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 @ Brewers: Arrieta vs. Nelson (Game 101 Thread)

CHC (53-47): RHP Jake Arrieta (11-6, 2.61)

MIL (44-58): RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-9, 3.97)

First pitch: 7:10pmCT

Fowler# cf

Schwarber* lf

Coghlan* 3b

Rizzo* 1b

Soler rf

Castro ss

Ross c

Arrieta p

Russell 2b

 

Parra* cf

Lucroy c

Braun rf

Lind* 1b

Gomez Davis lf

Gennett* 2b

Segura ss

Perez 3b

Nelson p

Arrieta gave up 3 ER in 6 innings and lost to the now-surging (and Hamels-less) Phills on Saturday. He’s 4-1 with a 1.72 in July. The Brewers are 24-94 (.255) against him. Braun is 3-8 with a HR.* The almost-Met Gomez is 3-10 with a HR.

Nelson (7 IP, 0 ER) won in AZ his last time out. July (3-1, 2.08) has been his best month this year. Lefties are hitting .302 against him. In his two starts against the Cubs this year, he is 0-1 with a 3.95. The Cubs are 23-81 (.284) against him. Coghlan is 4-12 with a HR. Rizzo is 2-10 with a HR.

Bryant gets a day off, and Zobrist Coghlan fills in--because why not. Montero is close to a return. It’s just a matter of how much pain he is willing to play through.

The Cubs are quiet on the trade front. But if the most reliable of the chatter is to be believed, it appears they are desperately trying to move Castro for a 4th/5th starter who would be under control for a couple of years--e.g., Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Nate Karns, or Julio Teheran. Gyorko might also be involved in a Padre deal. Gallardo has also been mentioned, which doesn’t seem wise. Opening up SS for Russell, bringing up a rehabbed Baez to play 2B, and filling a spot in the rotation seem like a solid plan, especially if all it costs is Castro.
                                                                                                                          
Go Cubs!

Comments

Rough one for the Mets: Up 2 runs in the 9th at home, 2 outs, nobody on...then a downpour and a 44-mnute rain delay. After the delay -- single, single, Upton HR -- then another rain delay of almost 3 hours before they come back and get shut down by Kimbrall in the bottom of the 9th to lose. Ouch.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

He is best when he isn't trying to guess. He did that under Sveum, and it's clear Mallee is trying to get him to work the count. I wish they'd stop trying to get him to do that. Last year he just did his thing and he was fine. Not everybody can work the count. Just let him go up there hacking, dammit. That's what he does. He can't work a count. If the Cubs trade him, some team is going to figure that out and he's going to be good again and the Cubs will have received half the value they should have.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

It seems like he is purposely sabotaging any trade possibilities. "Perfect" timing. I keep reading they are "aggressively" trying to put him in any deal, and of course - I would too. In some ways this mgmt team missed the boat on several items: NOT trading Castro in the offseason, EJax, and DJ LeMay... The latter really hurt. Could you imagine him at 2nd and Russell at short?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

The trade sucked, yes, I noted that a few days ago on a post highlighting the new regime's worst deals. Stewart didn't work out. But getting rid of LeMahieu wasn't the mistake. From 2012-2014 with the Rockies he was 278/317/366 (683). Ryan Theriot from 2007-2009 with the Cubs: 286/353/358 (711). And he ws SOOO loved by everyone on here by the end of his tenure. We would have run LeMahieu out of town if he had put up those numbers for the Cubs over 3 seasons. He has essentially no power and his stolen base % is only 65%. We'd have cursed yet another light hitting, poor base running second basemen on the team!

And the career year this year seems to be a huge Coors effect and a lot of luck. His .384 BABIP is not sustainable and is 55 points higher than his career prior to this. I'm happy for the kid, he's enjoying a fine season. And maybe this is the start of him playing at a higher level more consistently. But I'm pretty confident it is not and when we look back in 3-4 years we'll see 2015 as an anomaly.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Perhaps, but he was a 2.2 WAR last year as a GG 2B, and 1+ this year. 2B are not known for power really...with obvious exceptions in Brandon Phillips, Ryno, Chase Utley. Compared to the players who manned the position full time for the Cubs during the same period, DJ could have been worthwhile to have kept. We will see moving forward, however. You were the same person who said "Josh Donaldson is not going to amount to much...", right? Or, is that someone else?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Well Barney was 4.6 WAR in 2012...  Honestly, I don't remember my thoughts on Donaldson at the time. That was 7 years ago. But I do remember liking the trade a lot and still do. Harden was dominant down the stretch, can't ask for more than he provided in a deadline deal. We also got Syndal Gaudin as a bonus. In that case, you had to give up something to get something. The Cubs gave up 4 prospects and one of them blossomed. It happens.  If only the Dodger series...   

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

He was at 48% with man on third less than two outs before that AB. League avg is 52%. He is particularly good at striking out badly or finding a double play. The dude is just fried. Give him some laid back San Diego sunshine on a shit team for 5 years and let him be an all star. I've had it. It's kind of important to knock in those runs. Now we are about to get our asses handed to us by another team that sucks and traded away a bunch of talent. Yay.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I guess that comment was made before his defensive gem and his rally starting hit. I think the problem with Castro is they're trying to turn him into an OBP machine. Just let it go, Mallee, he isn't that type of hitter and never will be. The Great Maddonnini and Mallee are making the same mistake with Castro as Sveum did. What's worse, Castro is buying into it, because he loves Maddon. Just let the guy go up there and hack. He's a terrible guesser. He takes good pitches and swings at bad. I liked him better when he swung at everything and at least got a lot of hits, and didn't GDIP eight times a game.

Also every starting pitcher we face has the best start of his life. Isn't that kind of saying something?

RIZZO!!!!!! 3r HR in the top 8th. 3-2 cubs. unf.

I was resigned to our fate for this game until I saw Nelson throw himself a party walking off the mound after striking out Bryant. Then he looks back at Cubs' dugout (either taunting, in a wolfman state, or responding to a Cubs' catcall) but no matter what I wanted that fucker to lose his W. Thank you mr Tony Four Sacks!

Just an observation. But has anyone noticed that Herrera has the exact setup and stance as Castro except from the left side? He taps the plate with one handed bat and sets up with that lead foot open. I wonder if they have had the same coach etc at some point?

I don't know how this team is 7 games over .500. They are mentally tough at times ... but somehow I think they all owe Bosio a lot of beers.

Loved the ABs by Bryant and Schwarber in the 9th. Runners on base, put the ball in play -- good things happen. Very nicely done!

Since the AS break, the Cubs two "leadoff" men are doing their jobs -- Russell's OBP is .364, Fowler's is an insane .518. Need to start bringing them home a bit more often. Still waiting for a few easy wins....

Btw the Cubs are linked to Teheran, and the Braves are interested in Soler. May offer more with Teheran. But Teheran despite being a great competitor has show a drop in velocity and is sparring with his hitting coach. All that said I don't see the Cubs parting with Soler?

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

At the risk of sounding like a Cubs fan who can't part with prospects, I don't want to see them part with Soler. His bat is showing signs of life again, although he is still missing those low sliders some - but also not swinging at quite as many. He could be pretty special still. He really scalds the ball. And as good as Bosio is, he can't add velocity to a fastball.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I'm not against it, which surprises me. I think Soler will adjust and be great ... and modern pitchers are delicate. But I agree with your assessment. I'm (predictably) fearful that he's headed for TJS but that is likely an overreaction to reduced velocity. Do you have a guess as to why his velocity is down?

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • 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.