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 4-21-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
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

Designated hitter, the Cubs, and Stanley Kubrick

Submitted by CubbyBlue on

You know the head vs heart thing.
My heart loves the NL game.
The thinking, the double-switching, all the stuff you normally think about but... also I just like the NL game because when pitchers bat you just never know what's gonna happen.
And you said, "Well... of course you know what's gonna happen - they'll strike out." 
Right?
Which is why it's so much more "you never know what's gonna happen" when a sub-Mendoza pitcher actually does something good with his bat.
Last season it took Cub pitchers 60 games to get their first sac bunt, and the batter that game happened to be Kyle Hendricks.
He of the .050/.066/.067 slash.
He was also the same guy who, in the second inning of game two in last year's Cubs/Cards NLDS, squeeze bunted in the first Cub run, causing Jaime Garcia and then pretty much the entire Cardinal team to scream "I'M MELTING! MEEEELTIIIIING!"
And they gave up 5 runs before that third out was recorded.
Did you know that was gonna happen?
No?
That's why it was such an unbelievable and uniquely NL-style thing.

But my head...
Different story.
Head says look at all the big bats the Cubs have been stockpiling.
How much more valuable is Dan Vogalbach if he doesn't have to pick up a glove?
(Lots put Kyle Schwarber in that camp, but it's waaay too early to make that judgement.)
I can get by all the arguments against the DH if I think it gets the Cubs a World Series.
It's that simple.

I have learned to stop worrying and love the DH.

Comments

Submitted by John Beasley on Thu, 02/11/2016 - 02:22 pm

AGREED!

Submitted by billybucks on Thu, 02/11/2016 - 02:22 pm

Yeah. I guess. But it's weird to watch an AL game, with a team down, say, 2-1 in the 7th inning, with the #9 (or, for Maddon, #8) spot coming up with a man on first.....and the manager just sits there.

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Submitted by crunch on Thu, 02/11/2016 - 02:36 pm

i hate the DH...i find it boring...but i accept it's gonna happen. it seems inevitable at this point given shifting attitudes and lack of strong player objection. having that "dead spot" for the pitcher hitting opens up a lot of lineup strategy possibilities. i'm in the camp that appreciates more out of the game than "pitcher pitches/hitter hits/defense defends." besides, who wants to live in a world where randy johnson doesn't get to comically swing a bat and bartolo colon doesn't get to run the bases? that's not a world i want to live in.

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Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:30 am

Yes, you could say that AL baseball saps the purity and essence from the natural fluids of baseball. The double-switching, bunting, and lineup strategy is part of what makes the NL interesting, but clubs spend too much money on pitchers. They won't want them getting hurt running out a bunt. MLB also has an interest in doing what they can to improve offense in the post-ped, defensive analytics era.

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Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:41 am

The NL should just go ahead and out-DH the AL. If one DH is good, then 9 DH's would be even better. Expand rosters (union would love that) and have 9 hitting specialists, 9 fielding specialists. Who needs well rounded players when the game is supposedly so much better with narrowly defined specialists. There are all of these slick fielding players we never see because they can't hit a lick but instead we have to watch Schwarber in LF tackling fly balls. Think of all the time these amazing fielders spend trying to learn to hit when they could just be focusing on fielding. Players are wasting so much time developing all 5 tools when they could just be maxing out 1 or 2 tools. I see your one DH and raise you 8 more!

Submitted by johann on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:58 pm

Think how much more valuable Lester contract looks if he doesn't ever have to do that mockery of hitting thing he does!

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:42 pm

but then d.ross wouldn't have someone to pitch around him or IBB him to put him on base...it's almost moot...almost...not really...but almost...kinda... just checked...7 IBB last year...hard to tell how many times he was pitched around, but even assuming it's 0 that brings his ob% to below .230 with a sub-.500 OPS.

Submitted by Hagsag on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:12 pm

The Cubs have claimed C.J. Riefenhauser LHP on waivers from the Orioles. Edgar Olmos was again DFA.

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:48 pm

pretty much...also agree that it wouldn't surprise me to see him land with the cubs, too. the trade to free up room for him would be interesting. it would help if he didn't play such a mixed-bag CF. he's anything but sure out there with his wacky routes. the O's are favored because of links for weeks and they're about to land y.gallardo (giving up that draft pick).

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/12/2016 - 02:45 pm

holy crap...j.mejia got busted AGAIN for PEDs. 3rd time...lifetime ban. at one point he was the "closer of the future" (and the actual closer) for the mets. 26 years old. unreal.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 02/14/2016 - 02:15 pm

wow, billy joel isn't just playing wrigley in-season...it's like 8-10 ballparks or something. maybe this will once-and-for-all end this stupid practice once the condition of many playing fields after these concerts are questioned...or maybe they'll learn how to fix fields quicker than they have in the past...or maybe no one will care because revenue is king. whatevers.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 02:37 pm

Average IP per season per starting pitcher based on a four-man rotation, a five-man rotation, and a six-man rotation, with average 6.1 IP per starter and with each SP making all of his scheduled starts:  

250-260 IP (four-man rotation, pitching once every fourth day - Old School) 
200-210 IP (five-man rotation, pitching once every fifth day - accepted standard) 
165-175 IP (six-man rotation, pitching once every sixth day - the future?) 

Of course a six-man rotation requires six competent starters and a seven-man bullpen, but the Cubs are probably one of the few MLB clubs that would actually be in a position to run a six-man rotation (Arrieta-Lester-Lackey-Hammel-Hendricks-Warren) and a seven-man bullpen (Rondon-Strop-Grimm-Wood-Cahill-Ramirez-Richard), if the goal is to reduce the workoad for starters (at least until the stretch-drive in August & September) without burning out the bullpen or operating at a competitive disadvantage. 

An added advantage of a six-man rotation is that starts can be easily skipped, switched, or moved around, to accomodate short-term injuries that do not require a DL stint, match-ups, and opponents. 

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 02:44 pm

MATTHEW: I'm just noting what I believe is gradually becoming and will continue to become a trend among MLB clubs to try and reduce workoad for starting pitchers by minimizing IP, either because a club has a young rotation with SP not used to throwing a high number of innings, or because a contending team is attempting to reduce IP in order to keep the club's best starters fresher for the stretch-run and post-season when they absolutely need to throw their best games. 

One way to reduce the workoad for the starting rotation is to run a traditional five-man rotation and expect the SP to go only 5+ innings and throw maybe 80-90 pitches and then go to the bullpen, and the other way is to pitch a SP less often (with five or six days rest) but without any special restriction on the number of innings (or even on the number of pitches-per-game) a starter throws when he does pitch. 

One way (let's call it the the KC Royals approach) requires five OK starters plus a deep bullpen with at least four one-inning lock-down power-relievers who can throw most every day, and the other way (let's call it the NY Mets way) requires a deep rotation with six average to above-average SP but with less of an emphasis and/or reliance on the bullpen. 

The main problem with the five-inning SP & lock-down bullpen approach is manifest when the bullpen is needed to protect leads for four innings four or five days in a row, and the main problem with the six-man rotation is finding six decent starting pitchers to fill the slots. Actually a six-man rotation isn't as big a deal for rebuilding teams because the starters don't have to be good (they just need regular work to gain experience), but for contending teams like the Mets or Cubs, all six starters have to be pretty good or it won't work. 

Remember, most MLB starting pitchers were SP in HS and/or college where they started once a week (in fact, a college team's #1 starter is called the "Friday starter," because he pitches every Friday, and the Friday game is almost-always the opener of a three-game series that usually pits two good teams against each other, with each team's #1 SP facing-off against the other #1 on Friday, while the mid-week games are typically games against lesser opponents from outside the conference, often a team from a lower division). 

BTW, implementing the DH in the N. L. will be almost a necessity once all teams go to 13-man pitching staffs (which I think is inevitable, and sooner rather than later), because with the DH a club doesn't really need pinch-hitters. With a nine-man batting order that includes a DH, a club would only need a back-up catcher, a utility infielder, and a 4th OF on the bench, allowing for the 13-man pitching staff.  

Again, I'm not saying it's good or bad (heck, I grew up watching four-man rotations and ten-man pitching staffs in the 1960's), just that I believe reducing the workload of starting pitchers to keep them fresher for the post-season (or reducing the workload of young SP on rebuilding clubs who aren't used to the demands of an MLB season) is a 21st Century trend that will likely continue to grow in popularity.   

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 02:15 pm

just got an email from MLB properties about the mlb.tv class action settlement. here's a pastebin for those interested... http://pastebin.com/m72Zyi5U key points for MLB.tv subscribers... - MLB will lower the price of MLB.TV to $109.99 for 2016 (from the 2015 price of $129.99). MLB will be prohibited from increasing the price by more than 3% (or the federal Cost of Living Adjustment ("COLA"), if higher) per year through 2020. - Single-Team Packages: MLB will offer packages of single teams' out-of-market games through MLB.TV (for example, a stream of just the Kansas City Royals' games for out-of-market subscribers). This product will cost $84.99 for a full season in 2016, with MLB allowed to raise the price by no more than 3% (or COLA, if higher) for each of the next four years. other interesting points... - In-Market Streaming: MLB will seek to reach agreements with Comcast, Root Sports, and Fox regional sports networks to offer live in-market streaming of their telecasts. If in-market streaming is not available for all of the teams whose games are broadcast by those networks by 2017, MLB will be prohibited from increasing prices for any of the above MLB.TV products through 2020. - Unserved Fans: MLB will offer live streaming of any in-market team's telecasts produced by Comcast, Root Sports, or Fox regional sports networks to any customer who is unable to obtain multi-channel video provider distributor service or virtual multi-channel video provider distributor service at his or her residence. given that i live in an area in NC where WAS games are considered within a regional territory, but NO cable/satellite packages offer the channels that show WAS games...the Unserved Fans point could be a nice perk if properly implemented.

Submitted by billybucks on Mon, 02/15/2016 - 02:06 pm

What is it about Cub CFs? Fowler and Austin Jackson remain unsigned -- 2 of only 3 espn "top 30" FA still on the board (hello, Ian Desmond). Amazingly, espn had Jackson ranked 15th among all FA. They ranked $110M Jordan Zimmermann 3 spots behind Jackson.

Submitted by John Beasley on Tue, 02/16/2016 - 02:49 pm

Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projection was released today. Take it with a grain of salt of course. But it is predicting that all 5 Cubs SPs will be in baseball's top 40 pitchers, with both Arrieta and Lester in the top 5. So basically, we're doomed.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 02/17/2016 - 02:25 am

redsox pull a reverse theo...picking up a (former) cubs castaway... c.marmol on a minor league deal.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 02/17/2016 - 02:24 pm

via rotowurld... "ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Orioles are discussing a potential contract with Dexter Fowler in the vicinity of 2-3 years, $12-13 million annually."

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 02:19 pm

Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat Maddon says Heyward/Zobrist are candidates for #Cubs leadoff man. "Once you decide on that, I think everybody falls into place" Carrie Muskat ‏@CarrieMuskat #Cubs Heyward does not expect any problems playing CF. "I know the basics and how to do it. After that, it'll become home." also... #Cubs sign RHP Aaron Crow to Minor League deal #Cubs released LHP Luis Cruz, who failed his physical. Crow is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 02:28 pm

even though heyward is a GG RF'r...if they want him to stick in CF his open market "value" comes closer to what he's getting paid (some of us don't like WAR for player value, especially the sloppy defensive WAR aspect, and very especially when there's other personally preferred batting + D evaluation advanced stats). that said, who cares about value when they got the loot to spend. heyward/zobrist/rizzo/bryant/schwarb/soler/montero/russell... unf.

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Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 02:48 pm

What batting + D evaluation advanced stats do you prefer? I like the idea of WAR but feel they may have over-corrected when trying to account for the traditionally under appreciated defense and baserunning aspect of a player's value. Side question, has there been any talk from the nutty professor about if the pitcher will continue to hit 8th. Seems to me that having a more prototypical #2 hitter like Zobrist instead of a slugger would make the reasoning for it moot.

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 02:53 pm

with batting i strongly prefer wRC+ when looking at what a player is/can-be capable of. i know WAR is technically measuring something different, but it is very commonly used as a flat evaluation stat these days. as far as D stats, there's none i'm a huge fan of, but i have a lot of faith in statcast technology opening up a new era of better evaluation in that department. when it comes to defensive WAR people can't even have consensus on what other stats should build that evaluation and you'll end up with different values depending on who's version you like to use. also, you can end up with competing WAR values that vary greatly even outside of D variables, such as fangraphs vs baseball-ref's 2009 season for ricky nolasco.

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Submitted by fullykräusened on Fri, 02/19/2016 - 02:43 pm

I think if Almora shows this year that he can post a >.700 OPS in the big leagues, he will go to CF and Heyward to RF, and the organization would figure out what to do with Soler and Schwarber. It kind of blows my mind how the analytics have shifted, but when you look at what FanGraphs thinks about Ender Inciarte, we may be into a whole new world about defense. (Cue "A Whole New World")

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Submitted by crunch on Sat, 02/20/2016 - 02:07 am

if the focus, especially as it currently seems, is to slot heyward in CF and keep soler in RF...they got extended time to see what becomes of almora. if almora quickly improves his development and soler doesn't crash, soler probably nets the club a future SP/C/2nd (based on need going forward) while returning heyward back to his natural position in RF. it also provides a bit of insurance if heyward improves his power and it looks like he may opt-out after a couple years. either way, the cubs bats seem to be in a good position for 2016 with open options in 2017 and their asses covered for 2018. we just gotta hope that positive progression is gonna happen with what's here and everyone stays healthy while the minor league kids emerge, creating further positives.

Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 02/20/2016 - 02:17 pm

getting Opening Day tickets at Angels Stadium took me 5 minutes on Ticketmaster today...Wrigley Field it is not.

My only other Opening Day was the Tuffy Rhoads game...you have a lot to live up to as-yet-to-be-named-leadoff hitter.

Submitted by The E-Man on Sun, 02/21/2016 - 02:01 am

Wow - an 11-day long lede header? Is that close to a TCR record? CT Steve do you need articles?

Submitted by CTSteve on Sun, 02/21/2016 - 02:32 am

I was in New Orleans on a business trip--and I'm still working off my hangover from whatever the hell happened on Friday night. (I don't remembering ordering the last martini--not good.)

Recent comments

  • Childersb3 (view)

    BOS 1B Casas just hit the IL. Maybe Cooper goes there.

    Cooper leaving does open a 40man spot. Probably for an arm at some point.

    Horton?

    Maybe Caissie

  • crunch (view)

    now that cooper is gone, who's going to the IL?  seems like it will probably be a pitcher at this point.

  • crunch (view)

    can't wait to see what A-ball fringe corner OF/1st he'll be traded for...

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cooper DFA'd

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Players on the 40 can be recalled and be placed on the MLB Taxi Squad for one day, like for example if a club is unsure if a player might or might not be placed on the IL ("game time decision"). Like maybe Happ, for example. 

    Also, a player on the MLB Taxi Squad must be returned to his optional assignment the next day if he is not officially recalled to the 26-man roster. 

    The player is NOT paid at the MLB split rate and does NOT accrue MLB Service Time while he is on the Taxi Squad. Also, it is not considered to be an official recall / option back if he is not added to the 26-man roster. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Wesneski has not spent 15 days on optional assignment since he was optioned so he cannot be recalled unless he is replacing a player being placed on the IL or other MLB inactive list (Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical, et al), a player who is traded, or a player who is claimed off waivers.

  • crunch (view)

    excited to see more power in the lineup.

    HOU going with 3 righty starters vs the cubs and their only lefty pen arm is hader.

    unless busch has a mystery injury, we should see busch+mervis working all 3 games.

  • fullykräusened (view)

    More than 50 years ago (I'm old), I was in the audience when my HS choir performed the whole thing. (It was a really elite choir and director.) That was my first exposure to the piece. You're right, Sonicwind75, there is a lot more to it than "O Fortuna," just like there's a lot more to Beethoven's Ninth than the Ode to Joy, etc. Much if it, as you say, is bawdy: "O! O! Totus florio! Iam amori virginali, totus ardeo!" Basically, "I'm really horny for these virgins!" And the guys in the choir adopted the "Skoal"- type greeting from the tavern scene: "Wafna!" 

  • crunch (view)

    i would have pause if the cubs had a pitching squeeze.   as it is, they have more guys than they have roster.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Maybe Brewer

    He'd be able to leave the Cubs. He's out of options. That would open up a 40man spot.

    I don't think Jed would do that.

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