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

Junior Lake Back in Action at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

James Sneed roped a two-run single and Ryan Dalton followed with an RBI single to highlight a two-out three-run rally in the top of the 3rd inning, and Tyler DeLoach tossed 3.2 IP of one-hit shutout relief with seven strikeouts, helping the Angels defeat the Cubs 4-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa, AZ.  

Junior Lake (fractured rib cage rehab) saw his first game action since March 6th, playing 3rd base for five innings and getting five AB.

Lake batted once in each of the first five innings, going 1-3 with a single and two walks. He also was retired on a 1-3 comebacker to the mound and was called out on strikes. In addition, he was caught stealing after reaching base on the single. 
    
Ex-Minnesota Twins switch-hitting C-1B-3B-PH Jose Morales also returned to action today after missing almost six weeks with a strained hamstring. He went 0-3, and knocked-in the Cubs lone run with a F-7 sacrifice fly.

The 30-year old Morales was signed as a minor league free-agent last month and reported to Extended Spring Training to get into playing shape, but promptly pulled a hammy in his very first EXST game on April 19th. He has been restricted to limited activity (essentially just BP and "sim" games) ever since. Once he is deemed ready to move up, he will likely be assigned to AAA Iowa. 

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



CUBS LINEUP:
X. Junior Lake, 3B: 1-3 (BB, 1B, K, BB, 1-3, CS)
NOTE: Lake batted five times, hitting third in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings
1. Kevin Encarnacion, CF: 1-4 (4-3, 3-U, K, 2B)
2a. Justin Marra, DH #1: 0-2 (K, K) 
2b. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-2 (K, K)
3a. Erick Castillo, C: 0-2 (3-U, K)
3b. Rony Rodriguez, C: 0-2 (F-7, F-7)
4a. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-2 (3B, BB, 1-3, R)
4b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Jose Morales, DH #2: 0-3 (F-7 SF, F-8, K, K, RBI)
6. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 1-3 (2B, F-9, K)
7. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-2 (BB, F-7, 6-3)
8. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (P-3, L-4, K)
9. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 0-1 (BB, BB, K, SB)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Paul Blackburn: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HBP, 1 PO, 67 pitches (41 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
2. Erick Leal: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 47 pitches (29 strikes), 2/5 GO/FO  
NOTE: Top of 7th inning was stopped with two outs when Leal reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game
3. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 28 pitches (20 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: NONE

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo; 0-1 CS
Rony Rodriguez: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 13

WEATHER: Sunny and breezy with temperarures in the 90's  
 

 

Tags
EXST Cubs Extended Spring Training
Jose Morales
Junior Lake

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 05/29/2013 - 05:16 pm

i.stewart 0-4, 3K...sigh. ...and b.jackson keeps slipping, himself, with a 0-3, 3K (1bb) night.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:01 am

RHP Michael Bowden has cleared waivers and has been assigned outright to AAA Iewa. However, because he has been outrighted previously in his career, Bowden is an Article XX-D player and has the right to elect free-agency if outrighted. He can elect free-agency immediately, or he can defer free-agency until the close of the MLB regular season (and then he can file anytime beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th).   

Note that if Bowden elects free-agency immediately, his contract is voided and he receives no termination pay. If he accepts the Outright Assignment and defers free-agency, his contract would remain in force, but he would not be eligible to be a Article XX-D minor lerague free-agent if he is added back to an MLB  40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the 2013 MLB regular season.  

Because Bowden was not eligible for salary arbitration post-2012, he almost certainly has a split contract, meaning he receives one salary if he is on an MLB roster, and another lesser salary if he is on a minor league roster. So if he were to decline the Outright Assignment and elect free-ageny, he would be giving up what's left of his minor league split salary, probably about $150K. (Bowden's 2013 minor league split salary would be greater than the $80K minimum minor league split salary, because he spent about 2/3 of the 2012 season on an MLB 25-man roster, and a minor league split salary must be at least 60% of what the player was actually paid in salary the previoius season).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:10 am

Because he was a college senior with no eligibility left, RHP Austin Pentecost (Cubs 2012 29th round draft pick) was the one player selected by the Cubs in last June's First Year Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft) who remained on the Cubs Negotiation List beyond last July's signing deadline. The Cubs had until midnight to sign Pentecost.  

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:31 pm

HAGSAG: I was just mentioning that the Cubs had until midnight last night to sign Pentecost. He was the only 2012 Cubs draft pick the Cubs could have signed after the July 2012 signing deadline. As far as I know he isn't pitching in independent ball, so he may have just decided to pursue another career.   

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:26 am

Last July, six "Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks were awarded by lottery between the 1st and 2nd round, and six more were awarded by lottery between the 2nd and 3rd round. The lottery took place on the Monday following the Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. Only MLB clubs that receive revenue sharing and clubs from the ten smallest markets were be eligible to participate in the lottery for Competitive Balance picks.

Once awarded, these draft picks can be traded, but only during the MLB regular season, and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick), and a Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft pick can be used only in the next Rule 4 Draft. There is no compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign.

Of the 12 Competitive Balance Draft Picks awarded last July, three have been traded (the Tigers and Marlins exchanged their picks as part of the Anibal Sanchez trade last July, and the Pirates traded their pick to the Marlins for 1B Gaby Sanchez last July), and one was forfeited (by Cleveland as the result of the Indians signing Article XX-B MLB FA OF Michael Bourn, who had received a Qualifying Offer from his previous club, the Braves).

That leaves eight Competitive Balance picks available to be traded (KC, AZ, BAL and CIN between the 1st & 2nd rounds, and SD, COL, OAK, and MIL between the 2nd & 3rd rounds):

BETWEEN ROUND ONE & ROUND TWO:
34. KC
35. MIA (from PIT) - cannot be traded again
36. AZ
37. BAL
38. CIN
39. DET (from MIA) - cannot be traded again 

BETWEEN ROUND TWO & ROUND THREE:
69. SD
70. COL
71. OAK
72. MIL
73. MIA (from DET) - cannot be traded again
NOTE CLE pick was forfeited, and all picks below were moved up one slot

Submitted by John Beasley on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:46 pm

I doubt there is much of a trade market for either Scott Hairston or Cody Ransom, but I suspect Jae-Hoon Ha and Donnie Murphy respectively could replace those guys today and the Cubs would not be any worse off. If you can even get a couple deep prospects for those guys, it's worth setting them out during the yard sale.

Submitted by fullykräusened on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 05:15 pm

Sweet Jesus, please, no more 2003 reminiscences. 1969: Broke my teenage heart. (Sabermatricians say Adolfo Phillips not so bad...} 1984: Garvey, damn you. 1989: First basemen... 1998: Maybe... Then came 2003, with the long-term, home-grown, starting rotation...I will never forget the Lazy-Boy I sat in to watch that game... Sammy floats a single to right...five outs away...oh my God...I am a Cub fan. "Hi, Cub Fan," say the other folks in the group at the Alano Club...

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:18 am

how much longer can they keep z.rosscup down in AA? he turns 25 in less than 2 weeks, so he's already "too old" for AA as it is. 1.2ip 0h 0bb 2k tonight 22.2ip 11h 8bb 35k - 1.19era i.stewart didn't play tonight... b.jackson went 0-3, 1k in AAA.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:20 am

almost 2am central and KC/STL is still in a rain delay rather...unreal. (multiple edits follow) the grounds crew keeps coming out to clean/dump the tarp into the drainage in LF. tarp is off and it looks like they might be getting ready to start it back up sometime soon. ...cards GM is out on the field with the umps...looks like he might be trying a power play. if the game gets called, the score reverts back to the inning before (where STL was leading) and therefore they would win. this might be interesting. "Any suspended game not completed prior to the last scheduled game between the two teams during the championship season shall become a called game, as follows: If such game has progressed far enough to become a regulation game, and one team is ahead, the team that is ahead shall be declared the winner (unless the game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead, in which case the score upon the completion of the last full inning shall stand for purposes of this Rule 4.12(b)(4));" lulz...KC players are helping the STL grounds crew apply diamond dry on the field...carry bags out, dumping them, raking...they are determined to make this game happen. fan pic - http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BLk5t2HCAAEdnK9.jpg the crowd is so thin now that KC players are on the field hurling baseballs into the stands at every KC fan they see. they're handing out autographs, seeds, and gum, too. this whole scene is kinda lulz. ...and it's raining again...almost all of the KC team is standing on the field...STL dugout is 1/2 empty...both managers are going back/forth with the umps (and each other). matheny is not a happy camper over all of this. royals announcers are calling out the STL grounds crew on the air, implying they were stalling. STL players out on the field playing catch...seems like they know this is "gonna happen" even though the GM of the cards is on the phone (on the side of the field) bitching to someone about something (most likely field conditions). there is more diamond dry on that field than i have ever seen in my life on a playing field. matheny is visibly not wanting this game to continue, hitting the umps up again. ...and here comes molina in gear behind home plate and joe kelly is warming up...time to get this game back on. 4hr 32m hour rain delay. there's so few fans left that everyone in the place has been moved to the first couple of rows behind the dugouts so the cleaning crew can do their work. there's literally about 40-60 fans left. ...and after all of that it takes less than 15 minutes for KC to win it. btw, this umpire crew works the cubs game 10 hours from now @wrigley.

Submitted by QuietMan on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:01 pm

Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet: No. 9 Pierce Johnson, rhp, Cubs Team: low Class A Kane County (Midwest) Age: 22 Why He’s Here: 1-1, 1.46, 2 GS, 12 1/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 15 SO The Scoop: If you’re looking for a strong candidate for a midseason promotion, Johnson fits the bill. The 43rd overall pick in last year’s draft, he has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts in low Class A. The 22-year-old has the advanced stuff and could’ve started the year in high Class A, and now he’s surged into second in the Midwest League strikeout race with 60 in 53 innings. Not so hot sheet: Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs: The 19-year-old hitting machine ranks second in the Midwest League with 17 doubles, though he endured a rough week with low Class A Kane County, going 2-for-23 (.087) at the dish with two walks (one intentional) and four strikeouts. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-31-wil-mye…

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Submitted by JoePepitone on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:20 pm

I saw Pierce Johnson pitch last Wednesday night at the Quad Cities. He had dominating stuff, though I couldn't give you any velocity readings, as the stadium radar gun wasn't working that evening. Only gave up one run, a home run in the bottom of the 6th. He looked real good and really in control.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:30 pm

Rays call up Chris Archer N Jeff Beliveau in time for the Stanley Cup semi finals. Archer starts Saturday vs Tribe

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:34 pm

While I still support the rebuilding plans, winning teams are more fun to watch.

Submitted by QuietMan on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 05:30 pm

Ryan Acosta was suspended 50 games for violating the minor league baseball drug policy. Acosta tested positive for an amphetamine. The 24-year-old right-hander owns a 4.75 ERA over parts of seven seasons in the minors, mostly in a relief role. He was given his release by the Dodgers earlier this week. Rotoworld bit.

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • 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. 

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