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

Rusch Job

GAME ELEVEN IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] CHICAGO CUBS (6-4, 4th, -0.5) AT PITTSBURGH PIRATES (4-9, 6th, -4.0) PNC Park, 12:35 CDT Weather: Cloudy, 58, Wind right to left @ 8 mph TV: CSN, DirecTV 743 Radio: WGN, XM 185
Ian Snell, RHP 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 10 IP 7 K, 5 BB, 3 HRGlendon Rusch, LHP 0-2, 8.00, 9 IP 6 K, 3 BB, 6 HR
*Juan Pierre, CF *Freddy Bynum, RF Derrek Lee, 1B Aramis Ramirez, 3B *Todd Walker, 2B Matt Murton, LF Ronny Cedeno, SS Henry Blanco, C *Glendon Rusch, P* Nate McLouth, CF Jack Wilson, SS Jason Bay, LF Craig Wilson, 1B Freddy Sanchez, 3B *Jeromy Burnitz, RF Jose Castillo, 2B Humberto Cota, C Ian Snell, P

Pirates vs. Rusch Jack Wilson: 15-33, 455/500/667, 1 HR, 3 BB Craig Wilson: 14-26, 538/571/769, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K Jeromy Burnitz: 2-20, 100/217/250, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K

Bynum #2 and Walker #5, huh? I think it would be smarter to put Walker #2, move Murton and Cedeno up, and bat Bynum #7. But, of course, Bynum is fast, therefore he has to bat at the top of the order. This could this be Rusch's last chance to keep his rotation spot, though more likely he'll stick around until Kerry Wood is ready, even if he's merely mediocre. But we can hope, can't we? The guy he's matched up against, Ian Snell, hasn't been too impressive this year either, but at least he hasn't given up six home runs. Angel Pagan's hamstring injury from last night is serious enough that he'll probably head to the DL. There's a chance Felix Pie will be called up, but Mike Restovich seems more likely. I haven't seen or heard an official annoucement yet. I'll post the transaction here as soon as I know it. And, of course, it's time for my annual MLB blackout rules rant. When I was living in San Diego, I didn't get to see the Padres, even though I was more than 60 miles from San Diego and the town I lived in did not carry the cable channel the Pads were on. Now that I live in Pennsylvania, I'm lucky enough to have four teams blacked out: Phillies, Nationals, Orioles, and Pirates. I get Baltimore, Philly, and Washington games either via the regional sports channel or over the air, but I'm too far away from Pittsburgh for DirecTV to give me the Fox Sports channel from Pittsburgh. So, no Pirates games to be found anywhere. It's just silly.

Comments

I doubt that the Cubs would call up an OF (Felix Pie) unless Jacque Jones goes on the DL. To keep a seven-man bullpen (which Dusty prefers), the 12th pitcher would have been recalled no later than next Saturday anyway (with the 5th starter slot becoming permanent on April 25th, the 5th starter won't be available to work out of the bullpen after next Friday), so I figure David Aardsma will be Pagan's replacement, and would have been even if Pagan hadn't gotten hurt (since Pagan has options left, and Bynum does not).

I can tell by this lineup that Walker Murton and Cedeno are mired in deep slumps.

I know that everyone wants the Cubs to win, but does anyone else out there kind of want Rusch not to pitch that well, just to force Dusty to get him out of the starting rotation? Maybe I'm just cruel.

Walker HR...way to come through in the RBI spot in the lineup.

No, I don't want Rush to fail. You all act like Rusch hasn't been a serviceable fifth starter FOR THE CUBS the last two years. But he has.

the team is much better off now and in the future if Rusch and Williams can start putting together some quality outings, then the young pitchers will continue to get better in the Minors and when the Hospital ward empties out, dusty and hendry will have lots of options.

I just found out about Pagan, bummer. i really liked that guy

Jones out till tomorrow...Mabry still has a stiff neck...pagan torn hammy...down 3 OF's. Bynum unfortunately the only reasonable player to put out there.

Cubswinpennant: what exactly makes a starter serviceable? I'd say he has served well more as a swing man/spot starter/long reliever and less when he's a regular starter. Doesn't make sense, but whatever

Any theories about calling anyone up to play OF?

AZ Phil, I think you're right. Furthermore, i think the Cubs are waiting until after this game to make the callup to see how Rusch pitches. If he doesn't pitch well, i could see them calling up one of the starters (Guzman or Hill), moving Rusch to the bullpen. That way, they'd have the 7 man bullpen and wouldn't have Rusch starting anymore. If Rusch does well today i think the plan would be to call up a bullpen arm like Aardsma...

Pennant - I don't want Rusch in our rotation, because he hasn't been a serviceable FOURTH starter this year, and he wasn't really that serviceable last year either. The truth is that he is getting the "veteran's benefit of the doubt"...if Marshall had pitched the way Rusch had, he would be in Iowa. I want to force Dusty's hand because I think that we would have a better chance TO WIN with Guzman or Hill pitching that we do with Rusch, irrespective of his track record (which hasn't really been that impressive). I don't really believe that everyone should get the benefit of the doubt because they have been SERVICEABLE.

Cublogger, it's you who don't make sense. Just look at what Rusch did in 2004 when he was pressed into service as a part of the rotation. He went 4-1 while cutting his ERA in half and did it without Sammy Sosa's help, because the day Sosa was scratched was the day Rusch became an SP. His earned runs for each start while in the rotation were, 1,1,2,3,4,2,2,5,4,0,0,5. (avg. 2.4) That's a lot of quality starts.

b.sing - sucking BAD at AAA m.restovich - not on the 40-man b.coats - good choice, but still learning the OF and how to be a super utility f.pie - good choice, pros and cons to stopping his development for 2-4 weeks to have him in the bigs are mixed. it really wouldn't be too bad to have him around the pros some more, though. yes, you can develop without in-game play...yes, there is way more to the game than getting 4-5ab's in the game itself...yes, the pre-game usually lasts longer than the game itself. and he's got the best OF tools outta all of them. hopefully jones/mabry can snap into health and this will be moot by tommorow.

Cublogger, it's you who don't make sense. Just look at what Rusch did in 2004 when he was pressed into service as a part of the rotation. He went 4-1 while cutting his ERA in half and did it without Sammy Sosa's help, because the day Sosa was scratched was the day Rusch became an SP. His earned runs for each start while in the rotation were, 1,1,2,3,4,2,2,5,4,0,0,5. (avg. 2.4) That's a lot of quality starts. --Lets see, so he FILLED IN almost 2 years ago, had some success, since then when in rotatian, he has been purely average. Kinda proved my point but whatever.... also.... Any argument about the cubs since '03 that includes the phrase "without the help of sammy sosa" is just a little bit silly

CubbyUK, Rusch started out in the bullpen last year. Here's what he did in his first month-- seven starts-- when inserted into the rotation. Earned runs beginning May 7 and ending June 7: 2,2,2,1,1,0,2 That's more than sericeable! It's not his fault he only got three wins in that period. Nor was it his fault that Dusty yanked him out of the rotation.

Anybody else concerned about Ronny's patience? According to gameday he just grounded out on ball 3 - I really don't want this guy to turn into "Neifi lite." Unfortunately that's exactly what some of his minor league stats say he is - but then again some don't.

I think being in the Batters box makes Cedeno nervous... nervous like Latroy hawkins in the 9th inning...

What Rusch is doing this afternoon makes post #12 kinda moot. It looks like it'll be Aardsma or Pie called up, afterall...

not to drive my whole "neifi/cedeno are really that damn similar" thing to hard, but cedeno is gonna swing...he's gonna make contract...its not gonna be for huge power...he's not gonna K or walk much. *shrug*

Pennant - The point is that is doesn't matter if he is serviceable or not...it's whether he gives us the best chance to win relative to other options that are available. I personally think that giving a young pitcher like Guzman, with a much higher ceiling than Rusch, would give us a better chance to win and would also help his development. Also, in response to your Rusch pitching data...small sample sizes are not the best way to support an argument. I could also refer to his time when re-inserted into the starting rotation on Aug 15 where he gave up 5, 2, 4, and 7 earned runs over 18.1 innings (ERA = 8.83). Small sample sizes can't make up for what we all know Rusch to be...an overweight veteran with very limited stuff who makes Cubs fans collectively nervous whenever he pitches. Granted he is pitching well today, but this Pittsburgh line-up isn't exactly a force to reckoned with.

bizarro cubfans: Oh damn! Rusch pitched five innings of shutout 2 hit baseball. Unless he falls apart soon, we're doomed!

small sample size? I gave you almost his entire sample size!!

Here's the point Pennant - this start probably earned him two more, where he very easily pitch like he did in his first two starts of the season. One good start against the worst team in the division shouldn't give him eternal immunity. Its doesn't have to be a necessity to throw him out there every fifth start. And seven games from May-June is an entire sample size?!?!?! Are you kidding??!! How about the four games in August? How about the 1-12 2003 season? We have better options than a pitcher with a career W-L of 57-88 and an ERA of 4.90. That's an entire sample size.

Good Grief! Rusch wasn't a member of the Cubs in 2003. We're talking about what Rusch has done for the Cubs, not Milwaukee. I gave you his entire ER record as a rotation starter in 2004 for the Cubs. That isn't a small sample size. Two starts in April 2006 is small sample size! I gave you his first seven consecutive starts when he came out of the bullpen and into the rotation last year. I think he only got 9 or 10 in a row. Show me a better job done by a bonafide fifth starter than those two streaks. Rusch showed up fat, lazy and out of shape this year. He wasn't ready. That's what I don't like. But showing up not ready has been the hallmark of the Cub pitching staff since Dusty Baker took over.

Cubs win pennant... are you secretly Dusty Baker defending your "dude"? shoudn't you be in the dugout trying to find new ways to get Neifi more AB's.

and don't forget... all without the help of Sammy Sosa!!!

why did they put JJones into the game late? He walked in the 9th (good to see that) but they've toughed it out with Bynum and have a solid lead..makes me scratch my head and say hmmmm.

I'm sorry, I must have logged into the wrong group. Is this the 'intellegent cubs fans legitimate productive conversation spot' or 'a bunch of 7 year olds arguing over who has a bigger weewee team'?

jones probally isnt 100%... speaking of which...how can anyone keep seeing this season unfold and keep harping on dusty looking for neifi ab's for him to unfairly obtain. if everyone can stay healthy...aka, cedeno doesnt crumble to the mound in april, miss 3/4 of the year, and have aram promptly injure himself once he comes back...maybe there might be something to neifi's use that isnt a huge conspiracy.

oh yeah, its small sample size. haha seriously, though...neifi will probally get his 200-300ab's even if injuries dont happen. cedeno's not gonna play 162, f'sure...and aram's #1 backup currently seems to be neifi since mabry had a pretty rotten spring there.

Prior to today's stellar relief work, the Cubs led MLB with a 1.29 ERA in innings 7-9. According to my calculations, that's a 1.17 ERA after today. The Cubs have a respectable 3.11 ERA for all relief work this year, but this number is driven up primarily by Wuertz and Ohman giving up a ton of runs in the sixth and Williams having a bad relief appearance in the fifth. What does this all add up to? Some possibilities: 1) A small sample size 2) Fantastic beginnings for Dempster, Eyre, Howry, Williamson, and now today Novoa. 3) Better late innning than early inning bullpen management for Dusty 4) A boatload of possibilities if we can get a dependable and consistent starting rotation. I pick all of the above.

In LAs Vegas we get SIX teams blacked out! Dodgers and Angels ofcourse. The D-Backs, Padries, Giants and Oakland. Giants and Oakland??? They are 8 hours away! What the pint of the MLB package if you can't see the game on local TV either? The only local teams they show are the Angels and Dodgers... Absolutely obsurd!

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.