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

Game 3 Recap - Garza Discovers What Being a Cub Is Like

Submitted by Rob G. on

Box Score | Video

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R H E
Pirates 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 2   5 16 0
Cubs 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0   4 9 1

The Good: Let's start with Matt Garza's first start as a Cub. It wasn't perfection, frankly it was odd. The Pirates knocked 12 hits off him, all 12 being of the single variety and a handful of the pure 'effin luck variety including a check swing hit and run and jammed dribbler through the right side. Garza matched those 12 hits with 12 strikeouts though on 0 walks and threw 80 of his 106 pitches for strikes. I'm feeling confident the earned runs will look a lot beter if he can maintain that strikeout to walk ratio the rest of the year. Honestly it was a pretty epic start, if not for the seeing eye singles and some bad defense, most notably Ramirez botching a double play with a bad throw.

While the infield defense was a hot mess today, the outfield did a good job cutting off a few gap hits and keeping them singles and then of course Tyler Colvin's big throw in the top of the 8th and the face tag by Soto to preserve the Cubs lead.

Offensively, the Cubs got their first home run of the season by Soriano and Starlin Castro had himself another good day at the plate with three hits, two of them triples and a walk out of the leadoff spot. Carlos Pena looked like he had a grand slam that the wind kept in the park and got on-base with a walk and almost a bunt single to beat the shift if not for a great throw by Pedro Alvarez.

The Bad: The fan getting thrown out for obviously accidently knocking over his beer on Pena's double. Garza getting a little too much of the plate at times with 2 outs and 2 strikes. The infield defense, especially in the 9th. We know Marmol's going to get himself in trouble, but Castro had no good reason to try and make that throw that let the winning run score. And let's not forget Marlon Byrd still batting third and ending the game on a double play with the tying run at third base.

The Armchair Managing: Start with the lineup and Barney hitting second and Colvin hitting 8th. End with Reed Johnson leading off the 9th against Hanrahan instead of going to Fukudome. I was also a little surprised to see Garza come out for the 7th, but he was still hitting mid 90's and had just struck out the side, so I can't fault that decision too much.

Parachat Moment:

H_Vaughn: " Harry would love that backward it's atabat"

jumbo: 'gazra=azrag"

Diamondbacks come into town...Barry Enright vs. Randy Wells

Tags
Cubs Game Recaps

Comments

Submitted by Old and Blue on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:11 am

Castro's gonna really start pissing me off if he keeps blowing up the infield that way. Hold on to that ball, kid. I sure like the way he hits though. Do the Cubs really have a #3 hitter? That's part of the problem. I didn't get to see much of the game but managed to see Colvin's nice throw, and then Soto practically tagging out the umpire.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:45 am

Why do the Pirates beat the Cubs? Big mystery. Could it be that the Pirates are younger, faster, more aggressive? Yesterday the winning run scored from second on a squibber to the infield and a throw to first. Who on the Cubs even tries to score from second on that play? Castro, yes. Byrd, maybe. Barney, probably no. Colvin, no. Johnson, not at 34. Everyone else, don't be ridiculous. One yes and one maybe. Other teams take advantage of the Pirates' obvious weaknesses, like Doumit's arm, the pitchers' lack of command, the porous defense. But Doumit actually throws out Cub base stealers (Fukudome last year and Barney on Friday come to mind.) The Cubs are actually worse when the pitcher can't find the strike zone, because they swing anyway. After the first two hitters got on base in the fourth inning yesterday, Ramirez, Pena and Soriano each swung at two pitches well out of the strike zone. As for putting pressure on the defense, the inning ended with Soto and Soriano popping up with runners on second and third. Even the Pirates can catch those.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:37 am

On Garza's start - I am not sure if "Epic" is how I'd describe it. You obviously want to pitch to the team you're facing, but if he throws those same pitches to the Reds, Brewers or Cards, he's giving up a lot more than singles. He was living high in the strike zone, and it worked out pretty well against a team with only one legitimate power hitter, and as mentioned one with their best hitter on the bench. Johnson PHing in the 9th was nothing short of bizzare with Fukudome on the bench. Holy shit, did anyone notice Hanrahan's K/9 numbers from last year? He's like a Marmol jr.

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:24 pm

if you volunteered to help, check the email address you have associated with your TCR account or 2 thread below where I mentioned it for instructions. Thanks. crunch you're already good to go...

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:04 pm

~shrug~ don't know why baseball has decided that the first games of the year shouldn't just start in warm weather and domed stadiums. But for some reason, they're not willing to do it. I understand you can't drag it out for too long since their would be uneven number of road games for those teams later in the year, but doesn't seem all that complicated to figure out. I assume teams even in warm weather stadiums get poor April attendance, so maybe that's the driving factor, that they have to switch it up every year. see if I can find 8 domed/warm weather stadiums in the NL Dodgers Padres Giants (sort of) Arizona Houston Marlins Brewers Atlanta make the Reds the 8th I guess since they start every year at home I guess if you want to start with some division NL West matchups, that makes it difficult.

[ ]

Submitted by Paul Noce on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:46 pm

I don't remember this many empty seats at Wrigley since the early 80's. I might have told this story before, but back in April or early May of '82 I went to a game and the Cubs had been promoting Rag Ball day, the first 10,000 fans get a free Cubs Rag Ball (a Rag Ball was a cloth baseball). We got in after the first pitch. The ticket takers told us they were out of Rag Balls. I was a kid and was disappointed. We go up the ramp and there's NOBODY in the park. Later in the game when they announced attendance, it was 4,500 or so. The crappy Tribune company had promised free Rag Ball's to the first 10,000 fans and then screwed everyone. I also remember Larry Bowa, in his first month or so as a Cub, taking a routine ground ball at SS and launching it into the stands over the first baseman's head. LOL.

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:28 pm

he should have been on third on the sac fly, he can see Upton's setting up to throw home. And then would have scored on the wild pitch.

Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:46 pm

still fun to root for him nice Houdini work there to save Castro

Submitted by The E-Man on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:50 pm

Would you consider removing the team's best current hitter for D at the SS position, late innings? Or, does that fuck up the kid's head? Or, is that "over-analyzing"? The D is going to cost the team 8-10 games potentially, in 2011

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:57 pm

I'll admit I've been paying a lot more attention to the Bulls this Spring than the Cubs, but does it seem to anyone else that the Ricketts clan has finally broken the cash-camel's back? I know it's not great weather, but the stands looked EMPTY today, and there's really no one on this team I'm the least bit excited about outside Castro, Colvin, and Cashner (and I'm pretty sure those guys are a couple years away from really producing). I just think people have finally given up on throwing away what little disposable income they have on a shitty baseball team with greedy owners. Then again, I'll change my mind the first sunny, 70 degree day we get around here.

Submitted by navigator on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:51 pm

GREAT GAME. Really enjoyed it. But Rickass is lucky if there were 10,000 actual people in the stands today. It looked like April 1967 out there (and here's hoping the Cubs are at least as successful as they were in that turn-around year). Laffable Official attendance: 26,292

Submitted by Charlie on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 04:23 pm

I hope we see Colvin more regularly as the season progresses than we have so far. I have a hard time justifying giving PAs to Byrd or Fukudome over Colvin. Pena's injury maybe gets him some playing time at first base.

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

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