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

Cold Bats and Fielding Miscues Plague Cubs at Instructs

Nick Brueser clubbed a solo HR and five pitchers combined to toss a four-hitter, as the Athletics defeated the Cubs 3-1 in AZ Instructional League game action Thursday afternoon on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa,AZ. 

Christian Franklin laced an opposite-field RBI triple into the RF corner to account for the lone Cub run. 

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

Cubs pitchers only allowed two hits, but three walks, three HBP, three WP, and four errors gave the A's too many chances. 

Coming off an outstanding AZIL game debut last week at Fitch Park, Cubs 2021 3rd round draft pick LHP Drew Gray struggled with his command throughout his outing. He didn't allow any hits, but he walked three, hit a batter, uncorked two WP. and was constantly pitching from behind in the count, throwing only 48% strikes.  

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

CUBS LINEUP
1. Ezequiel Pagan, CF: 0-4 (F-9, K, L-8, F-7)
2. Christian Franklin, LF: 1-3 (HBP, K, 3B, 4-3, RBI)
3. Owen Caissie, DH: 0-3 (3-1, 4-3, K)
4. Kevin Alcantara, RF: 0-2 (K, 3-U, BB, SB)
5. Miguel Fabrizio, 1B: 1-3 (4-3, 1B, K) 
6. B. J. Murray, 3B: 1-3 (1B, FC, K)
7. Christian Olivo, SS: 0-3 (F-9, F-9, 6-3)
8. Miguel Pabon, 2B: 1-3 (1B, 6-3, K)
9. Pablo Aliendo, C: 0-2 (K, BB, 5-3, R)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Drew Gray: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 1/3 GO/AO, 54 pitches (26 strikes) 
2. Frankie Scalzo Jr: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 3/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (31 strikes) 
3. Eduarniel Nunez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 20 pitches (11 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 4
1. CF Ezequiel Pagan; E-8 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach 2nd base safely) 
2. 3B B. J. Murray: E-5 (two-base fielding error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely)
3. 2B Miguel Pabon: E-4 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
4. 3B B. J. Murray: E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Pablo Aliendo: 0-2 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 13 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

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

Comments

a.romine to the IL for "undisclosed" reasons...aka, assumed positive COVID test

erick castillo up.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

One of the reasons the Cubs would not want to call-up somebody like Christopher Morel for the final weekend of the season is that if a player does not accrue any MLB Service Time in a season, he can be optioned to the minors during the next Spring Training up until 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day EVEN IF HE IS INJURED.

If a player accrues any MLB Service Time in a season and then is injured during the next Spring Training, he must be placed on the MLB IL and he will be paid at the MLB rate and he will accrue MLB Service Time for whatever length of time he is on an MLB IL 

So next season, Miguel Amaya, Alexander Canario, Anderson Espinoza, Brailyn Marquez, Christopher Morel, and Alexander Vizcaino (plus any player the Cubs might add to the 40 after the conclusion of the MLB regular season) can be optioned to the minors even if they get hurt during the off-season or during MLB Spring Training up until 15 days prior to 2022 MLB Opening Day, because they did not accrue any MLB Service Time in 2021. Which is why it is important to not bring these players up to MLB in September, and why it is important to make sure to option these players to the minors by the 15th day prior to MLB Opening Day.     

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Also keep in mind that although CoVoD-19 IL replacement players do not have to be passed through waivers in order to be removed from the 40 and sent back to the minors, the CoViD-19 replacement players with Article XX-D rights (that is, the right to elect free-agency if outrighted) are Biagini, Fargas, and Ladendorf, and so they can elect free-agency after being outrighted. 

Castillo and Giambrone do not have Article XX-D rights so they cannot elect free-agency after being outrighted, but Castillo will be declared an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series if he does not sign a 2022 minor league successor contract before the Rule 9 deadline. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Also, - ALL - players on optional assignment to the minors must be recallled at 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final day of the MLB regular season. These players are then designated as "reserved" until Spring Training. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Another thing. Beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, players cannot be placed on the 60-day IL until the first day of Spring Training.

Players who are already on the 60-day IL must be reinstated no later than 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series.  

A player on the 60-day IL can be placed on Outright Assignmrent Waivers even if he is not healthy enough to play only during a period of time extending from the day after the final game of the MLB regular season until the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. If a player on the 60-day IL is claimed off waivers, he would be automaticaly transferred to the 60-day IL of the claiming club. 

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...