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

Rondon Makes Cub Debut & Cease Fires No Hit Stuff for AZL Cubs

RHP Luis Jimenez hurled five innings of shutout ball with nine strikeouts and combined with two relievers to toss a two-hit shutout, as the AZL Indians whitewashed the AZL Cubs 5-0 in Arizona League game action Saturday (5:30 PM local start time) at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

RHP Dylan Cease got the start for the Cubs and had the best outing I have seen from him yet (and I have seen all of his pro game outings, including "sim" games, intrasquad games, Extended Spring Training games, and AZL games), throwing three dominating innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts (all three swinging) and a 5/1 GO/FO. When he didn't notch a strikeout, he induced weak contact and broken bats from the Tribe hitters. He walked the first man he faced and then retired the next nine batters in a row (K, 3-U, K, 4-3, 6-3, P-6, 4-3, K, 1-3), with the walk coming around to score thanks to two stolen bases and an E-2 overthrow at 3rd base by Cubs catcher Yohan Matos. 

20-year old Venezuelan LHP Manny Rondon (acquired along with an ISBP SBV slot from the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Rafael Lopez just yesterday) made his Cub debut in the game, and looked pretty much like he did the last time I saw him, which was in his last outing for the Angels (against the Cubs) a week ago last Thursday in Tempe, when he surrendered six runs on nine hits (including two triples and a double) in 3.1 IP. This time Rondon worked four innings in relief and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits (including three singles, a double, and a triple). On the positive side, he issued no walks and struck out three (two swinging), with both swinging punch-outs coming on a two-strike change-up (which is his best pitch). And while he did get cuffed around a bit, 71% of his pitches were strikes.  

Rondon works his two-seam fastball at 88-89 MPH and occasionally touches the low 90's with it, but the change-up is his "money" pitch. To make it all work, he has to throw his fastball down at the bottom of the strike zone and can't allow it to get ripped all over the yard while setting up the change-up, and he has had trouble avoiding that outcome in his last two AZL outings. However, he did pitch very well in his first AZL appearance (getting the start and throwing five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts for the Angels versus the A's on AZL Opening Day), and he was the DSL Angels best pitching prospect last season. So perhaps (hopefully) there is a mechanical flaw that can be corrected, and his last two outings will be remembered as just a temporary detour from the Road to Success.  

Cubs 2015 27th round draft pick INF Angelo Amendolare (Jacksonville U.) has been moved-up to AAA Iowa from the AZL Cubs before he had a chance to make his pro debut in an AZL game. Because of promotions, trades, and injuries, the I-Cubs needed bench guys ASAP, and with the 22-year old Amendolare being a mature and polished college senior from a D-1 program (with additional experience playing summer ball in the Cape Cod League last year), he got the unexpected call-up (as did IF-OF Varonex Cuevas, who moved-up to Iowa from Eugene). It's probably just a temporary assignment, but still, that's a nice way to make your pro debut (presuming he gets into a PCL game while he's there). 

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

AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-3 (K, K, K, HBP)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-4 (4-3, 4-3, 6-3, 3-6 FC)
3. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, L-7, 4-U FC) 
4. Joey Martarano, DH: 0-4 (4-U FC, E-5, 6-3, F-7)
5. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-4 (K, K, 6-3, 6-3)
6. Alex Bautista, RF: 0-4 (K, 4-3, P-6, F-8)
7. Yohan Matos, C: 0-2 (6-3, K, HBP)
8. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-1 (BB, BB, F-9, SB, CS)
9. Donnie Cimino, LF: 1-3 (1B, K, 5-3)

AZL CUBS PITCHERS
1. Dylan Cease: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 5/1 GO/FO, 45 pitches (27 strikes) 
2. Tanner Griggs: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 12 pitches (11 strikes) 
3. Manny Rondon: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 5/4 GO/FO, 56 pitches (40 strikes)
4. Ariel Ovando: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GO/FO, 12 pitches (10 strikes)

AZL CUBS ERRORS: 2;
1. C Yohan Matos: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 3rd base allowed runner to score)
2. 3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely and runner to score from 2nd)

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yohan Matos: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)

Comments

Two Cubs minor leaguers were placed on the TEMPORARILY INACTIVE LIST yesterday because they will be playing in the Pan American games 7/11 - 7/19. 

Tennessee CF Reinaldo Almora Jr (formerly known as Albert Almora) is playing for Team USA, and South Bend 3B Jesse Hodges is playing for Team Canada. 

AZ Phil, will the IFA signed on or around July 2 be signed to futures contracts to play next season or will they be playing this season? Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: A 16-year old IFA who does not turn 17 by the conclusion of the 2015 minor league season of the minor league affiliate to which the player is first assigned MUST be "Signed for Future Service" (2016 contract). Other players (the older ones) can sign a 2015 contract and could play this season, but in practice most if not all of the older IFA who sign in July and August will also be Signed for Future Service (2016 contract), since its kind of late in the year to start playing, and any time spent on an Active Roster or DL of a minor league team in a given minor league regular season counts toward the seven seasons required for a minor league player to be eligible to be a minor league FA. 

The main effect of a player being Signed for Future Service (besides the player making his minor league debut the following season) is that the player does not have to be added to a minor league reserve list until Opening Day of the following season. The player is placed on a special list for the balance of the minor league regular season and during the off-season that excludes the player from having to be placed on a minor league reserve list until the start of the next season (after Spring Training).

Also, while a player who is Signed for Future Service can't play in a minor league game until the following season, the player can attend and fully participate in post-season Instructs (in the case of the Cubs, the player could go to AZ Instructs in Mesa and/or to Dominican Instructs at the Cubs Dominican Academy), Minor League Camp (Spring Training), and Extended Spring Training, without restriction.

While a player who is Signed for Future Service does not count against the reserve list of any minor league affiliate until Opening Day of the following season, the player's "Rule 5" clock begins ticking the day he signs. For example, if an IFA signs prior to the conclusion of the regular season of the minor league club to which he is first assigned, the player is considered to have Rule 5 liability for that season, even though he does not make his minor league debut until the folllowing season. So if an IFA signs in August, the question is what was the last date of the regular season of the minor league affiliate to which he was first assigned, and did he sign on or before that date? Since short season minor leagues conclude their regular seasons on different dates, the affiliate to which the player Signed for Future Service is first assigned makes a difference as to when the player becomes Rule 5 Draft eligible for the first time. 

A player who turns 16 anytime July 2nd through August 31st cannot sign after 8/31. If the IFA who turns 16 during the period 7/2-8/31 does not sign by August 31st, the player cannot sign until the start of the next IFA (July 2nd of the following season). 

Another issue comes into play for players who sign after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) or who sign as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) after being eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft. These players must be placed on a minor league active roster or minor league inactive list (DL, Restricted List, et al) no later than 15 days after signing, but the player does not count against a minor league reserve list until the lists are filed on 11/20. So for example, Ian Happ is on the Eugene Active List (Active Roster), but he is not on the Eugene Reserve List or any other minor league reserve list (not until 11/20). 

 

Baxter in for Rizzo.

We're going to close the swearing jar for the next couple of hours.

I meant closed as in the penalty is being suspended. Go nuts!--at least till we get a lead.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.