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

Lawton Gone

The Cubs traded Matt Lawton to the Yankees today in exchange for minor-league righty Justin Berg. Berg was a late-round draft-and-follow in 2003 and played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks (!) of the Northwoods League until he signed in May of '04. After struggling as a reliever in rookie ball, he was moved into the rotation at Class A Staten Island this year and went 6-2 with a 3.53 ERA and 52/20 K/BB ratio. So the Cubs ended up trading Jason Dubois for Jody Gerut, Gerut for Lawton, and Lawton for Berg. I'll grade that as "incomplete" and wait to see how Berg pans out. To take Lawton's spot on the roster, they called up Scott McClain, the 33-year-old career minor leaguer (except for a 9-game cup of coffee with Tampa in '98) who just hit 291/358/578 with 30 homers for Iowa. He is nominally a third baseman though all in all it would be better if he left his glove in Iowa City and concentrated on being the righty bat off the bench that the Cubs need (as evidenced by Todd Hollandsworth's pinch-hit appearance in yesterday's game).

Comments

Good, Murton will be back up, who knows if he will play.

I don't know that Murton will be coming up...the Cubs just bought Scott McClain's contract from AAA Iowa...he looks to get a little bit of playing time at third. Macias can play left field...about as well as he plays anything else, that is.

Al thought McClain would be coming up too. Oh well, wishful thinking.

Suppose Woody will have his surgery soon too. It's an absolute abomination if Murton doesn't get called up as well. Now's the time to see if he is a legit prospect.

i was happy to see this trade, not a big lawton fan and want murton back mcclain? come on. neifi, nomar and macias can all play third....we need a washed up dude to try it instead of a promising prospect? ridiculous i also think this is a precursor to woody's surgery coming sooner rather than later, which is good. hasn't wood not pitched since tuesday? (fine with me, i'm just thinking they might announce surgery very soon)

Hey dudes... I like veterans minor leaguers over prospect minor leaguers. Welcome to my team Scott McClain Can Calvin Murphy be far behind?

do you think Trinadad Hubbard can join my coaching staff as a player coach? He'll be real good at teaching CPat to bunt and work the strike zone and I can double switch starting in the first inning when the roster expands.

Scott McClain is not just a third baseman. He was playing first base the other day for Iowa.

Calvin Murphy is Eddie Murphy's evil twin brother. Calvin Murray went 1-3 last night for the I-Cubs (having another conversation with myself, whooboy...)

and don't forget I want to bring up Cody Ransom...I treat all those old boys good, and don't you forget it.

McClain will wear uniform #9. Great...another uniform that won't have to be retired.

Lawton provides an immediate upgrade in the outfield ó heís hitting 276/382/438 and has stolen 16 of 25 attempted bases ó and will look good at the top of the batting order. Heís also a plus defender and a guy the Cubs might want to consider bringing back next year. This was posted when we traded for Lawton by TCR. Wow...how that didn't pan out huh? What is it with guys who play elsewhere...even on crappy clubs...and come to the Cubs and are terrible? Is it the signs coming from the 3B coach coming from the bench? Or maybe we think because Wrigley Field is 97% filled to capacity that we can't be just as crappy as Pittsburgh because their fans (smart fans I'll add) don't go to games if the product isn't very good. Yea the Cubs are just as crappy as the Pirates and are probably capable of catching them before the year is over with. The Cubs are the laughing stock of the Majors. Competitors realize they have awful teams...have HUGE egos...and their fans are the most insane group of people ever to actually think their club is good.

1 Juan Pierre, CF Jerry Hairston Jr., LF 2 Jeff Conine, LF Todd Walker, 2B 3 Miguel Cabrera, 3B Derrek Lee, 1B 4 Carlos Delgado, 1B Michael Barrett, C 5 Juan Encarnacion, RF Nomar Garciaparra, 3B 6 Damion Easley, 2B Jeromy Burnitz, RF 7 Alex Gonzalez, SS Neifi Perez, SS 8 Matt Treanor, C Corey Patterson, CF 9 Dontrelle Willis, P Greg Maddux, P

Murton can't be called back up until Monday (10 days after he was sent down). But he probably just won't get called up unil the roster expansion. My pessimism tells me that Hairston is the starting LF and Holly will get selected starts against against righties. I mean, if Hairston doesn't start, who will play the "lead-off" position?

The Cubs are the laughing stock of the Majors. How do you figure? I bet there's plenty of teams (some in this very city) that are jealous of the Cubs success. Of course, I'm not talking about on-field success. The Cubs are one of the most profitable teams in the majors. I don't think anyone (especially teams like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Tampa, Kansas City, Arizona, etc) are laughing at the Cubs at all.

It's not so much that Pittsburgh fans are "smart enough" to stay away from a pretty poor product on the field, it's that there are a lot of them STILL ALIVE who personally remember what championchip baseball from this team looked like, and this sure as hell ain't it. Plus a lot of them are steamed that they got soaked for the public tax dollars to build this stadium (administration ignored the public majority vote against it) with promises from the ballclub that somehow those extra dollars saved would end up on the field as better talent. Hah. Fifth 'rebuilding' year since then continues... Ticket sales are only up here this year because of subscriptions required in order to qualify for 2006 ASG tickets (at PNC). So I have tickets to Fri Sept2 Cubs game here in Pittsburgh. Will somebody please give me something of interest to look for, some reason to pay attention and report back to TCR? Otherwise I'll probably just snooze and wait for the fireworks, the real reason we're going anyway. Sorry.

I never said the ownership or executives of other teams thought the Cubs were the laughing stock of baseball...I meant the players of those clubs realize the Cubs are not a very difficult draw on their calendar....The teams are almost always over-rated and over-hyped and teams LOVE to see them come to town or go to Chicago to have some fun. And Dave in Pittsburgh makes a good point...that fans do remember when Pittsburgh was a feared team...Cincinnati, Kansas City, Detroit, Baltimore all have fans who remember a very good product put on the field and when their teams were something fun to watch. Unfortunately the Cubs never had a "Big Blue Machine" or never had the year to year dominating teams that some in the past have. They have forever been down, down, mediocre, down with a very ocassional up. Fans don't go to Pittsburgh games or Detroit games or KC games because it's a tourist attraction thing to do....their success (profits from attendance) are directly tied to the teams W-L success. The Cubs are no longer like that. Fans come out..season tickets are sold well in advance and guaranteed income is continuous at Wrigley. So yes, the Cubs do enjoy being a "top notch" club...when it comes to attendance, fan enthusiasm, fan support, etc...but players from opposing teams LOVE to come to Chicago because they get to beat a team in front of a packed house. They know the Cubs reputation is driven by it's loyal fans and not by any kind of great ballclub on the field. Yes I'm sure executives of other ball clubs envy the Cubs dearly..I just don't think opposing ball players are all that impressed with Cubs teams year in and year out.

"Iowa City? Do you mean Des Moines?" I did mean Des Moines, yes, but he could leave his glove in I City for all I care, too. "Murton can't be called back up until Monday" Unless they put someone (Wood) on the DL before that, then they could recall him sooner.

3 thoughts: First Ruz, The Iowa Cubs play in Des Moines, not Iowa City. Second: How Many crappy infielders can we have on this ballclub? We've already got Hairston playing out of position, calling up McClain only means Maciass will spend more time in the outfield - where's he's even more clueless than in the infield (although its kind of like dividing by zero). It would be one thing to call up a kid to get him some playing time (but who's kidding who here), but this move just gives Dusty another proven veteran to fall in love with. Third, More PT for Neifi today: Nope we can't trust a rookie right now, I mean we're right in the thick of a playoff race!! Cubs: Celebrating Unbelievable Bull Shit

[i]So the Cubs ended up trading Jason Dubois for Jody Gerut, Gerut for Lawton, and Lawton for Berg. Iíll grade that as ìincompleteî and wait to see how Berg pans out.[/i] Eacb of the trades, assessed when they were made, were defensible moves. It made sense to get Gerut as he fit our needs better and Dubois no longer fit in the Cubs plans. It made sense to get Lawton as he could step in and lead off and might have been of some help if we'd made a run. And it made sense to dump Lawton and take what we can get for him as we're out of it and he won't be around next year. Yet, looking at the links in the chain houlistically, we've traded Dubois for what looks to be a lousy pitching prospect. Just shows you the importance of timing in assessing value.

Yet, looking at the links in the chain houlistically, we've traded Dubois for what looks to be a lousy pitching prospect. Just shows you the importance of timing in assessing value. Somebody keep Jim Hendry from day trading stocks... Did I hear him say the idea was to Buy High and Sell Low?

Once again the Marlins SCORE FIRST -- this has happened in 30 of their last 37 games...How often have the Cubs scored first this year...?

the value of a Juan Pierre leading off your lineup Exhibit A: 1st inning yesterday and today. Can someone get Jim Hendry and Dusty to pay attention to the Marlins when they start a game?

Not quite sure I understand this continuing to trot out the veterans thing that the cubs continue to employ, but I guess it's only a week til rosters expand. Will be nice to see Fontenot and Murton and Cedeno in the lineup to see what they can do...if they get the chance

As good as Pierre is on the basepaths, his obp is a very dustyrific 320

Andy McFail is watching from the booth. Looks like his sunblocking shades cause him to miss the action on the field. Or...he was watching the turnstyles (he's so proud of those dang attendance records)

bingo jackie. dubois was the cost of making an attempt to win this year. basically the cost of doing business. i didn't think the trade for lawton was bad at the time. it just didn't work out. at least we got another arm and will be able to see murton when he comes back.

what a bunch of self-righteous crybabies...the cubs don't owe you anything, jim hendry and dusty baker included. they aren't a laughingstock, and you don't have more intelligence than the powers-that-be. you're an internet GM jockey, one of about 5 million at that. go outside and take a walk.

I was reading articles on several sites about the Cubs offseason, and this could be a possible lineup for '06: CF L Jonny Damon SS S Rafael Furcal 1B R Derrek Lee RF L Brian Giles 3B R Aramis Ramirez 2B L Todd Walker LF R Matt Murton C R Michael Barrett The Cubs will free up a lot of money in the offseason. About 15 million from Sosa's contract, 8 million from Graciaparra's contract, and 5 million from Paterson's contract. This will free up over 30 million dollars to get these three new guys.

"dubois was the cost of making an attempt to win this year. basically the cost of doing business. i didn't think the trade for lawton was bad at the time. it just didn't work out. at least we got another arm and will be able to see murton when he comes back. " I agree. Although the trade didn't work out, at the time it was the right thing to do if you still felt the Cubs had a chance to win this year. With over 2 months left in the season, I wasn't ready to throw in the towel, not with the guys we had coming back for the stretch. And you can be damn sure that Hendry, McPhail, Baker and others with reputations and pressure on the line surrounding a $100 Million payroll weren't ready to throw in the towel either. With all that being said, it didn't work. So in retrospect, maybe we shouldn't have picked up Lawton and just let the young guys play. But you can't bitch constantly about the team not having a legit leadoff hitter with a high OBP (which historically Lawton has had) and then bitch when we pick one up at the trade deadline for a guy that should be nothing more than a backup OF'er for a legitimate contending team. There are many reasons why this team has underperformed, but the chain of events that ultimately produced us Justin Berg, in my opinion, is not high on that list.

Adam, I like you're thinking and is totally possible for 06. But wouldn't you rather save some money from signing Furcal and get some bullpen help? I would. Let Cedeno get a REAL chance for a couple of months, it won't put them out of a race and it may just be a cheap surprise!

too many Adam's on this planet. Adam, not the Adam in post 32 though.

Personally I'd much rather spend the money on Furcal than give Cedeno a shot. But then again, I don't see Cedeno as much of a prospect, he seems too much like a slightly better, non-switch hitting, version of Neifi Perez. We've spent a lot of money on pen arms before and it hasn't worked out (Remlinger, LaTroy). Better to score enough runs where we don't NEED to have to hold a 1-run lead every single day. It should be a lot easier than it is to find bullpen arms, there are plenty of Ryan Dempsters out there....and also enough Mike Remlingers out there that you should think twice about spending huge amounts of money for a middle reliever.

That should say: "It should be a lot easier than it has been in the past two or three years" instead of "It should be a lot easier than it is" Bad wording on my part.

What are the odds that the Cubs can even win 72 games this year? this is starting to get pathetic.

Besides hoping for a ten game winning streak by Cleveland, to co-incide with a nine game White Sox losing streak, I have pretty much left my emotions at my last rant. The Cubs management will do what they will do. I should be use to this after 40 years (Brock for Broglio). I do wonder who is going to get blame this year. Last year it was Stoney's and Chip Caray's fault. The year before it was Bartman. But never the players, never management. My betting is that it will the fans and the "ghosts" that will explain the lousy outfield we put on the field and the mediocre pitching. I would not put a lot of stock on acquiring free agents. Based on the interviews this week, this Cubs' team that we have on the field is really good, just troubled by bad luck and mysterious forces from the nether that causes them not to score runs and to make silly plays in the field. Wood going down a second time in Cincinnati and then the Barrett's brain cramp in Philadelphia seem to have been the turning points in the players' belief that they could win, although having the worst outfield on the NL Central, if not the NL, was eventually going to sink this team. The Yankees badly need a lead-off man and centerfielder, and I don't think the Cubs are going to win bidding war for Damon over George, if Damon decides to leave Boston, a big if. Giles may not like Petco field, but I am pretty sure he loves San Diego (like anyone who lives there and can afford a house not like it?). Speculating about trades and free agents is kind of fun, but we fans have as much influence on that stuff as we do on where Hurricane Katrina is going to strike. (I worked with a girl named Katrina once. She was bad news also. I do like looking to my right and seeing Rachel on the TCR. I look forward to watching beach volleyball when I return to the States.)

Like I said they are the laughing stock in all of baseball. At least KC and Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay know their team has no chance in hell of winning. Cub fans actually believe they will win every year and very very seldom do they even get above .500 let alone the playoffs. Yep...laughing stock..a 100 million dollar complete farce. They take all 3 million ticket holders cash...they take the profits from hotdogs, pretzels, ice cream and beer...and give you a product that is shameful.... That is laughing stock...and other fans have got to think that baseball..the way it's played, the way it's performed means so little to Cub fans because they continue to pack the house when their team is so fundamentally flawed and can't seem to win games no matter what. They truly are a pathetic organization....some things simply never change.

Berg? Any relation to that guy who was beheaded in Iraq?

Cubfan: "Like I said they are the laughing stock in all of baseball. At least KC and Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay know their team has no chance in hell of winning. Cub fans actually believe they will win every year and very very seldom do they even get above .500 let alone the playoffs. Yep...laughing stock..a 100 million dollar complete farce. They take all 3 million ticket holders cash...they take the profits from hotdogs, pretzels, ice cream and beer...and give you a product that is shameful.... That is laughing stock...and other fans have got to think that baseball..the way it's played, the way it's performed means so little to Cub fans because they continue to pack the house when their team is so fundamentally flawed and can't seem to win games no matter what. They truly are a pathetic organization....some things simply never change." And the logical response to that post is, WHY ARE YOU STILL A FAN? It makes no sense to me that is if someone thinks so bad of someone else, why would they continue to suppor them? By doing so, you are just as bad as those 3 million fans.

Looking for something positive to say, Hendry's trade of Sosa for Hairston appears to be an act of genius in retrospect. From baseballprospetus.com: "Sammy Sosa has been the definition of awful this year. Practically speaking, Sosa has been the worst Right Fielder in the game this year, worse than even replacement level. For all of the gain the Oís have experienced from Brian Roberts, they have balanced that by trotting out Sosa every day, who has had the single worst decline in VORP over a five-year period since 1972" (thanks to Keith Woolner for the research): (The actual numbers are shown on the free Prospectus Notebook link.) Seriously, bad luck does have affect teams, creating holes in the line-up and pitching staff where none was anticipated. Sosa, who I seriously suspect is at least two years older then his given years, was still expected by non-Cub fans, like the folks at baseball prospectus, to be a productive player at this point, a .900 OPS guy and a mainstay of the offense. Obviously, that plan did not work out. Hendry at least salvage Hairston from the wreckage and Jerry may still turn into a useful player.

Manny, I haven't been to a Cubs game in two years. I started being a Cubs fan long before I knew bette. When I was a kid I had that "Wait till next year mentality" about each season. Now, I realize that winning is not important to this ballclub. What is important is putting $40 bucks in each seat and $30 worth of food/drink and $100 of merchandise per seat for 81 games. It's tough to be a fan of the Cubs anymore--because I have so little faith in simple men..men like McFail, Hendry and Baker to do what it takes to win. The only hope I hold out is someone gets a lightbulb to go off in the Tribune company--someone who may realize they could dominate the division and possibly the majors with 85 million dollar annual budget...if they want to spend more..that's their concern...that they will seek advice from more successful organizations who have won early and won often...(like the Floridas, Atlantas, Oaklands)...that maybe someday soon someone in Tribune tower will wake up and smell the coffee because the problems won't be solved with McFail, Hendry and Baker (they are a big part of the problem) the problem will be solved by the Tribune company and no one else.

hell of a frustration trade...seems to be a "well, if you wanna jerk us around we'll just give him to the yanks" trade. nothing special about berg but he's a deceptive 3/4 slot righty. this move only really makes sense to open up a dialogue and working relationship with the yanks/cashman. that and they probally didnt wanna deal with STL. it opens up a slot for murton. pretty much all there is to it. i seriously wonder if any $$ was involved, too.

I can't agree with "Cubfan" that the organization doesn't care about winning. Tribune Company is a media company; when the team sucks, ratings for radio and television broadcasts plummet, which hurts advertising revenue. Also, the team's making the playoffs is a bonanza in terms of ticket sales, memorabilia, and broadcasting revenues. So, yeah, they care: because bad baseball hurts the bottom line. That being said, it's clear that the McPhail and Hendry are incompetent. Hendry has pulled off a couple of nice deals; but he has failed in the most important part of building an organization, which is player development. There's a reason why their top pitching prospects can't throw strikes. There's a reason why their position prospects have no command of the strike zone. Compare the performance of the Cubs organization in terms of player development with the top organizations - Atlanta, Florida, St. Louis, Oakland - and you'll see that the Cubs lack two things: an organizational strategy about how to play the game to win consistently, and an ability to teach the basics. And I just don't see that changing as long as McPhail is in charge. For example, consider Kyle Farnsworth. The kid has a great arm, but the Cubs (and Detroit) gave up on him, and Atlanta got him for a song. I fully expect that Bobby and Leo will perform their magic on him, and turn him into a top-notch closer. What is more, the Atlanta organization probably have had their eyes on the kid for years, but bided their time until they could get him cheap. And therein lies the difference between Atlanta and losers like the Cubs. Hendry, meanwhile, will take his $30 million and hire some more past-their-prime free agents. If you liked what you saw this year, then you'll just love 2006!

"What is it with guys who play elsewhere...even on crappy clubs...and come to the Cubs and are terrible? Is it the signs coming from the 3B coach coming from the bench? " Huh? You mean like Aramis, Lofton and Simon in 2003 who got us there? Or Dlee and his career year? How about the formerly released Nefi? Or Barrett? Walker? All players from elsewhere. Cubs fan, if you don't go to games and are no longer a fan why do you even bother to post?

I don't consider the Cincinnati Bengals or the Arizona Cardinals NFL teams to be dominate winning programs....in fact I'd consider them inferior....yet I bet they have some fans in spite of it. You don't have to like the direction your team is going. And that direction is guided by the General Manager and Manager who have personal goals FAR greater than the goals of the organization. I guarantee I am a bigger Cub fan than Dusty Baker is. After all, I doubt he was rooting for the Cubs way back in the 70s when in fact he was trying to beat them. And I guarantee I am a bigger Cub fan than Andrew McFail...didn't he grow up in the Twins organization? You see, being one of the powers that be for a ball club doesn't make you a fan. My gripe is that the powers that be in the Cubs organization don't give a rats ass about winning and the powers that be at the Tribune company are too damn dumb to know a winning baseball product on the field or a losing product. They see ticket sales, ad revenue, merchandise sale and all is great.... Hendry and Baker are one termination away from being a "fan" of some other organization, club ...whatever they chose to do. Being a FAN means becoming disgusted with the direction of a crappy organization run by people who have no clue. Brown line is right about the organizational problems in Cub land. Pitchers can't throw strikes (or are afraid too and would rather walk the batter with bases loaded than pitch to him) and hitters can't take pitches (Kpat comes first to mind), work the count, take a walk...and swing at good pitches....it's a fan's right to bitch when you see things going the wrong direction. The articles in the papers today were another "I can't believe this is allowed to happend." Just a week ago Dusty guaranteed there would be no quit in this team. They just quit--conceded the season (which was lost a long time ago)...but there will be no hard honest look at what went wrong (product on the field was lousy--Hendry's doing...and product on the field did underachieve (Baker's doing....product may have been lousy...but 5th in the division?? Below the median in the league? Come on this is the feared Cubs we are talking about.... They won't honestly analyze what went wrong--they won't honestly analyze what needs to change...what direction to go too....and I guarantee they won't take an HONEST look because McFail, Hendry AND Baker will all be there...when McFail and Baker should be sent packing...and Hendry...flip a coin on him...heads he stays/tails he goes.

Cubfan: "Now, I realize that winning is not important to this ballclub." Then you know thisnow, so there is no need to complain about this or expect any changes, right? it haasn't changed in forever, so why think it will change now? "McFail, Hendry and Baker (they are a big part of the problem)" How often did the team perform well before these guys came on the scene? Do you forget the 85 years of losing before these guys were here? But they are the big part of the problem? They might be part of the problem now, but there are much bigger issues than them.

They might be part of the problem now, but there are much bigger issues than them Okay Manny....what are the much bigger issues for the Cubs related to their losing ways? Care to elaborate?

Alex: "Cubs fan, if you don't go to games and are no longer a fan why do you even bother to post?" I agree with taht. If your girlfriend/wofe/friend kept taking advantage of you adn didn't care about succedding in that relationship and just wanted to get $$$ from you, etc. Would you still be in a relaitionship with them? You loved them for years and loved having them around, but at some point you shoul cut your losses. After reading your posts over the past 2 years, I would think it would be best for you to cut your losses and as the Cubs have taken advantage of you. Find another team, find another sport, just root for MLB in general, but ic an't understand how someone who feels SOOOO taken advatage of continues to follow a team that you despsie in every facet. Jsut amazes me.... But since moving here to Chicago, mnay Chicago sports fans have amazed me and the book nationally on Chicago fans is just wrong.

Cubfan: "Okay Manny....what are the much bigger issues for the Cubs related to their losing ways? Care to elaborate?" No I don't, not at this time, maybe when the season is over. But at this time I just want to wait till the season ends, let this season settle in my mind and then rethink things.

But I will say this Cubfan, to blame Hendry, McPhail and Baker for this organization's losing ways makes no sense when the team hadn't won consistantly in the 85 years before them. When a team hasn't won in 97 years, I would not blame the current management for all those failures. And that is what is seems like you are doing.

LOL Manny, I don't have a "relationship" with the Cubs...and I doubt you do either. I do think Brown Line hit the nail on the head with what is wrong with the Cubs. They have failed miserably in the farm system. And if you look at the REALLY bad Cub teams their farm system in that period was atrocious. Hendry said all the right things...wanting to improve the farm system..and then went out and got a manager who looks at the farm system as it's some kind of nuisance part of the organization that is best to be ignored. With Baker as manager, Hendry has caved into his style...forgetting the farm system and it's importance...looking for big name free agents (Burnitz--give me a break)...or "proven" (as in proven to be bad) veterans over young players. There is no BALANCE with these two. It's one thing to say a championship team can't win with all rookies...but no one is advocating that. A championship team CAN win with SOME rookies but Baker doesn't think so. For those who thinks Hendry wants Cedeno to be his future starting SS....better hope he cans Baker because Neifi Perez will get all opportunities at SS next year. Perez is a rejected piece of pooh from the Giants..and no one...not even KC, TBay, Pittsburh wanted him...OH BUT Dusty Baker did...and Dusty will ride him to the cellar again next year along with other rejects. Again as long as Manny and people like him continue to support the losing ways of the Cubs by getting Season tickets and proclaiming "In Dusty he Trusty"...then that trust will once again get you a battle with the Pittsburgh Pirates for last place in the Central division.....hold out and demand a better product by not purchasing season tickets and maybe Trib Co will take notice and demand change.

Manny...how many years do McFail, Hendry and Baker need? They could dismantle the whole system and produce a winner in a few years. Other teams have gone from conception...just a thought that maybe a team might do well in Florida or Arizona....to a World Championship in just a few years!!!! It can be done..it doesn't take 11 years...and once again, it's because the Tribune company doesn't demand winners. Look at owners who publically demand winners...what do you usually get? winners more often than losers.

Cubfan: "I don't have a "relationship" with the Cubs...and I doubt you do either." Firstly, I am a season ticket holder, so I have a fairly large financial relationship with them. Also being the DIEHARD fan that I AM, I have an emotional relationship with them. They lose, I tend to be in a worse mood and when they win a better mood. That might not be teh case with you. You might not be as diehard of a fan as I am and not get yourself emotionally into them, that is your choice, but with your constant posts of how displeased you are with them, I would think that is not the case, but I may be wrong. "gain as long as Manny and people like him continue to support the losing ways of the Cubs by getting Season tickets and proclaiming "In Dusty he Trusty"...then that trust will once again get you a battle with the Pittsburgh Pirates for last place in the Central division.....hold out and demand a better product by not purchasing season tickets and maybe Trib Co will take notice and demand change." People like me??? LOL So you don't watch games? So you don't buy any Cubs stuff or have Cubs stuff bought for you? You don't go to Cubs.com, etc? You are just a big of a problem as me and other season ticket holders, etc. But what I am saying is you should take a stand and stop watching the Cubs or have anything to do with them. Be the first, the pioneer, to stick it to the Trib. You feel the Cubs keep taking advantage of you and others, but yet you still follow them. Makes no sense to me.

Cubfan: "Manny...how many years do McFail, Hendry and Baker need?" Again, that is something that I will think about in the offseason, but again, you keep ducking my obvious point that you blame them, but the ORGANIZATION has lost for 97 years. There must be other problems bigger than them. That is not to say at some point you need to cut your losses and try something different. But every time they do, it NEVER works out. "Look at owners who publically demand winners...what do you usually get? winners more often than losers." Like the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys of late??

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).