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

Retro Cubs Video: Dawson Goes Batty

I stumbled across this video from July 23, 1991 where the Cubs beat the Reds 8-5. Not only do you get some classic WGN with Dan Roan  - who I believe is still there - but also appearances by Doug Dascenzo, Rob Dibble, Jim Essian and Lou Piniella in his Reds days.

As you'll see, it's also the game where Dibble throws at Dascenzo's legs out of frustration(1:48 mark); a moment Dibble admitted was on purpose since(at least I heard him say it on XM radio). I'm sure MLB will be forcing it off youtube at any moment, so be sure to check it out quickly. There's a variety of ways of downloading youtube videos to your computer if you want it for your archives, something I wish I did with the Soriano incident at WWE last year.

Comments

Totally despicable, what a piece of shit, Dawson was. I had forgotten about that one, until I saw the bats flying, then it came back. A very Z like tantrum there (and the pitch wasn't all that bad).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I think you're right, except that Cubs front office folks use the word "athletic" instead of "middle of the diamond." But that seems to be the plan. I suppose a possible criticism is that that approach makes the Cubs less likely to bring a big power bat out of the minors, but the Cubs have a big enough market that they could afford to sign a power-hitting free agent (and power usually doesn't hit it's peak until the players are in their late twenties and nearing free agency anyway).

One thing I wish players would stop saying about their own embarrassing incidents only a few hours afterword--"I laugh at it now." Just apologize and move on. I'm always amazed at how often fans join in throwing things on the field, though--and what a large percentage of the fans take part.

Wouldn't it be cool to have Dan Roan's job? Sitting in a director's chair, Hawaiian shirt, and paid to watch baseball...(and my, such hard hitting reporting too).

Love the video. Was even fun to see the White Sox clips at the end, including the game-winning hit by Joey Cora, who was so slight, it looked like the bat boy had taken a turn at the plate. Also noted reference to Comiskey Park--not U.S. Cellular Field--and the fact that the Brewers were still in the American League.

"classic WGN with Dan Roan - who I believe is still there " Yes, minus the hair. Which is a shame with that level 5 mullet he had going there. George Bell restraining Dawson Hearing Harry with each Dawson bat toss-"WHOOOAA..heh heh"

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/02/piniella-undecided-on-cubs… something completely reasonable said by a manager:
"We'll use one (player) one day, and one the next," Piniella said. "It depends on how there are swinging the bat. It depends on who the pitcher on the other side is. There'll be some variables, but look, we like to stay constant, too.
"One thing is, we don't have anybody here that's going to steal 40 bases. If Theriot develops a nice swing where he's staying inside the ball good and hitting the ball behind the runner, that's a nice option in the two-hole, because we've got Fukudome hitting in that first base hole.
"We'll see who's taking more pitches, who's more selective, what the on-base percentages are, whether the other team's pitcher is having trouble throwing strikes, how well the catcher is throwing...
"There are so many variables to this thing it gets a little too complicated. You know what? We'll try to simplify it and get as constant as we can. Spring training will let us know."

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Anybody else read the article about Guzman at the Cubs MLB.com site? I didn't realize he was actually with his brother when he died. I really thought that scene only happens in movies. That's gotta be some traumatizing stuff.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Speaking of sad stuff, as it turns out, Jose Ceda shot his best friend in the stomach last year and wound up confined to his house by police for a good portion of the winter. So then he shows up at spring training fat flabby weighing 300 lbs and hurts his arm requiring labrum surgery. A-N-D the Marlins knew nothing about the shooting until now. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/22/1492953/florida-marlins-pitcher-j… Wow. It seems like a million years ago that the Cubs offered the Orioles Ceda, Cedeno, Gallagher and Veal for Brian Roberts and some thought that was too much! But all four are gone and this is what we got: Ceda (now coming off surgery) traded for one year of Gregg Cedeno (it turns out the Ronny we saw in 2006 is the real Ronny) traded along with Garret Olsen(obtained in Felix Pie trade) for one year of Aaron Heilman Gallagher (fell out of favor with the A's who once thought the world of him, now with the Padres) traded as the key in a six player deal (Cubs also got Gaudin who they later released and lost Murton (AAAA), EPatt (now fighting for a spot on the A's bench) and Josh Donaldson) netting Rich Hardin for one and a half years. Donnie Veal lost to Pittsburgh in a Rule 5 pickup. So, all this furious trading by Hendry has left us with nothing. But he did manage to lose a first round draft pick in the process, Donaldson, a catcher who's now at AA, plays some 1b and 3b too, and could soon be ready for the bigs. .280 .374 .456 .830 with 33 HR and 20 SBs in his short minor league career.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

On the plus side, looks like the Cubs cut bait on Ceda at the right time, and, although they waited too long to trade him, they didn't lose much in Cedeno. Gallagher and Pie still have time to prove their value, though. Harden was quality in 2008 and 2009, Heilman always seemed like he should have been better. Gregg however--ugh. His performance would not have seemed as bad if he hadn't been the closer I guess. But not all of our relievers from 2009 could be middle relievers--somebody had to pitch during the last two innings.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Look, AT THE TIME, the HArden deal was a move that got the team to the Playoffs. Not just the Playoffs, the team had the best record in the NL. I saw Harden pitch numerous times that year. Was at his first game as a Cub. He was a sure-fire BEAST. You are Mr. After-the-Fact, which is just how you roll ("Teflon Tim Wilken", right?), but Harden was THE power arm in 2009. Hendry went for all of it, and his guys choked. Unfortunately, one cannot count on that unless it happens to be the Cubs. Re Donaldson: "...and could soon be ready for the bigs." This has been said for a couple years now. It is debatable.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I'll defend Wilken on this one. There are intangibles to catching, so it's never a sure thing. But 2009 was Donaldson's first year in AA. (I doubt people expected him to jump from high-A to the majors, so not sure what you mean by "This [the claim that he could soon be ready] has been said for a couple of years now.") At Midland (AA) he caught 100 games, threw out 40% of base stealers, hit 37 doubles, drove in 91 runs. I would say he's turning into the catcher that Wilken thought he drafted.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Assuming this is a response to navigator. I saw Harden in one of his earliest games as a Cub, too--July 26, 2008, against the Marlins. He went 5 and K'd 10. The Cubs K'd 20 in 12 innings--and lost 3-2. Harden started and Gaudin finished the game and took the loss. I had a really good time watching Harden set down fish. It was a smart trade, and that's coming from a big Murton fan and someone who usually overvalues prospects. Even after the fact I say it was a good trade.

Jim Riggleman thinks he should have probably pitched Kerry less in '98:
"I think if anything that I learned from it, having to do it over I probably would have pitched Kerry less," Riggleman said. "At the time that we had Kerry, my recollection of any criticism I had was 'Why did you take him out of the game?' After the fact it's 'Well, you pitched him too much.' "

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/02/chan-ho-park-chooses-yanke…
"I was deliberating on the Chicago Cubs and the Yankees, but their history and championship contention resulted in me picking the Yankees,'' Park said. "Until last night, I was leaning toward the Cubs."
Park, who said he agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million deal, said the Cubs offered him a chance to compete for a berth in the starting rotation. With the Yankees, he will come out of the bullpen, as he did last season with the Phillies.
come on down Kiko Calero

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

- sigh - Hmmm, so the Cubs were spurned by one pitcher going to the Nats, and one going to the Yankees? What does this say?

could be the Dodgers... http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-revenu…
The Dodgers could seek to keep their player payroll below last year's level through 2018 while the average ticket price and club revenue could nearly double, according to confidential financial documents included in a court filing last week.
The documents -- prepared by the McCourt management team in May to solicit Chinese investors for a partnership that could have included the Dodgers, a soccer club in Beijing and another in the English Premier League -- show that the Dodgers spent $128 million in player compensation for their 40-man roster in 2007, then spent $123 million in 2008.
The Dodgers could seek to keep their player payroll below last year's level through 2018 while the average ticket price and club revenue could nearly double, according to confidential financial documents included in a court filing last week.
The projections show the Dodgers planning to cut it to $107 million this year, with slight annual increases thereafter. In 2018, player compensation is estimated at $125 million.
The document anticipates a significant rise in club revenue, from $295 million in 2008 to $529 million in 2018, and in the average ticket price, from $29.40 in 2007 to $53.50 in 2018.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I just assumed that people characterized Dodgers fans in the worst possible light because a lot of Americans feel the need to bash L.A. and everything related to it. But after attending a game there, it's actually more true than people make it out to be. Not only were the fans completely bored by a rivalry game against the Angels, but it was the game where Weaver and Arrendondo threw the no-no-hitter, and I swear 70-80 percent of the people there were totally oblivious to the history they were witnessing.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

San Diego games have more Cub fans than Padres, I will say the Cubs fans are still drowned out by Dodgers fans though. but most of the stereotypes have some merit... Game 3 in the NLDS in 2008 was a good Dodger crowd though. In general though, sports just don't carry the same weight out here to people as Chicago or the East Coast. Too many transplants from other cities, metro area is too spread out and too many diversions. and yeah, I pretty much do all 9 innings when I go, think I left once early with my girls as we had horrible seats in the sun and they were were melting and the Cubs were getting killed.

Awesome video. I love how Harry is basically cheering Dawson on as he's tossing the bats. There used to be a better video on YouTube that showed the highlights of this game on Sportscenter at the time. In 1 minute and 30 seconds the ESPN recap showed the following. -It starts with a clip of Lou Piniella and Randy Myers shouting at each other a few games earlier. -Then it shows Randy Myers given the start for the game against the Cubs at Wrigley. -Chris Sabo hits two home runs, and he literally sprints around the bases with his big goggles. -Andre Dawson has a called third strike that is low and away. He throws his bat down and begins screaming at the ump. George Bell tries to hold him back. Dawson gets tossed. -The bleachers start throwing every cup of beer around them onto the field. -Dawson is in the dugout throwing bats onto the field. -Cubs come back and take the lead. -Late in the game Doug Dascenzo gets a bunt off of Rob Dibble. Dibble can't make a play on it and instead of throwing to first he throws the ball at Dascenzo's back in disgust. -Cubs win.

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.