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

Durham Headed to Brewers; Wood Headed to DL?

Milwaukee acquired second baseman Ray Durham from the Giants on Sunday in exchange for Class A outfielder Darren Ford and Triple-A pitcher Steve Hammond. The two teams waited to officially announce the deal until after they had played one another Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park, per the request of Durham, who didn't want to make his Milwaukee debut versus his former mates.

"Personally it was out of respect for the guys in this locker room," Durham said, saying his goodbyes in the Giants' clubhouse. "It really was a stipulation I asked for."

The 36-year-old Durham, hitting .293 AVG / .385 OBP / .414 SLG / 799 OPS could complement and/or replace 25-year-old Rickie Weeks, who is hitting just .218 in 79 games for the Brewers this season with an OPS+ of 82.

Closer to home, Paul Sullivan makes it sound like the Cubs are inching closer to putting Kerry Wood on the DL for the 12th time in his career, owing to ongoing problems with that blister on his right index finger. Sullivan quotes Lou Piniella as saying:

"We're coming to the point where we're going to have to come to a conclusion about what to do."

If the Cubs were to backdate the DL decision to July 12th, Wood would be eligible to get back on the field next Sunday, when the Cubs wrap up their four-game series against the Marlins at Wrigley Field. According to Sullivan, Carlos Marmol will get to wear the closer's hat so long as Wood is unable to pitch. Marmol pitched a perfect ninth to close out the Cubs' 9-0 shutout of Houston on Sunday.

 

Comments

That blister dates back to at least July 9th when he was already said to be "nursing" one.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

If Kerry Wood hasn't tried it already he needs to give STAN'S RODEO CREAM a shot at that blister. It was created by former Dodgers' head trainer Stan Johnston who was a rodeo performer when he wasn't working for the Dodgers. It works. Even Peter Gammons has written about it.

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

He should look into this new product I heard about, "Moises Alou's Blister Juice".

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

IIRC, Wood used to use super-glue to help his blisters on a short-term basis.

he has two good outings after 6 weeks of being bad and now Lou is going to give him the most imporant role in the bullpen? What happens if he blows a few saves and goes right back into his 6-week funk? The wiser thing would be to let Howry close for the week since I doubt Wood needs more than that heal a blister he has already had for a week before the DL trip.

I'm all for a trip to the DL, assuming that this is only a bad blister and assuming that he'll be back as soon as he is eligible. The side benefit, which is resting his arm, outweighs the more tangible benefit, which the blister going away.

That article by Sullivan that you linked was horrendous. Ostensibly about Wood going on the DL, he turned it into a story about how Marmol and Zambrano deal with booing. And not only that, the story empowered fans to boo because booing makes good players "mentally tough." Personally, I don't boo.

I've never understood the ongoing blister problems that some pitchers develop. Don't these blisters turn into callouses? Why on earth aren't pitchers that have been throwing a ball for two decades not immune to develop blisters?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Agreed. Happens most often to power pitchers mainly because they grip the ball so damn hard. They're almost always on the fingertips, and the outside of the index finger is usually the trouble spot. When you throwing a breaking ball of any kind (sliders in particular), the way you impart spin on the ball can cause some irritation on that outside part of the index finger. Some guys can grip certain breaking balls in a way that the seam can rub against the outside of that finger as you release the pitch. That only compounds the problem. Now I'm no scientist about why callouses don't form there, but they just don't, I guess. I always figured it was because the skin in that area is sensitive and not as thick as in your palm, for instance. Not sure you'd want a callous to form on your fingertips, anyway. Sure, you wouldn't have blister problems, but you'd also lose any feel you had for the baseball. And of course, as crunch eluded to, guys will usually pitch with them until they just can't stand it anymore. They get really, really nasty.

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

"Not sure you'd want a callous to form on your fingertips...you'd also lose any feel you had for the baseball." Speaking as a guitarist, you have to form callous on your fingertips to keep the damn strings from killing you -- but after they form, you still have a lot of feel for the strings. In fact, I'd argue that by the time you form a good callous, you have much better feel for the strings, with much more subtle fine control, touch and feel -- but without the pain. On the other hand, the problems with being unable to form callous on the sides of the finger makes sense to me. The fingertips and palm are specifically used for grip and tactile contact. Not so the skin on the side of the fingers. I would also mention that my son had quite a bit of trouble for about a year with sub-cutaneous pain in the middle finger of his throwing hand. It wasn't a matter of blistering on the surface of the skin -- it was pain in the deeper tissues underneath the skin. He had to wear a little rubber tip on his finger for a while (the kind sold in office supply stores for counting paper money, etc. -- for practice, not during games) until the sensitivity went away.

I don't believe anyone will question Woody's "toughness." The guy could've easily just bagged it last year, after his umpteenth rehab - not to mention coming back to the Cubs at a discount. He really loves this team and this city, as old - fashioned as that sounds these days.

The Cubs and Wrigley Field are for sale. Seven groups sent in opening bids last week, and a real-estate firm made a separate bid for the ballpark. Are we to believe that all these smart businessmen are secretly hoping the Cubs keep up their losing ways? Are we to believe they're hoping 100 years stretches to 110 so they can sell the team and make a huge profit? http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080720-…

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=a9cySP4qZygU&refer=… Mark Cuban and John Canning plus Thomas Ricketts, founder of Incapital LLC and whose father is chairman of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.; Rocco Landesman, a Broadway theater owner; Don Levin, owner of a minor-league hockey team in Chicago; Jim Anixter, president of A-Z Industries Inc.; and Sports Properties Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition firm that has raised $215 million, are the other groups that submitted bids, the newspaper reported, citing sources it didn't identify. http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN2141628120080721 Real estate executive Hersch Klaff is one of the bidders for the Chicago Cubs baseball team in an auction that could top $1 billion, two sources familiar with the process said on Monday. Klaff, president of Chicago-based Klaff Realty LP, heads one of at least 10 groups bidding for the team, according to the sources, who asked not to be identified because the sales process is ongoing. according to the article above, it was 7 groups plus one who just submitted a bid for Wrigley. I would assume Klaff or Sports Properties Acquisition is the one who just bid on Wrigley.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Baseball/article/463960 The article cites a source that says Krivac only goes to games to scout. I dont know why with additions of Harden and Gaudin, Rich Hill finding the strike zone, Brady Quinn's favroite target throwing well in AAA, and 2 other good spot start options in Marshall and Hart already in the MLB pen why they want another SP. I think its more likely he was scouting one of their catchers (Barajas and Zaun), Eckstein, Scutaro, or their bullpen. Of course, he could have been sent as a plant to get Mollaziak to overpay for Burnett if Jimbo thinks he could punk the Cards rookie GM.

can't remember if I read this or heard it on XM radio this morning, but Lou said something that the bullpen is pretty rested and they're going to hold off on putting Wood on the DL to see if the blister clears up.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I see it was already mentioned here by Chifan, very possible that I 3/44'd based on that post and thought I heard or read it somewhere else...

looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I dont buy it. In his 4 outings since coming off the DL he has been dominate. Even in his last start he didnt get hit hard it was just Texas Leaguers and falling in love with cutter early in the game, I am not a pitching expert but I thought the cutter is one of the most stressful pitches to throw. I would like to what Wes's take on post-DL Z is.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

the last time Z went with the lower arm angle he all sorts of problems with his control. The big concern is that his shoulder is still hurting and he's just compensating for it. Yeah, he might be able to be effective for awhile, but how long?

Just something to keep an eye on... 

... and now Fonzie is pinch-hit for in his 4th AB. I thought they were going to try to get him 6 or 7 ABs... I hope this doesn't mean that he reagravated anything, though I have to admit that it did occur to me that the only reason he would have walked in his previous AB was if it hurt to swing... Was that wrong?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Since it's his glove hand, it probably gets pretty sore just from playing catch if he happens to catch the ball not perfectly in the webbing. There's not much chance of re-injuring it though. When I broke my third and fourth metacarpals my doctor told me it would actually heal stronger than before as the healing process causes the bone around the break to become thicker. Anyway, when I broke my hand normal movements didn't hurt at all, but any impact to it, like I would imagine a baseball in the glove (or in my case, shaking hands with people) hurt like a bastard. Soriano will be sore for awhile, but unless he takes another fastball off the same spot he's not going to re-injure himself.

Oh, for God's sake... Please tell me that he doesn't show up in the game tonight... I know that we need him, but we need him healthy, not after one rookie-league game of rehab...

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.