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

Hoff-POWER Twice Just Good Enough for Tie

Micah Hoffpauir slugged two home runs to help rally the Cubs from an 8-4 deficit, but then grounded out with the winning run on third with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, leaving the Cubs and Brewers tied at 10 in what was the final Spring Training game for the Cubs in Arizona.

box score

Knowing they will be facing each other next week in Chicago, both the Cubs and Brewers opted to use mostly a gaggle of minor league pitchers today (Ted Lilly probably threw in a minor league game versus the Giants AAA squad at Fitch Park), with the exception of LHP Sean Marshall and RHP Tim Lahey, both being "on the bubble" as far as gaining a spot on the Cubs Opening Day 25-man roster is concerned. And neither pitcher did much to help his cause this afternoon,

Marshall gave up one run on an RBI double, plus three walks and a wild pitch and no strikeouts in two innings of work, while Lahey went one inning-plus, throwing a 1-2-3 6th (3-1, 4-3, 1-3) before allowing a run on a walk and a single without retiring a batter in the 7th.

The Cubs scored first, plating a run in the bottom of the 1st on a two-out RBI single hammered to RF by Kosuke Fukudome, following a bloop single to right by Alfonso Soriano and a walk to Aramis Ramirez.

But the Brewers came back with a six-spot in the top of the 2nd off veteran RHP Cory Bailey (ex-BOS, ex-STL, ex-SF, ex-KC, ex-Tokyo Giants), on a walk, two singles, a double, a triple by Rickie Weeks, and a home run by Mike Cameron.

The Cubs got a bit closer in the bottom of the second, as Alfonso Soriano hit a towering two-out three-run HR completely out of the stadium in left-field, following a single by Mark DeRosa and a walk to Henry Blanco. 

With the Cubs trailing 8-4, Hoffpauir (who had entered the game in relief of Fukudome in RF in the 5th) hit his first home run of the game leading off the bottom of the sixth, a high-ranging moonshot over the right-field fence off the canvas bullpen cover. Ronny Cedeno then clubbed a two-out solo home run off the scoreboard beyond the left-field fence to cut the Brew Crew lead to 8-6.

The Brewers scored a run in the top of the 7th off Lahey to go on top 9-6, but soon to be ex-Cub Matt Murton led off the bottom of the 7th with a double into the left-center field alley, and scored on a one-out double lined into the left-field corner by Aramis Ramirez. Hoffpauir then hit his second home run in two innings (and 4th this Spring Training) into the upper (visitors) bullpen beyond the RF fence, tying the score at 9.

Felix Pie made a possible game-saving catch in the top of the 9th with one out and a runner at second, sliding effortlessly between Mike Fontenot and Reed Johnson to nab a blooper and hold the potential lead-run at second.  

The Brewers did take a 10-9 lead in top of the 10th off Cubs LHP Edward Campusano (walk, stolen base plus throwing error, and wild pitch), before the Cubs mounted their last-ditch rally in the bottom of the 10th.

With one out, Andres Blanco fisted an opposite field single down the left-field line. Reed Johnson then roped a single back through the box sending A. Blanco to 2nd. Murton flied out to deep center for the second out, but then Felix Pie and Casey McGehee worked two-out walks to force in the tying run and set the stage for Micah Hoffpauir to be the hero again.

But the Hoff-POWER mojo was gone, as the slugging Texan grounded weakly into a 4-6 FC to end the game with the score tied 10-10,

As we speak, the Cubs are probably at Sky Harbor Airport, preparing to embark on their annual End of Spring Training weekend trip to Las Vegas, where they will face the Seattle Mariners in their final two Spring Training games on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at cozy Cashman Field.  

Then it's Opening Day 2008 at Wrigley Field Monday afternoon versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

Comments

The roster has basically come down to one decision...Marshall vs Piggy...the right decision is sending Marshall to AAA...does anyone know his option status and would other teams even be interested? He's 14-17 career with a 4.83 ERA and throws lefty so chances are other teams would be interested. Also the decision of what to do with Lahey. I don't think its a big loss or gain either way but it will be interesting to see what happens.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 7:11pm. 

The roster has basically come down to one decision...Marshall vs Piggy...the right decision is sending Marshall to AAA...does anyone know his option status and would other teams even be interested? He's 14-17 career with a 4.83 ERA and throws lefty so chances are other teams would be interested.

Also the decision of what to do with Lahey. I don't think its a big loss or gain either way but it will be interesting to see what happens. 

================================== 

JEFF P: Sean Marshall has two minor league options left. He also has 1+132 MLB Service Time going into the 2008 season, so while sending him to the minors for at least 20 days would kill one of his two remaining options, it would also essentially guarantee that Marshall won't have enough MLB Service Time to rate as a Super Two for salary arbitration purposes after the 2008 season. Sending Marshall to AAA instead of keeping him as a LOOGY will also keep him stretched-out as a starter in case he might be needed in that role in Chicago later in the season.

As for the lefty in the bullpen, Pignatiello has clearly outpitched Marshall (and Eyre, too) in that role this Spring, so Tiggy should get that slot. However, I suspect Hendry is trying to trade Matt Murton for an MLB-ready LOOGY plus a younger version of Murton who can be sent to AA or AAA without any hard feelings.

EXAMPLE: Murton to OAK for LHP Jerry Blevins and OF Aaron Cunningham.

Something like that.

As for Tim Lahey, I still believe he will end up as the PTBNL in the Craig Monroe trade. All the Cubs need to do is get Lahey through Rule 6 Return Waivers, and then the Twins can decline to take him back, and the Cubs can send him to AA or AAA. It's fairly easy to get Rule 5 guys through waivers this time of Spring Training, when clubs are trying to get their rosters cut to 25 and aren't really loooking to add Rule 5 players to the mix.

Submitted by Timmer on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 7:38pm.

Phil: Interesting to think that Hendry would bring Blevins back, but do you think Blevins is any more MLB-ready than Pignatiello?

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

TIMMER: While Blevins might not be more MLB-ready than Pignatiello, Blevins has better pure stuff than Pignatiello and has a higher-ceiling.

Tiggy threw "lights-out" this Spring, but Blevins had a good Spring, too, before he got sent to AAA, and so he would be another viable option for a lefty (especially long-term) in Uncle Lou's pen if the Cubs can get him back.

On the recap of today's game at cubs.com, Muskrat wrote that Ted Lilly is slated to go tomorrow night in Vegas. There's no way! He supposedly pitched in a minor league game today and also would not be on schedule to start on Tuesday. "Ooooooops..."

looks like the outside of wrigley is almost ready restricted area is getting smaller every day the picture on the cub world cam has definately improved in last couple of weeks

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.