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

Big Unit Signs With Giants, Remains Free to Continue Abusing Cubs

Despite a past association with current Cubs manager Lou Piniella and rumors that the Cubs had him in their sights, Walnut Creek, California native Randy Johnson has signed a one-year deal with the Giants for a reported $8 million plus bonuses,.

Particularly before Ryan Dempster was re-signed and then when the Jake Peavy deal fell through, Johnson was identified by fans and press alike as an affordable free agent option to bolster the Cubs staff.

Once Dempster was back in the fold, it was easy to get excited about the thought of Johnson replacing Jason Marquis as the Cubs' fifth starter. Also attractive was the thought that if Johnson came to the North Side, the Cubs would never have to face him: Johnson's career mark against the Cubs, spanning 14 starts, is 13-0, 1.84, with 142 K's in just 102 2/3 IP.

Comments

Darn. I was kind of liking the idea of Randy...at least as a fallback option. SF has got a pretty good rotation. Too bad their offense sucks.

Don't look now, but the Giants are a Dunn or Burrell away from being the class of a soft division. Right now they're at least in the same conversation as LA and Arizona.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

they got multiple scouts on the J-league (not counting the pacific rim coordination). it could get more interesting/intense if they start "stealing" younger players like theo in boston is trying to blaze a trail to do. that aside, the 2 guys theyre looking at would be lucky to get a guaranteed contract from any MLB team, much less the cubs. minor league/ST-invite or low-cost MLB contract (if it gets to that point) are the most likely options.

Question of the day: With the way the market has changed, if Dempster was still a free agent, could be still get 4/52? We'll probably know after Perez and Lowe signed, but I bet the Cubs might've gotten the fourth year on an option. Yay hindsight.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

From that story: "Since his rookie season in 2005, Taveras leads the Majors with 207 infield hits, accounting for 37 percent of his 558 career hits. A full third of his career hits never made it to the outfield grass. Is being the real life Willie Mays Hayes something to be proud of? I guess it has to be, because he sure can't be proud of that .308 OBP last year.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Actually, I was thinking the opposite. If everything goes right, a roster of: Taveras Dickerson Phillips Votto Bruce Encarnacion Hernandez Gonzalez/Keppinger Harang/Volquez/Arroyo/Cueto/Bailey/Owings Cordero/Bray/Weathers/Burton/Rhodes ... could actually be a threat at least in the Wild Card race if not better. There's enough talent and experience there that I wouldn't dismiss this team by any means.

Off-topic and maybe previously mentioned, but Abreu's had eleven straight years of over 150 games played. Milton's high was 141 in 2004. Last year's 126 was his second highest games total and was obviously helped by DH duty. His third personal best falls all the way to 101. So unless you're content with your Fuku replacement possibly only replacing him half the time for large coin, I think I'd pass even if we can't get Abreu. He helped a couple of my fantasy teams last year but I don't see any reason the Cubs should be the team to pay him after a timely career year. Not to say we have an in-house option like them, but does anybody remember or have a record showing if Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith were highly touted prospects prior to the '89 campaign? I seem to recall them coming up from AA but I don't recall much beyond that.

[ ]

In reply to by mjmiller73

I'm not sure what they were in prospect rankings or anything like that, but here's what they did before joining the team in 1989. Jerome Walton - Taken 2nd Rd (36th overall) in 1986 June draft - 1986 Rookie League - .288-.376-.419 w. 21 SB in 62 games - 1987 A-Ball - .335-.452-.470 w. 49 SB in 128 games - 1988 AA-Ball - .331-.399-.425 w. 42 SB in 120 games Dwight Smith - Taken 3rd Rd (62nd overall) in 1984 June draft - 1984 Rookie League - .406 OBP w. 39 SB in 61 games - 1985 Low-A - .289-.374-.405 w. 30 SB in 73 games - 1986 A Ball - .310-.389-.473 w. 53 SB in 124 games - 1987 AA Ball - .337-.415-.542 w. 60 SB in 130 games - 1988 AAA Ball - .293-.367-.410 w. 25 SB in 129 games So as you can see, Walton was a high pick and moved rapidly through the system. Putting up a .452 OBP at any level is remarkable. It was clear by his average, OBP, and is SB success rate (42/55) in 1988 that he was probably ready for at least a big league shot. Smith was picked highly as well, but took longer to develop, but it should be noted he never repeated any levels. But he was more erratic than Walton. One year he was 60/78 in SB and the next 25/45. In 1987 he had 28 2B, 10 3B, and 18 HR, but in other years that power was non-existent. Still, he had some of the best raw speed of anyone in the system and was getting on base at a very high rate throughout his minor league career. So neither was completely off the radar, in fact Walton had put up better minor league numbers and was the same age as Pie is right now when he joined the majors. I don't think we have anyone like that in our system, besides Pie. And regardless, I would not want to sit around this off-season and just hope that someone from the minor leagues will become Rookie of the Year. It is far more likely that any minor leaguer called up will have a year more like Walton/Smith's 1990+ seasons and not their 1989 seasons.

[ ]

In reply to by mjmiller73

Walton was pretty highly touted, it wasn't a shock that he won the big league job. I remember reading an article where someone translated his Pittsfield (right?) stats and said he'd hit .300 in the bigs in '89. Smith was considered a solid hitting prospect - and his career bared that out. Walton, as I recall, got fat and stopped working hard.

Walton, as I recall, got fat and stopped working hard. ====== I'm no hitting coach but I remember some commentary on Walton's extremely open batting stance, which eventually became a problem. Expecially if one loses some bat speed or quickness. When he gained some weight (stopped working hard), he was never the same.

Thanks for the Walton and Smith info, Wiscgrad. I'm not necessarily advocating that waiting for a player to come out of the blue is the way to go (and I do believe Hendry signs a FA OF making this moot), but I do wonder if giving an in-house option the chance to play a larger role would be such a bad thing when weighed against Bradley's injury history. Knowing that both Walton and Smith didn't come without expectations hedges that thinking a bit. I'm prepared to see Abreu sign elsewhere though I think he'd be a great fit. If Hendry does get Bradley, I'll just be hoping for the best.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I was just thinking yesterday what a good job Angelo does drafting defensive players. We should find a team that has the reverse problem (can draft offensive players but not defensive ones) and have them draft a quarterback and WR for us and trade them a CB and OLB we draft.

If the Giants are to be considered contenders in the NL West, they had better plan on winning every game 2-1, because when Bengie Molina is your biggest threat, there are some serious holes in your lineup. Have they acquired anyone to play RF, 3B, 2B, 1B, or SS yet? OPS+ across the board: C-98 Not a bad season from the senior Molina 1B-83 Bowker hot and cold..., .300 OBP, .408 SLG not great 2B-109 Ray Durham....is still alive. 3B-74 Jose Castillo...meh....671 OPS...yikes. SS-45-goodbye Omar Vizquel, what a great career LF-105 Fred Lewis..showed some flashes, stole 21 bases, hit 11 triples CF-94 Aaron Rowand. A little different not hitting in Philly huh? RF-105 Randy Winn. .789 OPS. Will be 35 in June. 10HR 65 RBI. Fukudome had 10 HR, 58 RBI. Matt Cain was 8-14 despite a 3.76 ERA last year, Lincecum was outstanding, Zito can't pitch with a huge fork sticking out of his back. Jonathan Sanchez showed promise at 9-12, but still had a 5.01 ERA in 158 innings. Randy Johnson is 44, and who knows how he will pitch this season.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

They picked up Renteria to play SS. That should be a huge upgrade. They seem like a perfect fit for an Adam Dunn. He could play LF or 1st and add alot to that lineup. Hell, if they added Burrell and Dunn they win that division with their pitching. Shades of 2007 Cubbies.

Defensive players Angelo has drafted: Dan Bazuin Michael Okwo Leon Joe Jamar Williams Roosevelt Williams Michael Haynes Todd Johnson Claude Harriott Chris Harris...oh...hmm..so he's good? Crap...at least they go Manning jr? Dusty "IR" Dvoracek Mark Anderson-great 2006....then ugh. Karon Riley Bobby Gray The jury is still out on Zack Bowman, Craig Steltz, and Corey Graham and Marcus Harrison who have shown flashes. So Angelo hit on Kevin Payne kinda, Manning as a KR, Hester as a return man, decent #2 receiver, Tommie Harris...Tillman and Briggs, and even Ian Scott was decent. Alex Brown has been a solid player for years as well. A great drafter though?

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Alot of that depends on where they were drafted. Anderson was a late 5th round pick and was a valuable member of a NFC championship team so it was a good pick. I think alot of his struggles in the 2 past season have come about by misuse. Anyone could have told you that as an every down player Alex Brown was a better choice than Anderson. He is a pass rush specalist and used primarliy in that role he will produce. Chris Harris was a 6th round pick who started every game in his Bears career and when he got traded only led the league in forced fumbles to go along with 101 tackels for Carolina in 07. I would say that was a good pick. When healthy Dvorceck has shown he can play and a valuable member of a DT rotion, so I would rate it as an OK pick so far. Johnson, Joe, and Williams were 4th rounders who are nice special teams players, yeah they were better picks out there, but atleast they were/are contributors to the team. You cant hold Gray, Harriott or Riley aganist Angelo, they were 5th round picks and what 33% of 5th rounders make it in the NFL? The only flatout busts he has had on defense are Bazuin, Haynes, Okwo and Williams. Outside of Parcells, Belicheck/Pioli, Newsome and whoever does the Steelers draft I dont think there is a better eye for defensive talent among GMs in the NFL.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

"Chris Harris was a 6th round pick who started every game in his Bears career..." This was a monumental, huge blunder - to let him go... As I said, "Fuck you Jerry Angelo"

Yes...If they add Dunn and Burrell. They may also have the worst defensive OF in baseball. If they trade for A-Rod and Grady Sizemore....if...if... Assuming they add Burrell and Dunn...fairly big ifs, they still have holes at 3B, SS, and 2B if Ray Durham declines at age 36.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

They traded Durham to Milwaukee last year. I hadn't seen if he has returned. But you are correct. The offense does indeed suck.

Sorry, Renteria will play SS. My apologies Dr.Aaron

Nathan Vasher...who has disappointed in the last two seasons as well. Sorry for the omission..

Submitted by The Real Neal on Sun, 12/28/2008 - 11:14am.

Walton was pretty highly touted, it wasn't a shock that he won the big league job. I remember reading an article where someone translated his Pittsfield (right?) stats and said he'd hit .300 in the bigs in '89. Smith was considered a solid hitting prospect - and his career bared that out. Walton, as I recall, got fat and stopped working hard.

============================

REAL NEAL: Jerome Walton got a ton of bunt hits in 1989, whereas Dwight Smith hit line-drive ropes all over the place and was the better "pure" hitter. But Walton was (by far) the superior defensive player of the two.

Walton had an outstanding rookie season in 1989, including a 30-game hitting streak (which I believe was the second-longest in Cubs history), but he was very upset that he didn't get a big payday after he won the Rookie of the Year Award (he didn't understand that the system doesn't work that way), and so he pouted the whole next season and allowed himself to get out of shape. Then he suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to lose a step and he never got it back. Also, his brother was shot & killed in an armed robbery around that time and that seemed to have a negative effect on him, too, and he just was never the same carefree player as he was in 1989.

Dwight Smith was a below-average defender who had difficuulty tracking fly balls and reading line drives. Any ball hit into the air in his direction was an adventure. And he was a brain-dead baserunner, too, always trying to take one base too many (The Bridge Too Far).

Walton and Smith were the last of the Dallas Green-Gordon Goldsberry products that came through the Cubs farm system in the 1980's, following the likes of Shawon Dunston, Rafael Palmeiro, Greg Maddux, Mark Grace, Jamie Moyer, Dave Martinez, Mike Harkey, Damon Berryhill, Les Lancaster, Derrick May, Shawn Boskie, Gary Varsho, Joe Girardi, et al to The Show. 

There are plenty of players still available who can help the Cubs in 2009 (because right now they are a lesser team than last season: plus Gregg, minus Wood). They need a lefty reliever or two, and there are several out there. They need a left handed hitter and there are a few in the field. My only hope is that Hendry is not pulling a MacPhail and waiting for some of them to "cheap down" (like Moises Alou did), while running the risk that he will emerge with no help at all. Weighing in on Walton, the Cubs thought a lot of him back in '89 when he made the team and they weren't disappointed. He basically ate himself out of baseball; he reported to camp on '90 almost 20 pounds heavier, lost bat and running speed, and suffered a succession of nagging injuries that hampered him the rest of his career. He wasn't even good enough to be a spare part after that soph season.

Dr. Aaron...wht's what I get for not paying attention.. I forgot Durham was traded. I blame the holidays!!! Or something..

Nice Muskrat retrospective on Gracey: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081125&content_id=36… Technically, his last game at Wrigley was in August (?) 03. It was a great, rain-soaked day. Cubs won, Clement outdueled Brandon Webb and the cheering for Gracey was so loud it might've knocked some concrete off of the upper deck. Sadly, my photos didn't turn out. No chance at the HoF, nor should he get in. But what a fun player to cheer for.

I don't know if some of you caught it, or if its 3/44, but Bruce Levine mentioned Saturday that the impending sale/non-sale is really throwing a big-ass wrench in allowing Hendry to do his thing to the best of his ability. BL did state that Bradley is still being courted, but the money thing with the Cubs at this current moment is just a quagmire. And, of course, here it is status quo as I am dusting off my checkbook once again, getting ready to plunk down for another season ticket package.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.