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 

 



 

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Rule 5 Draft 
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Welcome to the Show!

GAME TWENTY IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] FLORIDA MARLINS (5-13, 7.0 GB, 5th) AT CHICAGO CUBS (12-7, 1.5 GB, 4th) WRIGLEY FIELD, 1:20 CDT Weather: 56 degrees, Sunny, Wind Blowing Out to CF @ 8 mph TV: WGN, DirecTV 745 Radio: WGN, XM 185
Angel Guzman, RHP (2006 AAA)1-2, 6.61 ERA, 16.1 IP &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp 23 K, 3 BB, 4 HRScott Olsen, LHP 1-1, 1.50 ERA, 12 IP 7 K, 8 BB, 0 HR
Hanley Ramirez, SS #Alfredo Amezaga, CF Miguel Cabrera, 3B Josh Willingham, LF *Mike Jacobs, 1B Dan Uggla, 2B Chris Aguila, RF Matt Treanor, C &nbsp&nbsp * Scott Olsen, P*Juan Pierre, CF Ronny Cedeno, SS *Todd Walker, 1B Aramis Ramirez, 3B Matt Murton, LF Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B *Jacque Jones, RF Henry Blanco, C Angel Guzman, P

It's the much anticipated major league debut of uber-prospect Angel Guzman, who's struggled through a variety of injuries throughout his storied minor league career. His ERA doesn't look pretty from Iowa but that K rate and K/BB rate sure do. If he continutes that sparkling control along with lofty strikeout rates, it's going to make for some tough decisions when Blue Cross & Blue Shield (Jay Mariotti's line, not mine) are ready to return. He won't have quite as friendly weather conditions as Marshall did yesterday, but he still has the same pitcher friendly Marlins lineup. A word of advice kid, pitch around Miguel Cabrera if anyone is on. Jacque Jones makes another start versus a lefty, third straight in the series. Discuss. Of course, according to Dusty, you have to fail in front of his eyes first. If only we had some sort of record, maybe a shorthand that would recap the history of a players accomplishments and setbacks throughout his career, if we only had the technology. GO CUBS and good luck Guzman!!!

Comments

Worth mentioning this Olsen kid comes pretty highly touted. Of course, who in the Marlin's organization doesn't. He's looked pretty good so far...should be a great game.

I will try to look on the bright side and hope that Dusty will soon see with his own eyes Jones inability to hit LHP and after that point he will be platooned.

You know, I take it as a small positive baby step that Dusty said he was considering benching Jones against lefties, but wanted to see if there was anything the Cubs could do first to set him straight. He is also wise enough to bury him in the bottom of the order between 2 righties. baby steps...baby steps. Anyway, not sure if this was discussed, but Wade Miller is being shut down for a bit sighting "Fatigue". I'm guessing this goes a long way in explaining why Miller was moved to the 60 day DL and not Prior or Lee. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060425&co…

Platooned with whom, though? I agree with Rob Neyer that it might just be about time to admit that Jerry Hairston can't hit. I suppose we'll give Restovich a shot, but he's looked as bad as Dubois so far. I wonder what the Mets want for Victor Diaz. Or the Rangers for Kevin Mench (joking).

"The Cubs also are still hunting for a left-handed batting practice pitcher." (from the same article Rob G. links to) I remember this was an issue last season, too, and it has to be the dumbest, most incompetent thing I have ever heard. What's the budget for Cubs personnel? (Hint: It begins with "Many, many" and ends with "millions.") If you have to pay a guy a 50-grand retainer just to make sure he's available for all batting practices, as needed, do it! How can you possibly not get something so simple done?! For two seasons, at least. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. P.S. Let's keep up that win streak! GO Guzie!

Ronald, I was thinking the exact same thing. How is it possible not to have a lefty batting practice arm that travels with the team. I'd have to think there isn't exactly a shortage of people with strong arms and some pitching experience that will never play pro ball.

"Before you sit a guy against lefties, he has to fail in front of your eyes first, not in front of other people's eyes or where he came from. If that's the case, there's no such things as a fresh start." - Dusty This is precisely why Dusty's regarded as a "player's manager." What player wouldn't want to hear that (stats be damned)? What employee wouldn't want to hear that coming out of the mouth of your boss, that a negative in your track record will be overlooked for the time being? If you consider Dusty's ability to be a "player's manager" an asset, then you have to live with decisions like this (Jones), even if they defy statistical common sense.

I asked a question of BA's Jim Callis in ESPN's chat today. I was looking for some names, but here's his answer, for those that are interested. Andrew (LR, AR): What should the Cubs expect from Jerome Williams? Should they try to trade him for 1B help? Jim Callis: (2:25 PM ET ) Not much. He never has lived up to his billing and it's time to start thinking that it probably won't happen. I don't think he'd bring much in terms of trade value. Go Angel!

so who's dusty supposed to play in RF? unlike other positions you got the choice of mabry/restovich/bynum...none of those guys are gonna make fans love life with a lefty on the mound. you can get into crazy musical chairs moving OF'rs, but the way murton has adapted to LF and seeing as its gonna be his home a while, i wouldnt play around with him in RF just to put hairston in LF and play neifi/bynum at 2nd.

Yeesh. Guzman is looking pretty wild thus far.

Single, Wild Pitch, Double Play, Triple, Hit by Pitch, Strike Out. That was an eventful inning. Based on that inning, Guzman could carry on a fine tradition as a Cub's closer if this starting gig doesn't work out. Too bad I'm stuck at work and forced to live vicariously through MLB Gameday. I get the feeling this game could be very entertaining.

he could start Restovich once in awhile, Hairston and have Neifi play 2nd (all hit lefties better than Jones). Make Hendry find a waiver guy or cheap trade for someone who does nothing more than hit lefties well and play passable defense. I don't give a f***, who it is, as long as it's not Jones who's beyond abysmal versus lefties.

i'm all about having a RF bench guy around who can actually play worth a damn...i advocated a look at cody ross when he was released as a pipe dream...good arm, decent glove, power pop, and doesnt care if he's on the bench or not as long as he's not in AAA. we just got a crap for crap situation as far as it goes right now out in RF... i can understand not chasing down another high-end 1st baseman, but i'd like to see a RF backup who's worth his weight. if jones went down, it'd be pie time, but there's little backup outside of that and very little off the bench as it is...meh...

It's hard to get too worked up when Lidge and Izzy keep trading blown saves. Go Bucs!

Maybe Jerry Hairston can't hit too well, but all he has to do is perform better than Jones's .227 lifetime avg. against lefties and we're all good. It's not asking too much really. 100 points of OPS (from 600 to 700) would be a huge improvement.

Hairston - career OPS vs. LHP: .715 (slightly better than overall OPS of .705). Jock - career OPS vs. LHP: .612 (much worse than overall OPS of .781). Hairston is an obviously better choice at LHP in RF, though I am not a hug fan of Hairston's arm being in RF.

There's your hit, or at least some runs!! Can someone explain what happened? I love seeing opposing pitchers get hurt by walks. It is good to know that it isn't just us.

I'm surprised Dusty has left Guzman in this long...this young pitcher just doesn't seem to have the command and control that is needed. He is lucky that he is going up against a team full of rookies. I would like to see Dusty give Rich Hill a try as a starter this year.

3 runs on 1 hit so far for the Cubbies? What the!?

Scott...I was thinking the same thing. Especially with him hitting here. it would seem like an obvious place to pinch hit here. He has already thrown 87 pitches. He will be lucky to make it through the 6th.

Regarding the subject of why there isn't a viable option for platooning Jones, see one of the hot summer topics on this board... the concept of "Dustyproofing" the roster. The idea was we didn't want any 4th outfielder even remotely competent for fear of Dusty benching Murton the first time he went hitless. Of course now, I think if Dusty benched Murton, he might just have to escape town in disguise for his own safety, so maybe time for Hendry to step up and find somebody.

What the hell? Dusty let Guzman hit, and then pulled him? Amazing...

The Cubs have signed Jones to a three-year, $16 million contract...that's a lot of money for the kind of performance we're getting from Jones so far this year. Look at young Murton who probably makes a small fraction of what Jones makes. Matt Murton is a great clutch hitter and a smart fielder - we need more players like him.

Dave - on the radio Ron said they let Guz hit since they have 12 pitchers and it's early, you don't want to waste a bench spot this early in the game.

As Santo explained, we are short a position player. He didn't want to use one at this point.

Nolasco! Oh, the injustice! The inhumanity! Joe Girardi is tearing apart my heart. Let's hope the Cubbies tear apart young Ricky.

Just because you CAN do a double switch doesn't mean you HAVE TO do a double switch. Dusty just cost us two runs.

Just when you think Dusty can't make any worse of a double switch . . . !! And if Hairston reaches, he'll have to take out Howry BECAUSE he made the already-harmful double-switch. How is it that the general "wisdom" on this guy is that he's a good manager. We can play winning baseball this season, and there's no limit to how far we can go--but it'll all be IN SPITE OF Dusty.

Young Murton comes thru for the Cubs again...2 RBIs in every game in this series...We need some other players to step up to the plate with clutch hits.

Hairston remains the most clueless player on the team. Earlier in the game, he swung at a pitch out of the strike zone after the pitcher had thrown 5+ balls in a row. He attempts a steal of 3rd when the risks are great and the rewards are tiny (and is only safe because the third-baseman drops the ball). And he looked absolutely clueless at the plate in th 8th. But we got two . . . oh, to come back and win this thing!!

Ramirez has been clutch, too, in part because he hasn't tried to do much. He's gotten on base many times with walks and, in general, been selective at the plate. And don't forget about the two big homers he's had in this series. I wish Ronny C. had let that pitch hit him last inning.

Dusty didn't even stretch Howry out to 2 innings. Why in the hell did he double-switch with Mabry in the 8th? Using Howry for 2 innings was the only possible reason for that double switch. Today's events have conclusively proven that Dusty does not understand the purpose of the double switch. It just makes him feel like he's managing. It's like he's brain damaged.

Someone explain to me how Barrett is NOT hitting for Blanco in the bottom of the 9th?

barrett was having xrays just a few hours ago on his hand. he may not be swinging a bat this weekend.

Does anyone know where I can find the MLB wide batting average by count?

The Cubs Bullpen failed the team today...way too many walks...Not enough timely hits by everyone (except Murton). This team needs some more offensive horsepower. They will face The Brewers this weekend and they will need to play MUCH BETTER than they played today.

this game was like the dog turd that neighbors take turns kicking into each others' yards: nobody seems to want to pick it up, plenty of blame to go around

Mike-- All the yahoo player cards have it, under "situational stats." Here is A-Ram's.

[b]Does anyone know where I can find the MLB wide batting average by count?[/b] It's entirely dependent on when there are 2 strikes. BABIP. Though HR's add to the BA in 2-1, 3-1, 2-0 and 3-0.

This team needs some more offensive horsepower. Come on...they scored five runs. That should be enough to win almost any game. The offense was not the problem today, nor has it really been the problem all season.

Mike - are you wondering what the entire league's batting average is on each count?

re: #8 jim callis is full of it. i'm not that high on williams right now. but he's a 24 year old starting pitcher with 350 IP under his belt and a 4.03 career ERA. he absolutely has value.

Recent comments

  • 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).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.