Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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


28 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus seven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two are on the 10-DAY IL, and three are on the 15-DAY IL


Last updated 9-22-20239
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 6
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 7
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Ben Brown, P  
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P
Caleb Kilian, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Michael Rucker, P

10-DAY IL: 2
Jeimer Candelario, 1B
Nick Madrigal, INF

15-DAY IL: 3
Adbert Alzolay, P
Brad Boxberger, P 
Michael Fulmer, P 

60-DAY IL: 4
Nick Burdi, P
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Ethan Roberts, P
 

Minor League Rosters

Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Extended Spring Training In Overdrive

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 04:17 pm

Brandon May reached base four times, scored four runs, and drove-in two more, Jonathan Mota knocked-in three runs, and Charles Thomas had three hits, leading the EXST Cubs to a 15-7 drubbing of the EXST Giants at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning in Mesa.

Today was Cactus League Extended Spring Training (EXST) Opening Day in the Valley of the Sun, as the EXST Cubs played the first of 38 games they will be playing over the next eight weeks.

The Cubs Extended Spring Training squad consists of 50 players (40 active players plus ten more on injury rehab assignments). The Cubs EXST squad is managed by Boise manager Jody Davis, with AZL Cubs manager Juan Cabreja assisting Jo-DEE. Jeff Fassero and Rick Tronerud are the pitching coaches, and Ricardo Medina and Desi Wilson are the hitting coaches.

In addition to the hitting heroics by May, Mota, and Thomas, 20-year old Dominican RHP Luis Liria used his plus change-up to strike out six Giant hitters in three innings of work in relief, and side-armin’ LHP James Leverton struck out all four men he faced. RHP David Patton (who was up with the Cubs for much of last season) threw one inning, striking out the last two men he faced (both looking). Both Leverton and Patton were assigned to Extended Spring Training after they fell behind other pitchers in Minor League Camp, but both now look about ready to get their Letter of Transit out of Arizona.

Jonathan Mota is at Extended Spring Training learning the art of catching, something he just started doing at Minor League Camp last month. He will get assigned to a full-season squad once he gets more experience behind the plate. (Mota is eligible to be a Rule 55 Minor League FA post-2010).

Also, 21-year old outfielder Albert Hernandez (295/397/440 for DSL Cubs #1 in 2009) has arrived at Fitch Park from the Dominican Academy and was in the lineup today. (He did not report to Minor League Camp last month with the other DSL players who are making their U. S. debut in 2010).

Here is today’s abridged box score (EXST Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Francisco Guzman, CF: 2-5 (6-3, 3-1, 1B, 1B, 3-U, 2 R, 2 RBI)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 2-5 (K, 1B, E-5, 3B, 6-3, 2 R, RBI)
3. Bobby Wagner, 1B: 1-4 (4-3, 2B, F-8 SF, 3-U, 5-3, R, RBI)
4. Brandon May, 3B: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 1B, 4-3, BB, 4 R, 2 RBI)
5. Charles Thomas, DH #1: 3-5 (F-8, 1B+E9, 1B, 6-3, 1B, R, RBI)
6a. Jonathan Mota, C-2B: 2-4 (K, E-6, 2B, 2B, 3 RBI)
6b. Wes Darvill, PH-2B: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
7. Albert Hernandez, RF: 1-5 (2B, 1-3, 6-3, K, F-9, R, RBI)
8a. D. J. Fitzgerald, DH #2: 2-3 (2B, K, BB, 2B, 2 R, RBI)
8b. Jae-Hoon Ha, C: 0-1 (6-3)
9a. Cody Shields, LF: 0-3 (E-1, K, K, R)
9b. Runey Davis, LF: 0-1 (1-3, HBP)
10a. Rafael Disla, 2B-DH: 2-4 (2B, 4-3, 1B, 3-U, R, 2 RBI, SB)
10b. Carlos Romero, PH: 0-1 (K)

PITCHERS
1. John Mincone – 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 5/2 GO/FO, 47 pitches (30 strikes)
2. David Patton – 1.0 IP, 1 H 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 13 pitches (9 strikes)
3. Luis Liria – 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 56 pitches (40 strikes)
4. James Leverton – 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
5. Rogelio Carmona - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 10 pitches (6 strikes)

ERRORS: (1)
SS Arismendy Alcantara E-6 (two-base throwing error resulted in unearned run scoring)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jonathan Mota: 0-2 CS
Jae-Hoon Ha: 0-2 CS, 1 PB

OUTFIELD ASSIST:
Francisco Guzman: Doubled runner off 1st base 8-6-3

ATTENDANCE: 4 (includes Giants bus driver)

WEATHER: Warm & VERY breezy

Tags
Extended Spring Training
David Patton
EXST Cubs
Charles Thomas
Brandon May
Jonathan Mota
Luis Liria
Jody Davis
James Leverton

Comments

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 04:21 am

Awesome to hear things go going. Some questions Darvill - IIRC, someone last year said that he didn't have the arm strength to stay at short (might've been you actually). I'm just curious how he looks on the field. Seems like he's the kid that has good athleticism/speed now, and is expected to have/gain power as he ages, while losing said a lot of said athleticism. Is there any chance he has a shot at short? Is a positive comp perhaps Ryan Flaherty? How does Albert Hernandez's frame look? IIRC, he was a skinny guy. Do you have any idea if Charles Thomas will get time at 3rd? I know no one expects him to stick there, but considering the weakness at 3rd in the system, I wouldn't trying him there a bit longer. What does Liria's arsenal look like? Well, mainly curious about his FB, because I don't recall. Also curious about how Carmona looked. FB/Slider guy, right? FB in the 92-94 range, from what I recall. I remember you pointing him out two years ago, and he's stuck in my mind since then. Great to have you back. Thanks for the great info.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 04:09 am

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 1:21am. Awesome to hear things go going. Some questions Darvill - IIRC, someone last year said that he didn't have the arm strength to stay at short (might've been you actually). I'm just curious how he looks on the field. Seems like he's the kid that has good athleticism/speed now, and is expected to have/gain power as he ages, while losing said a lot of said athleticism. Is there any chance he has a shot at short? Is a positive comp perhaps Ryan Flaherty? How does Albert Hernandez's frame look? IIRC, he was a skinny guy. Do you have any idea if Charles Thomas will get time at 3rd? I know no one expects him to stick there, but considering the weakness at 3rd in the system, I wouldn't trying him there a bit longer. What does Liria's arsenal look like? Well, mainly curious about his FB, because I don't recall. Also curious about how Carmona looked. FB/Slider guy, right? FB in the 92-94 range, from what I recall. I remember you pointing him out two years ago, and he's stuck in my mind since then. Great to have you back. Thanks for the great info. ===================================================== TOONSTER: Wes Darvill just turned 18, and he has lots of rough edges. He is a long-term project. I doubt VERY much that he can stay at SS, but he probably could play 2B (as he did yesterday), or maybe 1B or LF (but only if he develops some HR power). He has speed like LeMahieu and Flaherty, which is to say that although he's not a burner, he runs well but with a long stride. At the plate, he has a tendency to try and pull everything, which is OK if he hits HR, but maybe not so good if he doesn't develop HR power. We'll just have to wait to see how his body develops over the next two or three years, and (most importantly) how he responds to coaching. Albert Hernandez has a medium build. I wouldn't call him skinny, but he's not Muscle Beach Party, either. He has quick wrists. Luis Liria throws a low 90's fastball with an outstanding change-up and an OK breaking ball. He has the repertoire & stamina needed to be a starting pitcher. Rogelio Carmona throws a 92-94 MPH fastball, and it's a "heavy" fastball, too. You don't see balls hit hard against him. He has pretty good control. He usually comes in throwing strikes. He doesn't mess around. The problem with guys like Carmona (and some other Latin pitchers who have been released over the past year or so, like D. Nunez, J. Pena, A. Santana, et al), is that while they have promise, they don't project as a starting pitcher, but they don't have the exceptional stuff (or one really outstanding pitch) you look for in a set-up guy or closer, either. The fact is, "A"-ball RH middle relievers--even ones that put up solid numbers--usually get released. You have to either be a starter, a closer, a set-up man, or a LHP to progress to AA. At least that's how it is in the Cubs system.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 04:28 am

Submitted by Hagsag on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 7:41am. Az Phil: Are the young Koreans staying in the USA for the Summer? Thanks. ========================================= HAGSAG: It appears that they all will be staying in the U. S, although it's always possible one or more might go home to attend school (as happened with Su-Min Jung last year). I suspect RHP Jin-Keong Kim (who got a $1.2M bonus when he signed last month) will probably begin his pro career at the MLB Australian Academy and then get invited to Instructs (Fitch Park) post-2010. Several other Asian players (including Hak-Ju Lee) did that after signing with the Cubs. BTW, the Cubs now have two Korean coaches, Woong-Chun Cho and Min-Kyu Sung. Cho played pro ball in Korea (he was a pitcher), and Sung is the bilingual OF who played college ball at Nebraska-Omaha, and then was signed by the Cubs as a NDFA player-coach to help mentor Dae-Eun Rhee at Peoria a couple of years ago. The Cubs also have a couple of Korean trainers at Fitch Park.

Submitted by W Flag on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 04:29 am

Hey Phil, first time poster but long time reader on here. I'm very appreciative of your stuff and very impressed with your dedication to learning names as well as scouting them out. It's not for everyone, making it all the more impressive. Do you think you could shed some light on Arismendy Alcantara. I've been reading the DSL stuff on the Cubs the past couple years, but I don't really see any gems. I saw Alcantara but you never really know what to expect because these Caribbean players can be so volatile and inconsistent. In your opinion, do you see him being able to make strides like say, a Starlin Castro, or do you see him ending up like more of a Junior Lake. Obviously, I'm not all that familiar with his skills, but what do you see as his strong suits, what his weaknesses are (saw the error above), and what his ceiling could be. Obviously, the better shortstop prospects we have in the organization, really the better of you can be (as they can move around the infield, move to the outfield ie Bj Upton, etc.) Also, did the Cubs come away impressed with Wagner Mateo when he worked with AA during the spring? Haven't really heard anything about him recently, maybe they just weren't impressed? I'm sure you'd know more about it than we do. Anxiously awaiting your reply. Thanks a ton

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 04:05 pm

Submitted by W Flag on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 10:29am. Hey Phil, first time poster but long time reader on here. I'm very appreciative of your stuff and very impressed with your dedication to learning names as well as scouting them out. It's not for everyone, making it all the more impressive. Do you think you could shed some light on Arismendy Alcantara. I've been reading the DSL stuff on the Cubs the past couple years, but I don't really see any gems. I saw Alcantara but you never really know what to expect because these Caribbean players can be so volatile and inconsistent. In your opinion, do you see him being able to make strides like say, a Starlin Castro, or do you see him ending up like more of a Junior Lake. Obviously, I'm not all that familiar with his skills, but what do you see as his strong suits, what his weaknesses are (saw the error above), and what his ceiling could be. Obviously, the better shortstop prospects we have in the organization, really the better of you can be (as they can move around the infield, move to the outfield ie Bj Upton, etc.) Also, did the Cubs come away impressed with Wagner Mateo when he worked with AA during the spring? Haven't really heard anything about him recently, maybe they just weren't impressed? I'm sure you'd know more about it than we do. Anxiously awaiting your reply. Thanks a ton ===================================================== W FLAG: Unlike Castro, Lake or HJ Lee, Arismendy Alcantara is a little guy, sort of a water bug. He has plus-speed and a plus-arm, he has the range and arm needed to play SS (as well as 2B), and he looks like he can hit, too (he's a switch-hitter). He is only 18 years old, so he might still be maturing physically. It's interesting that the Cubs brought their four fastest DSL guys (Bieneme, A. Ramirez, Alcantara, and Disla) to Minor League Camp this Spring, while waiting to bring hitters like A. Hernandez, X. Batista, Camarena, and Pestana up to Fitch until just the last week. I think the Cubs were impressed with Wagner Mateo and would probably like to sign him. I thought he looked pretty good at the plate at Fitch Park (he had an extended BP session prior to the AA game), although his outfield defense needs work. I guess it's a matter of which team makes the best offer. So far I have heard nothing about when he will be making his decision, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs end up signing him.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:02 pm (view)

    The deadline for trading players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and players who were outrighted to the minors after signing a 2023 MLB contract was August 1st, but trades involving players on a minor league reserve list are prohibited beginning at 12 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the 2023 MLB regular season (Sunday 9/24) through the last day of the MLB regular season (including a day on which a regular season game is played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).   
     

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:58 pm (view)

    jdrnym: 

    As you know, the abbreviation "DFA" stands for "Designated for Assignment." 

    There are three types of assignments: 

    1. Trade Assignment (when a player is traded from one MLB club to another)
    2. Outright Assignment (when a player is sent to the club's minor league Domestic Reserve List after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured).
    3. Optional Assignment (when a player is optioned to the minors, subject to being recalled at a later time). 

    So when a player is Designated for Assignment, the player can either be traded, outrighted to the minors, or optioned to the minors. 

    Normally a player is not Designated for Assignment and then optioned to the minors, because the club could just option the player to the minors immediately without a DFA.

    Back in the day It was not that unusual for a player to be Designated for Assignment so that Optional Assignment Waivers could be secured (Optional Assignment Waivers were required before certain players could be optioned to the minors, and just like the old Trade Assignment Waivers, Optional Assignment Waivers were revocable if a player was claimed). Optional Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2016 and Trade Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2021, so all revocable waivers have been eliminated. What's left are Outright Assignment Waivers and Outright Release Waivers, and both are irrevocable once requested.  

    With the new five option limit whereby a player can (with a couple of exceptions) be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a given season before Outright Assignment Waivers must be secured (and it - IS - Outright Assignment Waivers that must be secured, even though it is for the purpose of an Optional Assignment), it now might be necessary for a club to DFA a player to clear a spot on the MLB 26-man roster (MLB 28-man roster in September) for another player and to allow for the two days (actually 47 hours) required to run a player through waivers. After the two day Waiver Claiming Period concludes (and presuming the player isn't claimed), the player can be returned to the MLB 40-man roster and optioned to the minors (even after being Designated for Assignment). But for that to happen, the player can - NOT - be replaced on the MLB 40-man roster by another player after being Designated for Assignment.  

    However, in the case of Jordan Luplow, he had - NOT - been optioned to the minors five times in the 2023 season prior to be optioned to AAA St. Paul on 9/18, so the Twins did not need to DFA Luplow in order to secure Outright Assignment Waivers so that he could be optioned to the minors a sixth time. But because he was Designated for Assignment and not replaced on the 40 by another player after the DFA, the Twins could option him to the minors (and return him to the 40) even after he was Designated for Assignment, because an Optional Assignment is one of the three types of assignments.

    So Luplow was Designated for Assignment even though he didn't need to be, and then the Twins returned him to their MLB 40-man roster and optioned him to the minors a couple of days later (which they can do, since Luplow wasn't replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment). What the Twins did (DFA Luplow and then option him to the minors a couple of days later) was within the rules. It's just very odd and doesn't make a lot of sense. 

    So I will offer the most logical reason I can think of to explain why the Twins did this:  

    The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they intended to reinstate Chris Paddack from the 60-day IL, but then Carlos Correa suddenly needed to go on the 10-day IL and so they decided they wanted to keep Luplow on the 40-man roster (and on Optional Assignment to AAA) and didn't want to risk losing him off waivers or by him electing free-agency after being outrighted. Luplow has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career), so he would had the right to elect free-agency after he was outrighted. There was also the possibility that he would have been claimed of waivers, and obviously the Twins felt they might need his RH bat after losing Correa and with Royce Lewis having left a game with a hamstring injury that led to an IL assignment. 

    Also, if Luplow was outrighted instead of being optioned, he would no longer be automatically eligible to play in the post-season (except as a possible injury replacement).

    Not only did Carlos Correa go on the IL, Royce Lewis went on the IL, too, two days after Correa went on the IL and two days after Luplow was optioned to AAA, so the Twins did in fact end up needing Luplow after all, and recalled him just a couple of days after he was optioned to replace Lewis on the MLB 28-man roster. 

    So that all I've got. That is the only thing that makes sense. The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they had intended to replace him on the 40 with another player (probably Paddack) and hoped that they would be able to run him through waivers and that he wouldn't get claimed and that he would accept an Outright Assignment, but then they suddenly changed their minds because of the injury to Correa and the possibility that Lewis might also have to go on the IL (which did, in fact, happen the next day).

    So the Twins were able to return Luplow to the 40 because he hadn't been replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment, then they optioned him to St. Paul, and then they recalled him after Royce Lewis was placed on the 10-day IL (the minimum 10-day optional assignment being waived because Luplow replaced a player (Royce Lewis) who was placed on an MLB IL. 

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:00 pm (view)

    CIN out here blowing a 9-0 lead they built through 3 innings.  9-9 tie in the 7th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:05 pm (view)

    boxburger 10d IL, k.thompson back up.  it's his right forearm (again).

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)

    merryweather got out of it, but he loaded the bases with 1 out.  of course ross got cuas up in the pen...thankfully he didn't need to come in.

    looks like cuas gets the 9th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:46 pm (view)

    4ip 2h 0bb 6k, 49 pitches.  no idea why they're giving the pen the last 2 innings when he's out there dealing like this and only threw 49 pitches.  he was supposed to pitch tomorrow and he's fresh.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    ...and assad is now a pen arm, evidently...odd move given recent success.  i guess wicks starts tomorrow?

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:16 pm (view)

    ARZ, MIA, and CIN all lose.  nice.

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:54 pm (view)

    stroman is now the saturday starter...okay, then.

  • jdrnym 09/22/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    Phil,

    Jordan Luplow was DFA'd by the Twins on Monday and was ultimately optioned and then recalled today. I didn't think that was possible since optional waivers were eliminated years ago. How did that work for the Twins?

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