a thing for "contact hits 2nd"...no matter the ob%, if you don't K a lot and make contact, that's how he loves to use the #2 slot. it was nice to see dusty use t.walker in the 2 slot vs righties when he was a cub...it's the type of guy you give a manager like dusty if you're a GM that wants your "contact hits 2nd" manager to plug into the #2 slot a guy who has ob% along with his contact.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:56 pm

OPS+ is even hated by a lot of stat geeks =p it's a "park adjusted" faith stat along with a comparative season aggregate stat. most people hate ERA+ more, though.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:36 pm

...and the Halos received a couple of token minor leaguers in outfielder Exicardo Cayones and lefty reliever Kramer Sneed.
This is interesting only in that Soriano might bring. Wells to the Yankees with NY picking up $13M/2 for 2 useless prospects and salary relief for the Angels that gets them under the salary cap.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 03:22 pm

useless is practically an over-statement. e.cayones is interesting, but he has an alarming lack of power with no above-average speed to match. k.sneed's numbers makes him look like he's close to being out of organized ball given his age, performance, and level. if the best the cubs can hope to get out of shifting soriano is saving $10-$15 and picking up little of talent in exchange...well, they still have to replace what soriano can do even if he's overpaid to do it.

Submitted by Transmission on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 03:48 am

late-in-thread hijack:  Head to Head league looking for one (or three) more players. Mostly TCRers, though some of us aren't around here much any more, like me.  Low-intensity, high year-to-year continuity, engagement.  Check it out:  yahoo id 62369 and password samfuld

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

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