Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Jake Fox Three-Run Blast Powers Cubs to Victory

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Jake Fox slammed a three-run homer and Joey Gathright had three hits, a walk, an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base (and made a nice running catch in right-centerfield as well), as the Cubs defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny Mesa, Arizona this afternoon, before another smallish crowd (6,711).

box score

Sean Marshall got the start and went two innings (30 pitches - 20 strikes - 1/3 GO/FO), allowing one run on four hits. Marshall kept bouncing his curve and left a few of his other pitches too high in the strike zone, but overall it wasn't a bad outing.

The Brewers scored a run in the top of the 1st when Chris Duffy tripled to CF and then J. J. Hardy followed with a double to left-center. The Brewers missed scoring another run in the inning, however, when Hardy was cut down 7-6-2 (with a perfect relay throw by SS Darwin Barney to catcher Paul Bako) after LF Micah Hoffpauir lost a fly ball in the sun.

Hoffpauir's misplay in LF in the 1st inning wasn't his only gaffe of the day, either, as he allowed a pop up to drop in front of him in the 5th, eventually resulting in a run during Carlos Marmol's one ining of work.

While Hoffpauir is a Gold Glove caliber defender at 1B (he was voted the top defensive first-baseman in the PCL by rival managers last season), he just doesn't display any defensive acumen in the outfield. But the problem is, Manager Lou Piniella probably feels like Hoffpauir will need to be able to passably play a corner OF spot at least occasionally if he is to secure a spot on the 25-man roster. Today was not a good day for Hoffpauir in that respect.

The Cubs tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd off Seth McClung, when Darwin Barney singled, advanced to second when PH Steve Clevenger drew a walk, and and scored as Joey Gathright rolled a single just out of J. J. Hardy's reach into LF.

The Cubs took the lead for good in the bottom of the 3rd, when Jake Fox blasted his three-run dinger over the left-field fence following back-to-back walks to Richie Robnett and Micah Hoffpauir. (The Cubs drew 11 walks today, and went deep into the count in a number of ABs).  

The Cubs scored two more runs in the 6th, as Welington Castillo walked and Joey Gathright reached on an infield hit, followed by an RBI single by Aaron Miles )who hit two rockets directly at defenders in his first two at bats), and a sac fly to short CF by Robnett, where Gathright showed his blazing speed by outracing the throw to the plate.

The Cubs scored their final run in the bottom of the 7th, when the left-side of the Brewers infield (Mike Lamb and Alcides Escobar) took turns throwing the ball away.

The Cubs pitchers had mixed results today.

Chad Gaudin followed Marshall to the mound,working two innings (38 pitches - 22 strikes - 4/1 GO/FO), during which he allowed four hits (one of which was a gargantuan HR hit completely out of the ballpark by Mike Cameron) and a walk, while striking out one. He was saved from a much worse line thanks to two timely inning-ending double plays, one 4-6-3 and the other 6-4-3, the latter of which probably allowing Gaudin to complete his second inning without having to be relieved (his pitch count was getting close to 40).

Carlos Marmol worked the 5th and he did throw strikes (13 pitches - 10 strikes), but he also allowed a run (technically  "earned"), thanks to a HBP and Hoffpauir's misplay in LF, 

Veteran LHP Mike Stanton, who is battling for a job in the bullpen, had a perfect opportunity to show Manager Lou Piniella what he could do, facing six left-handed hitters and just one right-handed hitter. The one right-hander (Mike Rivera) slugged a HR, and against the lefty swingers, Stanton struck out two (both swinging), while also allowing a single, a walk, and a hard-hit line drive out to 1st base. Overall, not all bad against the lefty batters, but not all good, either. A sort of mixed-bag for Stanton.

Kevin Hart (15 pitches - only seven strikes - allowing a single while also hitting a batter) , Chad Fox (just eight pitches - six strikes - three up, three down, a GO, a FO, and a K-swinging), and Angel Guzman (ten pitches - seven strikes, allowing a near-HR ground rule double and two loud fly outs, before striking out Scott Thorman swinging to end the game) each threw one shutout inning to close the game out. Chad Fox was especially impressive in his one inning.

The Cubs are now 2-0 in Cactus League play, and will travel out to Surprise tomorrow to play the Texas Rangers.

Tags
Cubs Spring Training
Sean Marshall
Joey Gathright
Jake Fox

Comments

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 02:58 pm

I wonder what would have happened had he hit the ball? ------------ Milton Bradley’s spring training debut was cut short by an injury. The Cubs new right fielder had a six-pitch at-bat Thursday that ended with a walk in the first inning of a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. He then was lifted for a pinch-runner as soon as he reached base. The injury was described as mild tightness of his left quadriceps, but Bradley said being removed was precautionary. “You work out hard, you get tight,” Bradley said. “I felt it before warming up. It felt tighter than it should have been. I felt the best course of action was to let them know right now. If it was April 6, I’d play.” He told us running pregame that he felt a little tightness,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “We told him to get one at-bat and see what it feels like. We have a long spring, no reason to rush anybody. We will give him a couple of days and run him back out there.” http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1452059,cubs-game-bradley-…

Submitted by Hawkeye on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 02:03 pm

AZPhil... ... thanks for the response on the previous post. I know that sometimes we can ignore reason as fans, and it was nice to see some more unbiased analysis of Koyie Hill. I truly do feel that he would be a better addition to the roster than the illustrious Gabor, but it was nice to have reason backing my gut and emotion. Does Koyie really still have the ability to play the field? Either way, he is a great value. I do miss Hank White though... Secondary note, what do you think about Darwin Barney? From all I read he would be another scrappy middle infielder. Is his defensive prowess as good as I hear? Is he just a punch and judy singles hitter? Thanks, as always, for the analysis. You are another reason I am glad that they are playing ball again...

Submitted by The Joe on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:41 am

Live Blog of Japan vs. Australia http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=683 Fukudome replaces the CF in the 4th. K, K, RBI Double, R. A previous quote about/from Fuks: http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=522 ...Kosuke Fukudome is trying to make sure that he gets a starting spot on the final Samurai Japan roster. For the second straight day he collected a hit during situational BP. He also played all three outfield positions when he was on the field. Said Fukudome, "I was able to hit some balls foul while getting the hit so I feel good about the AB. And I think my body is beginning to react to the off-speed pitches better. Things are falling into place." And: http://forums.simcentral.net/blog.php?b=522 (1-1-09) References an NHK (like BBC or CBC of Japan) broadcast which claimed that Fukudome was still favoring his right elbow during the season. I don't remember much talk of his previous surgery during Fukudome's struggles, but this makes me a little more hopeful that he'll rebound.

Submitted by Barry on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:48 am

Just dreamin' but since Manny has rejected the Dodger's latest offer, maybe we should take up a collection. Could you imagine Manny in a Cubs uniform? (Sorryano could move to 2nd.) Our record in the last 3 playoff games is 0-9. Manny is one of the greatest RH hitters in the history of baseball. After all, what's another century...

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:11 am

Submitted by Hawkeye on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 9:03pm.

AZPhil... ... thanks for the response on the previous post.

I know that sometimes we can ignore reason as fans, and it was nice to see some more unbiased analysis of Koyie Hill. I truly do feel that he would be a better addition to the roster than the illustrious Gabor, but it was nice to have reason backing my gut and emotion.

Does Koyie really still have the ability to play the field? Either way, he is a great value. I do miss Hank White though...

Secondary note, what do you think about Darwin Barney? From all I read he would be another scrappy middle infielder. Is his defensive prowess as good as I hear? Is he just a punch and judy singles hitter? Thanks, as always, for the analysis. You are another reason I am glad that they are playing ball again...

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

HAWKEYE: Koyie Hill has played 1B at Iowa, and he should be able to still play 3B (which he played in college), too. The position he almost certainly can't play is 2B (the position he played for Team USA). He lost a couple of steps after he broke his ankle with the Diamondbacks a few years ago and he just doesn't have the speed or range to play a middle infield position anymore.

Before he was traded to Arizona, K. Hill was a perennial Dodgers Top Ten prospect, and speed & athleticism were a part of his tool box. He even stole 21 bases one year in the minors. But a loss of speed/range shouldn't be a problem at 3B, where you mainly need side-to-side one-step quickness and a strong & accurate arm (which he has).

So the added advantage of having K. Hill as the back-up catcher is that he should be able to play 3B in a pinch (a position Paul Bako has not played). However, K. Hill will still have to be able to hit at least .200 and show some of the power he displayed at Iowa last season (he hit 17 HR at Iowa in 2008) at the big league level if he wants to be the Cubs back-up catcher in 2009.

Darwin Barney plays hard, he has decent range and a strong arm, he's a smart baserunner with average speed for a middle infielder, and he is a fair hitter (so far) with occasional power. He more than held his own in the AFL last year.

My main concern about Barney is that he will not hit much at the higher levels. If he turns out to be a .225 hitter at AAA, I doubt that he will ever be an everyday MLB SS. Barney is the proverbial Old School "field captain," a team leader-type with a high baseball IQ. Steve Clevenger is a lot like that, too, BTW.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:25 am

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 10:21pm.

Carlos Beltran loses balls in the sun during spring training. If that's the reason that Hoffpauir doesn't make the team...

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

REAL NEAL: It's not just a matter of Hoffpauir losing a high fly ball in the Arizona sun. It's running into Joey Gathright when Gathright was trying cut-off a ball in the gap, and misreading a pop up down the LF line that dropped in for a hit.

Hoffpauir is a lug with a history of knee injuries. He is a Gold Glove caliber 1st baseman, but he appears totally lost in the outfield. He has that Deer Caught in Headlights look. He's just going to get himself hurt playing out there.

Not all 1st basemen can play corner OF. Some can, some can't. Wishing & hoping he can doesn't make it so.

[ ]

Submitted by George Altman on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:10 am

I agree with Phil on Hoffpauir. The issue for Lou is can he find a place for an outstanding LH bat off the bench who can DH in all interleague games and play some 1B for DLee? For years the Cubs have tried to 'shoe-horn' Dr. Strangegloves somewhere in the field because of their bats and their bats never seemed to produce as many wins as their gloves produced losses. Unfortunately for Hoffpauir, he appears stuck behind DLee unless he miraculously agrees to a trade or gets hurt, and with 2 options left can be sent back to Iowa. At 29 years old, he really deserves a chance to play regularly for some team that will give him 350+ ABs. I wish that was 1B for the Cubs in 2009 because I've seen the DLee movie and I know how it ends.

Submitted by Jace on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:09 am

When I read that article, it appears to me that Boras and the Dodgers set noon Friday as a mutual deadline... It appears to me, though, that the Dodgers are pretty pissed off, so I'm not sure that the deadline means much to them any more... I hope they tell them to cram it...

[ ]

Submitted by CPH2133 on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:38 am

I don't know if someone would be willing to pony up more than 2/45 for him. First of all if teams had that much money to spend on FAs Bobby Abreau wouldn't have signed for only $5mil (note: not at all comparing Abreau to ManRam, but just making a point that the FA money is tight). Second of all, I believe manny wants a longer term deal, which at 38 (no fact checking, just guessing) i don't see anyone committing more than 2 years on him. 3 is a stretch. The guy can straight rake on the plate, but he's a nut case clown who can't play D and has a more laid back "who gives a shit" attitude than my stoner neighbor freshman year in the dorms. I don't see any team besides the Dodgers being interested in his services at that price in this economic time of struggle. I agree, Coletti should wait and when ManRam realizes he isn't playing by may 15th, he'll be ready to talk again. I could see him sitting out until someone else comes along b/c of injury, the 2nd half run, or something of that nature. But i think he'll be playing for the Dodgers on opening day or no one.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:41 pm

I can understand not wanting 60% of your salary deferred. --- Getting ONLY $10M and deferring $15M...now that would hurt. ...so he'll have to cut back on the expensive stuff. No Beluga caviar, just a few H3 purchases. only once a month Dredlock maintaince?

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 02:29 pm

At some point this has gotta blow up in Boras' face doesn't it? If a team like the Dodgers decides that Boras clients are too much trouble. Then he begins to really hurt his clients earning potential.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks

  • crunch (view)

    just waiting to hear patrick wisdom and masterboney are spotted at the airport going in opposite directions...

    aj puk going for the marlins (lefty)...gotta imagine we'll see wisdom in the lineup.

    someone has to make room for taillon, too.

  • crunch (view)

    he's a low-level cubs star in the modern history of the cubs (c.zambrano, k.wood, r.dempster, etc), but that star has dimmed...and has been dimming since 2021.

    2024 has been ugly the whole way and we're only in mid-april.  homers aside (even though there's been 7 in 17ip) he gave up 29 hits in 20 spring innings and 31 in 17 regular season innings.

    he's pretty much only got 2 pitches at this point in his career and the mix isn't fooling anyone.  he threw a noticable amount more curves in his last start to add to the mix and it didn't help his issues.  he don't have many moves left to break out.

  • Eric S (view)

    Definitely needs a 10 day stint for the hangnail - have to nip those things in the bud or suffer the consequences (ie, more opponent home run derby, etc)

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