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

Independent Living

For those of you who follow the Cubs minor leagues, you may be interested to know that getting released isn't necessarily the End of the Baseball World as it once was.

While 1B Brian Dopirak (now at Hi-A with Toronto Blue Jays), RHP Joel Santo (at Hi-A with Houston Astros), SS Carlos Rojas (at AA with Baltimore Orioles), and RHP Bobby Brownlie (with Cleveland Indians at AA in 2007, now with Washington Nationals at AA) were able to sign with MLB minor league affiliates after getting released by the Cubs, many other ex-Cubs prospects have signed deals with independent professional baseball clubs for 2008.  

Independent professional leagues are located from California to New England, from Florida to Canada, and more than two dozen ex-Cub minor leaguers and (in some cases) one-time Baseball America Top Ten prospects currently populate independent league rosters.

Playing in an independent league isn't necessarily a dead end, either. RHP Tanner Watson (curently a rotation starter at AA Tennessee) and RHP Dumas Garcia (currently the co-closer at Daytona) were signed by the Cubs last year out of independent leagues, and (for example) LHP George Sherrill (BAL), LHP Joe Thatcher (SD), and RHP Nelson Figueroa (NYM) got back to the minor leagues (and eventually got to the big leagues) after pitching in independent professional leagues.  

Here are the ex-Cubs presently on the rosters of independent league teams (and I wouldn't be surprised to see recently-released INF Ryne Malone and RHP Ryan Meyers join them):

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION:
Albenis Machado, SS (El Paso)
Derek Schermerhorn, 1B (Wichita)
Brandon Sing, 1B (Pensacola)
John Webb, RHP (Pensacola) 

ATLANTIC LEAGUE:
Gary Cates, SS (Camden)
Nic Jackson, OF (Camden)
Richard Lewis, 2B (Camden)
Mike Nannini, RHP (Lancaster, PA)
John Nelson, INF (Lancaster, PA)
Chris Walker, OF (Camden)
NOTE: Cates, Jackson, Lewis, and Walker were teammates on the Cubs AA West Tenn DiamondJaxx club in 2006, and Nannini and Nelson were teammates on the Iowa Cubs last year.  
 
CAN-AM LEAGUE:
Isaac Pavlik, LHP (New Jersey)

FRONTIER LEAGUE:
Corey Bachman, RHP (Washington, PA)
Matt Hudgins, C-1B (Kalamazoo)
Brian Leclerc, OF (Rockford)
Andrew McCormick, RHP (Chilicothe, OH)
Matt Maradeo, RHP (Washington, PA)
Billy Mottram, 3B (Florence, KY)

GOLDEN LEAGUE:
Michael Bartek, RHP (Orange County)
Peter Farina, C (Yuma)

NORTHERN LEAGUE
Patrick Brooks, 2B (Gary)
Luke Hagerty, LHP (Schaumburg)
Scott Koerber, LHP (Fargo)
Ryan O'Malley, LHP (Schaumburg) 
Robert Ransom, RHP (Winnipeg)
Alan Rick, C (Fargo)
NOTE: Koerber and Rick were teammates last year at AA Tennessee.

Comments

Thanks, Phil. I'm surprised to read that Ryne Malone was released. He seemed like he might have a decent bat. What's the word? ROMERO

AZ Phil, What happened to the sidewinder? Seemed like he had good promise.

Anybody know whatever happened to "Moonlight" Greenberg? Last reference I can find is a Royals minor league stint...

Submitted by Romero on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:24pm.

Thanks, Phil.

I'm surprised to read that Ryne Malone was released. He seemed like he might have a decent bat. What's the word?

ROMERO

===========================

ROMERO: Ryne Malone has a decent bat, but he also has minimal power, below-average speed, and well below-average defensive skills no matter where he plays, so he just got caught in a numbers game.

The Cubs preferred Matt Matulia and Jonathan Mota as utility infielders over Malone.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:00pm.

AZ Phil, What happened to the sidewinder? Seemed like he had good promise.

===============================

SHEFF: I would say Matt Maradeo is the type of pitcher who could be very successful in an independent league and he could very well find himself back in the minor leagues (like maybe Hi-A or AA) after spending a year or two in indy ball.

The only reason the Cubs released him is simply because he was too old (he turns 25 in June) to go back to Extended Spring Training and then Boise. He really had to make either the Peoria or Daytona roster coming out of minor league camp, and he just missed the final cut at Peoria.

He still has decent potential, though. His age was against him.

Submitted by dbt on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:45pm.

Anybody know whatever happened to "Moonlight" Greenberg? Last reference I can find is a Royals minor league stint...

 =================================

DBT: Adam Greenberg signed with Bridgeport of the Atlantic League (same league where Walker, Lewis, Jackson, Cates, Nannini, and Nelson are playing) after he was released by the Royals at the end of Minor League Camp last month. Bridgeport is close to Adam's home in New Haven, so he should be a very popular player.

Compared to the other independent leagues, the Atlantic League tends to attract older players with extensive AA and AAA and sometimes even MLB experience. For instance, ex-Cubs Bobby Hill and Randall Simon are playing for Newark in 2008, and guys like Ricky Henderson, Jose Canseco, and Jose Lima played for Newark in past years when they were trying to get back into MLB.

The Atlantic League is essentially a AA league where all the players are veteran "organizational players" (that is, it's a AA league minus the "Top Ten Prospects" you would find in the Southern League, Texas League, and Eastern League).

Most MLB clubs (especially the Cubs) regularly scout independent baseball, and it's not unusual for MLB clubs to sign guys out of independent leagues when reinforcements are needed at Hi-A, AA or AAA during the season. 

Independent teams do not stand in the way of a player who has a chance to get back to the minor leagues, so any player who wants his release will get his release, and then they're usually welcome to come back later if things don't work out. That's what happened with Ryan O'Malley, who signed with Schaumburg (Northern League) in February, then got his release after he was offered a minor league contract by the Cubs, before returning to Schaumburg after he got released by the Cubs at the end of Minor League Camp. 

Great story as always! Here's something you might be able to research for us in a similar manner: What ex-Cub farmhands are playing in the Mexican/Japanese leagues?

The statistics and peers would not agree with your assessment of Malone Romero ...if you breakdown the stats , Malone was the best power hitting mid infielder we had in the minors ? Think is was more of a overdraft with Thomas and Barney plus some young Latin players ...Malone never got a shot at what hitting coaches at spring trading called the best hitting mid infielder in the system ..something went wrong after spring training and I am pretty sure it wasn't talent..just another good Cub let go for no reason ??? Didn't take him long to find a club.

Jonathan Mota > Peoria Chiefs > Batting Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB IW HP K SH SF GDP BA OBP SLG OPS BABIP G L F P B U Overall 91 25 2 1 0 6 0 1 14 1 1 2 0.275 0.323 0.319 0.642 0.325 48 8 12 7 4 0 vs LHP 30 10 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0.333 0.375 0.367 0.742 0.357 17 3 4 3 1 0 vs RHP 61 15 1 1 0 4 0 1 12 1 1 1 0.246 0.299 0.295 0.594 0.306 31 5 8 4 3 0 Home 62 16 1 1 0 3 0 0 11 1 0 1 0.258 0.292 0.306 0.599 0.314 34 4 7 4 3 0 Road 29 9 1 0 0 3 0 1 3 0 1 1 0.310 0.382 0.345 0.727 0.346 14 4 5 3 1 0 0 out 34 11 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 1 0 1 0.324 0.361 0.324 0.685 0.379 20 2 4 1 3 0 1 out 31 8 2 1 0 2 0 0 4 0 1 1 0.258 0.294 0.387 0.681 0.296 15 3 5 4 1 0 2 out 26 6 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 0 0 0.231 0.310 0.231 0.541 0.286 13 3 3 2 0 0 none on 47 15 2 1 0 4 0 1 7 0 0 0 0.319 0.385 0.404 0.789 0.375 23 5 7 2 3 0 men on 44 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 1 1 2 0.227 0.255 0.227 0.483 0.270 25 3 5 5 1 0 RISP 26 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0.269 0.286 0.269 0.555 0.292 14 3 3 5 0 0 C & L 20 5 0 1 0 2 0 0 8 0 1 1 0.250 0.304 0.350 0.654 0.417 8 1 3 1 0 0 AB H 2B 3B HR BB IW HP K SH SF GDP BA OBP SLG OPS BABIP G L F P B U April 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.167 0.167 0.167 0.333 0.200 4 1 0 0 0 0 May 58 18 1 1 0 3 0 0 8 1 1 1 0.310 0.339 0.362 0.701 0.360 34 3 9 4 2 0 June 27 6 1 0 0 3 0 1 5 0 0 1 0.222 0.323 0.259 0.582 0.273 10 4 3 3 2 0 Bat 1st 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 2 0 0 0 0 0 Bat 2nd 34 9 1 0 0 3 0 0 8 0 1 1 0.265 0.316 0.294 0.610 0.346 15 2 5 4 1 0 Bat 6th 5 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.400 0.500 0.600 1.100 0.500 0 2 1 1 0 0 Bat 7th 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.375 0.375 0.375 0.750 0.375 7 0 1 0 0 0 Bat 8th 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 4 0 0 0 0 0 Bat 9th 37 11 0 1 0 2 0 1 4 1 0 0 0.297 0.350 0.351 0.701 0.333 20 4 5 2 3 0 As 2B 12 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.250 0.308 0.333 0.641 0.273 5 2 2 2 0 0 As SS 78 22 1 1 0 4 0 1 13 1 1 1 0.282 0.321 0.321 0.642 0.338 42 6 10 5 4 0 As DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.500 0.000 0.500 0.000 1 0 0 0 0 0 Park Adj 91 26 2 1 0 6 0 1 14 1 1 2 0.286 0.333 0.330 0.663 0.338 47 8 12 7 4 0 MLE 91 19 1 1 0 3 0 1 16 1 1 2 0.209 0.240 0.242 0.481 0.253 45 8 12 7 4 0 Malone > Peoria Chiefs > Batting Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB IW HP K SH SF GDP BA OBP SLG OPS BABIP G L F P B U Overall 183 52 16 2 2 27 0 3 34 0 0 2 0.284 0.385 0.426 0.811 0.340 58 18 59 13 1 0 vs LHP 45 11 1 1 1 2 0 3 12 0 0 0 0.244 0.320 0.378 0.698 0.313 14 3 13 3 0 0 vs RHP 138 41 15 1 1 25 0 0 22 0 0 2 0.297 0.405 0.442 0.847 0.348 44 15 46 10 1 0 Home 88 31 9 1 1 16 0 1 11 0 0 1 0.352 0.457 0.511 0.969 0.395 29 5 36 7 0 0 Road 95 21 7 1 1 11 0 2 23 0 0 1 0.221 0.315 0.347 0.662 0.282 29 13 23 6 1 0 0 out 61 16 3 0 2 10 0 2 9 0 0 1 0.262 0.384 0.410 0.793 0.280 23 6 16 6 1 0 1 out 62 16 8 1 0 9 0 1 14 0 0 1 0.258 0.361 0.419 0.780 0.333 17 5 21 5 0 0 2 out 60 20 5 1 0 8 0 0 11 0 0 0 0.333 0.412 0.450 0.862 0.408 18 7 22 2 0 0 none on 98 26 7 1 1 10 0 2 14 0 0 0 0.265 0.345 0.388 0.733 0.301 31 9 38 5 1 0 men on 85 26 9 1 1 17 0 1 20 0 0 2 0.306 0.427 0.471 0.898 0.391 27 9 21 8 0 0 RISP 48 16 7 1 0 12 0 0 10 0 0 0 0.333 0.467 0.521 0.988 0.421 15 6 13 4 0 0 C & L 34 10 5 0 0 10 0 0 4 0 0 0 0.294 0.455 0.441 0.896 0.333 16 3 10 1 0 0 AB H 2B 3B HR BB IW HP K SH SF GDP BA OBP SLG OPS BABIP G L F P B U June 13 4 3 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 0.308 0.357 0.538 0.896 0.500 1 3 3 1 0 0 July 94 28 8 1 1 12 0 3 15 0 0 1 0.298 0.394 0.436 0.831 0.346 33 9 31 5 1 0 August 76 20 5 1 1 14 0 0 14 0 0 1 0.263 0.378 0.395 0.773 0.311 24 6 25 7 0 0 Bat 1st 7 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0.286 0.375 0.286 0.661 0.500 3 0 1 0 0 0 Bat 2nd 77 23 8 0 1 11 0 0 13 0 0 0 0.299 0.386 0.442 0.828 0.349 27 6 28 3 0 0 Bat 3rd 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.250 0.000 0.250 0.000 2 0 0 1 0 0 Bat 4th 7 2 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.286 0.500 0.571 1.071 0.333 1 1 3 1 0 0 Bat 5th 46 12 0 1 1 5 0 2 7 0 0 0 0.261 0.358 0.370 0.728 0.289 18 5 10 5 1 0 Bat 6th 18 7 2 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 0.389 0.500 0.500 1.000 0.467 4 2 7 2 0 0 Bat 7th 19 5 4 0 0 2 0 1 6 0 0 0 0.263 0.364 0.474 0.837 0.385 2 4 6 1 0 0 Bat 8th 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 3 0 0 0 Bat 9th 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.333 0.333 1.000 1.333 0.500 1 0 1 0 0 0 As 2B 63 21 7 0 1 8 0 0 11 0 0 1 0.333 0.408 0.492 0.901 0.392 20 6 23 3 0 0 As 3B 84 24 4 1 1 12 0 2 12 0 0 1 0.286 0.388 0.393 0.781 0.324 31 8 26 6 1 0 As DH 34 5 3 1 0 7 0 1 11 0 0 0 0.147 0.310 0.294 0.604 0.217 7 2 10 4 0 0 As PH 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 2.000 3.000 1.000 0 2 0 0 0 0 Park Adj 181 54 16 2 2 29 0 3 34 0 0 2 0.298 0.404 0.442 0.846 0.359 56 18 57 13 1 0 MLE 181 39 11 1 1 16 0 2 40 0 0 2 0.215 0.286 0.304 0.590 0.271 54 17 55 13 1 0 Mota / Made / Matulia / 10 others ..not close

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • 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...