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

Cubs Trounce Angels at Diablo Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Bobby Wagner crushed a three-run HR off the Angels clubhouse beyond the RF fence, Charles Thomas ripped a two-run double, and Austin Kirk threw four shutout innings, leading the EXST Cubs to a 10-3 thrashing of the EXST Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Diablo Park Field #3 at the Tempe Buttes this morning.

A 19-year old 6'1 LHP out of Owasso HS - Owasso, OK, Kirk (the Cubs 3rd round draft pick in 2009) allowed just two hits and a walk in his four innings of work, lowering his EXST ERA to 3.95 and his EXST WHIP to 1.39. He induced a timely inning-ending 5-4-3 GIDP to get out of the 2nd inning, and used a nifty pick-off move to erase a runner in the 3rd.

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

LINEUP:
1. Runey Davis, CF: 2-5 (5-3, 1B, 1B, K, P-4, R, RBI)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B: 0-5 (5-3, 4-3, E-4, E-1, 5-3, 2 R, SB)
3. Jesus Morelli, RF: 1-4 (HBP, F-8, 1B, F-8, 5-3, R, RBI)
4. Charles Thomas, DH #1: 1-4 (4-U FC, 6-3, 2B, F-9, R, 2 RBI)
5. Brandon May, 3B: 2-3 (2B, F-9, BB, 1B, 2 R, RBI)
6. Bobby Wagner, 1B: 1-4 (6-3, F-9, HR, K, R, 3 RBI)
7. Albert Hernandez, DH #2: 1-3 (1B, BB, 5-3, K, R)
8. Carlos Romero, C: 0-3 (BB, 5-3, 1-3, F-8, R)
9. Wes Darvill, SS: 0-3 (BB, F-8, 4-3, E-4, RBI)
10. Cody Shields, LF: 0-3 (F-9 SF, 3-U, K, K, RBI)

PITCHERS:
1. Austin Kirk – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 5/5 GO/FO, 59 pitches (39 strikes)
2. Tzu-An Wang – 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 22 pitches (11 strikes)
3. Carlos Rojas – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/FO, 28 pitches (19 strikes)
4. Danny Keefe - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 19 pitches (13 strikes)
5. Yohan Gonzalez – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 23 pitches (15 strikes)

ERRORS: (1)
SS Wes Darvill E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – did not score)

ATTENDANCE: 10

WEATHER: sunny & cloudless with temperatures in the 80’s

 

Tags
Extended Spring Training
EXST Cubs
Bobby Wagner
Charles Thomas
Austin Kirk

Comments

Submitted by Jumbo on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:04 pm

AZ Phil - What do you think of the minor league promotions? Cashner to AAA seems very understandable given his recent dominance. Castro to MLB seems questionable, to say the least - how does it affect his service clock? The Vitters promotion is the one I'm most curious about. I've never seen (in the stat lines or in video) him tearing it up. How did he earn the promotion? Thanks Phil

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:09 pm

Submitted by Jumbo on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 4:04pm. AZ Phil - What do you think of the minor league promotions? Cashner to AAA seems very understandable given his recent dominance. Castro to MLB seems questionable, to say the least - how does it affect his service clock? The Vitters promotion is the one I'm most curious about. I've never seen (in the stat lines or in video) him tearing it up. How did he earn the promotion? Thanks Phil ===================================================== Jumbo: The Castro promotion (with Theriot moving to 2B) was inevitable but I was surprised it happened this soon. Although hot-shot young prospects like Castro often go directly from AA to the big leagues without ever playing AAA, I really thought Castro would spend some time at AAA this season just so he could see some veteran-type pitchers before he hit The Show maybe in September. As far as Castro's service clock, he gets a 4th minor league option (as of now anyway) because he has accrued only one "full season" through the 2009 season. (A "full season" is defined as spending at least 90 days on the active list of an MLB and/or full-season minor league team or teams, or at least 60 days spent on the active list of an MLB and/or full-season minor league team or teams followed by time spent on the Disabled List where the total time accrued is at least 90 days). As far as possible Super Two status for Castro is concerned, the amount of MLB Service Time needed to qualify as a "Super Two" varies from season-to-season (it was 2+139 post-2009), so if Castro stays in MLB and doesn't get sent back to the minors, he will accrue 149 days of MLB ST in 2010, meaning he will be at 2+149 by the end of the 2012 season, and a player with 2+149 MLB ST ALWAYS has qualified as a "Super Two." If the Cubs wanted to avoid that with Castro, they should have waited another month before bringing him up. Apparently it's not a big deal to Hendry. I agree that the Cashner promotion was a no-brainer. He dominated AA and now he'll have a chance to face more-experienced hitters in the PCL. I still believe he will end up in the bullpen as the Cubs 8th inning set-up guy before the end of the season (he was the #1 closer in college baseball at TCU in 2008), but the Cubs apparently believe he can be a top of the rotation starter. I was a bit surprised that Vitters got promoted to AA at this time. If anything I thought he might have started the season at AA, but once he was assigned to Daytona during Minor League Camp I figured he'd stay there for at least half a season or until he caught fire. He's done OK at Daytona and has made some progress, so hopefully he won't struggle at AA. The Cubs have been more aggressive over the past couple of years in promoting players and sometimes having the better prospects jump a level. I think this is because of the new ownership's desire to develop players from within. That also might mean that Hendry will not trade prospects as willingly as he has in the past.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:37 pm

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 9:40pm. Phil, Any thoughts on Hak-Ju Lee, Ryan Flaherty, or Kyler Burke so far this season? Is it too early to comment on their performances? ============================================== CHARLIE: Ryan Flaherty was probably pushed too far to start the season at AA Tennessee. Daytona is probably where he belongs right now, although he had a good Minor League Camp and actually earned the Opening Day roster slot at Tennessee. Kyler Burke spent all or parts of three seasons in the Midwest League before he finally mastered the level and won the Cubs 2009 Minor League Player of the Year Award. So coming into the 2010 season there was some question about whether he would be able to adjust to Daytona right away or if it might take him some time as it did at Peoria. So we'll have to wait and see where he's at in September, although his start has been disappointing. I wouldn't worry much about Hak-Ju Lee. He's still very young (19) and just 18 months removed from TJS, so there are bound to be some speed bumps along the way. But he's running the bases very well and his hitting should come around.

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Submitted by Jumbo on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:36 am

The Cubs have been more aggressive over the past couple of years in promoting players and sometimes having the better prospects jump a level. I think this is because of the new ownership's desire to develop players from within. That also might mean that Hendry will not trade prospects as willingly as he has in the past. ========= Do you think this aggressive philosophy has been an effort to purge the system of the career minor leaguers that had been occupying the organization? It seems like moving guys up to AAA to simultaneously rid the organization of DuBois would be the goal. Or is it a different approach to handling prospects altogether?

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:49 am

Submitted by Jumbo on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 4:36am. Do you think this aggressive philosophy has been an effort to purge the system of the career minor leaguers that had been occupying the organization? It seems like moving guys up to AAA to simultaneously rid the organization of DuBois would be the goal. Or is it a different approach to handling prospects altogether? ============================= JUMBO: I don't think being more aggressive with promoting the better prospects means the Cubs are trying to avoid signing minor league free-agents to fill holes at AAA or that the Cubs are trying minimize the number of organizational players on minor league rosters. What I do think it means is that the Cubs are now more-willing to let a player temporarily "flunk" a level and get demoted without worrying about whether the player will react negatively to that failure, instead using a failure and the way the player handles it (or doesn't handle it) as a test to help determine the character of the player. In the past the Cubs might have been a bit more inclined to move players more slowly or deliberately so as to not risk damaging the player's psyche, but also to allow a plasyer to put together a really good full year at one level. The one thing the Cubs probably do not want to do is let a player perhaps lose a bit of his edge by getting too comfortable at a certain level.

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:33 pm

STARLIN CASTRO IS THE BEST BALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME. INO WHAT YOU ARE THINKING THOUGH, WHAT ABOUT HEYWARD? RIGHT? PROBLEM IS CASTRO IS HEYWARD TIMES 5. YEA.

Submitted by W Flag on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:53 pm

AZ Phil: Routine day off for Chen or has his arm been hurting again? I know you said that he hurt himself and need surgery a while back and was just wondering if that was the case for today. Is he a player that goes to Boise or stays for AZL? Thanks as always.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:10 am

Submitted by W Flag on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 10:53pm. AZ Phil: Routine day off for Chen or has his arm been hurting again? I know you said that he hurt himself and need surgery a while back and was just wondering if that was the case for today. Is he a player that goes to Boise or stays for AZL? Thanks as always. =============================== W FLAG: Just a routine Camp Day today for Ping-Chieh Chen. He hasn't had surgery (at least not yet). I'm not sure whether Chen will go to Boise or stay with the other two Taiwanese players (the two Wangs) at AZL Cubs. As well as he has hit so far at EXST, Chen will have to play defense (probably 2B) if he wants to go to Boise. The Cubs won't send him there just to be a DH.

Submitted by jacos on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:35 am

Viva Revolution!

Submitted by Old and Blue on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:57 am

I just sort of liked that Castro popped an opposite field homer, even if it probably would have been a fly out in a lot of parks. And the triple he hit looked like a slider that actually was cutting down. It's possible we'll get a good six weeks out of this kid offensively before they figure out something to get him out on --- unless he's the first rookie in my lifetime of watching baseball -- other than that rat bastard Pujols maybe -- who doesn't have an exploitable weakness. This at least adds some fun. This season was getting really depressing.

Submitted by Jackstraw on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:25 am

Bringing up Castro was Pinella/Hendry's second attempt to shake up the team, change the vibe, whatever. First was moving Z to the bullpen. If the Cubs had gotten on a tear after Z went to the pen (even if it had nothing to do with his personal performance) Castro would still be in Tenn. Give it 20 games and if the Cubs are still plodding along the next move will be to bring up Cashner and put him in the pen. 20 games after that and it's still the same crap and Lou will be gone.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:14 pm

ATL Heyward (groin) could hit disabled list CHC Cubs prospect Castro has HR, 6 RBI in debut ...and the torch is passed. we sat through some great times watching HOF'r jason heyward apply his craft...a player the likes of which we never thought we'd see again. then comes castro. a new era of baseball is upon us. this is the biggest thing to happen to baseball since the invention of the bat.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:45 pm

Submitted by The E-Man on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 12:25pm. AZ PHIL: Any Chris Carpenter sightings/news lately? I know he has been struggling with recent arm troubles. Thanks. ==================================================== E-MAN: I haven't heard that Chris Carpenter will be coming back to Fitch Park. He made his most-recent start for AA Tennessee two days ago without any reported physical set-backs, and he has now made all four of his scheduled starts for the Smokies. He apparently got lit-up pretty good on Thursday, though, so he quite possibly is not yet 100% on his game. I was a bit surprised that he made only one rehab game appearance at EXST before getting moved up to Tennessee, but he probably was getting cabin fever down here.

Submitted by artskoe on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:51 pm

Anyway, there's a different smell here. Scan these comments, notice ROOKIE from AA got forced into Lou's lineup, and you see what GETTING RID OF THE TRIB has done! I say Yee-Ha! Thanks Tom.

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • 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. 

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