Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Dusty Baker—Doing It for the Kids

Submitted by Cubnut on

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dusty Baker may juggle the Red Legs' pitching rotation heading into next week's visit to Wrigley Field.

The Reds have an off-day Monday, which would normally cause them to skip fifth starter Josh Fogg's turn. But Baker is considering having Fogg take his turn Wednesay, following Aaron Harang on Tuesday, which would have the effect of giving Baker's two young, stud pitchers--Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto--an extra day's rest.

"We might try to reconfigure to do that," Baker said. "It's not going to hurt Cueto and Volquez to lighten their load early to keep them strong late. They're going to be making 10, 11 more starts minimum - more if we get to the playoffs - than they've ever thrown."

(Insert your own ironic interpretation here.)

On a related note, this headline from The Onion sports section:

Dusty Baker On Rookie Ace: 'Mwahahahahaaaaa'

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Comments

Submitted by The Joe on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:57 pm

On a completely unrelated note, is it wrong for me to be amused by this? "Tampa Police arrested Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Al Reyes early this morning, saying the reliever was drunk and disruptive after falling down, picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot...the officer tased Reyes, knocking him to the bar floor. Ignoring police commands to stay down, authorities said Reyes got up and was Tased a second time." http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2008/04/reyes-slugged-t.html

[ ]

Submitted by Paul Noce on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:59 pm

And another Twinkie fan gives a makeshift scouting report on Mr. Deeds... "Anyway, I liked Deeds. He had a very good 2005 season at AA and then had to repeat the level. He does a little of everything without doing anything great. Hits for OK average, with decent on-base skills and some power. Plays a couple of positions (RF/1B) adequately. This is fair return for the PTBNL."

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:03 pm

Does anybody else think the Cubs lost a lot of value in getting mediocre-to-awful players last year? Michael Barrett to SD for Rob Bowen Rob Bowen and Blevins to Oakland for Kendall Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry to Baltimore for Steve Trachsel Clay Rapada (PTBNL) to Detroit for Craig Monroe Getting Lahey back for Monroe would've been nice to offset some of that young talent we lost. Rapada and Blevins both appear to be better lefty relievers than we have in the system right now, Scott Moore would've been nice depth waiting in AAA or could've been packaged for something valuable, and Rob Bowen turned out to be a lot better than he played while in Chicago. While Bowen put up a .065/.097/.167 line for the Cubs in 31 ABs, he went on to Oakland to hit .279/.415/.442. While with the Padres he had hit .268/.371/.439. Meanwhile, Kendall hit .270/.362/.356 for the Cubs while playing comparable defense (not bad, actually). However, a combination of Bowen and Soto for in the time that Kendall was playing would've likely proved MUCH more productive than Kendall and wouldn't have required us to pay much salary or to give up Blevins. What about Monroe? He hit .204/.291/.347 in 49 ABs for the Cubs. I don't care what side of the plate you bat from, that is terrible, and it's nothing that Pie and Fuld couldn't have done while also playing significantly better defense. We gave up Clay Rapada for that? Moving on to Trachsel. In 4 total games with the Cubs, Trachsel won one game and lost three while posting an ERA of 8.31. He took Marshall's rotation spot, who had half the ERA. In fact, I'd be willing to bet Cherry could've posted an ERA under 8 in 4 starts. Meanwhile, Moore is providing left-handed pop off the bench for the Orioles and has played three infield positions. The guy doesn't have a ton of value, and neither does Cherry, but Trachsel appears to me actually have had negative value. Oh, and Trachsel and Monroe failed to make the playoff roster while Kendall was pushed into a backup role. Last season's in-season trades were not very good, and it looks to me like the reveal a GM who really undervalues his own young players. By the way, Doug Deeds is an outfielder/first baseman who will turn 26 this June. He's a lefty hitter who has never hit more than 16 homeruns and isn't much of a base stealer. Why didn't Hendry at least hold out until he knew whether the Twins will even get Lahey back?

[ ]

Submitted by Paul Noce on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:22 pm

Maybe Rapada and/or Blevins turn out to be decent LOOGY's, but overall, the guys we gave up were spare parts, at best, with the exception of Barrett, who had deteriorated here to the point he had to be dumped for anything. Moore and Cherry aren't likely to be anything special. As for adding Trachsel and Monroe, I wasn't thrilled with the moves but I understand what Hendry was trying to do, add experienced vets for the stretch drive. Sure, in hindsight Pie or Fuld could have put up Monroe's miserable numbers, but Monroe hit 28 hr and 92 rbi the year before, something Pie or Fuld will never do.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:59 pm

We did win the division last year, right? Just checking...

Kendall had one great month for us and when he struggled again in Sept he got benched. Monroe for Rapada? Rapada can't even crack the Tigers awful bullpen right now.  Moore, Renshaw and Cherry for Trax? Yeah, that was dumb, but once again, no one we'll ever miss.

None of the talent we gave up was crucial or will ever be... 

I would think that Lahey was never part of the Monroe discussion or something is happening in the waiver process that we don't know about yet. I believe the deal had to be completed by Opening Day or close to it. Vaguely recall reading that...

[ ]

Submitted by Bleeding Blue on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:44 pm

When you trade away crap, you're going to get crap back. Barrett was damaged goods, and Bowen was a short term band-aid. Kendall at least was a plausable starting catcher, and if he played in Chicago last year like he is playing in Milwaukee so far this year this would be a very different conversation. And don't forget, the Cubs also got a First Round draft pick out of that deal. Monroe was a gamble to have a little extra pop off the bench during a playoff chase and have a righty who could play CF - much like the role that Reed Johnson is playing. The cost was a marginal pitching prospect. Getting anyone back in a second trade was just an extra. The Trachsel move was just kind of stupid, but more because it moved Marshall out of the rotation than because a couple of very marginal players were lost.

Submitted by navigator on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:18 pm

They're going to be making 10, 11 more starts minimum - more if we get to the playoffs - than they've ever thrown er, Dusty, Cueto made 28 starts last year, Volquez made 29 Their arms are gonna fall off!!

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:42 pm

still 50-60% chance of showers and T-storms tonight... With an off-day Monday wouldn't hurt out starting staff much if we had to play a double-header this weekend.

Submitted by TJ on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 04:00 pm

I would love to contribute to the web site, but I'm old school and do not put my credit card on the internet. Is there any other way to make a donation.

Submitted by spongebob on Sun, 04/13/2008 - 04:02 pm

So when are we planning on realizing that Marquis stinks and Leiber is a far better option as a starter...I know we have won so far this year...but our starting pitching looks like its going to be our weak link.

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

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