Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
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

Lou Piniella RANT

Yeah, we're all pretty sick of the 2010 Cubs. But just for a moment, imagine being Lou Piniella.

Close your eyes and just... imagine having to walk into the little "how come" room and explain this team to the media.

It has to be the absolute worst kind of hell.

Seriously, if you made a movie and had to depict hell, what better place than that little room? Day after day after day...

Now, I don't know exactly what he's thinking, but I would imagine it would be something close to this.

I'd give a million bucks to have a beer with the man, hear it for real...

 


You can view Tim Souers work on a daily basis at Cubby Blue.

Comments

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Exactly. Over the weekend I heard Len&Bob remark more than once, actually about ten million times, that Cubs hitting has been a problem all season and tailed off as the season progressed -- which is totally untrue. In fact, the Cubs started the season off at the bottom of the league in team batting and now are league average (Cubs-.257 .322 .408 .731 NL- .257 .326 .403 .729). And they rank 6th in home runs with 112. But somehow, the Cubs have managed* to take an average offense and utilize it to rank 12th/16 in runs scored. I'm guessing that a lot of that falls on Lou-- the manager* and the black hole in the middle of the lineup he keeps penciling in game after game. Not to mention hitting Tyler Colvin first even though he's shown no ability to hit at all at the top of the order and Geo Soto 8th even though he's been around .400 OBP all season. Yeah, the Cubs are lousy with RISP. It should be no mystery why. That'll happen when your 3 and 4 hitters suck as bad as Lee and Ramirez have.

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In reply to by navigator

given the cubs "i give up" record colvin/castro are probably batting 1/2 for no other reason that getting them maximum ABs to prep for 2011. that said, meh... who's ready for castro leading off with dewitt hitting 2nd in 2011? woo.

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In reply to by crunch

We've seen worse. Not sure why we don't do that now. If we're benching Colvin to get his head straight, why are we trying to maximize his at bats simultaneously? Castro DeWitt Soto Ramirez Colvin Soriano Byrd Hoffpauir Pitcher Seems alright to me.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

i wish mr. i can't run to 1st while i'm daydreaming about my winter vacation would have accepted a trade. if he's going to be like this i hope he's willing to re-up with the cubs for 1yr 5m-ish or something risk reasonable...and shows up ready to have his head checked in a bit more. i dont expect hoff or snyder to be suitable replacements, but dlee is a bit of a distraction, imo.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

I think Byrd should hit higher. He's not a real number 3 in most other lineups but we don't have that type of hitter right now, unless you consider ARam to be a number 3 hitter when healthy. I always thought ARam to be better suited as a 3 hitter than DLee even when they were both in their prime. ARam makes more contact. Castro DeWitt Byrd Ramirez Soto Colvin Soriano 1b retread Pitcher

Is AZ Phil on vacation or something? I miss his reports and insight.

Lou: Not the Cub's biggest problem. A legit team has players that know and do their job. A manager basically manages personalities at this level.

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In reply to by Ryno

No lou is not. But if i'm soto, i ' m wondering why i' m batting 8th. If i'm z i'm wondering why i got shipped to the bullpen. If i'm colvin i'm wondering why i was on bench behind nada for a month. If i'm sori and byrd i'm wondering why don't get one game batting 3/4. Lot more questions tham answers from lou. But hey whatta you gonna do?

Wow, 4 first inning runs vs. Lincecum. If the Cubs hold true to form, they're done scoring for the evening. Demp better be able to make the 4 runs hold up.

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In reply to by JoePepitone

and the cubs are trying hard to blow it...4-1, 2 on, 1 out someone out there needs to pull castro's choke collar, too. he's given LA hits in the past 2 games trying to play the OF from SS and blocking the OF'rs from making plays...and his stupid throws keep coming. hardcore superman syndrome even if he's not some egomaniac. -edit- woo, double play

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In reply to by big_lowitzki

i dunno if mlb.com has the replays, but if they do they'll show 1-2 guys standing or jogging while a youngblood coming full force and top speed missiles himself into the play regardless of who's calling what. it'd be like stepping in front of a truck...well, a car...well, a motorcycle...a honda.

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In reply to by navigator

im talking about specific plays where castro decided he covers the entire field and kept OF'rs from making plays. it's just youthful over-aggression and not knowing how certain fields (even his current home field) plays with great familiarity. i'm not calling the kid trash...i'm just saying he needs to recognize his limits as well as the talents of those he plays with.

Ooh look... another passed ball by Koyie "defensive wizard" Hill. And then an error on by the Micah "slick first baseman" Hoffpauir. Please tell me that those two won't be anywhere close to the Cubs big league team next year...

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In reply to by The Real Neal

I never said that it was a meaningful sample. They both suck, and last night was just more evidence. I don't want them to have anything to do with the Cubs next year. Also... I wasn't using statistics, so "samples" are not very relevant.

"where the hell was i going with this?" - bob brenley after a rambling story hahahaha. highlight of the game...besides the 1st inning.

buster posey just got a double for no f'n reason what-so-ever besides official scoring off what should have been an error. at least it doesnt put us closer to WAS with the most errors in mlb... holy crap that was a clunker...horrible scoring not to call it an error, too. hey awesome...passed ball k.hill...never seen that before...scored a wild pitch on cashner, not arguing that one.

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In reply to by Paul Noce

Yeah, they weren't really getting good contact off of Marmol (a lot of stuff off the end of bats, falling out of gloves, dribbling up the middle) but Marmol wasn't making anybody look sick like he usually does. Suddenly, the Giants got two runs and have the winning run at the plate and Marmol gets royally pissed off -- he blows three straight fastballs past Uribe (swinging), then gets two feeble swings from Ishikawa before making him dribble the ball to 1st. You could really see the difference that the extra adrenaline made on the quality of his pitches. One minute they were fighting him off and getting wood on the ball, to a greater or lesser degree, and the next minute they suddenly looked over-matched and pitiful. Damn entertaining!

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st. Brilliant after the fact insight. Lee and Ramirez are the teams best hitters, period. People wanted Soriano released to start this season, or at the very least buried at the bottom of the lineup. People got most of their wish and i think he has been wasted hitting 6th for our team. You pay Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano to drive in runs and score them. Your team lives and dies by what they do. Switching them out of the #3 and #4 spot to be replaced by who? Fukudome? Byrd? Ohhhh wait Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin? We wouldn't of won more games by doing any of that, because our team needed Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano's combined production to win the division. It sucks 2 out of the 3 decided to have a bad year and the 3rd got buried in the lineup because of knee jerk reactions. Come on dude arm chair managing is easy when you already know the outcome. Which is exactly where you comment comes from.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Sorry don't remember the names, but i do chime in time to time wondering why Soriano is still on the Cubs if he was so finished and washed up that he needed to be released ASAP according to some. Tyler Colvin is his successor afterall and the man deemed to take over his position. I have had far more confidence in Castro's ability to hit than Colvin's. I have had less confidence in Castro's defense being a massive upgrade over Theriot, that little myth hasn't become reality yet despite everyone saying it is so. I have no doubt he has the skills to be better, but right now? No way in hell. I want Colvin to play every single day so he can get exposed as a fluke and we don't go into next year hoping on his production. Because your going to get a massive Neifi Perez let down when that happens. Where did his power go? Why are his strikeouts up and walks down? Why isn't he hitting? Where is the 2010 Tyler Colvin "Awesome" show? Just get it over with now and don't go depending on something that won't happen with this kid as he goes on the Jerome Walton career path. Producing talent doesn't mean 1 year wonders, it means producing a talent that contributes heavily to the parent club for many seasons. We still haven't achieved that since Mark Grace in positional talent. And our best hitting prospect in that time? Its more than likely Casey McGehee and he plays for the Brewers. Just for perspective, the league seemed to have quickly figured out how to get Castro out, but he adjusted and is doing fine. Colvin the league might have had a harder time to figure out, but he hasn't adjusted anything in his game. And probably will not adjust anything, he has always been an aggressive hitter who ignores walks and thats gonna bite him in the ass. You see Castro making the fine tune adjustments needed to be a major league hitter, you don't see that in Colvin. Like with everything i have time to watch this play out. I remember being the sad lonely Dusty hater even when he was first hired. I knew eventually people would recognize what a shit hole of a manager he was. I can wait on the Tyler Colvin bubble bursting as well.

[ ]

In reply to by MikeC

I am fairly certain that I didn't start complaining about Lee and Ramirez batting 3-4 yesterday. I know I've been complaining about Soto batting 8th since April, but don't let the facts intetrude on your rants, they're much more entertaining this way. I love the "You're making these conclusions in hindsight, but I can see Castro is better than Colvin" bit too, that's classic. As to the other things you said about Colvin - he's hitting for about the same isolated power as he has been all season. During July and August he's struck out less often (once per 4 PA's) and walked more often (oncer per 12) than he did in June and May (3.3 and 21) - so really you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. If you don't see the difference between Theriot and Castro's fielding, I don't know what to say. I can only assume you're not watching games. Going by UZR which you can find at Fangraphs - (which I am not a big fan of), it puts Castro at saving about 23 runs more than Theriot over the course of a season - and that's including his errors (but probably not the bad tags on SB's attempts).

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In reply to by MikeC

Lol..Soriano is only having a good year, when compared to Lee and Ramirez....Soriano has stunk too for a good part of the season.. June: .234/.310/.468 July: .225/.271/.450 August: .188/.229/.375 Poor Alfonso..getting "buried" hitting 6th....and sucking it up too.

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In reply to by MikeC

"...Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin?" So, are you going to come back next year and give us the, "The Cubs haven't had any farm-team talent in thirty years..." rant MikeC? Or will Colvin and Castro then become "TWO year wonders" in your view of things? We are waiting with bated breath.

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In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Still too early to determine anything, imo. Personally, IF he can get better command of the strike zone, I think he could start no problem. Even as a 4th Ofer and I think, as AZ PHIL does that he will be playing more at 1B next year, he will be a productive MLB player for the Cubs or another team.

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In reply to by The E-Man

I don't know what's going to happen with Colvin - most of his recent issues have been from bad luck (read post above - ack no numbers anymore). To me the jury is still out, but he still looks like he's going to have more power than anyone expceted. If he can hit 25 HR's, play really good defense and walk and steal a little more, I can live with 170 strikeout seasons as a pre-arb player.

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In reply to by The E-Man

Because he is capable of playing 1st doesn't mean he should. Although I do agree he will have MLB value. Even if its just as a 4th outfielder who can defend all 3 positions. That is really the value of Fukudome on an MLB roster today.

I liked Trammell's lineup card last night with five left-handed hitters starting. I liked it so much I actually watched the game from about the fifth inning on. I haven't been able to stomach half of very many games this year. And then another lefty pinch hit and knocked in the deciding runs. Maybe it's just me, but I've gotten worn down watching right-handed hitters lunge at balls breaking outside. (Well, Soriano doesn't lunge, he just stands up straight and misses.) There's an easier way to deal with sliders thrown by right-handed pitchers. Just put a balanced lineup out there. Old-fashioned, I know. The Giants have a nice bullpen but they seem to be mostly righties. I'm glad Trammell noticed. I think he managed a little better than his boss yesterday.

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In reply to by Paul Noce

Fontenot told the Chicago Tribune he's happy with his performance this year: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/08/cubs-trade-fontenot-to-gia… "Fontenot lost playing time in May when Starlin Castro was called up and Ryan Theriot moved over to short. (2nd base) He said he was happy with his performance this year. "Yeah, there've been times when I wanted to get out there and play more," he said. "But I've always been a team guy. And things haven't gone the way we wanted them to... in the end, I feel pretty good so far this year." He's happy with his performance? This is one of the reasons this team sucks, everyone is complacent with mediocrity. 0 hr, 12 rbi in 40 starts this season. .287/.331/.382 as a starter. The avg is the only acceptable thing. His defense was crap, as usual. .969 fielding percentage at 2b. .909 at 3b.

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In reply to by WISCGRAD

Man, with ARam probably not available or preferred to not have to PH, and being down a spot from the Fontenot trade, I would expect Crunch will see his favorite Z pinch hit tonight with runners in scoring position.

John Grabow has been diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament and will miss the rest of the 2010 season. Grabow was all set to begin a rehab assignment when he felt a "pop" in his knee on Monday.

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In reply to by rokfish

he walked out of the cubs clubhouse and into the hallway where a CSN bay-area camera followed him on his walk from one clubhouse to his new one. panda was waiting there to greet him. it looked like the most awkward thing he's had to do in a long time, but he was smiling.

mike fontenot traded away...and blake dewitt busts up his lip so badly they have a delay of game to stop the bleeding coming back into the inning.

File this under money well spent (if you're an orthopedic surgeon) Per Wittenmeyer tweet... John Grabow out for rest of season, felt a pop in his knee pitching monday, wed MRI consistent with medial collateral ligament tear. --- Mcl tear if isolated (meaning no associated meniscus tear) recovers with rehab only in about 6 weeks Love that song...pop goes the weasel.

SF team color is black and fontenot had to take a black marker to his "cubbie blue" cleats. he did a real piss-poor hack job of it, too.

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.