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

Prior Demoted, Final 25 Set

The Cubs optioned Mark Prior to AAA today along with Angel Pagan and Rocky Cherry. That leaves 28 warm bodies in camp and Buck Coats, Juan Mateo and Kerry Wood will all head to the disabled list. So your 2007 Chicago Cubs: STARTERS Carlos Zambrano Ted Lilly Jason Marquis Rich Hill Wade Miller BULLPEN Neal Cotts Will Ohman Scott Eyre Michael Wuertz Angel Guzman Bob Howry Ryan Dempster CATCHERS Michael Barrett Henry Blanco INFIELDERS Derrek Lee Daryle Ward Mark Derosa Ryan Theriot Ronny Cedeno Cesar Izturis Aramis Ramirez OUTFIELDERS Matt Murton Cliff Floyd Alfonso Soriano Jacque Jones Piniella also announced his Opening Day lineup versus the Reds and Aaron Harang. Soriano, Murton, Lee, Ramirez, Jones, Barrett, Derosa, Izturis, Zambrano.

Comments

So is Prior the most expensive minor leaguer in all of baseball at $3.575 million?

I'm disappointed that Cherry didn't get the last bullpen slot given his excellent spring. I'd rather see Guzman pitching every 5th day in Iowa than sitting for days at a time in the Chicago bullpen. Otherwise, looks like a decent lineup, with plenty of offense and just-enough pitching. Team defense is the only real achilles heel that I can see. I guess that pegs Iowa's staff for early April as Prior, Marshall, Walrond, Pignatiello and either Marmol or O'Malley. Cubs would rather Marmol be in the bullpen, but there will be a lot of innings that need to go around amongst Cherry, Novoa and Rapada, so Marmol is likely to get more consistent work if he starts. Phil, who else will fill out Iowa's staff?

Possible Iowa lineup: LF-McGahee CF-Pie RF-Pagan 3B-Moore SS-Hill 2B-Patterson 1B-Hoffpauir C-Soto Reserves-Koyie Hill, Chris Walker, Mike Fontenot, Tomas Perez. When Buck Coats returns, I'd like to see the I-Cubs give Moore some time at SS, move McGahee in to 3B, and put Coats in LF.

Well, let's see. We go into April with good health (since at this point, we can't count Wood or Prior against the overall team ledger) and some intriguing players waiting in AAA if needed. We go in with a set rotation, a set lineup, a new manager with some encouraging early indicators of how he'll manage, and at least a decent offense. Mildly optimistic.

I will approach this season with quiet optimism; but since I'll (hopefully) be managing a sports bar and grill, I'll either suffer through of be giddy through most games this season.

Eric the Great — March 28, 2007 @ 7:01 pm I’m disappointed that Cherry didn’t get the last bullpen slot given his excellent spring. I’d rather see Guzman pitching every 5th day in Iowa than sitting for days at a time in the Chicago bullpen. Otherwise, looks like a decent lineup, with plenty of offense and just-enough pitching. Team defense is the only real achilles heel that I can see. I guess that pegs Iowa’s staff for early April as Prior, Marshall, Walrond, Pignatiello and either Marmol or O’Malley. Cubs would rather Marmol be in the bullpen, but there will be a lot of innings that need to go around amongst Cherry, Novoa and Rapada, so Marmol is likely to get more consistent work if he starts. Phil, who else will fill out Iowa’s staff? =============================== ERIC: I will write an article about it this weekend, but as of right now, the Iowa starting rotation will probably be: STARTING ROTATION (alphabetical) Carlos Marmol Sean Marshall Ryan O'Malley Mark Prior Les Walrond BULLPEN: Rocky Cherry (closer) Roberto Novoa Clay Rapada Adalberto Mendez Carmen Pignatiello Federico Baez 7th guy TBD (still subject to change) The I-Cubs Opening Day lineup should be: Felix Pie, CF Eric Patterson, 2B Casey McGehee, 3B Micah Hoffpauir, 1B Scott Moore, LF Angel Pagan, RF Geovany Soto, C Carlos Rojas, SS BENCH: Mike Fontenot, INF Koyie Hill, C Chris Walker, OF Plus One from among: Jorge Cortes, OF Josh Kroeger, OF Val Pascucci, OF Tomas Perez, INF Mike Kinkade will start the year on the DL (broken hand) AAA and AA teams have 24-man regular season rosters, so they only carry four bench guys And everything is still subject to change right now.

Eric the Great says: March 28th, 2007 at 7:05 pm Possible Iowa lineup: LF-McGahee CF-Pie" Okay, why is PIE going to play CF? The Cubs have this guy they're paying $130 million who's blocking him until about the middle of the next decade.

STARTING ROTATION (alphabetical) Carlos Marmol Sean Marshall Ryan O’Malley Mark Prior All that's missing is Z and there you have the typical Cubs 2006 rotation.

CWTP, I believe there is a day coming when Soriano moves to LF and Pie comes into CF. I'd hate to see Murton go, but I am betting that is the longer term thinking. Since most agree that OF defense is going to be a liability, Pie might be needed to improve that defense and Soriano could then move back to a position that is more suited for. Say what you want about JJ in RF, but he can go get the ball and is not nearly as much a liability in the OF as the Soriano and Murton can be, in spite of his arm.

Is anyone disappointed that Pagan wasn't added and Wuertz sent packing? Our starting outfield is truly mediocre to BAD.

Until the Cubs do the right thing and put Alfonso Soriano in left field where he belongs, the outfield defense is going to be a major achilles heel. So too is the defense and pitch calling behind the plate on those days Hank White ain't playing. But the biggest saboteur to Cub success in 2007 is going to be that bullpen.

CWTP, I believe there is a day coming when Soriano moves to LF and Pie comes into CF. Well, I don't know if you read any of my THOUSANDS of posts this month regarding PIE, but in a nutshell, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, ET. In fact, I have several dozen reasons why it's a mistake to send FP down to rot in AAA. The first reason being that it would really be great to have a real centerfielder play center field for the Chicago Cubs. I mean, don't people realize how stupid and ironic it is to say Pie needs more time in the minors when it's Soriano and Floyd who don't know what they're doing out there?! It doesn't matter how well Soriano, Floyd, Murt, and Jones hit, there will be stretches where they don't. And, I guarantee you, it will not take long for the Bleacher Yuppies to turn on them. They will be booed.

Pagan is not a good outfielder. He looked lost trying to find balls last year. They should have gone with 11 pitchers and made a trade for a Tom Goodwin type 5th outfielder. We could have gotten Brady Clark who would have been perfect in that role for a mop up guy (Novoa).

Agreed on Angel Pagan. I for the life of do not understand his presence on this roster. If Piniella believes he needs another outfielder for defensive purposes (and who can blame him), then Hendry should be scouring the market for a proven gloveman. Surely there are guys like that available. A Bobby Kielty type.

Looks like the only thing I was wrong on with the 25 man roster was Guzman. I predicted that Miller would be the #5 guy... (and most underrated). I predicted that the last utility spot would be a battle between Cedeno and Pagan (looks like Pagan lost out). My only error was in not knowing that Wood would re-injure himself in spring training. Well, I guess we can't all be perfect. As for some future predictions, I believe this Cubs team is going to jump out of the box really scoring some big time runs. It might take a week or two for other teams to really get an idea on how to pitch against this lineup and get some of these guys out. Hopefully Sheets won't be completely healthy, otherwise the division could be a battle between the Cubs and Brewers of all teams. Beyond Carpenter and Reyes, the Cardinals are hurting for starters. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

oh yeah... RobG... when do I get my poster signing bonus of a case of Old Style? I'm still waiting man. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

"It doesn’t matter how well Soriano, Floyd, Murt, and Jones hit, there will be stretches where they don’t. And, I guarantee you, it will not take long for the Bleacher Yuppies to turn on them. They will be booed." Murton's a pretty good left fielder, and the Cubs 'fans' don't need to wait for someone to play poorly in the field and at bat to be booed. If Soriano, Floyd , Murton and Jones are going to be prone to slumps, Pie is going to be doubly prone to them. Piniella already set the bar for Pie, let him hit .325 in AAA then they will find a spot for him - most likely one manned currently by Jacque Jones.

From the Trib's article on the 25 man roster (Sullivan): "The outfield defense remains questionable, and Wuertz and Neal Cotts had rocky springs, " Besides Cotts, for whom I haven't seen any explanation why he's on the team, 4 other pitchers on the staff had worse ST ERA's than Weurtz. It took me all of 32 seconds to do that research, I wonder why Sullivan couldn't.

Piniella already set the bar for Pie, let him hit .325 in AAA then they will find a spot for him I thought I made it pretty clear that the Cubs need Pie because they need an outfielder who can replace one of the three bricks out there when it's close and late. We don't need Pie for his offense and we don't need him to take JJ's job this season. As for Pie having to hit .325 at Iowa, Piniella might as well just shoot him. Only one Iowa Cub with more than 68 at bats managed that in 2005 and nobody hit over .304 last year.

Cubswinthepennant, Bricks in the outfield? I'm not sure why you think that the Cub outfielders are subpar. Sure, Soriano's defense is still in the "wait and see" stage, but Jones/Murton/and Floyd all performed above average defensively last season compared to other national league outfielders. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

I couldn't make a better Opening Day lineup myself. At least not with these guys. I just hope we don't look like the Bad News Cubs in the field all April.

Nathan — March 28, 2007 @ 9:21 pm What about Randy Wells at Iowa, AZ Phil? ============================ NATHAN: I didn't list the half-dozen candidates for the last spot on the Iowa staff, but Randy Wells is right at the top of the list.

AZ Phil, Once you have more details on the MiLB lineups and rosters, will you be making a separate post on them? I ask because i'm linking to these comments elsewhere, and think people will be able to find your analysis more easily if you have a separate article to link to.

Bricks in the outfield? I’m not sure why you think that the Cub outfielders are subpar. Last year Murton, Pierre and Jones did a good job of ballhawking but teams ran on their arms without worry. Not a one of them could throw a ball to the infield. This year we have a man in CF who doesn't have a clue how to play it properly, nor does he know how to direct the corners. We're going to see dropped balls and collisions in the alleys. We're going to see Jones and Murton poaching balls the CF should be taking. We're going to see Soriano give up on some catchable balls over his head and make vain stabs at line drive singles and play them into extra bases. Sitting behind home plate we're going to see the back of Soriano's uniform way more than normal, 'cause he's going to be running after liners he just missed. And then there's Floyd.....

Cubswinthepennant, I disagree with you 66%. First, lets agree on something. Juan Pierre has no arm whatsoever and gets run on all the time. That said... you are totally wrong on Jacque Jones. He's got a hell of an arm for an outfielder. The problem is that he messes up mentally and sometimes throws the ball straight into the ground rather than where he's supposed to throw it. This results in him being a very streaky guy when it comes to throwing the ball. Sometimes he astounds, and other times fans are shaking their heads wondering what planet he's from. As for Murton, yet again wrong. Murton has an average arm in left. It's not outstanding, but definitely not subpar. As for Soriano, you can possibly try to predict that his defense won't be good, but that doesn't erase his pretty good LF defense last season for the Washington Nationals. Even learning a new position from scratch last season, he performed (defensively) better than most National League left fielders. And as for his arm... there is no question that he's got an excellant arm (just like Jacque) except perhaps that Soriano throws it where it's supposed to be thrown :P In short, if you are reviewing arm strength in the outfield, we've got 2 excellant arms in Soriano and Jones and an average arm in Murton. This isn't cool aid I'm talking, but the facts. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

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.