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

What–No Bill Wirtz?

An incomplete, almost entirely speculative list of people identified by various sources as possible purchasers of the Chicago National League Ball Club: Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks Owner Donald Levin, Chicago Wolves Owner Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix Suns Chairman Pat Ryan, Founder and Executive Chairman of Aon Corporation Bill Murray, Actor George Will, Journalist Tom Begel, Chicago businessman William Marovitz, former Illinois state senator Larry Levy, restaurateur Bruce Rauner, Chicago private-equity investor Crain’s Chicago Business quotes Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports industry consultant as saying, “(The price for the Cubs) will go north of $800 million, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it went for more than $1 billion.” Crain’s continues, “Mr. Ganis predicts the eventual buyer will be a private-equity firm that will stay under the radar until a deal is announced. He says he’s fielded inquiries from two such firms.”

Comments

It would be fun if whoever were to buy them takes them public. I wonder what MLB would think about that.

There are a few names on that list that I don't believe could come up with $800 million, let alone something higher than a billion.

Wes, you don't need 800 mil to buy the team. You probably just need a fraction of that to finance it. That's my guess. Having said that, I want Colangelo. They guy owned the D'backs and built a winner. He bought the Suns, and put together one of the best teams in the league.

Yeah I know, Chad. Guess I made myself look dumb with the way I worded that. But my point remains the same. I don't think Murray or Will could pony up for it. I'd also like Colangelo. Guy knows what he's doing.

I have to agree with the Cubs on this I dont think it has much of an effect because it had been known that the Trib directors were meeting this weekend to review takeover bids. My guess on the new ownership would be a combo of Cuban and some low profile personality guy to act as a figurehead of sorts probably Levin or Begel.

I take everything the Trib says about the Cubs with a half-ton of salt, but I certainly HOPE you guys are right that this doesn't affect the Z talks (though the article makes clear that the talks are "on hold," so obviously there's SOME effect. Seriously--if you're the TribCo at this moment in time, consider: 1. Z at 16M per year is likely to be an outstanding bargain in today's market. 2. The new buyer's only on the hook for Z's contract for 4 years anyway. 3. What--they don't think the new buyer's going to be scared away by having to pay $7M a year for 2 years to Jason Marquis, 4M+ a year for 3 years to Mark DeRosa, or $17M a year for 7 years to Alfonso Soriano? Why the hell would a multiyear deal to *Zambrano,* of all players, be the straw that broke the camel's back? 4. The franchise is a feckin' cash cow to begin with; if the anticipated sale price is between $800MM and $1BB, as reported, there's no way in hell an additional $64MM owed over 4 years for one of the best pitchers in baseball is going to deter a potential buyer. 5. Last, and most importantly--THE VALUE OF A FRANCHISE IS ONLY *ENHANCED*, NOT DEGRADED, BY STAR ATTRACTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AS GOOD (AND ENTERTAINING) AS CARLOS ZAMBRANO. You think the likelihood of fetching a high sale price for the team's going to be ENHANCED by the possibility of Ted Frickin' Lilly being the team's ace starter. (I note that other than Z, next year's potential FA pitching crop looks awfully weak.)

"[Y]ou don’t need 800 mil to buy the team. You probably just need a fraction of that to finance it. That’s my guess." Doesn't MLB have a cap on how much debt a team can take on?

cubnut- What–No Bill Wirtz? i ask myself the same question when i scan the sunday obituary page.

Attention all TCR Readers: Start selling your assets now. We can come up with an LLC and pour all of the liquidated money into it. Then, we'll buy the Cubs. That would really drive home the point of the power of the internets.

Re: #10... That belongs in our Readers' Comments Hall of Fame...as soon as we get it built.

The Cubs have a yearly attendance of around 3 million. Assuming that 3 million Cubs fans get together (surely there's a whole lot more of us than 3M right?), then $800M divided by 3M fans comes out to $267 for each fan! I think if we organize this right, then the Cubs fans can own this team!

Today's Tribune contains more names of possible bidders, including Andy McKenna (?!). Also, this comment from Jerry Reinsdorf re: Mark Cuban: "It is a matter of public record that when Cuban was approved to buy the Dallas Mavericks, the vote was 29-1," said Reinsdorf, who is also the Bulls chairman.

not knowing a lot about Colangelo, i post this thought. Yes he built a winner in the DBacks. didn't he also build a financial mess? I thought he was the one that created deferred salaries and such. If thats right I say no thanks. Maybe it was a Phoenix market thing tho. I'd personally love Cuban. He came into Dallas and built a winner. He puts together good management and holds them responsible for running the team well. He isn't afraid at all to make changes. He's great in that he is passionate about the sport without getting in the way. (cough Jerry Jones)

I'd really like to see Cuban purchase the team. Could you imagine him behind the plate yelling at the umpires after bad calls? David Stern can't handle him in the NBA, can you imagine what Bud Selig would do?

Private equity firm is a non starter. MLB would NEVER approve that and I am not sure they would even qualify as a single majority owner as required I don't see MLB approving Cuban either. They don't care. They turned town several higher bids for the Nationals from people they didn't want.

they did the same with Boston I believe too.... I believe Selig said they prefer someone with local interests and there should be plenty of that, so Cuban or Trump are very, very unlikely. Colangelo wouldn't surprise me though...

Mark Cuban is a lifelong Pirates Fan and not a Chicagoan. He is the last person WE want to own the Cubs. FYI,

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...