Cubs MLB Roster

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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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You Have to Laugh…Unless You’re Kerry Wood

It looks like poor Kerry Wood has gone and done it again, another year, another arm injury. The details have yet to come out but something didn't go right after yesterday's outing and it could just be a re-aggravation of the triceps strain from earlier in spring training or possibly a brand spanking new one to add to the trophy case. Once the Cubs P.R. department figures out how to spin this one finish diagnosing the injury, Wood will likely be put on the disabled list (once again) and it looks like Angel Guzman will travel East with the team come Opening Day. UPDATE: Although an exam has yet to be performed or at least the results yet to be reported, word is that it was the shoulder causing him problems and Wood has been shut down until further notice.

Comments

That can't be right!! What were the odds of both Wood AND Prior being hurt/ineffective?? I mean...wait.. Oh...

....

Got my first chance to see the Cubs on TV just yesterday. I threw up a little......in my mouth.......when I saw Wood start rubbing his right forearm and had a grimace on his face. I was kind of dozing, but one article I read said it was when Howie Kendrick was at the plate. Even the wife said at that point, "He's done isn't he?" I'm off the Woody Kool-Aid and on to Ted Lilly. Dude looked sharp!!!!!! Joey

Crunch---very nice..I laughed my ass at #''s 3 & 4. See, I'm not ALWAYS a jerk.

When does the pitching coach take some responsibility for the constant injuries to Prior and Wood? it seems it was Rothchild's idea to change wood's mechanics in the first place so he wouldn't have these injuries. also, at one point Prior had "the best mechanics ever" apparently we shouldn't have fired Oscar way back in the day...

When you strike out 20 guys and throw 99, it's REALLY hard to tell a guy to in there and start messing around with the way he throws. And he probably won't listen to you anyway. Prior does have very good mechanics. We talked about this a couple days ago. But it's not your mechanics fault 100% of the time when you get hurt. Pitchers with great mechanics get hurt, too.

who cares...!? we have a solid bullpen even without woody... He reminds me one of those internet ads for a free laptop or ipod by just answering a simple survey, which always turns out to be a endless circle of surveys, jumping through hoops, and scams. It wouldn't bother me 2 bits if he never pitched in a Cubs uniform again.... and he can take Prior, Bartman, and whoever else is left of 2003 and hit the highroad...

Sure looks like the door is wide open for GUZMAN. It's about time he walked through and slammed it. When does the pitching coach take some responsibility for the constant injuries to Prior and Wood? What does Rothschild do, anyway? Did he even notice that Guzman had moved over to the left on the rubber on a "tip"(?) from Greg Maddux? The first thing Piniella did was move him over to the right side---the side Guzman said he used to pitch from.

I feel bad for the guy... he's obviously put a lot of work into getting back on the mound. The business side of me, though, says it doesn't really matter if he's on the roster. He wasn't going to be an 'impact' player anyways. Dusty Baylor:
What were the odds of both Wood AND Prior being hurt/ineffective?? I mean…wait..
Wait... I've been away a couple days, Prior is injured? Last I heard he was healthy, just throwing soft and inaccurate. I don't see anything on my news feeds about it.

i wouldnt be surprised to see a l.walrond or similar in the pen over guzman cuz if lou is gonna go with a 5-man rotation over a 4-man and skipping 2-#5-starts then its not really necessary to have a strong arm as much as a warm body down there. guz could stay starter-ready early in case of injury to a "real" starter coming early. i feel its more important to keep guys just getting stretched out at least warm to throwing 100 pitches before you start throwing him off his 5-day schedule.

So the Cubs are going with a 12 man pitching staff? Is this the staff? Z Lilly Marquis Hill Miller Guz Cotts Wuertz Ohman Eyre Howry Dempster

I'm not ususally a grammar nazi, but it's "You're," not "Your." p.s. Can we get Aardsma back?

cnn international just did a story on the gyroball... without getting into if it's "real" as stated or if its just a new screwball meets curve pitch...it sure as hell looks like it stresses the elbow and the upper arm muscles.

something tells me it's going to be a little more serious than a tricep injury....it very well might be rotator cuff related. Remember Wood was attempting to build up the muscles around the tear in his cuff in order to avoid surgery that would put him out for 1-2 years. Doesn't sound good.

The first thing Piniella did was move him over to the right side—the side Guzman said he used to pitch from. I think Rotschild did the moving, Piniella just put his face in front of a camera to let everyone know about it. Considering Piniella already stated numerous times he knows nothing about nothing when it comes to pitching other than results, I'd be surprised if he had much say on how that went down.

thanks for the grammar catch, I literally put that up in 3 minutes before I left for my morning commute.

A healthy Kerry Wood would be an impact player, unless you think that F-Rod and Mariano Rivera weren't impact players when they were setting up for WS winning clubs. Unfortunately, we don't have a healthy or even a 95% Kerry Wood. It's a pity, he seems to have done everything he could to get healthy and back pitching for the Cubs.

If you really want a wonder pitch, someone should try to replicate the pitch Wood threw to strike out Guitterez in the 7th or 8th to his 20 K game. That pitch was sick.

It was sad yesterday to see Kerry Wood struggle. The guy has been busting his ass to get right and he can't seam to shake the arm problems. It was exciting to see him warming up, coming in the game in the late innings, but it was evident that he wasn't right. Fitness wise, the guy is as slim and fit as he has ever been. It is unfortunate that such a guy with promise has broken down, but so is life. When he was young and dumb, some coach in little league, summer league, pick up game, high school, minor, or Majors threw him so much that he is feeling the effects. As a coach, you want to win every game and as a competitor you want the ball. It has caught up to us as Cubs Fans and most importantly it has caught up to Kerry. I'll never forget what he gave us.... We shouldn't be pissed that a guy can't get it done now, we should be happy that he gave us what he did.

The Real Neal- The pitch was called the "reckless abandon for the health of my arm" curve.

I think Rotschild did the moving, Piniella just put his face in front of a camera to let everyone know about it. Considering Piniella already stated numerous times he knows nothing about nothing when it comes to pitching other than results, I’d be surprised if he had much say on how that went down. Well, it's interesting that you think that Lou Piniella is liar, Rob G. NO ONE, and certainly not me, is claiming Larry Rothschild wasn't there at the side session where Piniella took a look at Guzman's delivery. Rothschild is Piniella's pitching coach. Of course he was there. But then Rothschild was the pitching coach last year when Guzman made the change. Why didn't he do something about it then? But back to Lou. I think he was pretty clear about what happened, Piniella didn't look at film of Guzman to suggest the switch. He looked at him as a hitter would. "From hitting in the big leagues for a long time, I wanted to see why, with really, really, really good stuff, people don't swing and miss as much," Piniella said. "I think we picked up on something. It's really a stretch to think that Rothschild was the one who looked at Guzman as a hitter would, not Piniella.

I actually think it was a fastball. But regardless, if he can teach it to some of the Les Walrunds of the world, I am sure they would take 3-4 years of big league success at the risk of TJ surgery.

Kerry Wood pitched the best game I've ever seen and brought life to a franchise that was moribund at the time. If he's hurt every year for the next decade, I still want to see the Cubs resign him and pay him to try. He may never come back and pitch a healthy full season again, but I never want to see him in another uniform. Totally irrational? Sure.

"I am sure they would take 3-4 years of big league success at the risk of TJ surgery. " Which would be about 1-2 more successful years then Wood had.

no one wants to blame pinella for ruining wood for caving in to his demands with pinella promising him more work? =p sigh...managers...cuz i mean, it surely cant be wood's issue or fault.

Jacos, "Which would be about 1-2 more successful years then Wood had. " Good point, except that the AAA players I am referencing are a lot closer to the majors than the 16 year old Kerry Wood was when he started throwing like that. I know you hate the sabr-stuff but here it is. 20-16 = 4

kerry wood was being "abused" in highschool...if you wanna pick fights about who/what/etc ruined wood you gotta trace his problems back further than the cubs. he's a genetic mess...if its not the elbow its the shoulder, if its not the shoulder its a triceps, if its not the triceps its the shoulder again...blah blah blah. i mean damn...he's adapted, he's worked...it seems he wants to play. i dunno if his body will let him.

Cubs.com is reporting the "discomfort" is in his shoulder this time. Given the history, I'd say the odds are slim that he'll contribute this year.

"kerry wood was being “abused” in highschool…if you wanna pick fights about who/what/etc ruined wood you gotta trace his problems back further than the cubs." I've said it before and I'll say it again. There is nothing the Cubs could have done to prevent Wood's injuries other than to never let him throw. I would bet anything that all of the damage had been done to his arm before he signed a professional contract. I will also bet that he was throwing his 'slurve' pitch since he was 11 years old.

Wow that is really amazing, Chad! Kerry Wood not only struck on 20 batters in a game, he did it with a ulnar collateral ligament and led the NL in strikeouts with a tear in his rotator cuff. Pretty astounding! Needless to say, I would take that bet.

Wow that is really amazing, Chad! Kerry Wood not only struck on 20 batters in a game, he did it with a severly torn ulnar collateral ligament and led the NL in strikeouts with a tear in his rotator cuff. Pretty astounding! Needless to say, I would take that bet.

Well, if you must. Let me clarify. The damage that was done to his arm was by, in my non-medical opinion, the overall weakening of his joints and ligaments. At a very young age the stress that he was putting on his body was too great for it. It never formed properly and made those parts very fragile. The actual tearing came as a pro but the reason that it tore was set years before. He was going to have a bad arm no matter what.

I was afraid this would happen as soon as he declared himself ready for the season. I had a bad feeling...Like the day Corey Patterson announced to the media he was ready to be the lead-off man.

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.