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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Sunday Funnies: Watching Playoffs with my Bears Anger.

Submitted by CubbyBlue on

I try to keep my Bears Anger in check, but it bleeds out all the time.

Anyway, there really is good football to watch today.
Happy Playoff Sunday.

Comments

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 01/24/2016 - 01:46 pm

for those of you with Baseball Prospectus subscriptions, here's a really interesting article on the Cubs from the series called: Rubbing Mud by Matthew Trueblood, from 1-7-16. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=28170 Some really interesting insights on (it's a long article, but a few highlights)... Kyle Hendricks:
Kyle Hendricks is badly misunderstood. People say things like that he gets by with his sharp intellect and guile. They say his stuff wouldn’t work in short bursts. They talk about him as a finesse pitcher. None of that is really true. In truth, Hendricks is a two-pitch pitcher who dominates hitters with one of the best changeups in baseball. Finesse pitchers don’t survive on two pitches... Nor do they have this much trouble turning over the lineup card three times...Hendricks isn’t a guy whose stuff won’t work in short stints; he’s a guy whose stuff only works in short stints. In those stints, though, that stuff works marvelously.
Basically, he adds that accumulating Cahill, Warren, Wood and Richard are a part of a strategy to get the most out of Hendricks (and the bad half of a season that Hammel has been noted for). Essentially, piggybacking. Maddon's use of runners in motion:
Maddon put 180 runners in motion, more than did any other manager. (The Rays, Pirates, and Giants each put 173 men in motion, though each of them also had more runners in positions to run than did the Cubs.)
Replay challenges:
Maddon and his coaching staff orchestrated the best use of instant replay of any staff in the league last year. Ten teams won a higher percentage of their replay challenges, but the Cubs still won over 57 percent of theirs, and a league-high 28 overall challenges. Perhaps as importantly, opponents won only 18 challenges against them.
Model modern plate appearance:
They did more damage than anyone else when they put the first pitch in play, and they swung at the first pitch more often, on average, than all but seven other teams. Yet they also saw more pitches per plate appearance than any other team in the league. To put this in perspective, the four clubs immediately trailing the Cubs in pitches per trip to the plate (the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians and Mets) were all among the five least aggressive teams on the first pitch.
In other words, the Cubs weren’t afraid to go up to bat and bash the first hitter’s pitch they got. When they didn’t get that pitch, though, or (as was often the case; they did also lead the league in whiff rate) when they missed it, they dug in and made opponents earn every out, at the highest possible cost. They were able to both wear down opposing pitchers with their patience, and punish them with their power. As a result, only the Blue Jays and Dodgers chased opposing starters earlier, on average, than the Cubs did last season.
It’s likely that the Cubs front office addressed their lineup by adding Heyward and Zobrist mostly for all of the simple, broad-strokes reasons they’ve listed publicly: their strong contact rates in a strikeout-prone lineup, their balanced skill sets, and the market’s failure to properly value them because of their ages (penalizing Zobrist too much for being fairly old, not prizing Heyward enough for being radically young). In so doing, though, they have added two players who not only help reshape their lineup to maximize the damage it can do, but increase that lineup’s ability to score as the game progresses.

[ ]

Submitted by Old and Blue on Tue, 01/26/2016 - 01:43 am

Thankfully, the Cubs finally have to think about a season considerably longer than 162 games. I won't be surprised to see Maddon go to whatever they are now calling the emerging practice of 3-4 inning stints by multiple pitchers in one game, over and over again. Even if someone emerges out of that group, there's a much longer season to contend with.

[ ]

Submitted by billybucks on Sun, 01/24/2016 - 01:13 pm

So Ron Rivera and Greg Olsen are part of a dominant NFC championship team headed to the Super Bowl, while the Bears have missed the playoffs for 5 straight years, fired a joke of a head coach in Trestman, don't do anything well, and have needs at just about any position you can name.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 01:38 pm

i still don't get all the hype over pitch framing. the best regulars give you 1-1.75 extra strikes a game. the worst take away 1-1.5 per game. a majority of regulars blip somewhere between the -1 and +1 territory. it's totally worth tracking and it's an important snapshot, but it's the flavor-of-the-moment that seems to be a bit too hyper-important. as far as schwarb goes, i think schwarb's main issues before caring about that are his how many pitches clanked off his glove, how his lack of movement didn't stop many wild pitches (along with the scattering of passed balls), and his arm. even if he was an ace at pitch framing, an extra 1.5 Ks a game doesn't make up for any of that other stuff.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 01:31 pm

Wrong-way Phil Rogers is at it again. Proposing multiple trades for Jonathan Lucroy. His Cub based improbable trade proposal swaps Montero for Lucroy, with Almora, Candelario (to Brewers), Vogelbach and McKinney (to Rays) in a 3 way trade involving the Rays. Rays get Montero, Cubs get Rays former 1st round RHP Taylor Guerrieri. Brewers get Faria and O'Connor from Rays. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/162613138/five-potential-trades-for-jonat… must have taken a lot of tequila/absinthe to come up with some of these.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 01:55 am

JACOS: Ian Happ was moved to 2B at Instructs. I mentioned it in passing in a couple of posts and comments at the time, but I probably should have made it more prominent. The basic instructs squad only played one game, but he worked hard in drills, although he seemed a bit stiff at 2B (he played 2B in college).    

The Cubs also moved INF Vimael Machin (2015 10th round draft pick - VCU) to catcher and Dominican catcher Yohan Matos (2013 IFA - $270K bonus) to RF, and Chris Pieters ($350K bonus - Curacao - 2011) continued his conversion from LHP to CF. 

[ ]

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 01:39 pm

I would say it has to do with the center-fielder sweepstakes in the organization right now. There are a bunch of CF candidates in the low minors, largely because the Cubs drafted three outfielders in the first four rounds last June, including a fourth rounder, Darryl Wilson, who signed for $800 K over slot. Four potential CFs who could converge on South Bend at some point this season are Happ, Dewees, (Eddy Julio) Martinez and Wilson. If they don't converge at SB, it will happen higher up. Eloy Jimenez will probably claim right field. Left field is not a good option for an athletic player. A decent 2B who can hit is a better prospect than a left fielder who can hit.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 01/26/2016 - 01:57 pm

much like schwarb catching, it's most likely one of those things that won't hurt to try with a nice upside if it works out. i don't think many are expecting it to work out given what was said about his play at 2nd pre-draft. going from 2nd back to LF shouldn't be much of a return-to-learning curve even if he spends the next few years almost exclusively at 2nd.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 01:17 am

One thing to keep in mind about Billy McKinney is that while he hasn't displayed a lot of HR power in games, he did win the HR Derby at instructs post-2014. He definitely has HR power.

McKinney does need to work harder on his defense, though, because he sometimes looks a bit lazy and disinterested in the field. He also has a slightly below-average OF arm, so although he has played RF in the minors, he very likely will be a LF at the MLB level.

I would rate McKInney as one of the Cubs Top 5 prospects. He can rake. 

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 01/27/2016 - 01:29 pm

"Three weeks later, On August 22, Crull died. Ten hours later the Cubs beat the Giants 3–2 at Wrigley Field and Murcer hit his 24th home run. At that point the Cubs' record was 70–53, and they were 7½ games out, in 2nd place. The Cubs slumped and finished at .500 with an 81–81 record." cubbery is timeless.

[ ]

Submitted by Old and Blue on Fri, 01/29/2016 - 01:53 pm

I saw somewhere where the Cubs are monitoring him daily, whatever that's supposed to mean. I think it was Levine via MLB Trade Rumors. Anyway, the article seemed to imply that the Cubs are still interested. I hope that's not the case. Fowler gave us a nice year last year, especially the second half, but man, it's just not a need, and I really want to see a full year of Soler.

Submitted by Hagsag on Fri, 01/29/2016 - 01:43 pm

According to The Trib, the Cubs have invited 18 nonrosters players to camp. pitchers: Stephen Fife,Brandon Gomes, Jean Machi, Felix Pena,Jonathon Pettibone ?, Armando Rivero, Drew Rucinski, Duane Underwood, Luis Cruz, and Jack Leathersich. infielders: Munenori Kawasaki, Jesus Guzman, and Kris Negron. outfielders: Albert Almora, Juan Perez, and John Andreoli. catchers: Taylor Davis and Tim Federowicz

Submitted by Real redbird on Mon, 03/07/2016 - 03:04 pm

It looks as though the Cards youngsters are doing well, and Waiwright did well his first time out, gut was a little wild. Piscotty and Girchuik doing really well. I think every Cub - Cardinal game this year will be a nail biter.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

Click HERE for the last 50 comments