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

Baez Is Back, But Sox Edge Cubs at Sloan Park

Jake Fincher drilled two singles and a triple and scored two runs (including what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the 9th), as the AZL White Sox rallied for two runs (both unearned) in the 8th and one in the 9th to edge the AZL Cubs 4-3 in Arizona League action Thursday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Javy Baez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - broken finger) saw his first game action since June 7th, playing shortstop for five innings and getting three AB.

Baez topped a one-hop chopper to the third-baseman on a 1-2 pitch with a runner at 3rd and one out in the bottom of the 1st inning (was misplayed into an E-5, with Baez getting credited with an RBI), hammered a line-drive single over the shortstop's head with two outs in the bottom of the 3rd (then advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, before scoring on a Michael Foster RBI double), and grounded out 4-3 on a 3-2 pitch for the final out of the 5th in his last PA.

Baez handled two chances in the field in five innings, a grounder through the box with a runner on 1st base and no outs in the top of the 4th that he quickly turned into a 6-3 DP (stepped on 2nd base, then fired a bullet to 1st to complete the twin-killing), and a slow-roller infield single to short (no play for Javy) with two outs in the top of the 5th. 

Other than being perhaps a bit over-anxious in his first AB, Baez showed no ill effects from the finger injury or the subsequent six-week lay-off.   

Cubs 2015 12th round draft pick P. J. Higgins (Old Dominion U.) made his professional debut in the game, batting 2nd in the order and playing 2B. The 22-year old Higgins is a versatile defender, having played C-2B-3B at ODU, and I would expect him to get the full "Catcher Immersion" treatment at post-season "instructs."

Meanwhile, Higgins had a nice pro debut at the plate, going 2-4. After striking out (swinging) on three pitches in his first AB in the 1st inning and grounding out 4-3 his second time up in the 3rd, Higgins belted a line-drive single to center in the 5th (unfortunately, Robert Garcia was thrown out at the plate trying to score from 2nd on the play), and then clubbed a lead-off double off the right-centerfield fence in the 8th. 

In AZL Cubs roster news, RHRP Scott Frazier (Cubs 2013 6th round draft pick - Pepperdine) and OF Alex Bautista (Cubs 2015 22nd round draft pick - Lindsey Wilson College) have been moved-up to Eugene, and OF Roberto Caro is back with the AZL Cubs after spending 15 days with the AAA Iowa Cubs as a temporary replacement. (Four I-Cubs position players were placed on the DL the first week of July). 

Bautista put up a 262/308/393 slash-line in 17 games for the AZL Cubs, after hitting 371/466/728 with 19 HR & 72 RBI, 13 doubles, and 27 SB (9 CS) in 60 games (251 PA) as a college senior at LWC in 2015 (earning him first-team NAIA All-American honors). 

Frazier, who features a 95-97 MPH fastball that touches 98-99, has seemingly conquered his battle with the yips, at least getting to the point where he can throw enough strikes to (usually) get through an inning without walkng the world (or waking the dead). 

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

AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 1-4 (BB, K, 2B, F-7, 6-4 FC, R, SB) 
2. P. J. Higgins, 2B: 2-4 (K, 4-3, 1B, 2B)
3a. Javy Baez SS: 1-3 (E-5, 1B, 4-3, R, RBI)
3b. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-0 (3-4 SH)
4. Michael Foster, LF: 2-4 (1B, 2B, 1-3, 6-2 FC, R, RBI)
5. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 1-4 (4-6 FC, 4-3, K, 2B, RBI)
6. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (L-6, P-3, BB, F-9)
7. Angelo Amendolare,  DH: 0-3 (P-3, 5-3, 5-3, BB
8. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 0-4 (F-8, 3-1, F-9, P-1)
9. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-4 (4-3, F-8, 1-3, 1B)

AZL CUBS PITCHERS
1. Dylan Cease: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 BALK, 4/2 GO/FO, 47 pitches (25 strikes) 
2. John Michael Knighton: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0  R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/FO, 23 pitches (17 strikes)
3. M. T. Minacci: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/FO,  18 pitches (9 strikes)
4. Heath Dwyer: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 17 pitches (14 strikes)
5. Mark Malave: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER),  0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GO/FO, 23 pitches (17 strikes) 

AZL CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. SS Andruw Monasterio: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. 3B Varonex Cuevas: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely & unearned run to score)

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Marcus Mastrobuoni: 2-2 CS

AZL CUBS BASERUNNNG ADVENTURES
1. Robert Garcia - thrown out 8-2 attempting score from 2nd base on one-out line-drive single to CF in 5th
2. P. J. Higgins - thrown out 6-2 attempting score from 3rd base on grounder to shortstop with one out in 8th
3. Varonex Cuevas - thrown out 8-4-2-5 attempting to take 3rd base after two-out RBI double in 8th

 

Comments

AZ Phil, Any news on whether D.J. Wilson is just getting further instruction and indoctrination to the Cubs Way on the side or is he dealing with an injury? Thanks!

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

K-DUB: I haven't seen D. J. Wilson since July 13th. He has not been in uniform or on the bench, and I have not seen him sitting with the AZL Cubs inactive pitchers and injured players in the stands during games.

He was in the posted starting lineup at AZL Royals on July 15th, but for some reason he did not make the trip to Papago Park with the team. It's possible he was injured during batting practice that day, or he may have returned home to Ohio for personal reasons, or at the request of the Cubs.  

I do know that 3B Wladimir Galindo has been battling left wrist inflammation for the past three months (he missed the last five weeks of Extended Spring Training because of it), and while he did begin the AZL season on the AZL Cubs active list and played in a number of games (hitting 348/392/500 in 18 AZL games), he has been shut-down again, and I don't know when and/or if he is expected back this season. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks, AZ Phil. I was wondering about Galindo as well. The Mesa line-up is pretty boring these days without those two. I was excited to see how Galindo would fair in the VSL after signing as the 25th ranked IFA per MLB and was pleased with is performance as a 17-year-old. Many times the jump from the VSL/DSL to the rookie leagues stateside can prove challenging, so I was extra pleased to see how well Galindo was hitting this season. I hope he recovers well.

per Cubs Den: Ian Happ to South Bend Scott Frazier to Eugene

Good news on Baez! Bad news on continuing organization-wide incompetence on the bases.

Paul Sullivan writes today that the Cubs should focus on the wild card and forget about catching the Cardinals. I have absolutely no idea what this means he thinks the Cubs should do, from a practical perspective, and he gives no explanation. Should they try harder against the Giants and Pirates than the Cardinals? Should they only try to win 88 games? How would they play differently if they were focused on catching the Cardinals?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Seems pretty clear. Don't trade long term assets for a short term run as the best case scenario is a one game play off in which the acquired assets might not even play. For example trading for Hamels is fine, but there is little reason to trade for Price.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

disagree...i found the main narrative was a story about how one cannot overcome the oligarchy society they live in, even with a last minute power surge toward toppling the establishment. it's a nice reminder to the reader that we don't live in a fairy tale and it should be quite a shock to the emotionally coddled masses one runs into today. that said, it could use a subplot about monster trucks or ninjas to bring it all together...that would have been sweeeeeeet. final score: 7/10

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.