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

A Change In Perspective

I’m really looking forward to the Opener tonight down in Atlanta. I think Hill is going to be a terrific #1. I’m hopeful that Lilly and Marquis can hold their own as numbers 2 and 3, and make all of their regular starts, as has been their history. I figure Miller is a short-timer in the #4 spot—Guzman has GOT to fill that role—but Zambrano is, no doubt, the best fifth starter in baseball. Maybe the best fifth starter ever. Drag that Soriano will miss the Opener, but sounds like he’ll be back by the season’s second week and in the meantime, we can at least get a sample of what Pie’s capable of. I think it’s going to be a fun year.

Comments

Yeah, this must all have been a dream. I mean, who could possibly believe ...... After 14 games: - Lee & Ramirez are 4th & 5th in the league in hitting - Hill (0.64), Lilly (2.37) and Marquis (2.65) have been brilliant - Dempster, Cotts and Wuertz have pitched a combined 22 innings, struck out 25 and gvien up no runs. ....and the team would be 5-9? It's just not possible. Allllll just a dreammmmmm.......

those stats from billy are encouraging....eyre and ohman have been huge problems though. almost cancels out the other three. but losing close games and winning blowouts is to me a positive indicator for the rest of the year.....if you stay in those games you will win some of them, just don't get blown out, which the cubs have done well so far. i know it stinks, but this team is another one that will do better when it's warm and those innumerable warning track flies from this past week at wrigley are off, or over, the wall. Chill out, season has a very long way to go (yes it could be a loooong season, but i don't think so in this division)

Lantern: Agree with your point about the hopeful signs that can be seen from these close losses so far. It's just so damn painful to have to endure them...and all of us have been enduring them for so damn long.

The dates of the past two years' injuries suggest to me that injury would have happened yesterday. Did anyone leave the game under mysterious circumstances last night? Anyone hear how Z is feeling after throwing 113?

With hindsight after 2 1/2 weeks of baseball, what would have been the best use of $100,000 by the Cubs this offseason? A) Just over six games of Henry Blanco B) Just over six games of Mark Prior C) About eight innings of Alfonso Soriano D) The rights to Josh Hamilton Don't hurt yourselves.

Henry Blanco is just one more example of Jim Hendry overpaying below replacement level players for no reason. What possible urgency was there to lock up Hank White? Was a 3 year deal at all necissary? NR Neal sez no.

How many times do we have to go over the Josh Hamilton thing... and where would we play him? How many lefty outfielders do you need?

can I name the shortest midget in Sheboygan instead? What exactly does Hank do that is so invaluable to the club? As far as I can tell his leaving hasn't hurt any of his numerous past clubs. The cubs would have been better served spending Hank's 3 mil on a bunch of signabiltiy issues draft picks. IMHO

the thing was Hamilton wasn't even on our radar from everything I've read, the only reason we picked him was because the Reds offered to pay us for the pick. I think the Phils and Padres were interested as well and Reds wanted to move up.

Wrigleyville is probably not the right environment for a guy like Hamilton. At least not at this point in his life. Going to a smaller market, less pressurized market like Cincinnati is probably better for Hamilton in the long run.

hey aaronb/not really neal/another guy, please stick with one name (preferably aaronb) thank you.

*shuffles papers on desk* Ok, now I'm back. No more changes.

I don't know where they'd play Hamilton. Technically they wouldn't have to play him at all, just keep him on the 25-man all year. Just saying, that kind of talent, knowing he was clean now and then trading him for such a small percentage of what was paid to some other bums. Like I said, this is all with hindsight of course, but even Jim Hendry should be smart enough to know that when multiple GMs call about the same thing, you've probably got something more valuable than, say, 1/27th of Hendry Blanco. Nothing in particular against Blanco, he's serviceable at what he does.

Jace:
Well, this guy is staying somewhat positive…
(From article) A little known statistical law: It's harder to score when no one gets on base.
Somewhere, Dusty Baker's head just exploded.

The good news is -- when the weather warms up and the wind blows out, Ramirez, Lee, Soriano, Barrett and Jacques will start hitting HRs. The bad news is -- so will Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds, Dunn, Griffey, Berkman, CLee, etc.,......

Re #18 I can't stand how the whole thing went down. From what I was told during a Cub's Chat* (*indicates qualifier), we got paid $45,000 to trade him and nothing else. I don't care that we didn't spot him as a good player. I care that we helped a division rival for $45,000. INSANITY! So every time this kid help the Reds win, let's remember it wouldn't have been possible without the Good Ol' Northsiders. We should have just given the Reds the proverbial finger and let someone else draft him.

Been watching this team for a very long time. I'll get positive if and when the team gets one game over .500, and not one minute sooner. It's like being the victim of spousal abuse. The spouse keeps saying I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you, then hits you again. This time, I want a diamond ring for all the bruises I've endured. Am I wrong to ask for this?

josh hamilton hasnt played organized ball in 2 years and the closest he got last year was shagging flys vs. college/highschool kids at a baseball complex in florida he was working at. reds can afford to "spend" a man on their 25 for someone like this and theyve done it in the past with willie mo pena. hamilton wasnt even on TB's radar if that says anything...even with their glut of OF'rs. reds got lucky...good for them...lets see how long it lasts.

Re: 28: Okay, I don't think baseball really works like that, you really don't try to go out of your way to piss off other Gm's except the Yanks and Red Sox it seems. I guess if Hendry wanted to start a war with Krivsky. Yeah, inter-division trades are kind of rare, but that really only applies to top shelf talent.

oops...forgot about the stint in the pen league for josh last year...BEFORE HE GOT SUSPENDED FOR THE 10000000000TH TIME...

This time, I want a diamond ring for all the bruises I’ve endured ----- or at least a TCR group rate on MRI's; consider it the high volume discount.

oops...early post on that last thought. anyway, his "action" has pretty much started and ended in spring when he comes to piss for the man and gets suspended. he took 2002-2005 pretty much off of baseball as far as organized ball past spring/extended-spring outtings between his suspensions.

#29- Excellent analogy. LOL.....that sheeite is funny right there, I don't are who you are. L. The Cable Guy

No Rob. Not to start a war. If the GM from Cinnci says, "Hey pick this kid up and we'll give you $45,000 for him". Just say "No, thanks. We are not in the business of helping your team." I doesn't have to be confrontational. We just let him pass and their GM can call the next team on the waiver priority list.

Or at very worst get the $45K from the AL team like Seattle, Oakland, Toronto, Texas, etc.

honestly, if i were hendry i'd let him waste a 25-man slot on that gamble. the chance of upside is pretty slim considering all he's had to show scouts at that point in december is workouts vs. college pitchers who dont project and some BP. not like this guy was a slam dunk, a steal that was counted on to provide in 07, or getting much press outside of his "story" until he showed something this spring. there's a hamilton thread somewhere on TCR when it went down...dont recall any outcry, but it was a nice gamble for a team that has the roster space to possibly spend.

At the time of the rule 5 draft there was a running chat on Espn. He really applauded Jim Hendry at the time he made the pick. Then if I recall he kind of laid the "I'm not suprised" act when Jim gave Hamilton to Cincy. I honestly don't think Hendry is respected as a thinker around the industry. He does however excel at targeting veteran journeymen comming off of career years, and getting them inked to long term contract. So he does have that going for him.

From Maller's site...
Who could have guessed that entering Wednesday, Sammy Sosa would have as many home runs (3) as Ryan Howard (1), Gary Sheffield (1), Lance Berkman (1), Manny Ramirez (0), Alfonso Soriano (0) and Mark Teixeira (0) combined?
Bleh!!! :-p

while we are on the subject. Here is a list of the guys who were taken in the rule 5 draft. Status Ryan Goleski, of Cle Oak (via TB) Returned to Cle Joakim Soria, rhp SD KC Made the Royals Josh Hamilton, of TB Cin (via ChC) Made the Reds Sean White, rhp Atl Sea (via Pit) Made the Mariners Alfredo Simon, rhp Tex Phi (via Bal) Returned to Tex Jesus Flores, c NYM Was Made the Nationals Edward Campusano, lhp ChC Det (via Mil) On DL (Tommy John surgery) Jared Burton, rhp Oak Cin On DL (hamstring) Lincoln Holdzkom, rhp ChC Hou Returned to ChC, released, signed by Bos Adam Donachie, c KC Bal (via Phi) Returned to KC Nick DeBarr, rhp TB Bos Returned to TB Jason Smith, ss ChC Tor Made the Blue Jays Kevin Cameron, rhp Min SD Made the Padres Jay Marshall, lhp CWS Oak Made the Athletics Alejandro Machado, inf Was Min On DL (shoulder) Josh Phelps, 1b Bal NYY Made the Yankees Levale Speigner, rhp Min Was Made the Nationals Jim Ed Warden, rhp Cle Phi Returned to Cle Ryan Budde, c LAA Phi On DL (oblique)

"Joakim Soria, rhp SD KC Made the Royals" I thought he played basketball for the University of Florida.

i will never understand the hate for jock jones among cub fans. he is an affordable outfielder with above average range, plus power, and very good numbers against rhp. he has gotten off to slow starts each of the last year (did cubs fans used to hate Ryno too?), and he obviously has a poor arm, but for the price the Cubs could definitely do worse!

hold on....there are people here who would be happy about holding a guy on the 25 man roster who's never played above AA and has been effectively out of competitive baseball for 5 years and not even played seriously in 2 years? at least let hamilton prove he's not a fluke, first. i mean, hell...mark derosa has 4 homers and some of the game's top sluggers arent even hitting their weight yet.

"hold on….there are people here who would be happy about holding a guy on the 25 man roster who’s never played above AA and has been effectively out of competitive baseball for 5 years and not even played seriously in 2 years?" IF it bothers people this much, then perhaps we can send a crack dealer over posing as an autograph seeker who slips him a few rocks upon signing. That'll fix him.

I can't wait till this weekend or next week when Soriano is back. Oh the fun. If you send Soriano back to LF, what do you do with Floyd? If you move him to RF, JJ has a partial no-trade clause. Lose Murton and we have no right-handed bench bat.

It isnt Jack Jones' fault that the cubs didnt platoon him. If he was handled right from the get-go I have a feeling that fans wouldnt hate him as much.

crunch, Hamilton got injured last year, that's why he didn't play more. If he had got suspended, he wouldn't be playing this year.

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...