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

Hoffpauir, The Sequel

Paul Sullivan writes in the Tribune that the Cubs will recall Micah Hoffpauir from Iowa as the team begins its interleague schedule with three games at SkyDome this weekend. Lou Piniella's plan is to let Hoffpauir play first base and left field, which will alternately allow Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano to "rest" as they see DH duty.

Daryle Ward, still on the DL, took batting practice Tuesday and according to Sullivan "will report to the Cubs' complex in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday to get some at-bats before going on a minor-league rehab stint at Iowa."

Comments

EPat is tearing it up at Iowa -- .333BA, 10-for-10 in SB. Pie continues to flail -- .178 in 101 AB. Gotta believe they will try EPat in the OF at some point, but with Pie, Fuld and Colvin playing CF at AAA and AA, where can he get the chance? Moving Pie out of CF would further crush his confidence, and Colvin (although very disappointing this year) is a #1 pick who needs to play. Maybe winter ball and spring training?

Maybe the Cubs could try to trade a prospect when their value is high instead of after they have proven they can't hit in the majors. I hope Epat keeps playing great all the way to the trading deadline.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

why? so we can then have long posts with everyone bitching about how we let another stud get away from us? I for one would rather try and develop the talent and see what we get. I know sometimes you gotta make a trade, but there are times when you are better for trades you don't make. you wouldn't be asking this if Pie had worked out.

[ ]

In reply to by Sonicwind75

ya you are right. there have been some that worked great. some that didn't though. i shoulda let it be though. no reason to dig up old arguments. its a gamble either way. I just hate it when old cub farm hands end up gold on other teams. via trade, free agency, whatever. I think my memory is being one sided though. I am forgetting some of our recent successes with Marmol, Soto, Hill, Marshall. Though a couple those names are having problems. I just remember the Willis's, Wellemeyer's (ya he sure looked like a dud with us) and others. Of course, I am also forgetting that sometimes it takes these players a change of scenery in order to turn a corner. I definitely want to see this team make a trade though. I would like to see a reliable starter added. I for one am happy with our offense as is. And of course a trade to get said reliable starter will obviously cost us.

[ ]

In reply to by joshb

I don't blame the Cubs at all for getting rid of Wellemeyer, Florida and Kansas City also gave up on him. I'm still not convinced he will perform as well all season as he had in his start. There is always waaay too much griping that goes on about losing 'prospects' that never turn out to be much. Andy Sisco had one decent ERA with the Royals and everyone thought he was going to be great, didn't turn out. Dontrelle is the only player that the Cubs traded in the low minors who really turned out to be a major league stud, and his run seems to have only lasted about 4 seasons. If we had kept him chances are it would be us not the Tigers fan griping about the $30 million dollars we are paying him. The Cubs orginization outside of the recent examples (Marmol, Soto) has been really bad at actually getting promosing prospects to perform at the actual major league level, I will shed no tears over lost prospects or 'could have beens'.

[ ]

In reply to by joshb

Presenting the June 11, 2008 Cubs Soto Farm Ramirez Trade Theriot Farm DeRosa FA Lee Trade Soriano FA Johnson/Edmonds FA/FA Fukudome FA Blanco FA Cedeno Farm Fontenot Farm Hoffpauir Farm Pitching Staff Cotts FA Dempster FA Eyre FA Gallagher Farm Hart Farm Howry FA Lieber FA Lilly FA Marmol Farm Wood Farm Wuertz Farm Zambrano Farm Totals: Farm 11 Free Agent 12 Trade 2* *yep, only two have stuck.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

This would obviously take a long time to complete, but it would be interesting to see how this breakdown compares to the other teams in the league with an analysis on what mix of Farm/FA/Trades generally leads to a higher WP. This will likely remain an interesting hypothetical though, because that would a TON of work.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Fontenot should not be farm, but Trade since he came over for Sosa. Hart should also be Trade and not farm since he came over as the PTBN for Freddie Bynum. Cotts was not a Free Agent, but came to the Cubs via a Trade for David Aardsma and Carlos Vasquez. That makes the breakdown 9-11-5, 1/5 of the roster aquired via trade.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Cotts was an error But by Farm, I mean the player was developed in our farm system, not that he was drafted by the Cubs. e.g. Matt Murton is Farm. Unfortunately, for some reason the edit feature has been taken from us, so I can't fix the Cotts error. But the edited breakdown (by my reckoning) is 11:11:3

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I mean the player was developed in our farm system, not that he was drafted by the Cubs. e.g. Matt Murton is Farm. I don't buy this. What does "developed" mean? Is Ryan Dempster "Farm"? He rehabbed in our system. I think Wiscgrad's breakdown makes more sense. And Matt Murton was tough for Theo to give up, by the accounts I read. He's the last part of that trade the Cubs can hope to get any productivity from. Clearly a "trade".

[ ]

In reply to by Stevens

Now, for some damn reason, you're being disingenuous. I don't believe you don't know the difference between rehabbed and developed. It's my list, my rules. For simplicity (and sanity's sake), players developed in our minor league system are Farm. And by developed I don't mean MLB players who have regressed to the minors or are assigned there for rehab. But there always will be grey areas. e.g, if the Cubs lose their minds, obtain the contract of Dontrelle Willis, assign him to his present level (A+ Florida State League), and after a year or two in our system he reemerges as a major league arm, he would defy categorization.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I guess it depends on how you define "developed." Fontenot played 2002-2004 in the Orioles system, advancing from A, to AA, to AAA. He was then acquired over the winter made his major league debut with the Cubs in 2005. He spent part of 2005, all of 2006 and parts of last season in AAA Iowa. By my reckoning his development was accomplished in his first 3 years in the minors to the point that the Cubs were willing to give him time on the major league roster the year they acquired him. Similarly Kevin Hart spent 2004-2006 in the Orioles system and spent only part of 2007 in the minors with the Cubs before being called up to the big league team. Again, we can agree to disagree on "development" but by my reckoning I would not consider either of these two players to be complete flyers that the Cubs traded for earlier in their careers and developed into big league talent. I would instead consider them major-league-ready, or near-ready talent that the Cubs acquired via trade.

"The Daily News in New York reported Tuesday that Viagra has become a popular pick-me-up for athletes looking for an edge on the field and perhaps some frisky behavior off of it." http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8228928

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Palemeiro - "When your testicles shrink to the size of California raisins, you are going to need a little help..."

Hey, DHing our regulars and putting Hoffpauir in the field. I like that. Good idea, Lou. I hadn't thought of that.

Orioles signed LHP Randy Keisler to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Keisler had been pitching for the Cubs at Triple-A Iowa, posting a 3.14 ERA and 65/26 K/BB in 66 innings before being let go. (Rotoworld)

Speaking of Iowa, it looks like Randy Wells has made a lot of progress over the past year and is a viable option for the rotation if someone breaks down or Marquis implodes. In his 7 starts at Iowa he as put up a line of 38 IP, 26 H, 5 ER, 10 BB, and 33 SO, with an ERA of 1.18. I'd have to imagine that if Hill doesn't put things together soon, and if Marshall doesn't get healthy, Wells becomes option #1.

Couple of interesting notes from Ken Rosenthal this morning. The Cubs not only will pursue the best available starting pitcher — C.C. Sabathia? — but they also have shown interest in Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, a left-hander who would help reduce the late-inning load on righties Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood. Fuentes, a free agent at the end of the season, could fill a variety of roles — matchup specialist, setup man, closer — making him appealing to virtually every contender.. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8233548/Win-now-mentality-has-Dodger…-?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49 (under the Around the Horn section)

Those must be some strong nets holding that concrete. ========== ...and strong troughs

The new SORIANO?! Dusty Baker used him as his leadoff hitter yesterday.

Jair Jurrjens will miss Wednesday's scheduled start after twisting his ankle walking down the dugout stairs on Tuesday night. Jurrjens' ankle didn't improve overnight, and now the Braves are hoping that he doesn't become the fourth member of their starting rotation to head to the disabled list. Jeff Bennett will start the game in Jurrjen's place on Wednesday night.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Wow yeah this is like the 85 Cubs all over again, luckily it happens while they are playing us :) but I guess we shouldn't get too overconfident but I'd rather face Bennet than Jurrjens. I do remember Bennet won a big game against the Brewers last year in September that helped us out alot.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Voodoo doll attacks again...now it's attacking beyond the ex-cub factor. I'm going to have to use a spreadsheet to track this. It's like a buzzsaw chewing through the teams who are about to face the Cubs. Dodgers (Furcal, AJones, Garciaparra, 3/44) Padres (S. Estes, G Rusch, CYoung, JPeavey, #22) Rockies (Tulowitzki, Haupe, Barmes) Braves (C. Jones, Glavine, Jurrjens, Smoltz, Kotsay) In the division... Reds (J. Hairston, JR, Keppinger, A. Gonzales, R. Freel) Brewers (Gallardo, Weeks, Gagne, Cappuano, Riske) Cardinals (Pujols, Wainwright, Isringhausen, Wellemeyer, Carpenter, Muldur, Clement) and we play Tampa next week and I'm hearing Carl Crawford has a hamstring problem and is facing a 4 day suspension too (not sure when that happens). Carlos Pena and Troy Percival are also on their DL http://www.rotoworld.com/content/injuries.aspx?sport=MLB

yes, sorry...the Crawford suspension got reduced to 2 games and won't impact the cub series. He's dealing with a sore hamstring but the suspension will probably be to his benefit regarding the leg.

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.