Cubs MLB Roster

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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 

 



 

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Cubs Win NL Wild Card Game

Arrieta and the Cubs make it look easy, and the Pirates stick to the script. Now onward to St. Louis. Game One of the NLDS starts Friday at 5:30pmCT: Lester vs. Lackey.

Go Cubs!

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Comments

Easy? :-) How about Bryant picking it at third? Castro flawless at second. Fowler and Schwarbs - unreal!!! And that Arrieta guy is not that bad either.

So much for the home field in the WC game -- both home teams get shut out. Dexter made himself some money tonight -- and it was well-earned.

Just wondering -- if anger-managgement boy Sean Rodriguez the first position player in MLB history to start a game and get removed for a PH before his first AB?

So excited about this team. So relieved that the Cubs still have baseball left to play this year. Completely agree with the comment on the other thread that it just wouldn't have seemed right for the season to be over early for a team like this. Don't feel bad in the least for Pirates fans who've seen three straight WC season-enders (well, maybe a little bit).

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

Well as I said in another thread, I liked that team, and I rarely like opposing teams. I like Cervelli a lot, if only because of the beating he took earlier in the season when the Cubs kept fouling it off his face. I'll always have a soft spot for Ramirez, and McCutchen is my favorite non-Cubs major leaguer. I'd be in favor of a best of three, but then we're getting awfully close to baseball in November, which is insane.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I felt the same way, too, but... I was very disappointed with Pittsburgh fans. At Wrigley a few weeks ago, they were very obnoxious guests, the cockiness on Twitter, and what's the deal with chanting Arrieta's name during the game? Very bush league. Add that up with Rodriguez's poor sportsmanship and you quickly have a team that you don't mind beating 4-0 in a do or die game.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I...don't know. If chanting would help the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the next series or ultimately the World Series I think I'd be ok with it lol. I'm not supportive of saying insulting things to opposing fans or throwing things but loud noise and chanting seems appropriate to me. I also grew up in France though and that kind of thing is par for the course at soccer and rugby matches and I love it. I find crowds too passive here.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

O & B: I like the one-game Wild Card heart attack game, but I'd actually like to see a best two-out-of-three LDS played in the home parks of the two division winners with the best records, and then the LCS as a best two-out-of-three in the home park of the division winner left standing with the best record, and then let's get to the World Series already. 

The NFL teams with the best records in their respective conference never leave home until the Super Bowl, and an NFL Wild Card team never gets a home game. They don't play the first quarter in New England, the second and third quarter in Denver, and then the 4th quarter and (if necessary) the overtime in New England. If the Patriots (for example) have the best regular season record in the AFC, they get to stay home througout the playoffs (up until the Super Bowl) and can inflate their footballs as Brady likes 'em.

 I like the way the NFL does the post-season because it actually does reward success during the regular season and (unlike the NBA and NHL) makes regular season standings VERY important. You want a home game? Win your division and win as many games as you can. It should be that way in baseball, too. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Football games are played once a week. There are 16 games a year. I'm not even remotely following at all how you can compare the two leagues and playoff systems. It is physically impossible to play a home and away series. The idea of not having any road games in baseball playoffs is certainly a head scratcher. How is not having the first and last game at home a benefit for the division winners and team with the best record? How is it not an incentive to win the division when a WC team has to blow their top pitcher? Call me lost.

[ ]

In reply to by blockhead25

BLOCK: Of course any advantage is an advantage. An MLB, NBA, or NHL team getting the extra game at home in a seven game series is an advantage, I just don't think it is enough of an advantage for winning a division and/or having the best record in a conference or league over the course of an 82-game season (NBA and NHL) or 162 game series (MLB).

My point about football isn't that it would be feasible to split a game up by quarters. What I am saying is that the team with the best record in the AFC or NFC getting to stay home until the Super Bowl (until they lose) is exactly the reward a team should get for having the best record, and a Wild Card team getting no games at home is what you get for not winning your division. You want home games? Win your division. The Fact that the NFL has to do it that way doesn't mean it isn't the best way to do it, because ii is. 

Why did that NOT seem easy to me? For a couple innings, Arrieta was struggling a bit. One ball getting past Bryant, and it's a completely different game. What a world of difference in the thinking towards Bryant. At the beginning of the year, I would have thought someone would come in for *him *as a defensive replacement if the Cubs were to get this far. The way he held onto that liner after it popped out of his glove. That's keeping your cool in a high pressure situation.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Two 97+ win teams in a do-or-die, great bullpens, overpowering starters, plenty of pop--hard to believe that game wouldn't be tense. A 4-0 lead is not a blowout, especially in that situation and with the Cubs' young bullpen. Not only would a defensive play here or there make a difference, but you get the win there also on the home plate umps strike zone (generous strike calls for Arrieta, including a couple Ks), and on Schwarber sitting on the right pitch at the right time. A lot of luck factored in there, and a lot of focus to make the play when there was an opportunity to make the play.

So I think tomorrow will be the most important test of how far we can go. We can win it all with two pitchers since Arietta has shown he can carry over his success to the post season. If Lester can be dominant also then I think we can go far no matter how Hendricks or Hammel do. Edit/. And in terms of pitching just went through to see how we could maximize Lester and Arietta and came up with this (Lester would be going on 4 days rest three times and Arietta twice): Cubs/Cardinals: 10/9. Lester 10/10. Hammel or Hendricks 10/12 Arietta 10/13 Lester 10/14 Hammel or Hendricks NLCS 10/17 Arietta 10/18 Lester 10/20 Hammel or Hendricks 10/21 Arietta 10/22 Lester 10/24 Hammel or Hendricks 10/25 Arietta World Series 10/27 Lester 10/28 Hendricks or Hammel 10/30 Arietta 10/31 Lester 11/1 Hendricks or Hammel 11/3 Arietta 11/4 Lester

Unbeleivable Dodgers: I just noticed the Dodger's payroll today. It is just absurd. $300,000,000+!! Here is where just some of their money is for 2015: http://www.truebluela.com/2013/10/21/4861112/los-angeles-dodgers-payroll Some "Highlights" Carl Crawford $20MM Brandon McCarthy $17MM Bronson Arroyo $3.5MM Darwin B $2.2MM Dan Haren $10MM Matt Kemp $18MM Brian Wilson $10MM Ryan Webb $2.2MM Dee Gordon $2.5MM Yes, you will note some of the list are not on the team anymore. Or injured. Or in AAA. That's the Dodger's way. Its the "Expensive FA throw shit on the wall and see what sticks" model.

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In reply to by The E-Man

i still can't believe that crawford contract (7/142). all that loot and years for a LF'r who's entire hitting game revolves around his legs and line-drive power. those triples that raised his value are deceptive as hell to his true power, but it helped him get paid. there's also pause about a guy who's ob% is almost totally driven by hits rather than walks. BOS got lucky unloading that crap deal.

My unsolicited opinions on topics covered in this thread: 1. I hate the fact that after 162 games, a team could be out after 1 game. However, I think the system is pretty close to perfect right now. 2 of 3 isn't feasible unless they shorten the regular season, and it ices the division winners for way too long. This creates excitement, and rewards the division winners. 2. Sure, I feel bad for the Pirates. They had an incredible season that would have been the best record in the league in most seasons, but instead they got a game against the league's best pitcher. But, I wouldn't change a thing. 3. When everyone associated with the game of baseball says Coghlan made a perfectly legit slide, and Pirates fans continue to say the Cubs are dirty and the Pirates don't have gonads to take a Cubs player out, that makes me respect the fan base more. 3. Kinda think it was rather brilliant, and dirty as heck, strategy to hit Arrieta. Get under his skin, change the pace of the game, and set it up so Arrieta can't come inside the rest of the night for fear of getting ejected. Still has little place in baseball, but I think more than simply revenge went into that one. 4. I think the Cubs can beat any remaining team in the playoffs, and lose to any remaining team in the playoffs.

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In reply to by blockhead25

Well said. On one hand, I thought the HBP was a bad baseball play -- down 4 runs, put a runner on for a red-hot Fowler. On the other hand, they needed to do something -- I hadn't thought about the warning/pitching inside point. Is Hurdle that smart? He does not strike me that way. By the way -- not clear which fan base you are referring to in your "first" 3rd point.

TEX takes the opening game from TOR (@TOR) 5-3. TOR lost bautista + donaldson in-game due to injuries...TEX lost beltre...dunno if any will be lingering issues leading to missed games.

Per Jesse Sanchez at mlb.com, Cubs reportedly have signed 20-year old Cuban OF Eddy Julio Martinez for $3M bonus. 

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.