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

Game 145 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP *Ted Lilly
SP Braden Looper

13-9, 4.43, 161 K, 60 BB, 176.2 IP
12-11, 4.09, 87 K, 41 BB, 174 IP
       
LF
Alfonso Soriano
SS
Cesar Izturis
SS
Ryan Theriot
3B #Felipe Lopez
1B Derrek Lee
1B
Albert Pujols
3B Aramis Ramirez
RF
Ryan Ludwick
C
Geovany Soto
C
Yadier Molina
RF *Kosuke Fukudome
LF
Josh Phelps
2B
Mark DeRosa
2B
*Adam Kennedy
CF
*Felix Pie
P Braden Looper
P *Ted Lilly
CF
*Skip Schumaker

 

With the NL Central race now firmly under his team's control, Cubs manager Lou Piniella sounds like a guy who is prepared to enjoy a low-stress wind-down to his team's regular season before he has to deal with the high drama of the National League playoffs.

"After that little rough patch on the last homestand, it's good to see us clicking again," Piniella said following Tuesday night's one-sided win against the Cardinals. "We're playing like we expect to win and doing the things that got us here. It's fun to watch this club play right now."

By winning the first four games of the team's current, ten-day, nine-game, three-city road trip while the Brewers have faltered at home, the Cubs have been able to build up a 7 1/2-game lead on Ned Yost's club, a margin that has the Brewers concentrating on holding off the Phillies for the WIld Card and abandoning any thoughts of catching the Cubs in the Central.

Ryan Dempster was commanding in last night's 11-1 victory over the Cards' Kyle Lohse, but Kosuke Fukudome and Jim Edmonds—a combined 5-for-8 with 2 HR and 7 RBI—were responsible for the big fireworks. The game, in which the Cubs built an early 3-0 advantage then piled onto their lead throughout the evening, was a contrast to Sunday's unexpectedly exciting win over the Reds, when Ronny Cedeno triggered a game-ending 6-3 double-play to put down a Cincy rally.

As Piniella said after last night's ten-run victory...

"A win is a win, but after that close call on Sunday, it's great to have a ballgame where we can give some of the regulars a break. Plus, you've got to remember, I'm an old man. Games like this one are a lot better for my blood pressure."

Comments

if Cubs win tonight, they'll gain two more on their playoff magic number. A loss though means they'll gain nothing since Cards and Phils are tied in the loss column entering today. Astros can make it a 3-way tie there if they win and Cards lose.

Brandon Lyon blows a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 9th, giving up a 2 run/2out triple vs SF after the Dbacks got a 2 spot to take the lead in the top of the 9th. Must be crushing given how things have changed in the west. also Phils lose late to the fish, who scored one in the 8th to take a one run lead and 3 in the 9th to ice the game.

• Carlos Zambrano had a successful bullpen outing on Tuesday, one day after Rich Harden was judged ready to rejoin the Cubs' rotation. Harden will pitch Thursday in St. Louis, Zambrano on Saturday in Houston. Piniella currently has his starters lined up in this order for the playoffs: Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and either Ted Lilly or Harden, with Jason "The Fifth Beatle" Marquis set to be dropped from a playoff rotation for the third year in a row. But Marquis is pitching well. His 4.23 ERA in the second half is better than Zambrano's (5.26) and almost as good as Lilly's (3.96).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

speaking of..

http://www.khou.com/sports/texans/stories/khou080810_cc_uilschedule.623… “The Houston Astros are continuing to monitor the projections and path of Hurricane Ike and are in close contact with the Office of Emergency Management. We are considering all of our potential options, and there is a possibility that our game against the Chicago Cubs Friday evening (Sept. 12) may be moved to a 1:05 PM start, relative to how the storm is progressing toward the Houston area. There will be a decision made tomorrow with regards to Friday’s game after continued consultation with the Office of Emergency Management. The safety and well-being of our fans and both teams involved is always our primary concern.” The Astros have never had a weather-related postponement at 8-year-old Minute Maid Park, which has a retractable roof. On June 15, 1976, a game at the Astrodome between the Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates was canceled after about 10 inches of rain fell in the Houston area.

jesus christ that was ridiculous. whew. a victory. I gotta say I was steaming when Lilly got pulled after dominating for 8 innings and only throwing 90 pitches. What's the matter with a frickin' complete game Lou?? anyway. whew.

I think it might be me, guys. The Cubs do better when I'm not paying attention. It seems like as soon as I check in on a game, things go badly. It's happened all through this horrible stretch of the past week and a half, culminating in my walking in last night just in time to see the game-tying homer. I tuned in moments ago to see the 2-run homer, then ignored the game for a few minutes and missed the last 2 outs. Perhaps I made some sort of deal where the Cubs would win the World Series but I wouldn't be allowed to watch it happen. I hope you guys enjoy it.

I like it better when we win and the brewers win...than when they lose and we lose. but I agree with Santo, et al...you've got to add on runs when you get a lead and they got nada vs the stl bullpen and I agree with Lou that it's tough winning games until you get 5 runs (or more)...knew this one tonight wouldn't be an easy one. Rays/Bosox 1-1, 13th...talk about a cage deathmatch.

Same again, please. Only with more runs for us and less 9th inning drama. Hopefully, this is the type of ugly, slump-busting win that will propel the Cubs back to winning series. Ted -- many thanks. Very, very clutch. Thanks also to Fonzie for throwing a runner out at the plate. We'd better win a few against the Astros --- looking at their schedule, I'm not sure who else is going to beat them. Rich Harden -- come on down! Playoff magic number is now 9 (?). Gotta love single-digit magic numbers.

A win is a win. I'm not even going to complain about the lack of insurance runs or the struggles of Kerry Wood. I'd like our chances even if we only win 8 or 9 games the rest of the year...but that is the key WINS....Hopefully Harden is back to his dominating self tomorrow.

I wanted Lilly to stay in too but after Wood's horrid outing Sunday after, I think, five days between appearances, Lou rightly wanted to get him some work in a fairly pressure free situation. Unfortunately, Wood quickly turned it into a high pressure situation.

Previous discussion was about how the good offense in August was covering for Z's troubles... Last night, Lilly saved the offense. A horrid offensive night -- only scored one earned run, and got nothing after the 2nd inning. Need to stop this trend of scoring early, then not at all.

so where are the cubs/astros playing this weekend dont think either team wants to make up games after season is over i would think mr. selig would move the series to a nuetral site which means the cub fans would pack the place my vote is for kansas city

#39 i to was pretty impressed with that collision lilly did not look like a pitcher there molina got what he deserved,he could of backed of the plate and just taged him, i can think of a few cub players that would not have done what lilly did one of them was on second base and was still there after the play when he should have been at third. atlanta would be another choice for cubs/astros the nfl is already making plans to maybe move the texans sunday game back a day or move to atlanta.

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...