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

Anticipated Pitching Duel Fizzles into Slugfest at HoHoKam

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

With two of the AFL's top starting pitchers on the hill, naturally the game turned into a slugfest, as the Mesa Solar Sox scored eight unanswered runs in the middle innings to overcome a 4-0 deficit, only to blow a four-run 8th inning lead, before scoring the game-winning run on a two-out single in the bottom of the 9th, en route to a 9-8 victory over Surprise Rafters in Arizona Fall League action this afternoon at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

(And next time you come by, bring my stomach!)...  

box score

Cubs RHP Andrew Cashner got the start for the Solar Sox, and went just three innings. He left a lot of his pitches up in the zone, allowing four runs on seven hits (including three doubles and a home run) in what was his worst outing of the 2009 AFL season. 

Ike Davis (Mets 2008 1st round pick out of Arizona State) was Cashner's main tormentor, ripping a two-run double into the right-field corner in the the top of the 1st, and a two-run homer over the right-centerfield fence in the top of the 3rd, as the Rafters took an early 4-0 lead.

Cashner did strike out five and walked just one, but he had to throw 69 pitches (44 strikes) to get through his three innings.

Meanwhile, Rafters RHP Ian Kennedy (NYY) sailed through his first four innings, before falling apart in the bottom of the 5th. Like Cashner, Kennedy allowed four runs on seven hits, although at least he was able to get one out in the 5th before he was relieved. .

Red Sox CF Ryan Kalish clubbed a three-run homer off Yankees LHP Michael Dunn to cap the five-run Mesa 5th, and then the Solar Sox added two more runs in the 7th, one of the runs scoring on a Josh Vitters RBI single. 

Vitters returned to the Mesa lineup today as the Solar Sox DH, having missing five games after suffering a muscle strain while taking BP last week. 

Vitters grounded out to short in the 2nd, popped up to the catcher in the 4th, and lofted a singled over the third-baseman's head in the 5th, before ripping his RBI single to left in the 7th. (Vitters was called out for interfering with the catcher's throw to 2nd on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the 9th--a VERY questionable call by the ump--leaving him 2-5 for the day).  

The Solar Sox took their 8-4 lead into the top of the 8th, but Doug Hogan (TEX) clubbed a two-run home run over the scoreboard beyond the fence in LF off Red Sox LHP Dustin Richardson to narrow the gap to 8-6, and then Cubs RHP Blake Parker blew the save, surrendering a towering game-tying two-run home run to Yankees 3B Brandon Laird off the light-standard in left-center with one out in the top of the 9th. Parker struck out two (including Ike Davis) in his one inning, while walking one and allowing the game-tying HR.  

The Solar Sox pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, on a two-out RBI single by Cuban defector SS Jose Iglesias (BOS) following a walk and a single (overcoming the Vitters interference play), edging the Rafters 9-8. 

Michael Brenly entered the game as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the 7th, as Hank Conger (LAA) pulled up lame at 3rd base, and scored on the Vitters RBI single. Brenly then stayed in the game at catcher, and grounded out 6-3 in his one AB in the 8th.  

Starlin Castro had the day off, although he and Angels OF P. J. Phillips alternated as the Solar Sox 1st base coach (good experience for when their playing careers are over). 

LHPs John Gaub and James Russell threw yesterday at Surprise, and Gaub had a very bad outing, immediately walking the bases loaded and throwing a WP after entering the game in relief, before allowing an F-9 SF and an RBI single. Gaub was yanked out of the game after retiring only two hitters and throwing 26 pitches (only ten strikes).

If it's possible to pitch yourself off the 40-man roster by throwing piss-poor in the AFL, Gaub might be doing just that. Now, I personally do not believe what Gaub does in the AFL should have a bearing on whether he is added to the 40 on 11/20, but it might influence Jim Hendry. 

Remember, Donald Veal appeared to be a virtual "lock" to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster this time last year, but then he stunk it up in the AFL, got left off the 40-man roster, and was selected by Pittsburgh in the December 2009 Rule 5 Draft. (And Veal has been the best pitcher in the AFL so far this year, too).   

Although Gaub had a poor outing yesterday, James Russell had another fine one, throwing 1.1 IP of shutout ball for Mesa in relief of Gaub. The 21-year old Russell has now thrown 9.1 innings of four-hit shutout ball (2/7 BB/K) over his last eight appearances for the Solar Sox.   

Tags
Josh Vitters
Michael Brenly
John Gaub
James Russell
Blake Parker
Andrew Cashner
Arizona Fall League

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:37 pm

from Rotoworld Mike Fontenot became the final super-two eligible player, MLB announced, winning a tiebreaker with Adam Jones and Micah Owings. All had two years, 139 days of service time. This is terrific news for the Orioles, who would have spent millions of dollars more over the next few years had Jones been eligible now. Whether it's good news for Fontenot remains to be seen. He's a candidate to be non-tendered by the Cubs, though it's possible someone will want to trade for him. Other super-two players this year include Tim Lincecum, Hunter Pence and Matt Garza. Mark Reynolds barely missed out.

Submitted by carmenfanzone on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:33 pm

Trade thoughts: The Cubs need a lefthanded power bat. Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez would be perfect. In my opinion moving DLee now would give us the ability to go after Gonzalez. The lefthanded hitting options in center or right are limited.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:38 pm

my snarky response aside...

Fielder doesn't sound like he's going anywhere and it sure as hell wouldn't be to the Cubs. Gonzalez would be fantastic, but the logistics don't sound realistic. 

First you have to move Lee and get him to waive his NTC. Then you have have to get enough prospects that the Padres want plus some of your own prospects. Then you have to outbid the 3-5 other teams that would certainly make a run at him. At the end you could be without Lee, Gonzalez or a first basemen....

but you know, if you Hendry can pull off trading Lee, Dempster and maybe Fukudome and get enough prospects and payroll space to turn them into Gonzalez and Halladay...then I totally think he should do that :)

Submitted by Paul Noce on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:02 pm

Phil Rogers is out of his freaking mind, and that's saying something since he's mentally challenged to begin with. The Tigers reportedly are willing to deal Curtis Granderson, and Rogers says the Cubs have to go all out to get the .240 hitting outfielder. Here's a quote that should scare the crap out of anyone... "If Dombrowski wants to talk about Carlos Marmol, potentially a closer for the next two or three years, and Starlin Castro, who could have a Shawon Dunston impact and tenure at shortstop, Hendry should be willing. Granderson -- at this point in his career -- is worth paying a huge price to get." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-12-rogers-on-bas…

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Submitted by Sweet Lou on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:55 pm

I think it's difficult for Cubs fans to practice the art of "buy low." We advocate for it all of the time and scream when Hendry misses his window to trade away a guy with value or trade for/sign a guy right after he has a break out season (i.e. Bradley). We're good at preaching a "buy low" strategy, but piss poor in practice. My point is that Curtis Granderson is a potential "buy low" candidate. After two very good years in 2007 and 2008, he had a down year in 2009 hitting just .249/.327/.453, all below his career averages. If the Cubs are going to trade for a guy like Granderson, now is the time to do it. It's kind of like buying stocks. Everyone wants in when the stock is at it's high point, but the guy who makes money on the stock is the one that buys when the stock price is down, before it heads to its high. Buying low is easy to say, but hard to do.

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Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:14 pm

I'm for buying low on Granderson--I love his defense and he was strong offensively in 2008 and 2007 (note his significantly lower BABIP in 2009). I'm not sure I can justify giving up Marmol and Castro for him, though. That seems like a lot, especially considering we don't have other closer candidates. I'm also not sure that Granderson is really the leadoff hitter than Hendry reportedly wants--his OBP usually tops out around .360 and he hasn't blossomed into an especially good base stealer. The question for me is more how badly do the Tigers want to deal Granderson away. I'm not good at deciding how much a player is worth, but again Marmol and Castro seems like a bit too much for a buy low candidate. We don't have any promising center field candidates on the way in the next year or two, though, so that's another pro for Granderson.

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Submitted by Paul Noce on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:37 pm

I understand buying low, but dealing Marmol and Castro for Granderson isn't buying low in my opinion. Everyone seems to be raving about Castro as a franchise caliber talent, and it's not like we have an all-star SS now. I look at Granderson's stats and see a very athletic player who runs well but k's way too much, and last season struggled to make contact, and is owed $23 million over the next 3 years. In today's climate, $8 million per isn't really a bargain if his .249 average isn't a fluke. I wouldn't gamble Marmol and Castro to find out. If they wanted some other combo, like Bradley and a prospect, sure, I'd be interested, but I'm not out of my mind in love with Granderson like Rogers seems to be.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:57 pm

Everyone seems to be raving about Castro as a franchise caliber talent, and it's not like we have an all-star SS now. That's the selling high part. Granderson is undervalued due to a low BABIP. Marmol is also at a low value right now though (too bad we didn't trade him one of the last two off-seasons like some poster here suggested). Unfortunately, Hendry is our GM so he will hang on to Castro until the bloom is off the flower, then bundle him up with another couldabeen and turn them into a middle reliever three years from now. *Point of Fact- Granderson K'd less, walked more and hit more HR's last year than he did in his 'breakout '07 season. The James people have projected him to hit .275/.353/.491 next year which is probably pretty accurate.

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Submitted by thedirtbag on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:35 am

Granderson is Soriano from his prime with better defense and better appeal to the media and the fanbase. I think that teams are salivating over him more for marketing reasons more so than his overall performance. He is an exciting player with speed and power. While I really like Granderson and I think his defense would vastly improve this ballclub, I would bawk at the idea of ridding Marmol and Castro. Maybe I am still hangning onto the threads of homegrown players like Grace,but I want to see at least some movement from the player development front. Marmol on the other hand to me would be expendable for the right price if we had other options. We don't, which is partially why we have been hearing about Hendry adding to the seesaw bullpen from last year. I do not think anyone can honestly say that they would feel comfortable with the 7-9 guys in a NLCS series.

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Submitted by George Altman on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:27 am

First, Phil Rogers is a dumbass. That's pretty obvious from anyone who reads the Tribune here daily or watches him on Comcast's 'Chicago Tribune Live' every week. Second, I don't think Phil or anyone else really knows if Granderson is available let alone what it would really take from any team to get him. Third, how does trading your only viable closer candidate for 2010 and your #1 position prospect help your team get better in 2010? Yes, you solve CF and maybe your lead-off position but who's going to close out the 35 to 40 wins you need to make the playoffs (Grabow, Guzman, Blake Parker?). Fourth, I'm not infatuated with Marmol (he's got a boatload of flaws with the biggest being he can't find home plate with a search party many times) or Castro (I'd trade the whole farm system if I thought it would get the Cubs to the World Series). But here's a moment when it sure would be really nice to have a competent GM who could work inside the $140M budget he has, make a real good trade, and still realize where his team has depth and where it does not. Fifth, this is where a team like the old Dodgers would trade a Joe Ferguson because they had Steve Yeager, or Billy Grabarkewitz because they had Davey Lopes. In other words, you keep Castro but you package Vitters (AZ Phil calls him the Cubs mostly likely prospect to flame out). Or you trade a Carpenter or Wells instead of a Cashner. Of course, going back to Hendry and his whiz kids, it would really help if your baseball 'brain-trust' could really evaluate talent - both present and potential.

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:23 pm

Bradley-for-Burell being discussed, but money's an issue — 9:35 p.m. The Cubs and Rays continue to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Pat Burrell trade, but money remains a major obstacle. Burrell will earn $9 million next season, while Bradley is owed $21 million over the next two years. The Rays want the Cubs to pay the vast majority of the difference. One source described the negotiations as "worse than Chinese water torture." Another said, "I wish cattle prods were legal." http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10353396/Wednesday%27s-buzz-from-the…

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:00 am

the guy hit 30 HR's in Yellowstone National last year and walks at a 10% or higher rate, think we could find room for him in our lineup, even with all the K's...

that being said, I think Marmol and Soto would be the starting points as suggested...

he's also a waste of space versus lefties

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • 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).

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