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

Make Mine Piniella

The smell of freshly-cut grass, and temperatures in the 60's with nary a cloud in the sky. A smilin' Lou Piniella strolling from field to field, bantering with the fans and signing autographs. The sound of bat on ball, and pitchers practicing covering first on a ball hit to the first-baseman. Ah, yes. While it might not be absolutely as good as it gets, it's pretty close. Your pal AZ Phil and about 100 hopeful Cub fans attended the Cubs first Spring Training workout of 2007 this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa. It was a mandatory work-out for the Cubs' 30 pitchers and six catchers, but six position players (infielders and outfielders) who were not required to report showed up anyway. Broken up into three groups of nine or ten, 29 of the 30 Cubs pitchers (including Carlos Zambrano) participated in fielding drills (the exception being Adam Harben, who is rehabbing from TJ surgery), and most of the pitchers (not including Kerry Wood, who suffered injured ribs in a "hot tub" accident) started their Spring Training throwing regimen in the "pit" under the watchful eye of Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild. And speaking of Kerry Wood, all that talk about Woody losing weight, well, it was not just talk, folks. KW isn't just thin, he's rail-thin. He looks like Sean Marshall, or maybe like a 13-year old who had a six-inch growth spurt during Summer Vacation. I don't know if the weight-loss will make him a better pitcher, but I'll bet he feels a lot healthier. There were six catchers were in camp today catching pitchers throwing in the pit, but no Mike Mahoney. As you know, I thought he might get a late NRI to ST to help catch the pitchers, but apparently the Cubs will make-do with Michael Barrett, Henry Blanco, Geovany Soto, Koyie Hill, Jake Fox, and Casey McGehee. Kudos to the six infielders or outfielders who showed up for the first day of workouts when they didn't have to be there (infielders and outfielders do not have to report until next week). Gold stars go to: Scott Moore Eric Patterson Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano Ryan Theriot Chris Walker Soriano and Pie spent a lot of time talking, probably in large part because they were probably the only two Spanish-Speakers in their group. But you could clearly see that they got along, as they were laughing and having a good time. Hopefully Pie can help Soriano learn the finer points of CF play, and Soriano can help Pie learn the ropes of being a big leaguer. It certainly was a lot of fun watching both of them hustle their asses off chasing down outfield drives into the gaps during BP. The only other thing of note to report from the first day of workouts is that speedy Chris Walker is learning to switch-hit (he had previously been strictly a right-handed hitter). If he is successful in the endeavor and can actually learn to hit left-handed, it might help him get to the major leagues, maybe not with the Cubs, but with somebody. Go Cubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

I HATE switch-hitters. I don't like switch-hitters and don't like being around switch-hitters. I am switch-hitter phobic. I don't like switch-hitting and it shouldn't be in the world or in the U.S.

"Scott Moore Eric Patterson Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano Ryan Theriot Chris Walker" Ever see Sesame Street? Remember the "One of these things doesn't belong" game? I do. I love the fact that Soriano is there. For nothing else, it shows that he is not planning on just riding out the fat contract but he is there to work.

If Pedro can do the Mets caravan tour right after he signed, Soriano can show up a week early for spring training. It's not the best comparison, but the point stands: The dollars he potentially stands to earn through merch and endorsements by endearing himself to the hometown fans as a "hustle guy" and a "team player" far outweighs spending another week *$!%& his wife. All that said, he does have to learn a new position, and from most accounts he is a good guy, so I don't just automatically suppose that he's doing it for the brownie points. Just pointing out the other side of the coin. (-Wood) + (-Dempster) = (+Rusch)

Phil, While we all appreciate your knowledge and prognostications, please keep the weather reports to yourself. It's minus 12 degrees in downtown Des Moines, with a wind chill of nearly 20 below. Shrinkage is defined in Merriam-Webster's as February, 15, 2007--Des Moines, Iowa. I REALLY don't need to hear about fresh grass clippings, 60 degrees and clear blue sky. Okay...I lied....keep reporting, man. I want to be just like you someday. Joey...from Iowa

If Soriano comes up big with the glove, imagine how good an outfield with him and Pie could be defensively. Not as good as the Montreal team with Dawson, Raines and Cromartie, but hard to imagine too many balls getting to the gaps out there.

It's good to know that Soriano and Pie are getting to know each other. Hopefully Soriano takes Felix under his wing and shows him the ropes. Felix could definetly develop into the kind of player Alfonso is and probably better if all goes well.

cubs have hired eddie murphy as a special hot tub specialist for the club in light of the latest wood injury. very proactive move...cudos.

Transmission — February 15, 2007 @ 3:40 pm Wood injured falling out of a hot tub. --------------------- I thought that was a joke. I should have known better...

kerry wood and mark prior walk into a bar...out 5-8 weeks with broken toes. *rimshot*

AZ PHIL & steve, There's another, I would say more likely reason, Soriano and Pie spent a lot of time talking. Felix Pie already is a bonafide centerfielder. Soriano is just learning the position. I have no doubt Pie is out there helping Soriano adjust. But it can't hurt Pie's hitting to have Soriano for a pal.

Hopefully Pie can help Soriano learn the finer points of CF play, and Soriano can help Pie learn the ropes of being a big leaguer.
Yes, let us hope our mediocre prospects can teach our $100 mil+ outfielder a few things. FWIW-- Steve Stone thinks CF is the easiest of the three OF positions, so long as you are fast enough. Something about having a good view of the ball coming off the bat.

First injury of the season...at least we got the first one behind us.

(AZ) Phil, nice job as always from my long lost brother to the east. We only need 47 more Phils to have one from each state. Go Cubs indeed. Crunch - that made me laugh. Harry Caray - "There will be baseball."

According to Muskat, Prior did throw off a mound today, as did Wade Miller. If anybody runs across some spring training pics, pass along the link. I'm really curious to see just how thin Woody looks....

Kerry Wood is an idiot. Z said today in camp he wants a 5 year deal. Sign here my friend.

STEVE: I heard the reporting in from my favorite beat reporter, Levine. Indeed there is certainly negotions going on, and Carlos "recanted his statements" made earlier this week on 'GN. It was reiterated that he did not want the distraction of nogotiations beyond opening day. Although, didn't DLee say the same thing? Also, Big Z was discussing how Big Z wanted money somewhere near Zito. The current standings are a five year deal, and both parties are "on the same page". Big Z did not say that Big Z wanted 7. Only 5. Levine stated that he believes things will fall somewhere betw. Oswalt and Zito $$. But, 5 years.

certainly negotions Er...that's negotiations.

Jayson Stark today in ESPN.com- "Most improved teams (NL) 1. Cubs 2. Diamondbacks 3. Dodgers Is there any doubt the heat is building on the North Side of Chicago? Their arch-rivals in Missouri won the last World Series. Their crosstown rivals to the south won the World Series before that one. And if the Cubbies don't win a Series this year, then next year they'll become the first team in pro sports history to have gone a whole freaking century between titles. Lou Piniella, Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Neal Cotts, Cliff Floyd and the rest of this $300 million "Extreme Makeover" cast don't guarantee them any parades. But if this team isn't vastly better than that 96-loss mess of last year, Piniella might spontaneously combust. Team that spent $208 million and didn't get a vote"

Awesome that Soriano came into camp so early and is buddying up with Pie. It confirms a lot of what Frank Robinson said about him, that Alfonso works as hard as anyone Robinson has seen and is the happiest and friendliest guy he has been around since Ernie Banks.

"Levine stated that he believes things will fall somewhere betw. Oswalt and Zito $$. But, 5 years." Sounds great! Can we sign for him?

I don't know if it would be binding. Besides, after plunking down for season tix, I will have to wait until May for more revenue to come in. The Cubs just about broke me. I can't WAIT to see how much they'll raise prices next year. Oh, they will be placing logos on all of the bases, except for home plate.

Lieber might be from Iowa, but he went to college at South Alabama. They like their trucks really big in Mobile.

We only need 47 more Phils . . . (#17) At that point we'll have enough votes to change the name from TCR to Cub-philia.

And if the Cubbies don’t win a Series this year, then next year they’ll become the first team in pro sports history to have gone a whole freaking century between titles. Only if there are no sports outside the U.S.

What??? You HAVE to drive a big truck to live in Iowa? Lieber is from Council Bluffs, Iowa. That's ALMOST Nebraska.

Oh to be in Mesa right now taking in the Cactus Cubs. -2 here this morning.....sigh....jealous much.

How many Eddie Gaedels can you fit into a F650? 1300? Changing gears from Jon to John, Cliff Floyd took a poke at John Thompson for his (Thompson's) negative comments re: Floyd's defense. http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070216&content_id=1804491&vke… "For me, defense has been my No. 1 thing for a long time," Floyd said. "I read that [comment by Thomson] and I thought to myself, 'I could've called a couple people and blasted him back.' At this point in my career, the only person he hurt was my mom and dad's feelings. From what I've seen, he's not one of the greatest pitchers in the game, so it didn't affect me in terms of my pride. I wish him the best of luck. Hopefully his luck will change in Toronto. It didn't change in the National League." Man, I was sensing high-road for a minute, which was refreshing, then: back to reality.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.