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

Spring Training Roster Projection

Some of you may wonder how a Spring Training roster is constructed.

The template generally looks like this:

30-36 pitchers
6 catchers
3 1B
3 2B
3 3B
3 SS
3 LF
3 CF
3 RF

PITCHERS: During the first couple of weeks at Fitch Park (prior to the move to HoHoKam Park and the start of the Cactus League season), the pitchers are broken up into three groups of 10-12 pitchers each. There is a status to the three groups, where Group 1 is mostly the big league guys, Group 2 is mostly the guys battling for spots, and Group 3 is everybody else. When a top draft pick guy like Andrew Cashner gets a courtesy-invitation to big league camp to "get a look," he might be assigned to Group 1 just so he can see how the big leaguers prepare for the season. (This happened with Jeff Samardzija).

CATCHERS: Six catchers are needed at big league camp at Fitch Park because the 10-12 pitchers in each of the three groups are further divided into groups of 5-6, and they simultaneously throw in the "Ten Pack" (ten-mound bullpen located north of the clubhouse), so there needs to be one catcher for each pitcher. (In minor league camp where there are five squads, all ten bullpen mounds in the Ten Pack are used simultaneously, so at least ten catchers are needed in minor league camp).

INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS: Each position needs to be three-deep at Fitch Park, because the position players also are sometimes broken up into groups of three while taking fielding practice & BP.

Here is how the Cubs 2009 Spring Training roster looks right now (subject to players who might be added prior to the start of ST):

PITCHERS:

GROUP 1:
* Andrew Cashner (TBD)
Neal Cotts
Ryan Dempster
Chad Gaudin
Kevin Gregg
Rich Harden
Ted Lilly
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
Luis Vizcaino
Carlos Zambrano

GROUP 2:
Jose Ascanio
* Chad Fox
Angel Guzman
Kevin Hart
Rich Hill
Jeff Samardzija
Jeff Stevens
Randy Wells
* Bill White
Michael Wuertz

GROUP 3:
Mitch Atkins
Justin Berg
* Edward Campusano (TBD)
* Esmailin Caridad (TBD)
* Casey Lambert (TBD)
Marcos Mateo
* J. R. Mathes (TBD)
David Patton
Rocky Roquet (TBD)
* Jason Waddell (TBD)

CATCHERS:
Geovanty Soto
Koyie Hill
* Mark Johnson
* Welington Castillo (TBD)
* Tony Richie (TBD)
* Robinson Chirinos (TBD)

FIRST-BASE:
Derrek Lee
Micah Hoffpauir
Jake Fox

SECOND-BASE:
Mike Fontenot
Aaron Miles
* Nate Spears (TBD)

THIRD-BASE:
Aramis Ramirez
* Kyle Reynolds (TBD)
* Bobby Scales (TBD - if re-signed)

SHORTSTOP:
Ryan Theriot
Ronny Cedeno
* Andres Blanco
NOTE: Darwin Barney could get NRI if Cedeno is traded

LEFT-FIELD:
Alfonso Soriano
Joey Gathright
So Taguchi
* Tyler Colvin (TBD - DH TJS rehab)

CENTER-FIELD:
Kosuke Fukudome
Reed Johnson
Felix Pie

RIGHT-FIELD:
Milton Bradley
Sam Fuld
Brad Snyder

* Non-Roster Invitee (NRI)

Comments

Thanks, Phil, as always. I can't imagine that Hendry is going to be able to get a whole lot for Cedeno, Pie and Hill at this point, but maybe he could get another decent 5th starter type...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Scalpers dream if you're on the waitlist (which i think you have to be, but they never had me sign in or anything, so not sure how'd they know). I just tried for about 30 minutes straight, kept getting "Unable to process transaction due to high volume. Please try again".

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

I was just curious about the prices and tried to get 2 tickets at a few of the different price points, I got through on bleachers.

But since I don't live in Chicago, I cancelled. I'm not a big fan of ticket scalping, especially at something already so massively overpriced as Wrigley Field. 

If I did live in Chicago, I couldn't imagine being able to take my family more than once or twice a year, which is sort of sad.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

welp... i catch most Cubs game here in Cincy and never have a problem scoring tickets. Although scalping is LEGAL, you can get tickets at the box office for any game, except Opening Day, or the slim chance the Indians are in town for a weekend series... plus the cost of living is great, there's no traffic, and its a great place to raise a family!

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

actually yes... i grew up in the south Burbs(little old Richton Park) and moved here on a college soccer scholorship and never moved back. The family is still in Chicagoland so i still visit frequently, but its great here that i commute to work in downtown Cincy, from Northern Kentucky, in just 10 minutes... during rush-hour!

[ ]

In reply to by CincyKid

You're lucky, its way worse coming from the north. I've had to travel down from Middletown a few times when I lived down there and ...not really fun. So keep that in mind if you ever have to roll in from the north, on 75. Oh, and heaven forbid anyone try and get around the 71/75/275 interchange areas around 530. On average though I'd definitely rate it about a B+ in terms of traffic on average. That said there's plenty of nice places in Cincy. FWIW I prefer Columbus, though.

I'm 71,367 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

31,000 and change... I also signed up when i was like 15 with the hopes by my 30th brthday i'll be able to afford them and be in a place to buy them...i doubt either will happen.

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

I don't know if you guys caught Inning 2 of Ken Burns' Baseball the other night on MLB. For the one game playoff between Cubs and Giants in 1908 they had 10,000's of thousands of people turned away. Some tried to "burn" their way into the stadium by setting outfield wall on fire. Crazy.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's a must read for a baseball fan. Well written and it's about the whole baseball season just not Cubs only. WSox signed BartOlO COlOn to one year contract. ~snickers~

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Got that one for xmas, Rob. And it was easy to open. And you're really pushing that amazon thing, relax, man, I promise, the next thing I buy will be 'TCR Approved'!!

[ ]

In reply to by Tony S.

I just want our $10 from them...they don't payout until then. Right now we've sold about 4 things over the last year for like $4 in referral fees.

Someone bought a Soriano jersey though...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

17,073 for me, which I think is exactly where I was last year. I was kind of hoping one of the side effects of this bum economy would be a big move up the list, but I guess not. Also, that Leadoff Pack or whatever it's called looked like a shitty deal. In order to do it, you basically had to take 6-8 games in April/early May. I really don't think anyone would make much money trying to scalp those tickets. As much as I love the Cubs, it's fucking depressing to be at a game when it's snowing.

I don't know if you guys caught Inning 2 of Ken Burns' Baseball... --------------- I hadn't seen it before but I love the old photo's from the era. I believe they are going thru the entire series every tuesday night from 8-10:30 pm Chicago time. I think I saw Old and Blue in one of those photo's, of course he was in sepia tones West Side Ballpark, home of your World Champion 1908 Cubs

Anyone score decent seats for all 13 of those games? They really make you buy some clunkers, with four or five decent ones attached.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Sounds sort of like the Fisher King, but with all the entertaining bits edited out.

Padres sign Jae Kuk Ryu.

From Paul DePodesta's blog:

Originally signed for $1.6 million by the Cubs in 2001, Ryu has spent parts of the past three seasons in the Majors with Chicago and Tampa Bay. His 2008 season ended prematurely, however, as he was shut down in May and had relatively minor elbow surgery in June. Ryu's fastball sits around 90 mph while reaching as high as 92, and he complements it with both a curveball and a changeup. According to our scouts, all of his pitches grade out as at least Major League average, and he can throw all three for strikes. Given his repertoire and success as a starter in the minor leagues, we believe Ryu can compete for a spot in our rotation or our pen. He has one minor league option remaining.

Selma Hayek is on 30 Rock now.

Submitted by Hook on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:10am. Is that the same Bill White that pitched in the Rangers system last year?

 ==============================

HOOK: Yes.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:36am.

AZ Phil, In your opinion, would Marquez Smith be the 3rd Third Basemen if Scales isn't re-signed

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

DR AARON B: Marquez Smith won't get an NRI to big league camp, but Josh Vitters might. The Cubs like to give their best prospects a taste of the big leagues, and the only way Vitters can get that is to get an NRI to big league camp, at least for a couple of weeks.

Or Darwin Barney could get an NRI even if Ronny Cedeno isn't traded, and then both Cedeno and Aaron Miles could move back & forth between 2B and 3B.

Or Matt Camp could get an NRI and (with Tyler Colvin rehabbing from 11/08 TJS and being limited to DH duties until mid-season) move back & forth between LF and 2B, with Miles moving between 2B and 3B. Camp has a good chance to make the Iowa Opening Day roster, and generally speaking, the guys who are expected to play at AAA get an NRI to big league camp, because the manager needs to know who is down there and what they bring to the table in case they get brought up later in the year.

17,073 for me, which I think is exactly where I was last year --------- I wonder how many of those on the list ahead of you are dead. As long as they can vote in the Chicago election they keep them active on both the voter registration and season ticket lists. That way they can be considered valid in any election.

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.