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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs @ Pirates: Lester vs Nicasio (Game 26)

Submitted by CTSteve on

Morning baseball! Do you like butter or jam on your sweep?
CHC (19-6): LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 1.83)
PIT (15-12): RHP Juan Nicasio (3-2, 3.33)
First pitch: 11:35amCST

Lester went 7 innings of one-run ball against Atlanta on Friday but took a no-decision in a game the Cubs went on to win 6-1. He struck out 10 and walked 2. In three games against the Pirates last year, Lester went 2-1 with a 1.57. Joyce is 4-11 with 2 HR against him. McCutchen is 1-13.

Nicasio beat the Reds his last time out (7 IP, 0 ER, 8 Ks, 1 BB). He was 1-3 with a 1.56 with the Dodgers last year, with all but one of his 53 appearances out of the pen. The Cubs are 16-58 (.276) against him. Heyward is 6-16. Ross is 2-7.

Szczur ended up going on the DL with a strained right hamstring. Villanueva was put on the 60-day DL to make room for Kalish, who got the call. It sounds like Heyward will avoid a DL stint for his wrist, but he might be out for a few more days.

After last night's clinic/performance and the lefty Lester on the mound against Pittsburgh's right-hitting line-up, we should expect to see Baez at 3rd again. The more I see of him there, the better Bryant looks in the OF.

After the game, it’s back to Chicago to open a 10-game homestand against the Nationals, Padres, and these Pirates. Ross (3-0, 0.79) vs Hendricks (1-2, 3.91) tomorrow at 7:05pmCST.

Go, Cubs!

Tags
2016 Season Game Thread

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by johann on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:03 am

His story makes him someone I completely root for to succeed but it's interesting that he's not succeeding in the way anyone thought when he was just a prospect. Great defense and contact instead of power. I think failing so glaringly and getting sent back down might have been the best thing for him and his ego. He still swings at too many balls out of the strike zone but he's making a lot more contact on them which I think is helped by the less violent swing. So we might not get all the HRs we were expecting but I'll gladly take what he's giving.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:23 am

Not just Maddon, but the organization as a whole. If the rumors are to be believed, they did a good job of letting Baez learn that he needed to change his approach, and Baez has done a good job listening to their instructions an adapting. Hopefully the same is true of Alomar, who is ripping up AAA. Previous management teams haven't been as good at this (e.g. Corey Patterson).

Submitted by billybucks on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:19 am

Man, this team makes you greedy. Going into Pittsburgh -- with Cole vs. Hammel Game 1 -- I was hoping for 2 out of 3. After winning the first 2 games 14-3, I now want a sweep. Same thing happened in STL. Very, very fun.

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:47 am

Having been a mediocre HS player, I would think at a professional level - and in their 20's - doesn't it sound actually FUN to have a chance to play different positions in a 162-Game, uber-long season? It has to take some of the monotony out of the job and keep you on your toes. In fact, the best manufacturing floor job satisfaction training theories include job rotation as a way to improve employee satisfaction. I hope Maddon can keep it going.

[ ]

Submitted by johann on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:54 am

I think while I get what you're saying with moving around a lot of baseball is very rhythm based and for many players moving around a lot could disrupt that. It's the same reason many players aren't cut out for phing or dhing since they need to be in the rhythm of the game to hit. Of course then you have players like LaStella who are terrible as starters and should only PH. Really hope Madden doesn't get enthralled with him starting too much.

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:49 am

The players are required to perform with minimal thinking, relying on reflex, reaction, and muscle memory (or, as you say, rhythm). I think this point of view doesn't lend itself well to changing things up. Wearing Zany suits, on the other hand, does sound like fun and definitely keeps things interesting.

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:37 pm

Don't agree with you, but an interesting discussion. I find this thinking limiting and not in-tune with the latest brain and physiology research. The fact is we use only a tiny fraction of our capacity, and if one can increase motor function along with brain capacity you achieve greater flexibility and value of the (player) asset. For the club's and player's benefit.

[ ]

Submitted by johann on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:49 pm

By the way in relation to the zany suits Madden was saying his other reason for forcing players to wear them in public is to cause some awkwardness and embarrassment in the players that they'd have to overcome. He said he feels this ability might help players when they screw up in the game recover more quickly. Not sure if it will but he definitely thinks about the things he does.

Submitted by billybucks on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:22 am

Wow -- no Soler today, despite begin short of OF. As Baez's star rises, Jorge's has dimmed considerably.

Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:16 pm

Brutal. Pirates load the bases with 0 outs and fail to push any runners across. After two tough games, that really has to suck the wind out of them. Man...

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:34 pm

was the last out, bottom 6th more about Adam Warren being good or about the Pirates struggling this series? and on cue, Len and JD discuss: JD: It appears that Adam Warren is becoming Joe Maddon's favorite club. Len: You mean favorite Cub? JD: No like a favorite golf club. Len: Like Billie Baroo (then does Ted Knight/Judge Smails impersonation from Caddyshack)

Submitted by jacos on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:47 pm

Sean Rodriguez still a douche Strop quick pitches him and so he jaws with Strop and Cubs dugout. Get use to it Pauly Shore, Buccos are done

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:52 pm

he's 8th in innings pitched in baseball this year and has thrown over 200 innings in 7 of the last 8 seasons. He finished 21st in MLB in IP, 9th in the NL . Plus, going to your bullpen has a much different meaning in baseball the last few years anyway...

You're looking for a one percentage increase in performance from a guy already outperforming the league by 25-30%. Might as well ask be asking Anthony Rizzo to steal more bases.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:10 pm

...yet...it's a thing that would happen if there were less 4-5 out innings...like a certain 30-pitch inning he had a couple starts ago. let's not let "good enough" be a stopping point when it could be better. it's a negative aspect of his game no matter how much melt-in-your-mouth-not-your-hand sugar coating one can pour over it. this is a game of maximizing advantages and striving to prevent bad situations...no matter how much you come out on the other side smelling like roses. there is no strategic value or advantage to what is happening with this situation. at best he's playing with worse odds he creates himself, at worst he pays for those skewed odds, and stuck up in the middle there's other aspects like increased pitch counts. there's further burden given that he needs his own D-heavy/arm-steady catcher to make up for his short-comings. there's a lot going on here.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:20 pm

OMG, he had a tough inning of his own doing!!! If only he walked all those hitters on base instead, we could be spared your delusions of 250 IP and consecutive CY Young awards.

There's a little going on here, that is being made into a lot by you.

Didn't WISCGRAD already debunk all this last year, certainly ignored by you, but I believe he went through every instance a runner was on base against Lester and how little it ended up mattering. And unlike you, I do not care to repeat myself ad nauseum.

And like every team, literally every team I believe carries a defensive minded catcher. (Someone will prove this wrong, but I'm sure it's over 95%).

 

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:45 pm

*facepalm* nevermind. i've seen this film before, it sucked. let's pretend what you just posted had a damn thing to do with what i posted. let's pretend this rarely happens rather than happening many times a season. let's also pretend that montero/contreras and who's going to catch lester isn't a 2017 thing that might become an actual problem if contreras don't do some serious work with his base runner holding abilities because lester needs his own personal catcher for a very specific reason that's lester's problem. let's also pretend odds don't matter as long as you make it out on the good side of them...it's like arguing the positive aspect of the wins stat.

[ ]

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:02 pm

CRUNCH: It is obvious that you never see the silver lining, are uninterested in the huge preponderence of positives that typically outweigh your nitpick of the post by like a 10:1 margin. You cared not about Lester's 10 K's the last start compared to your contrarian view of his mortal mistake (which didn't matter) of not getting the ball out of his glove. Today you go on about his glove out (which he did last year) and same results. And, you never seem to mention first that he pitched really well - shutout a team with nearly every player batting over .300. You just can't fucking let go that this dude has psych issues that I mentioned he has been trying to get help with. It IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE SO YOU CAN *FACEPALM* YOURSELF FOREVER. Its fucking enough already. Start talking about something else already. Like maybe your useless play by play that we can all see in real time anyway. That should keep you busy and cut down on your redundancy. On your redendancy. Your redundancy. On your redundancy. Let me agree with you: Lester''s fielding psychological problem may cause him to lose a game now and then. But taken as a whole, he's a fucking awsome pitcher and yhe best lefty the Cubs have had in a long time.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:10 pm

once again, ONCE AGAIN...this isn't even a "thing" i started...i just commented on someone else "starting it." it's a message board. even if i did "start it" people shouldn't give a shit unless they have something to bring to the table...even if it's just a joke. yes, i see a silver lining...i also see problems. i commented on both. how about more posts complaining about things i say. TCR could use more of that. btw, watch out jacos, e-man don't need your useless play by play that you polluted this thread with. he might write a post about how much your posts hurt his feelies and then your feelies will get hurt and we'll all need therapy to get over it. do you think we're made of money jacos? do you think we can all afford therapy? fucking drop this shit jacos. you are literally worse than hitler. ow...my feelies.

[ ]

Submitted by billybucks on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:39 pm

Yikes -- I was off the site for a short while and it blew up. Gentlemen -- it is apparent that Lester has a weakness in his game. Everybody knows about it. He has, apparently, tried to work on it, but without success. Fortunately, he is talented enough that he is able to largely overcome his shortcoming. I am amazed that other teams don't try to bunt on him, but, as has been said, bunting is not a skill many players have.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:12 pm

@billybucks you speak the truth and it's precisely what me and others have been saying for over a year. It's an unfortunate hitch in his game, one that seems correctable, but so far has not been corrected. Also a hitch that is going over 3 seasons now and no one has been able to truly exploit in any meaningful way (except sort of the Royals in that Wild Card game although they stole plenty of bases off the other pitchers in that game and the rest of the playoff teams the rest of that run). I think it's safe to say, much like Maddux ignoring baserunners, that it's just not detrimental to Lester's success albeit occasionally frustrating to fans.

sadly crunch believes this is what he's also been saying so, but is either incapable of getting across because he lacks effective communication skills or we're all just dumb and don't understand him. 

If it's the latter, I leave you with this..."the burden's on the writer to be clear and convincing, not on the reader to be clearly convinced."

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 05:18 am

Man, with a 20-6 record, it doesn't seem right to complain about any aspect of this team. What are you expecting? A 26-0 record? I'm not saying that the Cubs are above critique, but I am saying any problems that might exist don't appear to be a major hindrance at the moment. To quote a great philosopher "numbers don't lie, check the scoreboard."

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:25 pm

not sure it could be any better, but he gives up a lot on defense...so who knows? Soler's peripherals and inevitable warm weather makes me think he'll get it going soon. Sadly, the D will still suck.

Baez at 3B with Bryant in OF is looking more and more like the lineup we'll see in Sept/Oct, but again, who knows? I'm not too overwhelmed by Baez's AB's, still looks to be swinging out his ass, but he seems to be making more contact. But a .385 BABIP will not hold...although he should be launching a few more...but damn that D.

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:28 pm

Cubs Foe Tomorrow - The Cubs are facing young Joe Ross tomorrow night for the Nats. He has an ERA+ of 542. NOT a typo. I don't think I have seen that recently...

Submitted by billybucks on Wed, 05/04/2016 - 05:33 pm

Interesting that Hendricks is going tomorrow -- so, he wasn't really "skipped", just moved back a few days so Jake and Lester could deal against the Pirates. I'm OK with that.

Recent comments

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Tonight’s game postponed. Split games on Saturday.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

    taillon we 100% know is pitching tonight.  who he's replacing and any additional moves are unknown as far as i can tell.

    p.wisdom was not in today's lineup in iowa (rained out) and he was removed from the game last night mid-game, but not for injury.  good bet he's with the team in the bigs, too.

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

Click HERE for the last 50 comments