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

Ryan Theriot was bitten by a Vampire Cardinal-Bat!

(click on thumbnail for rest of story)

Sometimes, you're Kerry Wood. 
Just walking down the road when you bump into Brian Cashman who says, "Hey, come and play tambourine with Mick and the Boys and be in the most famous Rock n' Roll band in the world."
And suddenly, you're a Yankee. 

Other times, you're Ryan Theriot. 
Just walking down the road when some rancid red bat-thing flies down and bites your neck.
Next thing you know, you're a Cardinal. 

It's all fate, really.

Happenstance. The luck of the draw.
Infection.

Ryan Theriot was traded from the Dodgers to the Cardinals yesterday.

Not the biggest deal in the world - he played a kind of yuppie "Nails" role for the Cubs - a male model-lookin' scrappy overachiever guy at short.
But I liked him and had the Cubs done better in '08 he could have been a Chicago God. 

Instead, he was dumped along with Ted Lilly for some cash and a replacement not much different than he was.

And now, he's a Cardinal.

This doesn't sting like when Mark DeRosa went to the Red Side, but still, it's never good when a Cub becomes a Card. 

But I'll go ahead and say: good luck Ryan.

Just not against the Cubs.

Comments

It was reported on the radio today that Theriot said that he is now on the right side of the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry. Proof that he was bitten by a bat, a contaminated bat. Surely, no half-way intellegent person would say that otherwise.

playing around with the comment settings to get this back to the way other posts display comments.

2b/inf Jose Lopez non-tendered by Seattle after a down year. Cubs should jump on him, he would be an upgrade at 2b and can play other inf spots. He has some pop that DeWitt doesn't, although I don't think he's a great glove guy. Regardless, he would be more fun than a year of DeWitt playing everyday. As a starter he's ranged from 10-25 hr's and 58-96 rbi. RH bat. Doesn't walk much, surprisingly doesn't strike out much, either. Low obp. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopezjo01.shtml

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Submitted by Paul Noce on Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:59pm. 2b/inf Jose Lopez non-tendered by Seattle after a down year. Cubs should jump on him, he would be an upgrade at 2b and can play other inf spots. He has some pop that DeWitt doesn't, although I don't think he's a great glove guy. Regardless, he would be more fun than a year of DeWitt playing everyday. As a starter he's ranged from 10-25 hr's and 58-96 rbi. RH bat. Doesn't walk much, surprisingly doesn't strike out much, either. Low obp ====================================== PAUL N: I could see Jose Lopez as an upgrade over Jeff Baker as a RH 3B-2B-1B-RHPH, but he'd also probably cost the Cubs about $2M more in 2011 payroll (likely $3M+ salary for Lopez vs about a $1.25M salary for Baker) if they were to step in and acquire him from the Mariners in a trade prior to Lopez getting non-tendered (as the Cardinals did yesterday when they acquired Ryan Theriot from the Dodgers when he was about to get non-tendered). If he is indeed non-tendered instead of being traded, I would think the Cubs would be very happy to offer Lopez a minor league contract with an NRI to ST, presuming Lopez wants to play for the Cubs and doesn't get a better offer elsewhere. One thing the Mariners dropping Lopez would do is create an opening in Seattle for a new 3B (although Chone Figgins could move there from 2B, with AFL MVP Dustin Ackley taking over 2B). That could add the Mariners to a rather short list of teams (BAL, CLE, and KC being the other ones) who might select Marquez Smith in the Rule 5 Draft and give him a chance to win the starting 3B job in ST.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101129&content_id=16… Although many fans and even Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano would like to see Adam Dunn's big bat in the lineup, the team will likely lean more toward a more economical and defensive infielder. Shortstop Starlin Castro is coming off a 27-error rookie season. Not only do the Cubs want a left-handed bat, but someone who can catch the ball. Lee, a three-time Gold Glove winner, spoiled them. The Cubs aren't limited to thrift store shopping, but do have to be more cost-concious. They have $103 million committed to players next year, plus Jeff Baker, Koyie Hill, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, and Geovany Soto are on the arbitration-eligible list. Those six players combined made $6.125 million in 2010. Expect a final '11 payroll around $130 million. (ed note, AZ Phil has around $119M committed so far) First base isn't the only concern. Although the Cubs appear to have plenty of depth pitching-wise, they would like another innings-eating starter and an experienced right-handed reliever. Don't look for Hendry to be waiting in line to court free agent Cliff Lee. Why more pitching? There are too many questions regarding the rotation. Carlos Silva, acquired last December from the Mariners for Bradley, surprised the Cubs with his strong start. Will he do it again? Randy Wells will be entering his third season, which means no more talk about a sophomore jinx. Will he be more consistent? Lefty Tom Gorzelanny wants to start but may be better suited to a relief role, similar to what Sean Marshall has done. Would he accept that?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's odd that Hendry apparently wants a starting pitcher who can be an "innings eater" while he is also reportedly looking at fragile rehab guys like Brandon Webb, Jeff Francis and Erik Bedard. Innings Eater and Long-Term Surgery Rehab does not really equate. Maybe Hendry is following one track where he hopes to catch lightning in a bottle by signing a guy coming back from an injury (like Webb, Bedard, or Francis) to a minor league deal where it costs the Cubs in payroll only if the pitcher actually comes back and can pitch in the big leagues in 2011, and another completely different track where he hopes to sign a Jon Garland or a Javier Vasquez (both now off the board) to a one-year deal in the $7M range. LHSP Zach Duke will likely get non-tendered by Arizona tomorrow (they acquired him from Pittsburgh just to see if they could sign him without having to offer him arbitration), and Duke sounds like just the kind of pitcher Hendry is looking for. (Not to mention that Duke was a Dave Littlefield guy in Pittsburgh, and Littlefield is now one of Hendry's main consigliere).

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

btw, what's the big difference between Dunn and Pena to you? 2 absurdly patient sluggers that K a ton and strand a ton on base. One is generally regarded as good defensively, the other not and one has obviously been more consistent, but their career wOBA and OPS+ numbers aren't that drastically different from each other. 133 OPS+ for Dunn, .384 wOBA 123 OPS+ for Pena, .363 wOBA Pena is a year older but I'm presuming they're looking at him for a one year deal at less money, rather than 3-4 that Dunn wants. personally I like Berkman on a rebound season, but I understand if the doctors and scouts think he's done physically.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 12/01/2010 - 4:02pm. To me it seems like you can catch lighting in a bottle cheaply. The part I don't get is the need to go cheaply on First Base? Either Dunn or Berkman would instantly be our best hitter the day they signed. Unless Hendry is TRYING to get fired? How can he even dance around not making an impact on that front? =================================== DR AARON B: Last summer prior to trading Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot to the Dodgers for Blake DeWitt, Kyle Smit, and Brett Wallach (and a few million $$$ in payroll relief), the report here in Phoenix was that the D'backs had offered Kelly Johnson to the Cubs for Theriot and James Russell, but the Cubs turned it down because they didn't want to trade Russell. If the Cubs can't find the LH power-hitting 1B they want (or if they finally realize that Soto might have to play a lot of 1B in 2011), perhaps they will revisit the Kelly Johnson deal and offer DeWitt and Russell for a LH power-hitting 2B (and perhaps a third player for Zach Duke) and see if the D'backs bite. It would save the D'backs about $10M+ in 2011 salary (Johnson and Duke are both eligible for salary arbitration post-2010), and would give the Cubs what they believe are two of their three primary needs going into 2011 (a LH power-hitter who can hit 3-4-5 in the lineup and a mediocre veteran SP innings-eater).

who must burn $100 bills to stay warm in the winter have apparently offered Konerko a contract for some ungodly reason.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...