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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Final Tune-Up for Garza Sucks Gas

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

A. J. Pollack reached base five times on four singles and a walk, Kelly Johnson had four hits including a double and a three-run HR, ex-Cub Xavier Nady had four hits (including a grand slam HR) and scored three runs, and David Winfree had three hits including a solo HR and a three-run HR, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 15-8 drubbing of the Cubs in what was the final Cactus League game for the Cubs (although they will be playing what's billed as an "intrasquad charity game" tomorrow morning at Dwight Patterson Field before flying to Chicago later in the day).  

box score

RHP Matt Garza got the start for the Cubs today, his final Spring Training tune-up. And he did not have a good day, allowing seven runs on 11 hits (including one double and one HR) and two walks in 3+ innings of work (92 pitches - 63 strikes). The one positive note was seven strikeouts in just 3.0 IP, and he did make some good pitches every now & then, but he was mostly pitching out of the stretch all day.  

Four of the first five D'back hitters singled in the 1st, but Arizona could only plate one run thanks to a diving stop by 2B Jeff Baker behind 2nd base that kept the bases loaded ("Keep it in the infield!" as the coaches say), allowing Garza to pitch out of the jam by striking out the side, although he did throwc 24 pitches (17 strikes) in the process.  

After throwing a scoreless 2nd inning (two two-out singles around an F-7, a K, and and an L-7), Garza had troubles again in the top of the 3rd, as Xavier Nady and Ryan Wheeler singled and David Winfree lined a three-run HR over the LF fence to give the Diamondbacks a 4-0 lead. 

The Cubs came back in the bottom of the 3rd against AZ starter LHP Joe Saunders, putting up a five-spot and taking the lead. With one out, Reed Johnson was hit on the foot by a pitch, and moved up to third when Starlin Castro ripped a double down the LF line (it hit the 3rd base bag). Jeff Baker grounded a single to left to score Johnson, and then Aramis Ramirez roped a line-drive single to score Castro. Geovany Soto grounded a single to left to load the bases, before Carlos Pena came through with a bases-clearing three-run double into the left-center alley to give the Cubs the lead.

But the D'backs came right back in the top of the 4th, loading the bases against Garza on a Kelly Johnson double and two walks (Garza was obviously tiring once he hit 80 pitches). LHP Scott Maine (up from Minor League Camp) relieved Garza and had a REALLY bad inning, giving up a towering grand slam HR to Nady, another long ball (solo shot) to David Winfree,  and finally, after Aramis Ramirez made a lazy throw to 1st base resulting in an E-5 that prolonged the inning, a three-run HR over the right-centerfield fence to Kelly Johnson (batting for the second time in the inning). In just 1.0 IP, Maine allowed five runs (although technically only two were earned) and four hits (including three HR). Maine also threw 31 pitches (20 strikes) to get through the one inning, an inning he will likely try very hard to forget.

Now down 12-5, the Cubs back again in the bottom of the 4th against Joe Saunders, as PH Nate Samson (up from Minor League Camp) reached base on an E-5, Starlin Castro drew a one-out walk, and Jeff Baker lined an RBI single to left. Aramis Ramirez walked to load the bases, Geovany Soto hit a sacrifice fly to CF to score Castro from 3rd, and after LHRP Joe Paterson hit Carlos Pena with a pitch to re-load the bases, all the runners moved up (and PR Darwin Barney scored) when Paterson committed a bases-loaded balk (something you don't see everyday).  

So the Cubs were back in the game, down just 12-8, going into the 5th.

RHP Jeff Samardzija (who had been pitching better lately) relieved Maine to start the 5th inning, and immediately got into trouble, allowing back-to-back lead off ground ball singles to Miguel Montero and Xavier Nady. Ryan Wheeler walked to load the bases, but Samardzija struck out David Winfree, who had already hit two HR in the game. However, The Shark's control just wasn't there when he needed it, and he walked Cody Ransom with the bases loaded to force-in a run, before surrendering a SF to plate a second run. Samardzija then walked the bases loaded again, before retiring Kelly Johnson on a line drive to CF.

Samardzija threw a whopping 42 pitches (only 23 strikes) in just one inning of work, and Geovany Soto caught 177 pitches through just the first five innings! (Give that man a Dr. Pepper, please).   

RHP Esmailin Caridad (up from Minor League Camp threw two decent innings (6th and 7th), allowing a run on two hits and an HBP with one strikeout (28 pitches - 21 strikes, 2/3 GO/FO), and both Sean Marshall and Kerry Wood threw 1-2-3 innings (both with one strikeout and a 1/1 GO/FO).

But the Cub offense went silent after scoring in the 4th, getting shut down on just one hit (a Matt Spencer line-drive single to right-center with two outs in the bottom of the 9th) over the final five innings. Even though they scored eight runs, the Cubs did so on only seven hits, although they did draw six walks along the way.  

Tags
Cubs Spring Training Recap

Comments

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 03:08 pm

Garza came out and spoke about pitching in AZ. Said it was like throwing in slime because it's so dry (kind of an oxymoron there). It was his first spring in AZ where breaking balls don't break a lot. Even with the Twins, Garza has always started off the year in the heavier FL air. I hope he finds the Windy City air more to his liking. Anyway, another Spring Training is over, another Cubs manager has brought a new attitude, another lineup has been posted, and another 162 games are coming. It's always good to have Cubs games on the day's dockett. Plus, I love following the minor league teams. Always fun to look forward to what might be. Go Cubs, I-Cubs, Smokies, D-Cubs, Chiefs, Hawks, AZL Cubs, and DSL Cubs. Hey AZ Phil, thanks for all the write-ups this month. I've been reading them for over two years now. Pretty cool stuff.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:15 am

I am actually strangely optimistic, in particular about the offense. I think the chances are pretty good that 3 of the Soto/Pena/Ramirez/Fukudome/Soriano group will have solid years, which should make the offense decent, and the aceless rotation has got four who should keep the ERA below 4. If the Cubs can stay relatively healthy none of the other NL Central teams are going to run away from them. It would be nice if we had a backup catcher who hits better than our pitchers and a 6th starter, though. If Reed and Koyie combine for 500 PA's count on the offense finishing in the bottom of the pack again.

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Submitted by Ryno on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:24 pm

Chalk me up in the pessimistic column. Yes, I know baseball is weird and sometimes the sum of a team is greater or less than the whole, but I would call a 500 season a success at this point. The main reason is defense. On paper they might be a C+ defense team or whatever, but I think in reality they'll be one of the worst defensive teams in baseball. When the other team has four outs to score runs and you only have three, that puts you at a huge disadvantage.

Submitted by navigator on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:24 am

Chicago Cubs catcher Erick Castillo and pitcher Amalio Reyes were suspended for positive drug tests. They are both on the roster of the Cubs' team in the Dominican Summer League. Nice program you've got down there Rickasses. Whatafuckeduporganization.

Submitted by DavidP on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:57 am

Wow - if two of the 50 kids were suspended because of drug tests, that proves that the Cubs have a bad organization. The reason isn't exactly clear, but I assume that Navigator will enlighten us.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:05 am

If Max Ramirez was placed on Outright Waivers on Monday, he will clear waivers at 1 PM (EDT) today (in about an hour), and then we'll find out if he got claimed. If MaxRam somehow makes it through waivers without being claimed, he will be outrighted to Iowa and will be the #2 catcher there, and then either Chris Robinson and/or Blake Lalli (who are presently competing for the I-Cubs back-up catcher job) could end up as an inactive "player-coach," placed on the 7-day with some vague injury that can't be proven or disproven, and then activated whenever a position player goes on the minor league 7-day DL. The Cubs usually have at least one veteran minor league position player (preferably either a catcher or an IF-OF utility guy) at Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, and Peoria functioning as an inactive player-coach so that they don't have to sign a minor league free-agent for a week every time a position player goes on the minor league 7-day DL. Position players at Extended Spring Training generally don't have enough experience to play at AA or AAA, even as temporary injury replacements. Also, MLB and the MLBPA have approved the special 7-day DL for MLB players suffering a concussion.

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:22 pm

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/4554907-419/cashnersworklo… “It’s more so based on the number of pitches and how hard he’s working each game vs. the number of innings,’’ pitching coach Mark Riggins said. “Also, it’s how a guy bounces back. Some guys can handle a heavy workload and recover in four days, and some guys don’t recover, as well. He recovers very well. . . . “But obviously we get to midseason, and we’ve got to see where his innings are. We’re constantly watching that.’’

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Submitted by Jumbo on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 03:15 am

via ye olde world de roto (hat tip to crunch) Cubs sent C Max Ramirez outright to Triple-A Iowa. Given his history on the waiver wire, it's at least a little bit surprising that he passed through successfully. The 26-year-old backstop would likely be the first catcher called up to the big leagues in the event of an injury to Geovany Soto or Koyie Hill. Mar 30, 1:59 PM According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Cubs have placed catcher Max Ramirez on waivers. The Cubs would like to send Ramirez to Triple-A Iowa, but because he is out of options, he must be exposed to waivers. Though the 26-year-old backstop hasn't enjoyed much success in limited opportunities at the major league level, he should draw some interest. Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter Mar 28, 10:29 PM http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/mlb/baseball

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 03:38 pm

How many of them don't hit or throw better than Hill, who's just so-so at blocking pitches? I wasn't worried about Ramirez either way, really. He's probably better than Hill, but that can be said about probably 80 catchers in the MLB system and another 20 that play elsewhere in the world. Hill ranked 42 in MLB at CS% last year, 38th in fielding percentage and according to Fangraphs cost the Cubs 3 runs more than the average catcher defensively. If you sort fangraphs by WAR he comes out 44th of 44 catchers who had more than 200 PA's last year. His bat was only 42nd of 44, so yeah there's two worse hitters.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 03:02 pm

I'm all for a Koyie Hill upgrade, just wasn't too worried that another team was going to nab him. He already passed through waivers twice during the offseason, so I don't think teams were going to take a chance now that they went through spring training and had their own catchers get familiar with their own pitching staffs. He didn't have much of a shot with the Cubs because even if they decided to dump Koyie, they'd have a hard time justifying not giving it to Welington.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 03:24 pm

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 1:35pm. k... first time 9 Al teams passed him up, 2nd time the rest of the AL passed him up and 3 NL teams just not gonna get a lot of interest at the end of spring training on a backup catcher ====================================== ROB G: In the case of Outright Waivers, there is no distinction made between a claim by a team in the player's own league or the other league. Worst record always gets the claim (first 30 days of the regular season the previous season's standings apply, then after that the current standings as of the day the claim is awarded applies. I believe you are probably confusing Outright Waivers with Trade Waivers (needed to trade a player after the July 31st trade deadline). In the case of Trade aivers (and ONLY in the case of Trade Waivers), the player must be "waived out of his own league" (that is, no club from within the player's own league makes a claim) before a club from the other league can be awarded a Trade Waiver claim.

Submitted by John Beasley on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:13 pm

Thanks for a great spring of reports, AZ Phil! The last two months of winter are always a lot better for many of us because of your work.

Recent comments

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

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