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

Cubs OPD Rankings: One Stat Will Rule Them All

This is a couple of weeks old, but Chris Dial at Baseball Think Factory came out with a huge spreadsheet rating every player in the league on offense and defense with the appropriately named metric OPD (Offense Plus Defense). It does not take into account baserunning though, and be aware that players are compared to those who play the same position.  He briefly explains the methodology in that link and a further description of the defense can be found here. I didn't spend a lot of time assessing the merits of his system, but it seems solid enough. It tells me Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer were the best players in their respective leagues last year and well that certainly passes the smell test, although by no means is it the ONE stat that will settle every argument from now until the end of days.

The full Google spreadsheet can be found at this link and I've listed the Cubs team ratings and individual players below. It would have been nice to put a ranking next to each player so I didn't have to count them out, which I'm not going to do for every player, but I'll let you know that Soto was 17th in the NL and DeRosa 18th. The numbers are runs relative to average, not replacement or wins, and of course, a positive number is above average, negative is below average.The general sabermetrician's rule of thumb is that 10-12 runs is good for a win.

Name
Offense
Defense
OPD
Soto
25.8
 -0.9 24.9
DeRosa
 24.3  -0.3 24
Fontenot
16
5.3
21.3
Ramirez
22.2
 -7.4 14.8
Edmonds
 13 -4.5
8.5
Soriano
10.5
-3.3
7.2
Johnson
2.7
2.3
 5
Hoffpauir
 4 -1.9
2.1
Blanco
-1.1
2.4
1.3
Theriot
4.5
-5.4
-0.9
McGehee
-3.9
1.8
-2
Fukudome
-5.3
3.1
-2.1
E. Patterson
-1.7
 -0.7 -2.4
Murton
-3.9
 0.8 -3.1
Pie
-3.8
0.6
-3.2
K. Hill
-3.7
 -0.7 -4.4
Ward
-5.9
0.8
-5.1
Cedeno
 -6.2 0.6
-5.6
Lee
 -10.2  0.1 -10.1

 

 For a team that was the best in the NL at turning balls in play into outs, it sure looks like the Cubs had a lot of poor defenders. Poor Derrek Lee sure didn't have a good year relative to his first base peers.

 Team 1B
2B
3B C
CF
LF
RF SS
OPD
 Cubs -15.2
39.8
12.7
19.3
10.3
3.7
-2.1
-0.9
67.6

 The Cubs are ranked third behind the Cardinals (113.1) and Phillies(69.2). The Cubs catchers (Soto & Blanco) were the best in the league, just edging the Braves, although McCann did beat out Soto individually. The Cubs second basemen ended up behind the Phillies for 2nd. Every other position is around the middle of the pack, even first base ends up at 10th despite (supposedly) being the Cubs biggest drag.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by paytonrules

and "twice is good" isn't very accurate, 113 to 69 between them and the Phils, 140 would be twice as good, this is more like 1.6 times as good. 

/I'll show myself out.

As I mentioned, it's only their starting 8 and bench players and the 44 runs is good for about 4 wins better than the Phils and Cubs position players. But their pitching really wasn't that good, relying heavily on their defense. Wellemeyer lead their starters with a 6.39 K/9 which is bloody awful. I know that's Duncan and LaRussa's mantra, to "pitch to contact" and let the defense play make the plays and it's certainly worked for them, but if anything this OPD stats shows how important their defense was.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Except no one in that article made silly predictions. The article just said that there were injury issues. You, on the other hand, said things like Peavy will not throw more innings than Dempster, or something like that. Saying the obvious (that there are injury concerns) is different than telling us what will happen.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Alright, Big_Ass. I am pretty sure I preceded my predictions with the phrase 'if I had to guess'. Sort of like last year when I said I could see a situation where Dempster was the best pitcher in the rotation. Reading comprehension, for the lose!

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

whatever happened in your childhood to make you so angry, please take it out on a hooker or a homeless person. I'm tired of your petty insults and namecalling  towards everyone. Everyone else can act civil 95% of the time around here, except you. For whatever reason, I've let it slide this long, but I'm done with it.

So knock it the fuck off....

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Are you talking to me? Because I am pretty sure that it was Big Ass who started with the demeaning comments. You really need to grow up and get some objectivity. I don't state my opinions like they're facts. I don't change my signature in an attempt to antagonize other posters/ readers. I don't mix my opinions of baseball acumen with political propaganda. Time to check yourself, mother fucker.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I don't state my opinions like they're facts. If you say so. But I am pretty sure if you we held a poll, the VAST majority of TCR readers would say that is all you do - state your opinions as facts. I don't change my signature in an attempt to antagonize other posters/ readers. Sorry... does my signature make you upset? Its a fucking signature. Get over it. Even if it mocks you. I don't mix my opinions of baseball acumen with political propaganda. Huh? You constantly bring up political stuff around here. You have to be kidding me.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Once again, you cannot restrain your childishness. No one was talking to you, Dave. I realize that's hard for you to comprehend, but it's the truth. Just to pander to you though, because it's obvious, you're a special child who needs extra consideration: "Sorry... does my signature make you upset? Its a fucking signature. Get over it. Even if it mocks you." After a late night of drinking sometimes I wake up and have a big, hairy shit. Typically, I give those shits' opinions more credence than anything you say. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrite - of Rob G, warning me, when you and Tito have had your sad little signatures up there for months. Have I ever complained about your solidarity diatribes? No. Here's the quote you couldn't grasp that got you and Rob G. so worked up. "I would guess a 4 year Dempster deal gets you about 760 innings of 3.75 ERA pitching. Over the same time I expect Peavy to throw about 250 innings of 3.00 ERA pitching." It's a an opinion. There's no other way to read that than opinion. I don't know how else to help you understand. For reference, Kerry Wood, over the four years from 2004 to 2007 threw 251.3 innings and had a 3.83 ERA, following two pretty solid seasons. It's ironic that you try to accuse me of distorting perceptions, when it's right there in black and white, yet you blantantly lie to try to build a consensus of nay-sayers against anything the 'Big Bad Real Neal' says.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

i kind of remember you throwing insults at me 3 times in a row not too long ago for no f'n reason. you've been wound pretty tightly and lashing out at others for a couple months now...and you seem VERY hung up on the current political climate.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Uh, no, crunch. You tried to condescend to me, (and you were wrong, you're not a socialist, unless you're paying 60% taxes by the way), and you got spanked. I haven't ever brought up political shit. I've discussed it when Rob G or you or Carlos brought it up, (remember that time when you were talking about how great Venezeula is being run, even though you didn't know about the food shortages... well done).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

no, you just assumed i was attacking you and you lashed out with the tact and class of a spoiled 5 year old. you've been doing a lot of it lately to a lot more people than me. and you have been bringing up "political shit" in your direct attacks on people. that's where that's coming from. and you're also wrong about "what i know/said" in your 2nd paragraph rant, but i dont feel like play fighting on the internet with you today. take your ball and go home.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

my objectivity is just fine, Neal...

you're the only one on this board who CONSISTENTLY feels the need to personally insult anyone who even considers disagreeing with you. I realize tempers can flair on occasion and people get worked up about stupid shit and normally I let it go, but for whatever reason the last 2-3 months you've gone off the deep end. 

I'm sure you don't see it that way and that I'm the big, bad doofus just out to get you, but I guarantee the readers and writers around here know what I'm talking about.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

The thing is, I've always pointed out stupid shit (in my mind) that people said. Over the last two or three months, maybe certain people are just more touchy about it. If you haven't noticed Dave stalking me, though, I don't know what to say. It's really quite blatant. Look at his comments over the last two weeks. If he's going to do that, I am going to rip him, and rightfully so. I think that you should be able to post your opnions here, and if I am being too, or overly snide, say something and I'll tone it down. If you don't want me around, that's fine, but I am not going to put up with favoritism, which is what you're quite obviously doing here. I'm not saying I am the nicest guy in the world, but I don't try to pick on anyone - I share my ass-holeness equally. "you're the only one on this board who CONSISTENTLY feels the need to personally insult anyone who even considers disagreeing with" I think if you really look at that - you'll find it's a big fat lie. Yes, I condescend to people, probably more than is cool, but I'm rarely the instigator, and when I argue with people it's more likely because they treat their opinion as fact, than vice-versa. This post is one example. Your crystal ball, shit is another (where I didn't make any attacks that I recall). http://www.thecubreporter.com/2008/11/11/cubs-opd-rankings-one-stat-wil… - Dave starts shit http://www.thecubreporter.com/2008/11/10/brian-giles-hates-cubs#new - Dave starts shit Maybe Dave sees himself as a hero for the working class or whatever, but, he should know if he starts shit with me it's going to end badly, it's not like I am deviating from form.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

you're missing the point about where you lash out at people without being provoked because for some reason you think you're being provoked. you lash out in really childish/bratty ways, too. it's not just 1 or 2 people "misunderstanding" you...it's been a little bit par for the course lately. and i don't think you realize how political a lot of your insult-rants are...and i'm not talking about just you and me...im talking about how you've been interacting with a lot of people lately.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Neal... it is pretty simple. I have called you out for things that you have written. You can call that "starting shit" if you want, or you can call that stalking all you want, and you can blame it on the election all you want, but you will be wrong. FWIW.... you made a very sarcastic comment about the crystal ball, and i responded to that. In the Giles post, you compared Marquis to the Giles situation, and found that to be pretty absurd, and called you on it. In that same post, you made a pretty absurd comment about California and burritos and tailgate parties, and I called you on it. You have responded, as you often to do to many commenters, by turning it into a big personal attack pissing match. I don't care if you don't like me. I don't care if you are a pompous jackass that pretends he is better and smarter than everyone around here. I don't care if you think that you are important enough to stalk. It just makes me laugh at you. And I don't think I am the only one.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"If you haven't noticed Dave stalking me, though, I don't know what to say." I don't think it's so much stalking as it is you saying things that people, particularly the Dude, feel the need to respond to. Happens to me quite a bit. Usually when I say something inaccurate or short-sighted.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

No, I haven't noticed Dave stalking you, I've noticed him disagreeing with you. I've noticed you disagreeing with a lot of people. I've noticed me disagreeing with a lot of people, and down the road it goes.

I don't care if people disagree,  I encourage it. If someone says something  stupid, they should be called on it with the appropriate research to back up their claims.

What I don't care for is the petty namecalling...it's gonna happen here and there and I'll let it go, you seem to have made it a habit lately. Argue the points, not the person and don't make it personal. Read the bold part over a few times so you understand it.

Everyone else seems to be able to handle that for the most part, I expect the same from you.

And if you think I'm making you an example or being hypocrite, I don't give a shit. I'm calling it how I see it and it's been a long-standing "I'll know it when I see it" rule when people go overboard in the comments. I think I'm pretty lenient, shit, I let Silent Towel go for like 6 months. You've been crossing it a lot lately, so I would appreciate it if you tone it down.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I've been a regular at TCR since 02 and I've seen quite a few assholes here and there, but the only two that have gone this badly are those with the usernames Silent Towel and The Real Neal. Think about that. When your name is being put in the same level as Silent Towel, it's either you have gone off the deep end with no chance of coming back or you are Silent Towel using a new username.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm with Rob. He's been very lenient and while many of us have at times been inappropriately personal, I think that Neal has done it on a regular basis recently.

Rich Hill was shaky last night but got through four innings giving up one run, 4 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts. Pitched against Caracas, Josh Kroeger's team. Kroeger was 1 for 5 but scored the winning run in the tenth, on a triple play. Batting second ahead of Kroeger was Matt Murton. Murt went 3 for 4. Against Hill he hit a double, stole third and scored. Everybody steals on Hill. That hasn't changed. Cedeno and Fuld are on Hill's team, Aragua. Cedeno's BA has dropped to around .260 while Fuld's has risen to .275-.280.

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.