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

Wednesday Cubs Hot Stove Round-Up

I'll keep this brief...

- Jerry Crasnick says the Cubs will be in on Ben Sheets if they lose out on Dempster and Peavy. I suppose that could be an and/or since the Cubs were considering both.

- It seems someone in the mass media has finally gotten around to mentioning that Jake Peavy is a huge injury risk.

- Jeff Passan returns and I mostly ignore everything in it.

- Rosenthal says the Padres now want Single-A catcher Tyler Flowers from the Braves instead of center fielder Gorkys Hernandez. He says the Cubs have given from six to eight names for the Padres to choose from.

- Bruce Miles was apparently on the radio and says Felix Pie and Ronny Cedeno aren't of that much interest to the Padres and they're more interested in Josh Vitters, Welington Castillo, Sean Marshall and possibly some others.

Comments

As long as it is a 1 year incentive laden deal for Sheets fine, if its anything that requires a big commitment in terms of dollars and years, no.

Not to save the internet or anything, but I was intrigued by this line in your summary--"Bruce Miles was apparently on the radio and says Felix Pie and Ronny Cedeno aren't of that much interest to the Padres and they're more interested in Josh Vitters, Welington Castillo, Sean Marshall"--because Miles doesn't usually have first-hand information or insider knowledge. He's more of a paid blogger than a reporter. So I checked your link, and it says that Jim Memolo was on the radio saying these things about Pie and Cedeno. Miles threw around the other names on his blog of 11/7:
Young major-league pitcher Sean Marshall is likely in the offer as is Felix Pie, who has bounced up and down. Believe it or not, the Cubs do have several other minor-leaguers they can offer. Among them: --Catcher Welington Castillo, who played in the Futures Game this year. He hit .298 at Class AA Tennessee before getting a promotion to Class AAA Iowa. He was at big-league camp this past February, and if he's not traded, he'll be there again in '09. --Third baseman Josh Vitters, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in 2007. He played at Boise (A) and Peoria (A) this year, hitting .328 with a .365 OBP at Boise.
Just some players the Cubs "can offer," not "have offered," and nothing about who the Padres are interested in. In spite of all the gossip, I'm going to assume that Jim Hendry would not mention Josh Vitters in a conversation about Peavy.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

way to cite a 5-day old story that's already been on here, suffice to say things can change.

I didn't hear the interview, but from that link it does seem that it is Memolo that was saying those things about Pie and Cedeno. Once again, apologies to the Internet.

As for offers, no one really knows as Hendry keeps things close to the vest. Cubs might not trade Vitters and I hope they don't, but saying the Padres are interested (as a few other reporters have) isn't much of a reach. They seem to like some Flowers kid in Atlanta which means catching is also on their mind, so Castillo makes sense too.

If Samardzija is out of the picture, I can't imagine a deal getting done with the Cubs that doesn't involve Vitters unless Towers is absolutely forced to dump Peavy and the Braves fall out of the picture.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If San Diego wanted Flowers, they want him more tonight: he hit three home runs this afternoon for our Mesa Solar Sox. The last one was his tenth. Tommy Hanson, another guy the Padres wanted but won't get, is 4-0 for the Solar Sox. Today he struck out nine in five innings. This is a strong Mesa squad, not much thanks to the Cubs. Colvin is on sick leave, and Clevenger and Spears seem to have retreated to the end of the bench. Darwin Barney usually plays short, though, and has raised his average to .375 after about 65 at bats.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Well, that's one list. Here are a couple others. In the AFL top ten in BA, 2005: Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Brendan Harris, Andre Ethier, Andy LaRoche. Also hitting .300 or above: Stephen Drew, Nick Markakis, Ryan Garko, Dan Uggla. AFL hitters with BA above .320, 2006: Yunel Escobar, Kevin Frandsen, Ben Zobrist, Hunter Pence, Troy Tulowitzki, Mark Reynolds, Ryan Braun. It's a little soon to look at 2007, but Longoria and DeWitt were in there. I sometimes wonder where you guys think ballplayers come from. Free agency? Or maybe the stork brings them? When Fuld was MVP in 2007, nobody had more than six home runs. Flowers has 10 in 62 at bats. And other than the fact that Lou will never play a guy in the outfield who has 3-home-run power, what's wrong with Sam Fuld? He says his hand was injured in the first half last season. Give him a break. He got it going in August: 325/424/445. I'm a Cub fan, he's a Cub, so I like him.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

apparently you missed this...

a lot of good players do play in it, but success in the AFL, which is a very friendly hitting environment, doesn't mean a whole lot...

on the other hand, you did list a a virtual who's who of top prospects the last few years. I think Dan Uggla is the only one who really used the AFL as a springboard.

My point being, AFL numbers don't mean much, the good players that come out of there were already considered good players before they got there 99% of the time. Flowers is already a pretty high-end prospect, the Padres aren't going to see 3 HR's in an AFL game and suddenly decide he's the one they need to get a Peavy deal done.

At this point, I think its up to Peavy. The Braves have and are willing it seems to give up more talent than the Cubs. Peavy is likely just torn between playing for the hometown team who might compete by 2010 or the 2nd best team in the NL right now. If this was a baseball move, then a Braves deal would be done by now.

No Peavy, no Sheets, just sign Dempster and Wood. And I know this factor is overplayed, but what's the key stat to discern offensive differentials between the Padres' stadium and Wrigley?

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

Park Factors? Wrigley had about 7% more run scoring than the average ballpark in 2007. Petco had an amazing 20% less. I'm too lazy to try to calculate how that would affect Peavy's innings, but just straight calculation puts him at a about a 3.21 ERA had he pitched for the Cubs last year. I did round a .49 run up to a run, because he would have pitched fewer innings in Wrigley, than he had in Petco.

Sheets bad - stay away from more injury prone people Dempster - offer arbitration and cut bait take the sandwich picks....he's over rated he had a great contract year and is going to cash in...stay away...seriously going to pay him over 10mil a year. Get Peavy and give up the prospects that you will be drafting from dumping dempster. Wood - would be nice to keep him but will ask a lot on the market and we have capable closers. Peavy - if you can convince peavy to demand a trade to the Cubs that would be ideal...if you can get him get him...we are in it to win it NOW...not in five years. Pie - put him in center and the 8th hole or 9th and let him play, let him work it out, if the organization thinks he's good then commit to it. If not trade him away and get some one you can put in CF that is a no doubt leadoff man that forces Soriano down in the order. Marquis - 10 mil a year what a terrible contract! Good luck getting rid of that to anyone unless we eat the money. Roberts- give up on it all ready...we have nothing to give up and they are trying to sign big name players this off season they need something.

From the Yahoo Free Agent Tracker: 152) Corey Patterson, OF: He turned in one of the truly awful seasons in history for a full-time outfielder. Safe to say greatness isn’t in the stars.

Those of you who heard Andy Mazur (former Cubs 6th inning break guy, now with Padres) on WSCR 670 - Murph asked him in football terms to describe the chances of Peavy to Cubs or Braves. He said, "Cubs are 3rd and long. Braves, 3rd and short."

Thanks for the analysis, Real Neal; I have no idea how you compare the parks - how many games does the wind blow in vs. blow out? Do you take April/May/early June and balance that out with the rest of the year (until late Sept?). Only Fergie knows for sure.

Why would the Cubs be very interested in Jeremy Hermida? Seems like a younger version of Jeromy Burnitz to me. Talk about your low expectations. Stick to Dunn or Abreu pursuit for RF, please.

Burnitz did hit 315 career HR's...not too shabby considering he got a bit of a late start. I'm not aaying he was great or anything, but he had a really good stretch from 1997-2001, averaging 32HR and 102 RBI. I'd love Dunn's bat, but can he play RF? He seems like a mediocre LF at best. Abreu I like too, but he'll be 35 before the start of the season. I'd hate to see a 4 year deal for Abreu or something like that.

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.