Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

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

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL
* Justin Steele, P   

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





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Reds @ Cubs: DeSclafani vs. Haren (Game 131)

Pfffft. Well, that game happened.

The Reds were supposed to be an easy welcome home from the coast. The Cubs offense was a bit improved but should’ve done more damage to the rookie starter, and it would have needed to do a whole lot more to overcome our pitching and the defense of one Starlin Castro.

Castro is a like an abusive lover. He does just enough to woo you and think he’s changed, then he bites your head off. In the parlance of Dan Savage, the Cubs need to DTMFA.

Moving on...

CIN (54-76): RHP Anthony DeSclafani (7-10, 3.84)
CHC (74-56): RHP Dan Haren (8-9, 3.90)
First pitch: 7:05pm

Haren lost to the Giants (6.1 IP, 5 ER) on Thursday. He’s 1-2 with a 6.31 as a Cub. He’s 1-1 with a 2.19 in the two games he had with the Marlins against the Reds. The Reds are 34-133 (.256) against him. Frazier is 4-11 with a HR. Philips is 8-27 with 2 HR.

DeSclafani is coming off of three straight losses, including the last one, to the Dodgers (7 IP, 1 ER), which should been awarded to the Cinci bats. He’s 1-1 with a 0.98 ERA in his two starts against the Cubs this season. The Cubs are 15-64 (.234) against him. Coghlan is 3-4. Montero is 2-4 with a HR.

IF Javy Baez and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada are returning to the Cubs today. RHP Trevor Cahill and OF Quintin Berry (a lefty) are also being promoted, which will require two substractions from the 40-man roster. Mike Olt (and the Cult of Olt) was DFA'd yesterday to make room for Austin Jackson. When Ross returns, that will put the big club at 31. Update: Soriano, who was on the DL, and James Russell were DFA'd, and Ross is back. That puts the roster at 30.

Go Cubs!

 

Comments

Unless the news wires haven't gotten word yet, I guess the Cubs were not successful finding some pitching help. The back of this rotation, which seems to start with Hendricks, doesn't inspire confidence. Cult of Olt

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Signing Haren was very curious, at best. An over-the-hill fly ball pitcher can survive at Wrigley in April, May & June, when it's cold and the wind tends to blow in (i.e. the ballpark plays "big"). But, signing him to pitch at Wrigley in July, August & Sept., when it's warm and the wind tends to blow out...well, Theo, what did you expect? Gotta believe the Reds will be running up to the plate to get their swings against Haren tonight. Come on, offense -- we're gonna need another 6-7 runs tonight!

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

i think they were just throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks. they wanted to push for the post-season without giving up anything. thank gawd for the cubs winning tear and SF's failure tear...hopefully that holds up until the season ends. once we're into the post-season (if that happens) then it doesn't matter about the 4-5 slot pitchers. arguably, the pen is much more important at that point when it comes to anyone but the top-3 starters.

"This is the show. We have certain expectations here. That's why you don't play." from a Tweet from Arrieta. I who do you think he is talking about.

Jeff Russell and Rafael Soriano DFA's to make room for the callups (Berry and Cahill)

just a theoretical thought...if Dusty was manager (WWDD) or if Lou (WWLD) was manager... would Javy Baez be in tonight's lineup? my thought is: Dusty... Bonifacio would have been brought up and started at 2B Lou..."I like playing the kids, really I do, but but but Jonathan Herrera really needs to play to stay sharp."

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

obviously.... dusty would have to start baez because both lastella + castro would be pitching because all the other pitcher's arms would have fallen off months ago. it would piss dusty off because baez is a rookie and theo couldn't go out and get him a 39 year old DH to play 2nd. i imagine it would be a 2-box-of-toothpicks night. lou would have quit his job already, so that's irrelevant and a trick question.

Rays DFA Hak-Ju Lee. Olt for Lee and the circle of life is complete

It'll be interesting to see if Baez is still a whirling dervish at the plate. He's rocking it good in AAA, and I've read some good stuff, so fingers crossed.

ah, the fair weather fans are back at wrigley. long popout to CF, not even on the track, and 1/2 the place was popping and cheering like it was gonna end up out of the park.

The Mariners recalled RHP Tony Zych from Triple-A Tacoma. First big league action for the former Cub prospect.

Baez strikes out in his first at bat, but not whirling dervish style. Just missed it, didn't unwind like a uncoiling spring - just a clean miss. Call me optimistic, but I call that progress.

Be nice if someone other than the Ace was capable of a shutdown inning after the Cubs score. Can't even get the freaking pitcher out.

c.richard pitching in a game where the team is only down by 1? barf. ...2 batters, 0 outs, and 1 run later it's grimm's turn.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

JOHN B: Pierce Johnson and Rob Zastryzny were likely 2015 AFL candidates (I mentioned them as likely candidates to get assigned to the AFL in an article about the AFL last month) because they are starting pitchers who missed part of the season due to injuries and they need to accrue more innings. Guys who have been pitching regularly as starters have thrown too many innings to be considered, so it probably came down to Johnson, Zastryzny, and Duane Underwood Jr, with Underwood odd man out because he hasn't pitched above Hi-A. Corey Black and Jeimer Candelario (and Pierce Johnson) are first-time Rule 5 Draft eligible after this season and so getting reps in the AFL will help the Cubs decide whether to add them to the MLB 40-man roster in November (if there are even any doubts at this point). Black has a golden arm but he has had control issues forever and he needs more experience working out of the bullpen (he was moved to the bullpen during the 2015 season). He was a starter because he featured a 96 MPH fastball, a plus-change, a curve, and a hard slider, but his size (5'11 175), nervous energy, and max-effort delivery plays better in relief. Candelario will soon replace both Mike Olt and Christian Villanueva as the Cubs #1 3B prospect. (With the year he has had at Myrtle Beach and Tennessee, Candelario has played himself back into the Cubs Top 10 Prospect List). Willson Contreras is eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (6YFA) post-2015, but the fact that he has been assigned to the AFL means at the very least he has agreed to a 2016 minor league successor contract (can't be officially signed until 9/15), but he is a lock to be added to the 40-man roster anyway. Playing in the AFL will get him more experience catching MLB pitching prospects than he got at Tennessee. Like Candelario, Contreras has played himself into the Cubs Top 10 Prospect list with his breakout 2015 season at AA, and he is certainly the Cubs #1 catching prospect right now. Mark Zagunis was drafted by the Cubs as a catcher out of the U. of Virginia in the 3rd round of the 2014 Draft and was tried in RF at AZL instructs post-2014 (and looked great out there) before moving to RF full-time at Minor League Camp last March, and while he has been overshadowed by other more well-known prospects (Schwarber, McKinney, Almora, et al), Zagunis is absolutely a legitimate MLB prospect. He is a line-drive hitter with an outstanding eye at the plate and excellent strike-zone judgment, and he has above-average speed, too (he was compared to Jason Kendall when he was a catcher). and he is an OBP machine. Zagunis is not Rule 5 Draft eligible, but the Cubs may expect him to move fast through the system and want to challenge him by assigning him to the AFL. It would really help his cause a lot if he could play CF adequately (he has played CF every now & then), but he is still learning to play RF. Cael Brockmeyer was given an NRI to Spring Training with the big club this past February, and so the Cubs must like his receiving skills and work-ethic. The Cubs moved him back & forth from one affiliate to another (wherever he was needed) during the course of the 2015 season, and they wouldn't do that unless they thought he was mature enough to handle it. Some people think that at 6'5 Brockmeyer is too tall to be a catcher, but I think he will probably end up as an MLB back-up C-1B type. He is on the Mesa Solar Sox "Taxi Squad," so he will only be allowed to play on Wednesdays and Saturdays, unless there is an injury to one of the other catchers and he gets elevated to the full-time status. Like Zagunis and Zastryzny, Brockmeyer is NOT Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2015. The only real surprise (to me) among the Cubs players assigned to the AFL was RHRP David Garner, because I thought a more-advanced reliever like P. J. Francescon, Matt Brazis, Michael Jensen, Tayler Scott, or James Pugliese would be the more-likely choice. Garner actually began the season at Extended Spring Training because of his struggles at Minor League Camp, but he got it together fairly quickly, and had a nice year out of the bullpen, first at South Bend and then (especially) later at Myrtle Beach. Garner is a two-pitch pitcher who features a mid-90's heater and a plus-curve. He is NOT Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2015.

Nice bounce back game for Grimm, and "well done" Dan Haren. We'll take that (almost) every time.

That pitch Schwarber hit is the kind he's been missing a lot of lately. When Schwarber struggles it reminds me of how hard it is to hit baseballs at that level. It doesn't seem like they've found a weakness, just that he isn't seeing the ball that great and just missing. Same with Rizzo the last few days. Regardless of what the other fellas said in the thread earlier, I was pretty encouraged with Baez. The violent swing seems to be much more under control, and he took more bad pitches than he swung at. There were two pitches in particular that I bet the other team thought he'd swing at. One game, and no hits, but I liked what I saw.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.