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

Tuesday Cubs Hot Stove Round-Up

- Kevin Towers did a radio interview and basically said the Cubs are the only team the Padres are talking to right now. The Braves are out, he hasn't spoken to the Angels at all and has barely spoken to the Yankees. That's the good news. The bad news is the Cubs do have some interesting pieces but not exactly what the Padres want, so a third or possibly fourth team will be needed to finish the deal. There's also an online version of the story from Tom Krasovic.

- I didn't hear it myself, but some folks claim to have heard a report from Bruce Levine that Ryan Dempster will decide in the next 48 hours on the Cubs offer...whatever it may be. Supposedy in this BP article from yesterday, it says he turned down a 4/52 offer already. Rosenthal mentions "the next day or two" as a potential time frame as well.

- Speaking of Dempster, on an XM radio update either Gary Hughes or Randy Bush said signing Dempster is still their top priority but that Randy Johnson would be a great fallback.

- Beyond the rumors...the folks who ran Thunder Matt's Saloon have rebranded to Pomp Culture - less Cubs, more pop culture, no Matt Murton on the Cubs.

I also wanted to mention one of our new advertisers that you may have noticed at the top of the site. Bob Horsch has been taking pictures of Chicago for over 30 years including a huge collection of Chicago Cubs photos. A rather pleasant fella I might add, so if you're looking for some gift ideas with the holidays approaching, be sure to visit his website.

Comments

"It's really come down to one club now –- the Cubs," he (Towers) said. "It's going to take awhile. They have a couple of players to pick from that we are interested in but anything with them is going to potentially involve a third team or fourth team. We're focusing only on them." neat.

Bob Horsch has been taking pictures of Chicago for over 30 years including a huge collection of Chicago Cubs photos. A rather pleasant fella I might add, so if you're looking for some gift ideas with the holidays approaching, be sure to visit his website. You mean the mutant creatures from POXNORA? Is this Horsch character someone you've actually met or does he fall into the Trans, Ruz category?

I really hope Dempster goes somewhere else...at 32 years old, surgical history paying him 4/52 or more is ridiculous. He's bound to break down or revert back to the mean. This past year was a statistical anomally. Someone please outbid us....I would rather spend money on a proven guy who can win in the playoffs. Lowe for 2 years or trade the kitchen bare for Peavy. On another note...unless we can get a proven CF lead off man why not put Pie in the 8th/9th slot in the line up and put him out there...instead of kicking him to the curb. Ibanez, Dunn can't field in right. I'll pass on the aging Furcal as well. It should be interesting....now that Cuban is gone....what are we going to talk about regarding our future owner?

[ ]

In reply to by spongebob

Agree with both your points, about Dempster and about Pie. But Piniella is famously impatient. He won't play a guy who is still learning how to hit. I was hoping Pie would turn the corner in the Dominican this winter, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Pie has been out of the lineup the past couple of games. They get impatient down there, too. Meanwhile Jake Fox is leading the league in BA. Last night he had a home run and 4 more RBI. At least he's restoring Licey's confidence in Cub prospects.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I agree on Dempster. 4/52 is WAY TOO MUCH for that guy. Take the draft picks and move along. As for Pie. I don't think we should be penciling him into anything. His defense and left-handedness will be useful on the roster. But he needs to win the job from Kfuk or Johnson before he is given the starting gig. Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen would look really good on this roster about right now.FWIW

Towers says "there are a couple of their (Cubs) prospects that we like..." I've gotta think those couple are likely Vitters and Castillo. If he also wants an ML-now pitcher and hitter, as he was reported to be after during the Braves reports, I guess that's where the 3rd team comes into play. He doesn't think Marshall is enough of a pitcher nor Pie or Cedeno enough of a now-hitter. Guess I can't blame him. So basically, Hendry would need to find a third team that DOES put some value on Marshall and friends, and turn them into two younger players that are more to Towers' liking. How likely is that? Answer=not very. Maybe you could get Hermida from Florida and send him along to SD, but you're still a pitcher short. And that assumes the Marlins would find Marshall + Pie worth Hermida in the first place. Meh.

[ ]

In reply to by Jim Hickmans Bat

I'm not so sure. I'd bet Towers would like Marshall and Pie, if nothing else because both should play well to Petco (a flyball lefty and a speedy, gap-hitting ace OF). If Hendry were to throw in Vitters, I think this deal would be done right now. In my mind, Hendry has said that Vitters is the only untouchable and that's why the deal's clearly unacceptable. A package of Vitters, Marshall, and Pie (plus another player or two, like Hart or Castillo) should be good enough to get it done. I agree though that the likelihood including another team and somehow not trading Vitters or at least Veal is highly highly unlikely.

from Rotoworld... Jose Ascanio recorded his sixth save in the VWL with a hitless inning on Sunday. After struggling early, Ascanio has given up three hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings this month. The Cubs gave the former Braves prospect a couple of quick looks in the first half of last season, but never promoted him in September with his ERA right around 5.00 at Triple-A Iowa. The 23-year-old has the talent to become a quality setup man or maybe even something more, but he's probably not going to be in the Cubs' plans for the beginning of 2009.

If LaRussa had this team, wouldn't Pie already have gone through a year at lead off, having him bunt every 3-4 times up? If Randy Johnson goes to the Cubs, wouldn't opp's bunt to make him move his aged bones? In short, Lou doesn't use the tools the players have. Reed tried a few times last season and got benched mostly. D. Ward and Cliff Floyd? Whoa, there's the answer! Let's get a hitting coach who can teach how to lay off the major league slider Lowe (pun intended) and outside.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

HAHA! Good one! Re: Dempster - aren't a high-percentage of starters going to have surgery at some point in their careers? So - I am reading many that say - "Why give him the money when he [Demp] is one injury away from having surgery again?" CC and Maddux are really the extreme exceptions it would seem. So, what is the best way to limit the risk? Does Hendry feel with a "successful" surgery under his belt - will Demp be "surgery-free" for the next 3-4 years? And, re: Woody - I have read on a couple boards that, "...he would have accepted a one year deal, but Hendry passed." If that is true - why?

I'm back! I've missed you guys-I still haven't gotten over the way the year ended-oh well, the life of a Cubs fan... Here's a couple trade ideas: 1. Dlee and Marquis for JD Drew and Coco Crisp 2. Marquis and Wuertz for Hank Blaylock 3. Marquis and Felix Pie for Brad Hawpe

One thing we are of course ignoring is the fact that no GM is going to come on air at this stage of the negotiations and say "yeah, a deal is almost done, we are absolutely happy with what they are offering us, we would like nothing more." They are both acting within a simple bargaining model and both GMs have incentives to get the most and give up the least in the deal. So Towers says we need a 3rd team, this isn't enough, to try to sweeten the deal. Hendry says they are going to resign Dempster and that Johnson is on the radar, hoping to demonstrate that he has outside options besides Peavy and that if he fills his needs elsewhere Towers will be SOL. This is really how it has to play out at this stage. So we don't know if A) Towers really will insist on a 3rd/4th team or he will keep Peavy; or B) he is willing to wait a couple of weeks to see if this tactic will get Hendry to improve the deal either by adding more players himself or giving up something to get someone from a 3rd team, and if it doesn't improve he will pull the trigger with the current players offerred anyway. Based just on his comments, both A and B are equally likely at this stage.

How sweet would it be to sign Demp & trade for Peavy also? At first glance, you might stay we would have to trade Marquis for nothing to clear out $$. I would advocate trading Z instead to fill the right field hole. What would be a good deal for Z? Does he have a ntc? What are the odds that at some point during this 4 yr contract, Demp returns to closing? I give it 50-50.

Feel free to chuck me in with the lot that believes 4/52 (or thereabouts) is absolute madness for a 32-year-old's career year. I'm not going to deny the man his money. Quality starters are in short supply and Dempster had a great year. Just let his new contract be some other team's inevitable albatross. As others have pointed out, you have health concerns, aging issues, and the niggling sense of regression to the norm. Not to mention that the evolution from mediocre, injury-plagued starter to mediocre reliever to $50 million starter is, to my knowledge, unprecedented. Who are his comparables? The only guy I can think of who had sustained success navigating those roles was Smoltz. The difference there, of course, is that Smoltz has had about 20 years of sustained greatness to Dempster's one. And speaking of Dempster's career year, one thing that gnaws at me is the pub he received for "rededicating" himself to conditioning during the past off-season. So what was he doing during the other off-seasons? And what will he be doing during this off-season while he waits to get paid? Will he act like various Bulls and Bears defensive players and see the payday as the finish line? Many starters have obviously had success in their mid-30s, but it requires a lot of commitment and luck. I dunno. Signing Dempster to this deal just seems too familiar, too Cub to me. The flipside of course is dealing for Peavy. Actually acquiring a top-flight starter still in his 20s? Talk about unprecedented.

[ ]

In reply to by Tarzan Joe

Dempster played in his second All-Star game this year. He has the pitches, he seems to have the health, and he also works out pretty hard. Dave Stewart is one guy that you can look at as a comp I guess. I hope that Hendry kicked the tires on Lowe and found that he wanted significantly more money. I thought $50 million would get Dempster done for the Cubs. If it's much north of $52, well.. you have to pay to play I guess. I'd prefer a one year deal on Wood at $10 million than a 4 year $55 million Dempster deal.

Maybe 3/44, but did Woody truly say he'd come back on a one-year K and Hendry passed?

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

From what I took from it, Hendry is very fond of Kerry, sees him more as a son then another player. And he knew he couldn't in his right mind give Wood a multi year contract so rather than tie up Kerry for one year he did Wood the favor and told him to go get a multi year contract from another team. Which I'm sure some one will give him. It's his last chance at a fat contract, so mama bird kicked baby bird out.

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In reply to by jacos

if that is the truth then Jim Hendry is a stupid f@$@ing motherf@*$er. It's not his business to worry about Kerry Wood's financial future. His job is to improve the Cubs. If there was a 1 year deal that made sense it is his fiduciary obligation to get it done. He is there to protect the Cubs and not Kerry Wood. that being said, if fully believe that Hendry wanted to save the 10 million or so dollars for something else. Which in that case is his right.

furcal and soto have same agent he is in chicago today for soto hmmmmmm and furcals name wont come up right furcal would be nice but not at the price being discussed with the giants.

Sign Johnson to a one year Johnson.

This'd be a big relief for me. I like Dempster (personally and as a ballplayer), and we have one less piece to worry about. This also puts us in a much better bargaining position with SD, because now we really don't 'need' Peavy. He'd be nice, but I'd be really happy with Z,Demp,Lilly,Randy, Harden.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.