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

Reds @ Cubs: Lorenzen vs. Hendricks (Game 130)

The Cubs complete the most awesomest 2-4 road trip ever!

Jake has had no-hit stuff all season, so it was just a matter of time. The onesie press conference was also a thing of beauty. Now we return to Wrigley and hope the bats come to life. CIN (53-76): RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-8, 5.46) CHC (74-55): RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.11) First pitch: 7:05pm Hendricks had a big assignment in San Francisco: pitch the game that didn’t include Jake Arrieta or Madison Bumgarner. It was one of the make-or-break games for the West Coast swing. Instead, he gave up 2 runs early and 4 ER runs total over his 6 innings and lost to Jake Peavy. Hendricks is 0-1 with a 4.91 in his two starts against the Reds this year but 2-2 with a 3.55 overall at home. The Reds are 17-61 (.279) against him. Votto is 2-4 with 2 HRs. Holmberg was originally scheduled but was demoted instead, and Lorenzen was called up. Lorenzen last started on August 11, when he gave up 7 ER in 1.1 innings in San Diego, which earned his demotion. He’s 2-4 with a 6.21 on the road and 0-1 with an 8.68 in his two starts against the Cubs this year. A date with Lorenzen looks like the perfect welcome home for some sleepy bats. The Cubs are 12-33 against him. Russell is 3-4. Fowler is 3-5 with a HR. The Cubs are 9-4 against the Reds. DeScalfani vs. Haren and Iglesias vs. Hammel will complete the set. Go Cubs!

Comments

Next year Hendricks will be the #5 after the team signs another FA. Or, a #6, perhaps. Have to see how much they shell out after they extend The Jake!

Twitter was crazy last night with Arrieta's performance. Meanwhile, Scott Boras was all over his adding machine.

In Hendricks' defense, Bryant fielded a routine grounder and threw late to second for a force. The two runners scored subsequently after two out. The runs were earned, but not really.

First post in 6 years or so. Lots of familiar names still around, nice. Was at last night's no-hitter, truly a memory for a life time. After the HR, Cubs had 12 hits and 0 runs. That's pretty hard to do. 2-4 road trip is OK, only losing 1 game to the Giants on that trip is ok, but getting schooled by good pitchers is a problem come the playoffs so can't just write that off. We've got plenty of games left against top notch pitching with STL and Pit. SF has basically a 25 game stretch against teams at or below .500 after this Dodgers series. Our 5+ game lead can disappear in a hurry if we don't take care of business against Cincy/Milwaukee/Philly. The less discussed saving grace is, even if SF gets extraordinarily hot over the last month, if the Dodgers cool off we are still in the playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

A growing concern with Soler out is our vulnerability to LHP, and not just MadBum and Kershaw. - Schwarber has K'd on 50% of his AB vs. LHP. - Although he was good yesterday, Miggy seems to struggle vs. LHP as well (too lazy to look it up). - Denorfia isn't an impact bat. EDIT: Given that the Reds starter is RHP, the Javy thing can wait a day. Maybe Javy can be part of the solution -- too bad they couldn't find a way to bring him up a day early to face tonight's LHP.

Goodnight my sweet prince "To make room for Jackson on the 40-man roster, INF Mike Olt has been designated for assignment"

Do not understand IBB an extra person into scoring position in the 5th inning. 8th or 9th, maybe it makes sense...in the 5th, no. Don't care who is batting. So 4th time in the last 5 games Cubs have scored first, only to give up the lead in the next half inning or so?

Wow. This game making me dizzy. Leads only lasting a matter of pitches, let alone outs. Grimm's ERA jumped 40% in a matter of 5 pitches.

Grimm: Before Today 38.1 IP, 5 ER. Today: 0.0IP, 4 ER

based on his past 4-5 appearances it seems t.wood isn't in danger of being stretched out to steal d.haren's starter slot. someone please steal d.haren's spot in the rotation...someone...anyone...david ross?

3 walks and Castro's 2nd error of the night, plus Russell sucking again, may mean the Reds won't need Chapman in the 9th. Let's see, Starlin -- you suck at SS, you're a butcher at 2B...ummm....maybe short field? ...Starlin is making errors faster than I can type. Holy cow.

...okay, this 9th is just embarrassing. also, castro with 2 errors in the inning, 3 in the game.

I really, really don't like this trend: Jake pitches, Cubs win; Jake doesn't pitch, Cubs lose.

Since the start of 2009, the Cubs have had four games where a player commits three errors -- three of them came from Castro.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I've seen enough of Starlin Castro to last me the rest of this season. It really is a shame he never has been able to be consistent at bat or in the field. I have no idea why or care as this is a results oriented business. Theo is going to have to move him this winter even if it's for cents on the dollar. I don't believe he's even going to make the playoff roster.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

I'll check back in on a day that Starlin doesn't make three errors. But for now I would say him not making the playoff roster is a stretch. Who do you trust more than Starlin to be a RH backup middle infielder? Herrera has no bat at all, and Baez has been in AAA all season and may be as error prone as Castro and may strike out a giant proportion of the time he's at the plate. I'm also less than convinced that La Stella will step in and be a significant contributor. Starlin is at least a big part of the 2B picture for the remainder of the year. I also just can't get behind trading a 25-year-old for cents on the dollar, especially when there is no one who obviously deserves his roster spot. I think I would only be convinced that would be a good idea if he were somehow bad for the clubhouse.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The next 4 weeks should answer this for us. If Castro starts hitting again and neither Baez or La Stella perform, he'd be on a playoff roster. If not, and one of those other two guys does well, I wouldn't be surprised if he was left off. A key error or mental lapse in a one game playoff would be killer and he is too prone to them.

AZ PHIL- Since your the roster expert, I was trying to read into the "playoff roster" and it says a player must play 1 game for the team before Sep in order to be eligible. So assuming that is correct that would make all these players ineligible correct: Baez, Jokisch, Edwards, Villanueva, and newly acquired Austin Jackson, correct?

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

Hi cubbies.4ever, we discussed this on here with Phil earlier this summer. You can see the full rules by Phil here: http://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3506

The new rule simply says that the player must be on the team's 40-man (or DL, etc.) prior to midnight last night. They don't have to play a game. So that's why the transaction for Jackson, with Olt being DFAed had to happen yesterday: Jackson takes the spot on the spot on the 40-man prior to the deadline but actually plays his first game after 8/31.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

CUBBIES4EVER: A player does NOT have to play one MLB game prior to September 1st to be eligible to play in the post-season. 

Here is how MLB post-season roster eligibility works:

A club's Active List (25-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of each post-season series (LDS, LCS, and World Series).  


1. A player who received a Prohibited Substance Suspension prior to the start of Spring Training, during Spring Training, during the regular season, or during a post-season series (Wild Card, LDS, LCS, or World Series), is ineligible to play in any MLB or minor league post-season game(s) or series in that season, even if the player has completed serving the suspension.  

2. All other players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, and Restricted List (extended Bereavement, Family Medical Emergency, or Paternity Leave ONLY) prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are eligible to be included on a post-season Active List (25-man roster), but a player on an MLB club's Disabled List (7-day, 15-day, or 60-day), Bereavement List, Family Medical Emergency List, or Paternity List is eligible to be included on a post-season Active List only after spending the minimum number of days required to be served by a player on that list. 

3. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Restricted List (for any reason other than extended Bereavement, Family Medical Emergency, or Paternity Leave) as of midnight August 31st is ineligible to be included on his club's post-season Active List.  

4. A post-season eligible player who is placed on an MLB Disabled List, Bereavement List, Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity List, or Restricted List (extended Bereavement, Family Medical Emergency, or Paternity Leave ONLY) prior to the start of a post-season series can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's LDS, LCS, or World Series Active List by a player who was on a Reserve List or Disabled List, Bereavement List, Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity List, or Temporarily Inactive List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight August 31st. However, the minor league player must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be added to the club's post-season Active Roster.

5. A player on a post-season Active List (25-man roster) who is injured or leaves his club on Bereavement, Family Medical Emergency, or Paternity Leave during a post-season series can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's Active List prior to the conclusion of that series by another eligible player, or by a player who was on a Reserve List or Disabled List, Bereavement List, Family Medical Emergency List, Paternity List, or Temporarily Inactive List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight August 31st. A minor league player must be added to his club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be added to the club's post-season Active Roster. 

6. If a player is replaced during a post-season series, a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player.

7. If a pitcher or position player is replaced during a post-season series, the pitcher or position player is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series).

So, the Cubs automatic post-season roster eligibilty list is: 

* bats or throws left 
# bats both

PITCHERS: 21
Jake Arrieta
Dallas Beeler
Carl Edwards Jr
Justin Grimm
Jason Hammel
Dan Haren
Kyle Hendricks
Tommy Hunter
* Eric Jokisch 
* Jon Lester
Yoervis Medina
Jason Motte
Neil Ramirez
* Clayton Richard
Fernando Rodney
Hector Rondon
* Zac Rosscup
Pedro Strop
Jacob Turner
* Tsuyoshi Wada
* Travis Wood

CATCHERS: 3
* Miguel Montero
David Ross
* Kyle Schwarber

INFIELDERS
: 9
# Arismendy Alcantara
Javy Baez
Kris Bryant
Starlin Castro
# Jonathan Herrera 
* Tommy LaStella
* Anthony Rizzo
Addison Russell
Christian Villanueva

OUTFIELDERS: 7
* Quintin Berry
* Chris Coghlan
Chris Denorfia
# Dexter Fowler
Austin Jackson
Jorge Soler
Matt Szczur

Quintin Berry is automatically eligible because he was actually added to the 40-man roster prior to midnight  on 8/31, but Trevor Cahill is not automaticaly eligible because he was not added to the 40 until 9/1.   

Remember, a club's post-season active list (25-man roster) can be switched (tweaked) prior to each post-season series, so maybe a club exchanges a RH bench bat for a LH bench bat in the LDS because the opponent has a strong RHRP corps, and then adds an extra LHRP in the LCS because the opponent has a lot of dangerous LH hitters, and then in the World Series you might opt to add an extra power bat who can DH.  

Also remember that  a player who was on an organization's minor league reserve list as of midnight 8/31 could be eligible, but ONLY if the player replaces a post-season eligible player who is injured or leaves the club on Bereavement, Family Medical Emergency, or Paternity Leave.  If the player is replaced PRIOR TO the start of a series, any player can be the replacement player (regardless of position), but if the player is replaced DURING a post-season series a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player.  

"This is the show. We have certain expectations here. That's why you don't play." --Jake Arrieta on Twitter.

Whoa!

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.