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

Barry Rozner Plays With the Hearts of Cubs Fans

The Padres called, the Cubs said they're interested, and it's a possibility.

According to a West Coast source, the Cubs are the Padres' best option for a trade partner if for no other reason than they're not the Dodgers, who are Peavy's first choice, and they're not the Braves, who at this point are saying they won't deal their best prospects.

That's the latest from Barry Rozner of The Daily Herald and I'd probably put a lot more stock into it if it was from Bruce Miles, but it should make the offseason rather interesting. Rozner doesn't believe the Cubs have the pitching prospects that the Padres are looking for, and if you consider Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Marmol as untouchable, I'd have to agree. He then goes batshit crazy by suggesting Sean Marshall and Felix Pie to the Padres and then dumping Jason Marquis and another prospect or two to a third team that would land the Padres the elite pitching prospect that they so crave.

While I agree that dumping the bulk of Jason Marquis' contract for next year would be crucial in trying to acquire Peavy and resigning Ryan Dempster, there will be no good player being exchanged for Jason Marquis and the near $10M he's owed.

Comments

When I first heard this a few weeks ago, I was quite stoked. The more I think about Peavy on the Cubs, the more I question the wisdom. - big money commitment for several years - coughing up top prospects for the privilege - not realistically being able to expect anything better than a SP with an ERA in the mid 3s, which is good but not elite - another damn NTC and possibly demands for an extension - losing the luxury of having one of my best fantasy keeper league pitchers leaving Petco Once you consider all the factors, is he worth all the money? My vote comes down to, "Depends on the prospects we have to give."

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Well, allow me to retort: Although the Pads keep saying nothing's for sure, it seems pretty likely Peavy's gonna get traded, to the Dodgers if nothing else. So you're gonna lose the fantasy edge, I'm afraid. I understand it's big money, a NTC, but this is Jake Peavy we're talking about. He had a down year last year, but he's entering his prime (okay, entered) and he's relatively cheap for what he could bring. A low-to-mid 3.00s ERA these days is Cy-Young-discussion-worthy. And I don't know about you but I haven't seen any studs in our minor leagues in a while. Unless we're trading Soto, Marmol, and Ceda, this is a guy you sell the farm for.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2008/10/23/2008-10-23_no_swe… Piniella, 65, said he's watching this World Series, but his primary focus remains the Cubs, whom he has taken to the postseason in each of his first two seasons, only to get knocked out in the first round both times. While the Cubs had the National League's best record this season, their flaws - not enough lefthanded hitters, Alfonso Soriano's inconsistency out of the leadoff spot, shaky middle relief - all showed up in the playoffs. Piniella said the Cubs' main agenda these next few weeks will be to re-sign pending free agents Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood and explore trade options for lefthanded hitting and bullpen help. He also said he plans to move Kosuke Fukudome, the Cubs' $48 million Japanese import whose second-half slump exasperated the manager, to center field as part of a platoon with Reed Johnson. "We don't know if the team is going to get sold this winter," Piniella said, "and I don't see us getting into any big spending in the free agent market. We need to get more athletic and younger and we're probably going to have to fill our needs through trades." doesn't sound like the Cubs like much of the FA crop, does it?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

how in the hell does one "move" k-fuk? it seems pretty much impossible unless the team takes on some other team's payroll crap...and if the cubs are taking on someone's payroll crap what's to be done about RF and what payroll is gonna cover it? there's no RF in the system that's starter quality unless they want dero in RF. i mean, it can be done...but the logistics of it seem like a nightmare. i couldn't imagine trying to "sell" k-fuk's 2 years left to anyone after looking so damn lost with his flunky swing on the inside and doing nothing much with the stuff over the outside. ...and when did lou clue into soriano not being a consistant leadoff hitter? buy the guy a pack of bubblegum cards.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

ah, that was the reporter musing. oh well...as long as the #7/8 hitters are .300 hitters it shouldn't hurt too much. it's nice to have a true power hitter in the #1 slot and it's a luxury you can have with 3-4 guys in the middle with 20+HR power (and doubles), but damn he's a hell of a power hitter who's best speed game took a back seat to his power hitting a few leg injuries ago.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

soriano had 12 sb's over the last 61 games when he came back from his broken wrist and finally did look healed from his leg injuries.

that would be about 32 SB's over a full season...

if they get furcal or roberts, great, plus a new RFer...I'd love to see.

Furcal, Lee, Soriano, Ramirez, Hermida, Soto, DeRosa, Fukudome

the only guy on the roster currently who could belong there is Theriot and well I have my doubts on his continued success.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

soriano is just a lot more timid and he doesn't take the leads he used to. that said, theriot's lead shunk a ton, too, as the year went on. coaching philosophy or personal...i dunno. im not saying soriano isn't capable of 20-30sb, but i'm not really impressed by that compared to what he can do with his bat power. he'll still get a chance to steal...and some rbis to go with the doubles/homers. -edit- btw, soriano batting 1st really doesn't bug me that much, though it'd be one of the first changes i'd make on the team as-given on the crunch-is-in-charge-fantasy-planet-o-coolness. as long as there's 4 guys in the middle who can hit 20-30+ homers with some doubles i don't consider it a huge issue no matter how much i hate it.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"We need to get more athletic" Fuck that! That's shit we didn't take from Dusty why should we take from Lou. Soriano is athletic, Fukudome is athletic, get some goddamn ball players with a brain between their ears would be better. Pitchers getting 0-2 counts and working it full because they nibble, clowns sliding into first base, not getting sure and no situation hitting. Having a bad day, but cut that shit and get some baseball players.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I like the option of moving Fukudome to center and keeping Reed Johnson. Since we need a lefthanded hitter it's best that we are not limited to center but have both center and right open. (Not to mention short and second.) Also, I want to go on record of being 100% against resigning Dempster and 100% for resigning Wood.

[ ]

In reply to by RowdyYates

Moving Fukudome to CF is probably necessary, but then we need to get someone with power to replace him in right. This year, Edmonds was probably one of the most valuable players on the team because he provided the pop that should have been coming from RF. Without that power in the lineup next year, we're basically doing what we did in 2005 by replacing DLee with Neifi (although on a smaller scale).

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

really, I thought Lou ran everything. thanks for the clarification...

they just had organizational meetings and that interview was just done during the World Series. Lou and Jim are usually on the same page, especially with the offseason moves.

so if Lou says the plans are to get younger, more athletic and find some lefty bats and bullpen arms, I'm guessing that's the organizational plans as well.

Doesn't mean they'll nail them all, but that's probably what they're looking for...

i can't believe they're playing for this long in these conditions. that's some miserable stuff with a pathetic playing field condition. wonder who's calling the shots for delays...it sure as hell isn't the umps.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

They just went into rain delay. Radar is just saying bascially no baseball the rest of tonight and likely tomorrow according to the forecast.

Heh... line of the day, from BCB: [DeRosa's] increased HR and BB totals account for the difference in OBA and SLG. That, my friends, is called brilliant analysis. Who would have thought that an increase in HR and BB would increase OBA and SLUG?

http://www.cubshub.com/?p=982 Very interesting article on the idea of stretching out Marmol to be a starter. Similiar approach to what the Yanks did with Chamberlain. Point being that his cheap years of being under club control are being burned while he is a set up guy, better bang for your buck if he is a front end starter. Most relievers became releivers because they could not cut it as a starter....Marmol has never been given a fair chance. Look at his numbers.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

I basically agree with this. I'm firmly in the camp that the Cubs should use their good prospects as relievers early in their careers rather than spending millions of dollars on guys like Howry, Eyre, Remlinger, Hawkins, etc. Once the prospects cut their teeth in the bullpen, gradually stretch them out and put them in the rotation. Here's why: 1) You probably end up with a better bullpen since you're using good pitchers rather than guys who just couldn't cut it as starters 2) Your best prospects get to face major league hitters instead of minor league chumps 3) You might end up saving your best prospects' arms because theyre pitching fewer innings while still facing good hitters. Once they move up to the starting rotation they have less milage on their arms than if they were throwing 200 innings a year in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

Actually, I think one of the biggest differences between Joba and Marmol is that one has been involved in a highly-publicized debate over whether he should be a starter or not, and the other has succeeded almost exclusively as a reliever and that role has been relatively unquestioned. As a starter, Marmol threw a changeup and a curve in addition to his fastball and slider. The quality of these pitches can be debated, and, basically, I can't say how good they were. As a starter, Marmol's fastball and slider weren't nearly as good as they are now. Is that because of the limited workload or is it because he's had more time pitching? I don't know. Probably Marmol would not have nearly as much success as he's had as a reliever. His tendency to throw a lot of pitches and to throw the ball out of the zone quite a bit would probably hurt him. I was very much in favor of giving Marmol a real chance as a starter at this time last year. I don't know what exactly has changed now, but I'm a little less optimistic, though I guess I wouldn't object a whole lot to him getting a shot. Then again, maybe it's his importance to our bullpen that makes me wonder whether the off chance that he turns into a top 3 starter is worth the sacrifice.

[ ]

In reply to by 10man

"He is eventually going to be this team's closer and he's going to be damn good at it." I won't argue with you on that. The niche part I'm not sure about, though it's possible. I'm not sure Marmol needs a "niche," but I do think he'll continue to be damn good as a reliever, and I really have very little idea what kind of starter he would be. One more thing to add to the Joba-Marmol comparison. The Yanks need Joba to start more than the Cubs need Marmol to--the yanks have a pretty rough rotation. The Cubs have a good one and a few starter candidates who won't even have a spot in it.

[ ]

In reply to by garsky

Defensively, Furcal is way better defensively at SS than Theriot. Comparing DeRosa to Fukudome's defense is a little misleading, since Fukudome absolutely won't be the starting day RFer. But you meant a better-hitting team. The Cubs don't need to be a better-hitting team in that they need to score more runs per se. They need to be better-hitting in that the lineup needs more balance with left-handers and preferably needs more guys whose loopy swings aren't affected by the long layoffs that now come with playoff baseball. Furcal does on a regular basis what Fukudome did for the Cubs' lineup early last year - except Rafael hits from both sides of the plate. For the record, I'm not advocating Furcal simply on a cost-return basis, unless the payroll is going to $160 million or something like that. A starter, a pair of relievers and left-handed power in right field are much more pressing, IMO. If the money is there after all that, then yeah, go get him. Theriot becomes the utility guy he can aptly be and fills in when Furcal or DeRo goes down, so fills in for DeRo at 2B when Soriano, Ramirez or the right fielder goes down. (Sounds to me like quite a few ABs, actually.)

[ ]

In reply to by garsky

Well... basically it would be replacing Fukudome with Furcal. You gain defense at SS, probably stay about the same at 2b, and lose defense in RF.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Actually you probably gain a bit at 2B as well; the knock on Theriot has always been more about his arm, which would be a non-issue throwing from closer to 1st. And, thinking a bit more on this, if you consider the number of balls hit to SS/2B versus those hit to RF, it may not be a wash at all. A Furcal/Theriot 1-2 punch at the top of the order would be an OBP machine, but can you imagine the number of DPs Lee hits into then?

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In reply to by garsky

Fukudome's career OBP is higher than Furcal's. In Furcal's last full year he had an OBP of .333 and an OPS+ of 76, may as well bring back Juan Pierre. Also, Theriot hits into a ton of double plays.

The Cubs projected Carlos Marmol as a reliever a year or two before they moved him from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

The Cubs discovered that when Marmol works out of the pen, he adds 3 MPH to his fastball when he doesn't have to pace himself, he can junk his below-average secondary stuff and use his slider more often, and he has much better control of his fastball and slider.

As long as he remains a Cub, Marmol will absolutely, positively NOT be moved to the starting rotation. His eventual future will be as the Cubs closer, although there is no rush unless the Cubs do not re-sign Kerry Wood. Marmol excels as a set-up guy because he's so good at stranding runners when he comes into a game with men on base.

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.