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

Diamondbacks Roll a Seven Come 11 at Fitch Park

Yorman Garcia belted a three-run HR to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 lead, Wagner Mateo tripled, singled twice, drove-in two runs, and scored another, and Karl Triana tossed four innings of one-hit shutout ball, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-4 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa, AZ 

Shawon Dunston Jr ripped an RBI triple, singled, walked, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs.

Steve Clevenger was a DH for the Cubs and batted four times, hitting once in each of the first four innings. He popped out to the third-baseman in the 1st inning, drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch in the 2nd, drilled an RBI double off the fence in right-centerfield in the 3rd inning, and flied out to the centerfielder in the 4th.    

Instead of playing two seven-inning games (as they usually do when they play each other), the Cubs and D'backs opted to play one 11-inning game. However, the umpires didn't get the message, so four umps showed up (ostensibly two for each game), and they ended up working as a four-man crew for the one game (something you don't see very often in an Extended Spring Training game). 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only):  



CUBS LINEUP:
X. Steve Clevenger, DH #1: 1-3 (P-5, BB, 2B, F-8, R, RBI)
NOTE: Clevenger batted four times, hitting 3rd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,and 4th innings
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, 3B, BB, F-8, HBP, R, RBI, SB)
2. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 0-3 (P-3, L-8 SF, F-9, BB, 4-3, RBI)
3a. Yasiel Balaguert, LF 0-3 (K, F-9, 5-4 FC)
3b. Reggie Golden, LF: 0-2 (P-4, P-5)
4a. Jose Dore, RF: 0-1 (BB, BB, K, CS)
4b. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 0-2 (K, K)
5a. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 0-3 (K, K, F-7)
5b. Xavier Batista, 1B: 0-2 (E-7, F-8)
6a. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 1-4 (FC, K, 1B, 6-U FC) 
6b. Lance Rymel, PH: 0-1 (K)
7a. Alberto Mineo, C: 1-3 (4-3 DP, 2B, 4-6-3 DP, R)
7b. Erick Castillo, C: 0-0 (HBP)
8a. Mark Malave, 3B: 0-2 (K, 3-U, BB)
8b. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-1 (5-4 FC)
9. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 2-4 (1B, 1B, F-9, 4-3, R, RBI, CS)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. James Pugliese: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 46 pitches (35 strikes), 4/5 GO/FO 
2. Anthony Prieto: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 42 pitches (25 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
3. Mike Hamann: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K, 31 pitches (15 strikes), 1/4 GO/FO
4. Larry Suarez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 21 pitches (14 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
5. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 16 pitches (9 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 3
1. CF Jeffrey Baez - E-8 (fielding eror on single allowee batter to advance to 2nd base)
2. 1B Trevor Gretzky - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely & unearned run to score)
3, 1B Trevor Gretzky - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Alberto Mineo: 2-4 CS
2. Erick Castillo: 0-1 CS, 1 PB

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Jeffrey Baez - runner thrown out 8-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on a single 

ATTENDANCE: 9

WEATHER: Sunny & a bit breezy with temperatures in the  90's

 

 

Comments

AZ Phil - have there been any trades yet using the new International Signing Bonus cap space in the trade? Would you mind explaining the rules again?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: 2012-13 International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) values ($2.9M per club) CANNOT be traded, and 2013-14 ISBP values (which are divided into 1/4 values of unequal amounts and which vary depending on the club's 2012 winning percentage ranking) cannot be traded until the start of the 2013-14 International Signing Period (ISP) on July 2nd. (The 2012-13 ISP closes on June 15th, and no international players can be signed during the period of time extending from June 16 to July 1. NOTE: This is the first year that a "quiet period" has been established separating the ISPs).

For the first year of the new system (2012-13), all MLB club's received the same $2.9M ISBP value. This means that $2.9M is the maximum aggregate amount of bonuses a club can give to international players during the 2012-13 ISP who are subject to the ISBP restrictions before financial penalties start to be assessed, and AGAIN, the 2012-13 ISBP value cannot be traded. (NOTE: There is no loss of draft pick involved if a club exceeds its annual ISBP, only bonus limitations that apply the following season).

With the second-worst record in MLB in 2012, the Cubs were assigned a 2013-14 ISPB value of $6.24M, divided up into unequal quarters ($2.873M, $462.3K, $312.2K, and $209.7K, plus an additional $700K that all clubs receive each season... and the "extra" $700K CANNOT be traded). 

Clubs cannot add ISBP values via trades that would result in an ISBP that exceeds 50% of the club's originally assigned ISBP, and a club cannot trade for an ISBP value if the club has already paid-out bonuses at or beyond its ISBP limit.

So as far as the Cubs are concerned, they can spend (in aggregate) $6.24M in bonuses on international players subject to ISBP restrictions before they would reach their 2013-14 max ISBP limit. And they could acquire as much as $3.12M (in aggregate) in ISBP values in trades (50% of $6.24M), so that they ultimately could spend $9.36M in bonuses on international players in 2013-14 before 2014-15 penalties would start to be assessed.

Each MLB club is assigned a different ISBP value (again, divided up into quarters of unequal amounts), and an entire quarter must be traded if a club acquires an ISBP value from another club in a trade.

EXAMPLE:

Cubs trade Matt Garza to Texas in July, and as part of the deal, they acquire the Rangers top ISBP value ($514K), which would then be added to the Cubs assigned $6.24M 2013-14 ISBP. (NOTE: The Cubs do NOT get $514K, they just acquire the right to spend it).   

Remember, the ISBP does not apply to international players age 23 or older who have played all or part of five seasons in a recognized foreign "major" league (or all or part of three separate seasons for Cuban players). Clubs can give these players as much as they want, and these players can get Major League contracts (like Kyuji Fujikawa). However, an international player who is subject to ISBP restrictions cannot receive a major league contract, so Jorge Soler got his deal right before the new restrictions went into effect last July 2nd (he was the last player subject to ISBP restrictions who got one).

I don't know if the Cuibs will be trading for ISBP values, because $6.24M is already a substantial ISBP. But if they are in a position where they can sign the best Venezuelan and Dominican free-agents during the 2013-14 ISP and to do so they will need to spend more than $6.24M, obviously they will have to acquire some ISBP values in trades. 

I think it will be clubs that have a much lower 2013-14 ISBP (liike TEX) who will probably be looking to acquire ISBP values in trades, so that they can spend more on international players during the 2013-14 ISP. (The Rangers are probably #1 as far as scouting and signing players from Latin America). Or any high revenue club that finds itself out of contention at the trade deadline and wants to pick up some ISBP values as part of a deadline deal, since they might have started out with a low ISBP. 

And clubs that don't spend much on international players or who don't care that much about it will probably be happy to trade an ISBP value if they can get an actual player back in a trade, especially if the club's ISBP is more than what they want to spend internationally, or if they are just unable to sign the best international prospects. 

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: Exactly. I think if the Cubs make a deal with the Rangers, it's Texas who would want some of the Cubs ISBP value, not the other-way around.

And remember too that the best 16-year old international prospects usually sign right at the start of the ISP on July 2nd, so there could be a flurry of trades on July 2 that would allow a club like the Rangers to add ISBP values that would enable them to sign the #1 Venezuelan or Dominican prospect. And if the Cubs are compoeting for the same player, they aren't going to trade an ISBP value to Texas that would give the Rangers a chance to sign the guy the Cubs want. 

Always good to get Shawn Camp some work. I hope Garza breaks his knees with a bat when he gets bak to the dugout. Worst Cubs bullpen ever?

Man, I'm sure glad Camp wasn't DFA'd. It's not like guaranteed salary is important or something. Wait....what?

cubs sure are good at these late/last-inning comeback teases only to fail... 4-5, final...men stranded on 1st and 3rd.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Something to keep in mind about Michael Bowden, is that even if he clears waivers, he can refuse an Outright Assignment to the minors & elect free-ageny because he has been outrighted previously in his career.

Scouting Report, Sanchez: "A fastball and slider specialist, Sanchez has been a lights-out reliever in the minors and now appears fully cooked and ready to help with an MLB squad. He didn't look his best during a stint with the team in 2012, but if he stays healthy, he can still be a nasty late-inning weapon for the Cardinals in 2013, and probably for many years to come." How is it that the best organization, with Dave Duncan, would waive this guy? He seems to be a solid prospect. As good, or better than any bullpen shit the Cubs have currently. Oh wait...

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

i'm not sure the author of that report knows what "lights-out" reliever means. if he means a reliever with spotty control that will throw 20+ pitches an inning in AAA is "lights-out" i wonder how high the praise goes for someone that deserves it. he's got good velocity at least. he's worth taking a chance on.

per mlbtr...StL starting lefty, Jaime Garcia to undergo shoulder labrum repair after seeing Dr. Andrews and is out for the rest of the year. Some quote about Andrews surprised to see how well Garcia was pitching given how large (40%) the labral tear is. We can measure how far the Cubs system is working by injuries like this, just watch how well Garcia's replacement in the rotation does. In 2011-12 the Cubs would be bringing up Justin Germano, Jason Berken, Chris Volstad or Rodrigo Lopez. Webster had a pic of RodLo in its definition of hitting rock bottom.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

But for 2013 the Cubs rotation depth is greatly improved. Villanueva just shifted to the bullpen, Rusin is pitching well enough in Iowa that a half-dozen MLB teams would promote him today to their rotations, and this is all in spite of the total washout that is Scott Baker. As for the Cardinals, they called up Tyler Lyons. His control will keep him in games, but I don't think he's about to embark a Hall of Fame career.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

But for 2013 the Cubs rotation depth is greatly improved. --- JB: I completely agree about the 2013 improvement. In fact, the debacle that was 2012 was accelerated when Maholm/Dempster/Garza were gone which is a tough nut to crack for any team. If the trade deadline subtracts 2 starters this year from the Cubs they likely will have Villanueva and even Scott Baker should be ready by then...and if not then one AAA guy (Rusin, Vizcaino). Unfortunately 2013's legacy is being written by the bullpen and by the lack of RISP hitting whereas 2012 was the same plus the starting pitching. Organizational depth building should help the bullpen in 1-2 years but for every crusty veteran like Camp, these type of players tend to have alternating good/bad years so I'm not surprised he's back in the Crappy Camp. Right now I don't know what to expect from Fujikawa but my expectations have been significantly lowered. We've been lucky with Greg so far...so hopefully he will have some real trade value when the unloading of 2013 happens. My thinking is the offense won't improve much from here until 2015 as talent filters up from single A teams. They could fix this like Boston did with 3 yr contracts to the Victorino/Napoli but that is contrary to current Theo-think which calls for 1-2 year deals, not 3. Another example if instant bullpen was the plan, like the Pirates, but I think it's mostly a crapshoot when you sign/trade for Melancon and Grilli who could be really bad in a year. I'd rather see them model after Atlanta's bullpen but even that has been unsettled because of injury to Venters, O'Flaherty and Walton; Kimbrel was a 1st round pick (which in rebuilding mode is usually not how the first round is played) but what's not to like about having Kimbrel at the end of a game. For all the complementary words Soriano has gotten lately, I'm tired of his inconsistency, streakiness, slow starts and iron glove (although he's clearly better than pre-Dave McKay version). We need someone who consistently knows how to drive in runs, someone who the fans can call an rbi-machine. The Cubs always seem to come up with the ARam rbi machine types, who take off a month or two then hit like crazy. Why can we get someone who is consistent, a stable offensive force. Sorry for the rant/ramble.

File this under the banner of how's the Cubs organizational depth coming along...
I'm not surprised he's back in the Crappy Camp
--- Must have stubbed that toe throwing the grand slam last night. How convenient. per Roto...
Cubs placed RHP Shawn Camp on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right big toe. Rafael Dolis has been called up to replace him in the bullpen. Camp owns an ugly 7.56 ERA and 12/6 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings of work this season.

s.camp on the DL (evidently sucking is an injury these days) with a "sprained right big toe" (no, seriously)...r.dolis up

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.