Cubs MLB Roster

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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 
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Game 1 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP Carlos Zambrano
SP
Ben Sheets
2007 Record
18-13, 3.95 ERA
2007 Record 12-5, 3.82 ERA
2B Rickie Weeks
SS
Ryan Theriot
CF
*Tony Gwynn Jr. LF
Alfonso Soriano
1B
*Prince Fielder
1B
Derrek Lee
LF
Ryan Braun
3B
Aramis Ramirez
3B
Bill Hall RF
*Kosuke Fukudome
RF
Corey Hart
2B
Mark DeRosa
SS JJ Hardy
C Geovany Soto
P Ben Sheets CF
*Felix Pie
C
Jason Kendall
P #Carlos Zambrano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Day 2008 has arrived and the season starts off with a division rival tilt between our beloved Cubbies and those Brew Babies from up north. This will be Zambrano's fourth straight Opening Day start, he's 0-1 with an 8.16 ERA in the previous three. Maybe it's Mother Nature's way of calming his nerves with the impending rain delay.

Additionally...(from Cubnut)

The Cubs need to get off to a fast start and not just because it's no fun digging yourself out of the kind of hole Lou's boys escaped last year. Between now and the end of May, the Cubs have 33 home dates; the Brewers, just 25. (Six of those Cub home games are against Milwaukee.)

At the end of the season, the situation is reversed: in September, the Cubs play just 9 home games; the Brewers, 16...the final three when they host the Cubs.

Comments

batting the pitcher 8th? What's the analysis, here?

Thunder just rolled here in south suburbs.

Any official word on the game status yet? I am about to take off to watch the game. Probably a wasted day if they aren't gonna play. Where could I find out?

I'll put up the results later, but three folks got all six answers correct. I'll let the suspense build...

If any pitcher in the league should be batting 8th, it should be Zambrano with his 12 career home runs. Yost and De Russa believe that you get better run production when you (1) have your biggest power hitters at the 2nd and 4th spots, rather than the traditional 3-4 and (2) you have the pitcher batting 8th. The theory is that a slightly better hitter in the 9th spot will give the high-average leadoff hitter a better chance at putting multiple runners on for the power hitter in the 2nd spot. Last year, for the last 2 months or so, the Cards followed this philosophy and they saw increases in run production (4.4 -> 4.6), team batting average (.270 -> .281), OBP (.334 -> .344), and slugging percentage (.399 -> .417). Now of course the lineups varied (Rick Ankiel was added after the switch, for example), but it makes sense and seems to produce.

[ ]

In reply to by cpharmston

From Joe Sheehan/Baseball Prospectus a few weeks ago...

"Elsewhere, Tony La Russa is again considering batting his pitcher eighth in the regular season, a tactic he employed in 1998 and again in 2007. Now, very smart people have looked at this and determined that it makes some sense. I’ll quote Dave Studeman quoting an unnamed contributor in The Book by Tom Tango, Mitchell Lichtman, and Andy Dolphin (because I’m in an airport bar in Indianapolis, 700 miles from my copy): “The second leadoff hitter theory exists. You can put your pitcher in the eighth slot and gain a couple of extra runs per year.” I’m of the opinion that the models can’t account for the tactical disadvantages of moving the pitcher up in the lineup. We know that the pitcher’s spot drives decision-making—not strategy, but the kind of autoplay an eight-year-old could master—in the NL. I have to think that the negative effect on the #7 batter, and of pushing the possibility of having to hit for the pitcher slightly earlier, would swamp the runs that show up in the simulators."

The article is at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7201

They're likely to get the game in come hell or high water, mostly due to the forecasts for rain and/or cold over the next week. I wonder if the Cubs couldn't have flip - flopped this series with the Brewers before the season started? Better to have that roof option this early in the season.

"They're likely to get the game in come hell or high water, mostly due to the forecasts for rain and/or cold over the next week." They have a day off tomorrow in case of bad weather today. While I am sure they will make every effort to get this game in, if they must postpone it no big deal.

Corey, Keppinger, Griffey, Phillips, Dunn, Encarnacion, Hatteberg, Valentin, Harang it'll be funnier when Alex Gonzalez comes back and takes over the 2 spot in the lineup.

For those of you without WGN tv, Len came on and said the proverbial window is from 2-6pm, enough time to get the game in, they hope, but it won't start before 2pm at the earliest.

Dear Rain Gods: Please provide a three and a half hour rain delay, so that I may leave my office hours, get home, watch the game, have fun in parachat and write a recap. Love, Trans.

NFL just announced Bears at Colts to open next season on Sunday night. Man it looks like the Bears are gonna suck. I hope the Cubs have a good season to get us through next winter.

A BROAD AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. THE STRONGER STORMS PRODUCING HEAVIER RAINFALL AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL WILL MOVE INTO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR AND PERSIST THROUGH MID DAY. TRAVELERS USE CAUTION AS PONDING ON ROADS MAY OCCUR WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.

Jacque Jones struck out in his first plate appearance as a Tiger.

I hate to say this because I know some people don't want to hear it, given some exchanges I had here last year, but it is really time for Z to be an ace -- a real ace. That means no stupid flipping out over ball calls or errors behind him and no losing his focus. He needs to give this team a chance to win virtually every time out. He has the stuff. Does he have the head? This is Z last year, and it is not good enough. W L ERA GS IP H ER HR BB SO 18 13 3.95 34 216.1 187 95 23 101 177 This is Jake Peavy last year. That's an ace. Z was not in the same league. Time for Z to put up (and shut up). 19 6 2.54 34 223.1 169 63 13 68 240

[ ]

In reply to by RI Mike

Look, it would be great if Z duplicates his best season and is a top 5 starter this year. But if he's even a top 30 starter, he's a #1 pitcher, if not necessarily an ace. But what are the consequences if Z isn't an "ace" this year? He wasn't "good enough" last year and the team made the playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by RI Mike

I realize that it's not over a full season, but I was pondering the same thing yesterday, and I looked up what Z's cumulative numbers were after June 1 (post-Barrett meltdown, etc). 22 Starts, 13-8, 142.2 IP, 104 H, 67 BB, 126 K, 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP. Not truly dominant, but verging on ace-land, at least in today's MLB.

Yankees postponed, Reds delayed, Cubs delayed. Maybe all teams should open in Japan next year.

Sportsline, in the "Bench players" section of the Game Center, lists the following: Dopirak Ward Fontenot Blanco Johnson Cedeno No wonder they released him! So he could join the big club!

1) Said he signed ALEX CINTRON to a minor league contract (Norfolk). 2) Said dumping Gibbons made room for SCOTT MOORE 3) Was asked what he's doing differently this year. Answered (a) Watching the waiver wire 24/7. Paying close, daily, attention to what's going on with their minor league teams.

Geez...how weak can you be. For the "lead-off" guy, he is just doing nothing with Sheets. Not that anyone else is, but, just GET ON BASE.

What just happened to Zambrano? MLB says "injury timeout" and then said Z got removed.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Something with his finger. They were saying cramping, which I'm hoping was all it was. I saw Rothschild and someone else laughing on the mound with Zambrano when the trainers were out there though (Zambrano himself didn't laugh, but the others did) so hopefully it's nothing serious or painful.

Will somebody tell that knucklehead to drink some friggin' Gatorade when he pitches? What the hell are the trainers paid to do?? This is high school stuff.

So they're playing? Why isn't it on f*ing ESPN 2 like it's supposed to be? Are they seriously blacking it out in my area (Ft. Wayne)? What the fucking fuck?

UGH!! Takes the first pitch at every AB. ALL strikes. What a weak #1 hitter. You guys are right. Woody will pitch the 9th. 2 friggin' hits for thhe Cubs. Both by our new Japanese player.

Kerry Wood facing the first batter in his new role as closer --- HBP. Classic.

for closer

Good job, Woody.

New closer blows first game of the season! Even more classic....it had to be.

is why Lou went with Wood in a tie game in the 8th? Isn't he the "closer"? what exactly was he closing?

Cory Hart triple!! And, this one's OV-AH!! 3-0 BREW Great start for Kerry Wood Too bad for Z and Marmol. They deserved better.

Should have kept Prior and cut Wood. Hilarious, if it weren't so sad.

deserve this one to this point. Have played excellent fundamental baseball to this point, including an excellent bunt by T Gwynn, Jr. with 2 strikes. It made the whole inning.

So I've been watching the game on the webcam that Carlos linked to earlier, by hitting refresh every couple of seconds. It's like watching tv with no sound, but you only see a still image every 5 seconds. I set up the camera so that it's essentially like the default view on a telecast - centerfield view where you can only see the pitcher and the batter. here's what just transpired... Fuku's at bat with DLee and Aramis on base -- refresh -- Fuku's not swinging, I think they're balls -- refresh -- Image of fuku sprinting out of the box -- refresh -- gagne's looking toward the outfield, body language looks terrible, my hopes rise -- refresh -- gagne getting ball from ump, i still dont see any baserunners anywhere -- refresh -- I see Aramis crossing the plate -- YES!!! -- refresh -- DLee high fives -- Refresh -- FUKU!!!! Oddly, almost more exciting watching it this way than on TV.

[ ]

In reply to by Doug Dascenzo

I'm addicted to watching that camera too. I noticed now that the tarp is not on the infield...checked the weather and it looks spotty...I know they don't have a game tomorrow so that must be why it's off...they probably don't want to kill the grass.

[ ]

In reply to by Hobart Mike

Looks like the tarp's going back on. Can learn a lot about the grounds crew workings. I like the two camera views inside. Again, this is awesome.

Kendall behind the plate, two outs, one run wins it, batter has no power. Why the hell isn't Pie running? Too muddy?

have liked Murton PH instead of little Fonty grounding out to the 2B. Righty or lefty - he can hit. - sigh - Was really hoping to end the game here. XTRAS!

Quote of the Afternoon: "I suppose it's possible that he lost about 20 pounds this morning." -Len Kasper on Eric Gagne's slobby, 3-sizes too large uniform as the home plate umpire ordered Gagne to tuck his jersey into his fat butt.

SORRY CUBSTER! TOO MUCH CUBBERY! And, I don't have Oh-Man! to kick around anymore.

Good: - Great game by Z. - Marmol looked NASTY. - K-Fuk had an amazing day to put him in the good graces of Cubs fans no matter if he doesn't get another hit till May. Bad: - Fuck you Wood!! - Theriot and Alf (#1/#2 in the lineup) went 0-10. - Cubs lose 4-3 to the other best team in division and wasted an amazing come back. - Oh yeah, fuck MLB.tv too for cutting out right before K-Fuk's HR. Go Cubs!!!

The unfortunate part of Wood's 9th inning is that he breaks Brauns bat that should have resulted in the 2nd out of the inning, then strikes out Hall---let's not panic and call for his removal from that role---why wasn't Pie at least attempting to steal with 2-outs in the 9th?---can really see why we may efforts to obtain Roberts, his switch hitting lead-off role is needed----let's get them on Wed

Wood has never been a first inning guy. He gets hit in the early parts of games and then settles down for 5 or 6 innings. I always thought he would make a terrible closer. He has never been a good early innings pitcher. Sigh. Howry sucked too. I guess Marmol should be the guy.

maybe Lou is batting him leadoff to prove a point to Hendry? I kid...

OK So I was a HUGE Dusty Critic and still am, but there are a few alarming things about this game: 1. Theriot is not a leadoff hitter 2. Why did we bring Woody in a tie game? 3. Why in the HELL was Pie not stealing 2nd with Kendall catching and fatass pitching? Fontenot is NOT a double hitter and Theriot was on deck.... By not sending Pie you then need 2 hits to win the game. COME ON LOU!!!!!!! Oh and FUk is the shit!

How many times have we heard this from Z? ----------------- Zambrano allowed three hits in 6 2-3 innings. He had problems with cramping last season, as well. "I have to take care of myself," he said.

All the morning shows are going crazy over kosuke's debut, as can be expected. But there was major uproar over this sign that some fans were holding in the center bleachers that said 偶然だぞ, which means "you got lucky", or "that was a fluke". Apparently those fans meant to have signs that said something encouraging (though i cant imagine what) and they got a misinterpretation of whatever it was they meant to say. Needless to say though, those morons made for some top-notch irony when every time he reached base (which was every time) theyre waving these signs calling it a fluke! Watching the replay (again) my wife walks in and her surprise over his heroics turns to instant incredulity when as the ball goes rocketing into the bleachers and you see these exuberant fans waving signs saying "that was a fluke!" I suspect though that it was totally on purpose. A few very skeptical fans way of telling him not to get too cocky just in case he performed?? I'm still puzzled. Oh well, a great debut for our new RFer, SHODDY performance by the rest, especially the top of the order, and Woddy coming off as the goat in this one. More bitter than sweet for sure.

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

Okay, another news source says those fans had meant to say "this is your chance!" to kosuke, but got an inappropriate interpretation of the word "chance". they needed a word meaning chance as in "oppurtunity" and not chance as in "that was just by chance". oh well. its pretty hilarious though. i wonder what his reaction was. Kosuke while rounding the bases: "Jesus christ I'm 1.000 in average and OBP with a single, double walk and game tying 3-run dinger and they're mocking me? These fans ARE fucking fanatical! ...Fuck it im taking a curtain call anyway! Whoo!" oh, and my signature says: "Holy Cow! Cubs win!"

"I'm really, really having trouble with the fastball. Please don't throw me any fastballs -- I can't hit them!" Pure genius.

LNL........word. Plenty of baseball left to be pushing any panic buttons (BillyBucks, come back from the ledge). Whoever the Cubs trainer is needs to hand Z a water bottle (or Gatorade, Vitamin water, etc.) when he comes in after every inning and watch him drink half the bottle. This with Lou's instructions that if Z doesn't, he can go in the clubhouse and get these fluids intravenously. He was lights out today, averaged 13 pitches/inning the first 5 innings and could have gone deep into the 8th/9th inning.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Back from the edge??? Don't you realize we're 0-1 in one run games??? That Ryan Theriot and Soriano had trouble getting hits against Ben Sheets?? All is lost!! At least, until Wednesday. Still think you run with Pie vs. Kendall. It's not like Gagne has a killer move to first, and I wasn't holding my breath for a Fonty XBH. Even with a pitchout, I like Pie's chances against Gagne/Kendall. It's how the Red Sox came back from the dead against the Yankees a few years ago -- good enough for me.

Sucks to see Murton and Marshall the odd men out and getting sent down today. Hope Marshall continues to keep his head and goes down there and pitches good so if/when Demspter/Lieber/Marquis struggle he can finally be given a legit shot. I guess the same can be said with Murton if Pie or K-Fuk struggle mightily.

Anybody watching Pads/Astros on ESPN2? Candy Maldonado is one of the analysts! He's, um...Joe-Carter-esque.

Rob G. is right about 'not being a mudder'. Lou Brock couldn't have stolen a base today against Kendall. The infield dirt looked like a mosh pit by the time Pie got on base. Check out what happened to Victor Martinez today in the White Sox game......definitely tweaked a hamstring running in that slop. Also, Ben Sheets has made a lot of real good hitters look bad when he has his good stuff (which he did today).

I noticed at least one post that mentioned this, but we can't be the only two! I saw Fuku bat at least twenty times with my DVR, and i never saw him hit a ball as hard as he did today in all of those ST ABs. And he did it twice in two clutch at bats. In fact, i can't think of one time he hit any ball hard in ST (except via AZ Phil's BP reports!). Therefore, I really think he was playing cat & mouse in ST. His first at bat vs. Sheets is the perfect example. The scouting report would obviously be "he doesn't swing at the first pitch ever, let alone the next two. Get ahead of him early." First pitch as a Cub/MLB player, double off the center field wall off Sheets. And Sheets' fastball is no joke, even assuming the above is true. Long story short, Kosuke would be a great poker player. I think he would've swung for a double in the 9th if it was a tie score. Could he be that good?!? The jersey on my back thinks so. Should be a fun year, fellas. Can't wait to use your guy's wisdom with my friends and pretend like it's my own! Pardon the rant. I'm actually more excited about the season after today and don't care that we lost. Don't see our bullpen blowing many like they did today. GO CUBS GO...

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.