Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Cintron Gets Nailed by Line Drive to Face

A day after he drove in the winning run with a PH single in the bottom of the 9th, Alex Cintron apparently escaped serious injury when he was struck in the face by a line-drive off the bat of Mark DeRosa while standing in the on deck circle in the bottom of the 6th inning of this afternoon's game between the Angels and the Cubs at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

Upon seeing what had happened, DeRosa jumped into the air and then went to his knees with his face buried briefly in his hands.

Cintron lay motionless on his stomach for a couple of minutes before finally rolling over and sitting up, and being helped to his feet by the Cubs training staff. He walked into the clubhouse under his own power, and DeRosa was able to resume his AB, relieved that his teammate was apparently not seriously injured.

I couldn't help but be reminded of the possible career-ending eye injury suffered by Cardinals outfielder Juan Encarnacion last year, an injury that occurred under almost identical circumstances (struck by line drive while standing in on-deck circle)..  

As for the game, the Cubs scored three quick runs in the bottom of the 1st off Angels starter Ervin Santana to take a 3-0 lead. 

Eric Patterson, who played the entire game in CF (one fly ball, one nice running catch), led off by working an eight-pitch walk. E-Pat then stole second, and came around to score on a double ripped into the LF corner by Alfonso Soriano. 

Derrek Lee then lofted a high fly into right-center that resulted in a double, taking advantage of the wind taking the ball to the fence and the centerfielder failing to get a good read on the ball. 

Because it looked like the ball would be caught,.Soriano tagged up at 2nd, and was only able to advance to 3rd.

Aramis Ramirez followed with a ground single between short and third into LF that scored Soriano and sent D-Lee to 3rd.

Kosuke Fukudome then hit what looked like a certain DP grounder, but he hustled to beat the throw to first and thus was able to net a FC RBI in the process.

With the Cubs up 3-0, starter Ryan Dempster took the hill in the top of the second, hoping to shut-down the Angels as he did in the top of the first, when he retired the Halos 1-2-3 on just six pitches (two grounders and a fly out). But it sure didn't work out that way.

Casey Kotchman led-off the 2nd with a weak dribbler down the 1st base line. Dempster sort of laziily loitered over to the ball, and then realizing "Oh, shit! I better hurry," he groped for the ball while off-balance, and then threw the ball not to Derrek Lee at 1st base, but rather like a drunken sailor to a surprised Mark DeRosa, who was located somewhere between 1st and 2nd. .   

So with a runner at first thanks his own error and no outs, Dempster imploded, allowing six runs on five hits (two doubles, two triples, a home run). 

Finally after he had thrown 40 pitches in the inning (that's right, 40 pitches in just 2/3 of an inning), and with Angels runners on 1st and 3rd, Manager Lou Piniella decided Demp had had probably enough work for the day--or at least for the inning, anyway--and replaced him with Michael Wuertz. And Wuertz did what Wuertz does best... stop the bleeding with a strikeout 

And then Wuertz and every pitcher who followed pitched great.

Wuertz had four strikeouts in 1.1 IP. Kerry Wood had a 1-2-3 FIVE-pitch 4th inning (making me think Uncle Lou might want to try Woody's first "back-to-back" relief outing tomorrow), Jon Lieber threw four shutout innings (5th through the 8th - 58 pitches, 39 strikes, 6/3 GB/FB), allowing just two hits and a walk,with three K's, and Jose Ascanio worked a shutout 9th and looked OK. 

The Cubs were able to score a couple of single runs to make the score closer, one in the 5th on a triple banged off the centerfield hitting background by Derrek Lee followed by a wild pitch, and another in the 6th on a HR over the LF fence by Henry Blanco

But they could get no further, and lost 6-5.

I think the big problem with Dempster as a starter will be pitch counts, not so much the game pitch count (although that, too), but he has already made three starts where he has thrown anywhere from 30-40 pitches in a single inning, and that just isn't going to cut it. And if I remember correctly, throwing too many pitches per inning is one of the main reasons the Cubs decided to move him from the starting rotation to the bullpen (and the closer spot) a month into the 2005 season, wasn't it?  

box score

Comments

Phil,

What in the name of holy hell will they do with Dempster? We've already got three guys vying for the closers job, we seem to have a surplus of decent arms in the middle and if Dempster is tossing 40-pitch innings, no one is going to want him in trade. He bats righty. Can he play all three outfield positions?

I don't understand why he wasn't happy closing. He actually got the job done a large percentage of the time. Why mess with a good thing? ... or, eh, why mess with a decent thing?

RYNO: I think Dempster would like to sup at the table of starting pitcher free-agency post-2008, and he can only do that if he can re-establish himself as a starter in 2008.

But I really don't see him as a good fit with the Cubs in that role. Either you use him as a closer (which isn't going to happen), or you try to move him him.

Personally, as of right now I'd go with Lieber and Marquis as the final two members of the rotation to start the season, with Marshall at AAA if Lieber or Marquis falter or if Marquis gets traded.

Dempster should probably be starting someplace where the expectations are much lower (like TEX, KC, BAL, PIT, WAS, or FLA), but naturally those clubs probably aren't going to want to pay him $5M just so he can showcase himself for a POSSIBLE big FA pay-out post-2008 or just so the club MIGHT be able to swing a 7/31 deadline deal with a contender, at least unless the Cubs take back an equal-amount albatross contract in the deal. Jay Payton (BAL) makes about the same salary as Dempster in 2008, but otherwise that's about it.

So like Cubnut says, it's a dilemma...

What to do with Ryan Dempster?

Indeed, sir!

Being that two players have been hit in the face in the las year in the on-deck circle the only reasonable thing to do is pass a rule that requires all batters to be wearing catcher's masks while on deck or facing the playing field in the dugout.

Larger bylines, particularly in the comments. The quicklinks menu up top is now collapsible.

[ ]

In reply to by 10man

wanted Zito money and only 3 teams were going to offer it. What it came down to for the Twins was that they were better off moving him to the NL than take Ellsbury and a few B-/C+ level guys from from the Sox or Hughes and a few B-/C+ guys from the Yanks. Humber has had on the best springs this year out of any pitcher in MLB and Gomez was a huge CF upgrade for them long term over what they had in their system.

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

and Bruce Levine on his saturday am gabfest (Talking Baseball on AM 1000) said Hendry was quite upset with the sun-times article because it again named cub players including new ones (ie. Ceda) which brings on a new round of phone calls from their agents asking what is going on and is their player getting moved. The longer this drags on the more problematic it gets, time to do it or don't do it, but please never deal with the Orioles again.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

and don't ever deal with andy macphai again, should he leave baltimore. Wasn't macphail around when the sosa to yankees trade almost went down? The guy has no ability to make a deal without it looking like gigantic clusterf#ck

Two quick questions for Arizona Phil: Andres Blanco was just sent to Minor League camp. Campusano, Closser and Figueroa were sent as well. Are they camping with AAA or AA? Also, with the major league club sending people down, are the minor clubs sending people down the line as well?

Cubs release 3 minor leaguers

Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 12:17pm.

http://cubs.scout.com/2/737697.html

Chris Walker, Tim Layden and Miguel Cuevas.

=======================

ROB G: Actually, the Cubs released six minor leaguers prior to the first minor league Spring Training games yesterday, as the rosters of the five "groups" were reorganized.

Besides OF Chris Walker, LHP Tim Layden, and RHP Miguel Cuevas, the Cubs also released OF Brian Leclerc (2007 31st Round pick out of U. of Florida), 3B Billy Mottram (2007 36th Round pick out of Dowling College), and catcher Matt Hudgins (2007 NDFA out of Virginia Weslyan).

I had my eye on Mottram he put up some nice stats in college. Are the releases of the guys drafted last year 'mutually agreed' or guys the Cubs don't want to waste roster slots on?

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.