Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-23-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
* Matt Mervis
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

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

OPTIONED: 9 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

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

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs OPD Rankings: One Stat Will Rule Them All

Submitted by Rob G. on

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.

Tags
Statistical Analysis
Sabermetrics

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:37 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:30 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:06 am

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!

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:56 pm

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....

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:05 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:40 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:10 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:08 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:13 am

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).

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:52 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:18 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:42 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:48 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:07 am

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:53 am

"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.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:37 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by 10man on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 11:29 pm

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.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:51 am

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.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:02 pm

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

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Is it just me or does it seem that official scorers are becoming less likely to call a misplay an error? 

     

    Guess I've hit my cranky old-man phase in life.  "I remember back in the day when an error was an error.  Official scorers have gone soft.  Now where did I put my readers?!!??"

     

    Sidenote, maybe Bellinger should be a little more careful against the Astros.  That was the series last year that a play at wall put him on the IL.   

  • crunch (view)

    i hated the almonte pickup, but he's 9-10 out of 12 for good outings, following a great spring.  hope he can keep it up.

    i already miss cooper, but yeah...the thin OF roster backup the team seems to want to carry probably got wisdom preference over cooper.  i could live without seeing wisdom at 3rd unless it's a blowout, though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Things I've been wrong about:

    -Tauchman is fine as a 4th OF. I knew that. I just want a better LH DH option and he was really the DH for us until Seiya got hurt. I'm glad Mervis is getting a chance at it. Caissie is coming for that job for sure. But Tauchman continues to be highly useful as a 4th OF with Seiya being hurt

    -I wanted Yency to go to get guys at Iowa a chance. Guys like Palencia and Sanders or RileyT. Maybe even Hodge! But Yency has been better the last two plus weeks. He did hit 96 the other day. He was 93 in Texas to open the season.

    -Leiter has his split working enough. It just needs to stay there

    -I was surprised Jed picked Wisdom over Cooper. I wonder if this happens if Seiya wasn't hurt. Wisdom has more power. Cooper is the better hitter. Jed picked Wisdom and Wisdom had an option left as well.

    -Palencia just doesn't miss enough bats. Similar to ManRod, just two yrs younger. ManRod is killing AAA for TB right now!

    Things I got right so far:

    -Hendricks. Sorry Kyle. You got paid though!

    Jed, you missed there.

    -Smyly. If Jed could've traded him before or during ST, then he should have and saved some cash.

    -Mastro.  Not a LH DH. Pinch runner. Defensive utility. Maybe he's better than Madrigal but didn't get a legit chance to prove it.

    -Luke Little is good. He's had one bad outing. That's it. Needs to get better entering with guys on base. But he needs to stay in MLB.

    -Oh yeah....Morel is doing fine at 3B! He'll get better as well!!

  • crunch (view)

    bellinger "right rib contusion"

  • Childersb3 (view)

    South Bend just lost the lead in the bottom of the 9th on the weirdest scenario, ever.

    It's absolutely pouring rain....men on 1st and 2nd, 1out....JPatterson asks for a new ball, but no time out was called....he throws the old ball toward the dugout (not sure if it rolled out of play).....the ump declares the runners get two bases each so one run scores. Then a single up the middle ties the game.

    The rain was coming down in buckets at this point.

    Just weird

  • crunch (view)

    ...and bellinger is gone in the 7th because of that 2nd blown chance and the wall he bounced off of...

    hopefully his rib cage/shoulder feels better tomorrow, we just got happ back.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil,

    Any thoughts on Y. Rojas' stuff and Y. Melendez's game (I believe I've asked about him before, sorry)?

  • crunch (view)

    wow, things are moving fast.  hopefully it continues.

  • crunch (view)

    morel with 4 clean plays in 4 innings...showed off his 100000000mph arm a couple times.

    cody bellinger not having a good 4th, though...5 run leads are handy when your CF is making your pitcher have a 5-out inning.  2nd blown chance was ruled a hit even though it went in/out of his glove...1st was lost in the lights, also ruled a hit.

  • crunch (view)

    welcome back happ!  double off the wall 1st PA back.

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