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

Caratini's Big Day Spoiled by Costly Errors & Mental Mistakes

Narciso Crook bounced a game-tying RBI double down the LF line with one out in the bottom of the 9th and then circled the bases as LF Shawon Dunston Jr over-ran the ball for a walk-off two-base error, as the Reds rallied to edge the Angels/Cubs co-op squad 9-8 in AZ Advanced Instructional League action this morning at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ.

Garrett Boulware went 3-3 with three singles, two RBI, and a run scored, and Taylor Sparks drilled an RBI single, stole a base, and scored on a Boulware RBI single in the bottom of the 1st, and belted a solo HR in 4th, to aid the Reds cause. 

Narciso Crook went 4-5 in the game, collecting an RBI single and a run scored in the 1st, a single, a stolen base, and a run scored in the 3rd, a single and a stolen base in the 7th, and then the game-tying RBI double and game-winning run scored in the 9th.  

Victor Caratini (Cubs) had an even bigger day albeit in a losing cause, reaching base all five times he batted (a line-drive single and a run scored in the 1st, a two-run double in the 2nd, a walk and a run scored in the 4th, a game-tying two-run HR in the 6th, and a line-drive single and a run scored that gave the Angels/Cubs squad the lead in the top of the 9th). 

Shawon Dunston Jr (Cubs) had three hits (including an RBI single) and a 9th inning sacrifice fly that gave the Angels/Cubs an 8-7 lead, but he also was picked-off 1st base in the top of the 1st with the bases loaded and two outs when he forgot the count and took off for 2nd on a 2-2 pitch, and then of course there was the two-base error in the bottom of the 9th that allowed the winning run to score.   

RHSP Duane Underwood Jr (Cubs) got the start for the Angels/Cubs and he struggled right from the gitgo, allowing three runs on four hits in both the 1st and 3rd innings, and the Sparks solo HR in the 4th, for a total of seven runs (six earned) on ten hits (including one HR), a walk, and a WP in 4.0 IP. He did strike out five (four swinging) and had one 1-2-3 inning (the bottom of the second) in his four innings of work, but he also frequently was pitching from behind in the count (he threw only 57% strikes), laboring through a 27-pitch 1st inning and a 23-pitch bottom of the 3rd. Underwood also failed to back up home on an RBI single in the 1st that cost Rashad Crawford a throwing error (Underwood stood frozen on the mound as the ball bounced past catcher Victor Caratini before dribbling into the third-base dugout).  

Here is the box score from today's game (Cubs players highlighted in bold and underlined

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP
1. Rashad Crawford, RF-DH: 0-2 (K, BB, L-7, BB, R)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
2. Charcer Burks, CF-DH: 0-4 (K, 3-U, F-8, L-9, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
3. Victor Caratini, C-DH: 4-4 (1B, 2B, BB, HR, 1B, 4 R, 4 RBI)
4a. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K, BB, RBI)
4b. Michael Strentz, PH-1B: 0-1 (BB, K, R)
NOTE: STRENTZ & CARATINI SWITCHED SLOTS LAST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Wade Wass, DH-C: 3-5 (1B, K, 1B, K, 1B, SB) 
6. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, 3-U, F-8 SF, 2 RBI, PO)
7. Andrew Daniel, 3B: 0-5 (L-9, 6-3, K, 6-3, L-8)
8. Kody Eaves, SS: 1-3 (1B, BB, K, K, BB, R, SB)
9. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (1B, 5-3, BB, 4-3, K, R, CS)
10. Natanael Delgado, DH-RF: 0-2 (K, 1-3)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER 
11. Bo Way, DH-CF: 0-1 (5-3, BB, SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
 
REDS LINEUP:
1. Blake Trahan, SS: 2-5 (1B, F-7, F-8, 4-3, 2B, 2 R)
2. Shedric Long, 2B: 1-5 (1-3, 5-3, L-6, 1B, 3-1, CS)
3. Narciso Crook, CF: 4-5 (1B+E9, 1B, 1-3, 1B, 2B+E7, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB)
4. Taylor Sparks, 3B: 2-4 (1B, K, HR, K, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)
5. Garrett Boulware, C-DH: 3-3 (1B, 1B, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
6. Kevin Franklin, 1B: 1-4 (K, 1B, K, F-9, R)
7. Chadwick Tromp, DH-C: 0-2 (F-8, 5-3) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER 
8. Jon Matthews, LF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 4-3, K, RBI)
9. Reydel Medina, RF: 0-3 (4-3, BB, K, F-7)
10. Cory Thompson, DH #2: 0-4 (K, E-5, K, K)

ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS
1. Duane Underwood Jr: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 4/3 GO/AO, 74 pitches (42 strikes)
2. Michael Jensen: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 7 pitches (5 strikes) 
3. Jordan Minch: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (10 strikes) 
4. Matt Brazis: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 22 pitches (17 strikes)
5. Steve Perakslis: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)

REDS PITCHERS
1. Ismael Guillon: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 BALK, 22 pitches (16 strikes) 
2. P. J. Cerreto: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (16 strikes) 
3. El'Hajj Muhammad: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 66 pitches (37 strikes) 
4. Carlos Machorro: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/AO, 27 pitches (16 strikes) 
5. Jimmy Herget: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 4/0 GO/AO, 29 pitches (18 strikes) 
6. Jake Johnson: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 22 pitches (15 strikes) 

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: 4 
1. RF Rashad Crawford: E-9 (errant throw home on RBI single allowed batter to advance to 3rd)
2. C Victor Caratini: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 3B Andrew Daniel:  E-5 (two-out throwing error with bases loaded allowed batter to reach base safely & unearned run to score) 
4. LF Shawon Dunston Jr: E-7 (two-base fielding error on RBI double allowed batter to circle bases & score winning run)

REDS ERRORS: 1 
P El'Hajj Muhammad: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)

ANGELS/CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Victor Caratini: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)
2. Wade Wass: 1-2 CS

REDS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Garrett Boulware: 0-1 CS, 1 PO
2. Chadwick Tromp: 1-3 CS

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 21 (mostly scouts) 

 

Comments

r.tejada (NYM) has a broken leg thanks to utley's slide. it's not a huge loss overall from a competitor's POV, but it's a big knock to their middle-IF depth.

"Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that Lance Lynn remains "penciled" in to start Game 4 of the NLDS despite appearing in relief in Game 2." he threw 24 pitches last night, fwiw.

The Cubs have selected the contract of catcher Taylor Teagarden from Iowa, and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada has been Designated for Assignment. 

The reason this move needed to be made was that Teagarden accepted an outright assignment to the minors in August, and as an Article XX-D player, Teagarden had the right to elect free-ageny when he was outrighted, either immediately (in which case his contract would have been terminated and he would have received no termination pay), or defer his election until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (as long as he wasn't added back to an MLB 40-man roster in the meantime). So Teagarden opted to defer his right to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (and then he could make the election anytime starting on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th), with the possibility that he could get added back to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster in the meantime. 

If the Cubs had not added Teagarden back to their MLB 40-man roster prior to his electing free-agency, they would risk having Teagarden elect free-agency and leave them with Luke Carlin as the only catcher with MLB experience who could be a potential injury replacement in the unlikely (but possible) event that two of their catchers go down to injury during the course of the post-season. 

Only players who were on the Cubs MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day DL or on the reserve list of a Cubs minor league affiliate as of midnight on 8/31 are eligible to serve as a replacement for an injured post-season eligible player. Because he was not on the Cubs MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day DL as of midnight on August 31st, Teagarden was not automatically post-season roster eligible, but because he was assigned to the Cubs AAA Iowa club as of midnight August 31st, he could replace an injured player (obviously it would be a catcher) during the course of the post-season, if the situation should arise (hopefully it won't). 

Actually I'm surprised the Cubs didn't make this move on September 1st, or at least on the last day of the MLB regular season. I suspect that the Cubs received some assurance from Teagarden that he would let the them know if and when he decided to elect free-agency, allowing the Cubs to postpone adding him to their MLB 40-man roster until  absolutely necessary.

Thanks AZ PHIL. He's not the worst insurance policy. Where do you think Dewees projects? Is he another MLB starter in your opinion?

E-MAN: From what I have seen of him, I would say Donnie Dewees is an MLB CF prospect.

He has plus-speed, he can bunt for a hit, he hits the ball square and usually with hard contact (he led NCAA D-1 in hits in 2015), and he has at least occasional power (he was tied for 4th in NCAA D-1 in HR in 2015, although he did not show the HR power much at Eugene or at Instructs). He has a below-average arm, however, and he is an aggressive hitter (he doesn't draw a lot of walks). 

I would compare Dewees to Jake Hannemann, except Dewees is a better hitter and a more-polished all-around baseball player than Hannemann (who played both football and baseball at BYU, and is still a work-in-progress), and Hannemann is a batter base-stealer. 

 

the KC/HOU game is also featuring the "too common" 6-10-15+ empty seats right behind home plate thing...and that's not counting the scattering of empty seats just out of camera range in the same area. i imagine some of it is being pushed by scalpers who lost their bets on the seats, but i hope we don't see much of that at wrigley.

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 1:34pm Permalink Cubs go home 1-1, with Arrieta starting game 3, I like our chances in this series. Tomorrow's pitching matchup is lousy on paper, so today is obviously crucial. Will be fun to watch. My two keys are scoring early, and keeping Lester's pitch count below 15 per inning.
Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 2:33pm Permalink You have angered the baseball gods. Now Lester will lose and Hendricks will win.
Close...

Which Starter for Game 4? So, in checking the advanced stats, Lester's ERA on 3 days rest is much better than Hammel's fairly atrocious Postseason record. However, Lester's ERA is like a full point lower on 4 days rest and better on 5 days, career-wise. If the Cubs would be fortunate enough to win tomorrow, which button so you push to potentially slam the door on the NLDS?

utley suspended 2 games (games 3+4) for his slide into 2nd...also torre and the player's union are going to be in talks (later on) about changing contact rules for middle infielders.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

MLB rule 7.08b, a runner is out if "He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball" It seems like they could expand/clarify/enforce this rule so that it includes runners sliding into a base. The Kang injury was very unfortunate.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • 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.