Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, four players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Richard Lovelady
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
* Matt Mervis
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 4
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P
* Jordan Wicks, P    

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Hope Goes Deep But D'backs Prevail at Talking Stick

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Ruben Santana belted a bases-loaded bases-clearing double and scored a run, Jackson Feltner hammered an RBI triple and scored a run, and Luis Caicuto drilled an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-3 victory over the Cubs in Arizona Instructional League game action Wednesday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

Zyhir Hope blasted a solo HR in the top of the 4th to give the Cubs a temporary 3-2 lead, and Christian Olivo singled twice, scored a run, drove-in another, and threw out a runner on the bases for the Cubs. 

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

AZIL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Christian Olivo, CF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, P-3, R, RBI)
2. Ed Howard, SS: 0-1 (BB, F-9 SF, 6-3, RBI)
3a. Reggie Preciado, DH #1: 1-2 (6-4-3 DP, 1B)
3b. Wally Soto, C: 0-1 (P-6)
4. Drew Bowser, 1B: 1-3 (K, 1B, K)
5. Yahil Melendez, 3B: 0-2 (4-3, 4-3, BB)
6. Alfonsin Rosario, RF: 1-3 (3B, K, P-3)
7a. Zyhir Hope, LF: 1-1 (BB, HR, R, RBI)
7b. Leonel Espinoza, LF: 0-1 (K) 
8. Alexis Hernandez, 2B: 0-1 (BB, K)
9. Jefferson Encarnacion, DH #2: 0-2 (K, 1-3) 
10. Jose Escobar, DH #3: 0-2 (4-3, K) 
11. Adan Sanchez, C-DH: 1-2 (2B, F-8, R) 

AZIL CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Mason McGwire: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/3 GO/AO, 31 pitches (12 strikes) 
2. Alfredo Romero: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/AO, 35 pitches (20 strikes) 
3. Raino Coran: 0.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, 23 pitches (8 strikes) 
4. Dominic Hambley: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes) 
5. Luis Martinez-Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2/0 GO/AO, 22 pitches (9 strikes) 

AZIL CUBS ERRORS: 1 
1B Drew Bowser: E-3 (errant underhand flip attempting 3-1 putout allowed batter to reach base safely) 

AZIL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Adan Sanchez: 2 PB 
2. Wally Soto: 0-1 CS 

AZIL CUBS OUTFIELD ASSIST: 
CF Christian Olivo - runner thrown out 8-5 attempting to advance from 2nd to 3rd after F-8

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's

ATTENDANCE: 25 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen" 

Tags
Cubs AZ Instructional League

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 10:07 pm

Impressive BP performance by two-way RHP / SS Nazier Mule (Cubs 2022 4th round pick) at Instructs this morning. 

Mule has been rehabbing as a position player (not as a pitcher) at the Cubs Mesa complex, and he looks like he is about ready to play in games, albeit probably initially as a DH. (A return to pitching might have to wait another year). 

It looks like he has gotten a lot stronger since 2022 Instructs (pre-elbow surgery). Lots of hard / loud contact in BP.

Also, TJ rehabbers LHRP Brad Wieck and RHSP Tyler Schlaffer threw "live" BP earlier this week, so they should be close to game-ready as well.

Presuming rhere are no setbacks, Wieck will likely get an NRI to MLB Spring Training, presuming he isn't selected by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft... (Wieck's situation is similar to Nick Burdi with the Padres this time last year).

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 10/09/2023 - 10:18 pm

i am far from a braves fan, but that PHI/ATL game 2 was insane late inning energy.  hope PHI can finish this out at home so i don't have to hear the "tommy hawk chawp" anymore this season.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:25 pm

Fox and FS1 pbp announcers, all different guys, are hyping up ordinary plays this post-season like it's nothing short of baseball history caught on camera. it's getting a bit insane seeing an ordinary double play called like an unassisted triple play by an outfielder.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:52 pm

the #5 wildcard team takes out the #1 AL record team in a 3-0 sweep. being the best is a great advantage, but getting to the playoffs through whatever means sometimes matters more...

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 10/11/2023 - 10:13 pm

The way I would do the MLB playoffs is pretty much like they do it now, with the top two seeds getting a bye in the Wild Card round, but then the top two seeds would have four days off between the end of the MLB regular season and the first game of the LDS instead of five, with the first game of the LDS featuring the #1 and #2 seeds playing each other beginning on Friday. (The LDS matching the Wild Card series winners would start on Saturday, just like they do now). 

The top two seeds would play each other in the LDS (thereby minimizing the negative effect of the four day lay-off because it would affect both teams equally), while at the same time giving the top two seeds a bye in the Wild Card series (a series you don't play you can't lose). It would also give MLB two games on the first Friday of the post-season (which presently has no games).

The "Top Seed" LDS games would be played Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday ( if necessary), and Wednesday (if necessary), and the "Wild Card" LDS games would be played Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday (if necessary), and Thursday (if necessary), played in a 2-3 format (first two games at home, last three on the road, with the #1 seeds getting to choose whether to play the first two games of their  LDS at home or on the road). 

The LCS would then begin on Saturday for one league and on Sunday for the other, and would be played in a 2-2-3 format, with games #1 & #2 played in the home park of the #1 or #2 seed (whichever one of the two wins the LDS match between the two teams), games #3 & #4 played in the home park of the Wild Card series winners that win the LDS,  and then the final three games  (#5 - #6 - #7, if necessary) played in the home park of the #1 or #2 seed. 

This would guarantee that the #1 and #2 seeds will always play each other in the post-season (albeit in the LDS not in the LCS), would give MLB two games on the first Friday of the post-season (which presently is an off day for all teams), and also would guarantee that one of the top two seeds (but not both) will always play in the LCS.

[ ]

Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Thu, 10/12/2023 - 10:54 am

I'd love to see, but not going to happen....

 

3 division winners get byes.  All 3 WC teams play in 1 neutral location in a 3 game round robin. Pick someplace nice & warm, with a roof - split concessions & tickets between the 3 teams.  Host gets a bit of $$$ and recognition of their brand. (Like the All Star Game, can be distributed to cities as a kickback for building a new temple)  First to 2 wins advances; if everybody finishes 1-1, then tiebreaker is run differential.  The RD tiebreak is key b/c it disincentivizes throwing in the towel on a game to save pitchers/players for tomorrow.  Also wouldn't have an off-day between RR & the #1 / WC series.... A) you're the WC, deal with it; B) the RR format ensures that the winner would have had 1 of the previous 3 days off anyway.

 

The #2 / #3 series can start concurrently with the RR, allowing some overlap & fewer dead-schedule days.  Or run at the same time for consistency.

 

Submitted by azbobbop on Thu, 10/19/2023 - 10:40 pm

Phil, let me throw out a what if. Alcantra is not the defensive prospect that PCA is but he is still very, very good in center field. Is there a chance the Cubs see The Jaguar as the future in center field rather than PCA? (I like Cheetah better)

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 10/19/2023 - 10:49 pm

azbobbop: I don't think the Cubs look at it that way. 

I would say the Cubs probably see PCA as their most-likely future CF, but in case that doesn't come to pass, it could be somebody else, like Kevin Alcantara. Or Alexander Canario. Or Brennen Davis, Cole Roederer, Ezequiel Pagan, James Triantos, or Matt Shaw. Who knows? 

No question Kevin Alcantara CAN play CF (at least at this point in his career), but most observers I know project him to be a corner outfielder (probably RF) once he matures physically. 

The worst thing a club can do is lock itself into a roster plan before it's settled, before players prove themselves at the MLB level. Or rush to judgment and make a mistake in self-evaluation that will last a generation (Lou Brock and Bill Madlock). Just keep an open mind and see what happens. So five years from now, maybe Kevin Alcantara will be the Cubs CF. Time will tell.  

Meanwhile, some other things to keep in mind are that Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki (both of whom have full "no trade" rights) are signed through 2026, and PCA and K. Alcantara will not be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2027 (K. Alcantara will get four minor league options and PCA hasn't used any yet). Also, Owen Caissie does not need to be added to the 40 until post-2024 and then he won't be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2028. 

Besides that, Alexander Canario will get a 4th minor league option in 2024, so no need to rush him, either. And Brennen Davis won't be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2026. 

About 4th minor league options... 

Miguel Amaya got a 4th minor league option in 2023 and it was spent. Both Alexander Canario and Christopher Morel get a 4th minor league option in 2024, but in the case of Morel it must (barring a season-ending injury early in the season) be used in 2024 or else it will go away, but for Canario if his 4th option isn't used in 2024, it will be available in 2025, and if it is not used in 2024 or 2025, it will be available in 2026.   

Caleb Kilian gets four minor league options, too (so he won;t be out of options until Spring Training 2026). And if Michael Arias is added to the 40 post-2023, he will get four minor league options.

Not everybody can get one, and it isn't necessarily a matter of a player missing one or more seasons because of an injury. 4th options are not "awarded" by some committee,

There is a very specific (and simple) rule pertaining to a player's eligibility for a 4th minor league option. 

A player who has accrued less than five "full seasons" is eligible for a 4th minor league option.

For the purpose of determining eligibility for a 4th minor league option, a player accrues a "full season" when he spends at least 90 days on the Active List and/or Development List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs in a given season, or (in seasons prior to 2012) spends at least 60 days but less than 90 days on the Active List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by an Injured List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and the Injured List equals at least 90 days or (beginning with the 2012 season) spends at least 30 days but less than 90 days on the Active List and/or Development List of an MLB and/or minor league club or clubs followed by an Injured List assignment where the combined time spent on the Active List and the Injured List equals at least 90 days. 
NOTE: Days spent on Optional Assignment to a club's Spring Training Complex in September count as active days toward determining eligibility for a 4th minor league option. 
CoViD-19 EXCEPTION: With regard to a player's eligibility for a 4th minor league option year in 2021 (and beyond), days spent on Optional Assignment in 2020 counted for nothing, and days spent on an MLB Active List and MLB inactive lists (IL, FMLA/Bereavement, Paternity Leave, et al) counted and were calculated at the prorated 2020 MLB Service Time rate (one day equals 2.78 days of MLB Service Time).

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    bleh.

    at least MIL has lost the past 2 nights, too.

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal pinch hitting for matt mervis vs jansen?

    okay.

  • crunch (view)

    surprising amount of cubs fans at the park, too.  HR really brought them out.

  • Cubster (view)

    hmmmm... 

    4-4

    beisbol can be fun

  • crunch (view)

    4 singles and 0 walks (1 HBP) through 7 innings for cubs batters...amazing they even have 1 run.

  • crunch (view)

    nico gets his 5th error on the year...damn.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Folks, I've known Richard Lovelady since he was an 18 yr old Freshman at East Ga State College in Swainsboro, Ga.

    I was the WBB Coach at EGSC and Richard was their prize recruit from outside of Hinesville, Ga.

    My roommate was the Pitching Coach there.

    Richard showed up a skinny, loose lipped, 83mph Lefty. Pretty good basketball player actually. 

    My roommate became the head coach.

    Richard came back from a minor injury for his Sophmore year a more serious man. He hit 90mph and started mowing GA JUCO hitters down. It was really fun to watch.

    He was the first D1 signee for EGSC baseball (school had only had athletics for five yrs at that point). He went to Kennesaw St and became their closer. One yr later, he hit 100mph and KC drafted him in the 10th Rd. 

    He lost the high velo with a surgery a while back.

    It's so cool to see him in MLB. And now he's a Cub!! It's crazy to realize I actually "know" a Cub.

    He's a legit good guy.

    Easy to root for!!!

     

  • Cubster (view)

    Tim. Thanks for remembering Lee Elia Day. It will always be one of the most epic rants in all sports.  It took about 3 seconds to recognize him from your picture but I  did get it right. 

    Now that Les Grobstein is no longer with us, that might contribute to this grand piece of Cubbery fading.

    Just like fine wine, it should be savored...unedited. 40 years, wow.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Does he have any options left, Phil?

  • crunch (view)

    morel in the lineup and playing 3rd.

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