Cubs MLB Roster

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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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Recall Cotts from AAA, Send Ascanio Down

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

The Cubs have optioned RHP Jose Ascanio to AAA Iowa, and have recalled LHP Neal Cotts from the same club.

Ascanio was acquired from the Atlanta Braves last December for LHP Will Ohman and IF-OF Omar Infante, and was optioned to AAA Iowa during Spring Training. He went 1-0 with nine saves at Iowa (2.08 ERA, allowing 14 H and one HR in 21.2 IP, with a 1.01 WHIP, a .179 OBA, and an 8/23 BB/K) before being recalled on May 19th when Chad Fox was placed on the DL with a sore elbow.

Ascanio got into five games with the Cubs over the past ten days, going 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA, allowing one run (earned) on four hits (.235 OBA) over 5.0 IP, with a 3/3 BB/K. He threw one scoreless inning in last night's Cubs victory over the Dodgers. 

The 28-year old Cotts was also optioned to Iowa during Spring Training (March 21st), and had spent the entire 2008 season (up until now) at Iowa, posting a 2-0 record with three saves, a 2.00 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP in 19 games, all in relief (.232 OBA, 23 hits in 27 IP, no HR, and a 10/33 BB/K). Cotts has been particularly effective versus left-handed hitters, allowing just seven hits (.206 OBA) and one walk with 15 K in 9.1 IP (0.78 WHIP).

Cotts was acquired by the Cubs from the White Sox in November 2006 for RHP David Aardsma and LHP Carlos Vasquez. He was selected by the Oakland A's in the 2nd round of the 2001 Rule 4 Draft out of Illinois State, and was traded to the White Sox after the 2002 season.   

Cotts has 3+077 MLB service time and will (once again) be eligible for salary arbitration after the 2008 season. He is making $800K (plus another $75K in potential performance bonuses) in 2008, and will be out of minor league options as of Spring Training 2009.   

Tags
Jose Ascanio
Neal Cotts

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:37 pm

what's wrong with Eyre? He's retired all 9 lefties he's faced this year. and was fantastic the 2nd half of last season. Curious move, but if the Rockies are loaded with lefties, it's understandable. Did Cotts find a slider though? He use to be all fastball/changeups with a marginal breaking ball.

Submitted by Q-Ball on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:51 pm

I beleive Wuertz has options, but I think he can refuse an optional assignment, as he has accrued enough service time. Someone help me out there, but I think Wuertz has to stay in Chicago. Regardless of his struggles, Wuertz is definitely too valuable to expose to waivers. We haven't heard the last of Ascanio. He is probably the first call in the event of bullpen injury. He could be a regular bullpen guy in 2009 if we choose not to resign Howry or Wood. Hendry ALWAYS seems to have a stockpile of Righty Relievers around.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:57 pm

Wuertz cannot be sent down without waivers. He has been arbitration eligible for 2 years already. I for one am glad the stockpile is here now. At the end of the year the following guys are Free Agents Wood Howry Eyre Dempster Lieber and unfortunately NOT Jason Marquis So we are looking at possibly replacing 5/12ths of our current pitching staff. Hopefully all those guys move along and Hendry has the forsight to Get FA compensation in return for Woody,Dempster and Howry.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:15 pm

Submitted by Q-Ball on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 3:51pm.

I beleive Wuertz has options, but I think he can refuse an optional assignment, as he has accrued enough service time. Someone help me out there, but I think Wuertz has to stay in Chicago.

 =============================

Q-BALL: A player needs at least five years of MLB service time to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors, and Michael Wuertz came into the 2008 season with 3+007 MLB ST. So he will not be able to refuse an Optional Assignment to the minors until the 2010 season. (Players with at least three years of MLB Service Time can refuse an Outright Assignment to the minors, which is maybe what you're thinking of).

Because his debut date on an MLB roster was Opening Day 2004 (beyond three years ago), Wuertz would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers (which are revocable) in order to be optioned to the minors. However, because they are revocable, Optional Assignment Waivers are normally just a formality, and once a club gets a player through Optional Assignment Waivers the waivers are good for the entire waiver period, so clubs will usually place players who require Optional Assignment Waivers in order to be optioned to the minors on Optional Assignment Waivers right at the start of each waiver period, just to get it out of the way in case a move needs to be made during that waiver period.

At present, among Cubs players with minor league options left who have less than five years of MLB ST (so that they cannot refuse an Optional Asignment to the minors), only Neal Cotts, Angel Guzman, Michael Wuertz, and Mike Fontenot would require Optional Assignment Waivers in order to be optioned to the minors. Later in the season, Rich Hill (June 15th) and Matt Murton (July 7th) will hit their 3rd anniversary date on a 25-man roster, and then they will require Optional Assignment Waivers to be optioned to the minors, too (but that only matters if the Cubs recall one or both of them and then want to send them back to the minors again after their third anniversary date).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:30 pm

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 3:57pm.

Wuertz cannot be sent down without waivers. He has been arbitration eligible for 2 years already. I for one am glad the stockpile is here now.

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

DR. AARON B: Michael Wuertz was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this past off-season (post-2007).

Players on the Cubs 40-man roster who will be eligible for salary arbitration after the 2008 season are (at this time): 

Ronny Cedeno
Neal Cotts
Reed Johnson
Michael Wuertz

Until they were optioned to AAA earlier this season, Matt Murton was a lock to qualify for salary arbitration post-2008 and both Sean Marshall and Rich Hill were in a good position to be eligible for salary arbitration post-2008 as a "Super Two," but probably not anymore. (No way for Marshall, still possible for Hill, but only if he gets recalled within the next week or so).

As for Murton, he could still get eligible, but he needs 117 days of MLB ST in 2008 to automatically qualify (he has 15 days so far), and probably at least 70-75 days (total) of MLB ST in 2008 to qualify as a "Super Two."

So you can see why Murton, Marshall, and Hill (and their agents) were especially unhappy when they were optioned to AAA!

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:55 pm

BTW, here is something else to think about:

If the Cubs do not recall Felix Pie from Iowa by Monday (that is, no later than Monday), he will have spent 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in 2008, and thus will have used up his last minor league option year.

While not recalling him by Monday won't affect the Cubs ability to option Pie back-and-forth to Iowa in 2008, it will mean he will be out of minor league options as of Spring Training 2009, and the only way the Cubs would be able to send Pie to the minors in 2009 would be by placing him on Outright Assignment Waivers (which are irrevocable).

So not recalling Pie by Monday essentially locks the Cubs in with Pie next Spring Training, forcing them to either keep the then 24-year old OF on the 25-man roster, or trade him prior to Opening Day.  

So the Cubs probably need to decide by Sunday what they want to do with Jim Edmonds (and Felix Pie). If they don't think Edmonds has anything left in the tank, then they really need to release him after Sunday's game and recall Pie.

As for Pie, after starting out his optional assignment at AAA Iowa in a 3-40 funk, he is 4-10 with two doubles and two walks and only one K over his last three games. Not a lot of games on which to base any conclusions, but at least he APPEARS to be starting to hit again. (He destroyed AAA pitching last year, going 362/410/563 in 55 games at Iowa). 

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:35 pm

Teams that are just about out of it and their center fielders: Mariners/Ichiro (not happening) Royals/DeJesus (well there's something) Tigers/Granderson (we wish and I don't think the Tigers are really out of it) Nationals/Milledge (no good) Giants/Rowand, Winn (Winn is a possibility) Padres/Gerut (amusing, but unlikely) Rockies/Taveras, Spilborghs (no on Taveras, yes on Spilborghs) Coco Crisp is floating out there as well. Seems like we could make a trade for Randy Winn tomorrow if we wanted. Wouldn't be the worst 8th hitter in the world, not sure if he can still handle CF duties. Since I assume they're like everyone else in baseball and not interested in Matt Murton, what is Winn worth? He's got $8.25 MM owed to him next year and the remnants of $8MM from this year, plus a limited NTC to 10 teams. Giants are doing okay in the pitching department, although you can't have enough young arms.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:05 pm

Only guys I want on that list are Ichiro and Granderson, and being that they aren't coming, why not just play Pie or Patterson if you're not going to wait on Edmonds to find his bat? I mean, Randy Winn is the great hope of 2008? Take your Major-League-Leading offense and let Pie search for his swing and help the team with his defense. Matt Murton for Randy Winn would be a gift to the Giants, who ought to be looking to dump Winn's contract on the first GM to inquire. Also, LouPa has apparently spoken a bit recently about how great Fuki is in RF and how he doesn't want to mess with that, so any dreams of Murton/Hoffpauir in RF should be labelled "not going to happen unless the team really, really struggles."

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 05/29/2008 - 05:49 pm

When did Neal Cotts become a good pitcher? Despite the fact that they both had very good numbers in AAA, I think I believe in Ascanio more than Cotts. I hope, though, that I am and wrong and Cotts turns out to be good, as well as Ascanio.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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