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

Cubs Pitchers Loosen Up Rockies with 19 Strikeouts

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Doug Davis threw three innings of one-hit shutout ball, Todd Wellemeyer threw a 1-2-3 13-pitch inning, and Matt Loosen struck out eight in just 2.2 IP, as five EXST Cubs pitchers struck out 19 EXST Rockies batters en route to a 3-2 victory in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.

Although the Cubs were ahead 3-0 after the end of the Rockies 9th, the game was extended to 11 innings so that additional Cubs and Rockies pitchers could get their pre-scheduled work.

Making his second start since signing a minor league contract with the Cubs last week, Davis (post-2010 elbow surgery rehab) made quick work of the Rockies, needing just 24 pitches (20 strikes) to retire nine of the ten men he faced. The only blemish was a two-out triple in the right-center gap in the top of the 1st inning, and that runner was left-stranded. Davis struck out two (both swinging), and had a 6/1 GO/FO rate, as his sinker was working very well. The veteran soft-tossing lefty kept the young Rockies hitters off-balance throughout his three-inning stint, mixing an 84 MPH sinker with a curve and a change-up.

Todd Wellemeyer (sore hip rehab) followed Davis to the mound, and had an easy 1-2-3 4th inning (F-8, 4-3, K), retiring the side on 13 pitches (nine strikes).

Because they threw so few pitches in the EXST game on Field #3, both Davis and Wellemeyer moved over to Field #2 to pitch in a “sim game” that was already in progress (Dustin Fitzgerald and Ramon Garcia had just completed their two innings), and threw an additional inning (15 pitches) each on top of their EXST game work.

RHP Matt Loosen (Cubs 2010 23rd round pick out of the U. of Jacksonville) took the mound to start the top of the 5th, and had an outstanding outing, striking out eight (seven swinging) in just 2.2 IP. Loosen did allow a double and he hit a batter, but he was mostly just plain unhittable. In two EXST outings so far, Loosen has thrown 6.1 IP of shutout ball, allowing three hits, one HBP, and no walks, with 10 strikeouts. He would likely be at the top of the list should the Cubs look to promote a pitcher from Extended Spring Training to Peoria.

RHP Yao-Lin Wang also threw 2.2 IP of shutout ball today, allowing a single and a walk, with three strikeouts (two swinging).

LHP Casey Harman was the one Cub pitcher who did allow runs today, giving up two (both earned) on three hits (two triples and an inside-the-park HR), although he did strike out five (four swinging).

The Cubs scored single runs in the 1st, 5th, and 8th innings. Kyung-Min Na led off the bottom of the 1st by scalding a single through the box, and scored on a one-out Wilson Contreras RBI double. Jesus Morelli reached base on an error to start the 5th, advanced to 3rd base on a two-base throwing error (errant pick-off attempt), and scored on a line drive SF to left by Johan DeJesus. Morelli then finished the Cubs scoring with a solo HR over the LF fence and onto 8th Street to open the bottom of the 8th.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-4 (1B, P-6, L-9, 4-3, R)
2. Dustin Harrington, SS: 1-4 (6-3, 6-3, F-9, 1B)
3. Wilson Contreras, 1B: 2-4 (2B, 5-3, 5-3, 1B, RBI, CS)
4. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #1: 1-4 (1B, F-7, K, K)
5. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 1-4 (P-2, K, 1-3, 1B)
6. Jesus Morelli, RF: 1-4 (5-3, E-6, HR, 4-3, 2 R, RBI)
7a. Johan DeJesus, C-DH: 0-2 (5-3, L-7 SF, K, RBI)
7b. Max Kwan, PH: 0-1 (5-3)
8. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, 3-1, 6-3)
9. Hector Suarez, DH-C: 0-3 (3-1, K, 4-3)
10. Gregori Gonzalez, 2B: 0-3 (K, 3-1, P-4)

PITCHERS:
1. Doug Davis: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (20 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
2. Todd Wellemeyer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (9 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Matt Loosen: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 47 pitches (35 strikes)
4. Yao-Lin Wang: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 46 pitches (29 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
5. Casey Harman: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 33 pitches (26 strikes)

ERRORS: 1
3B Dustin Geiger E5 – fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely

ATTENDANCE: 11

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 80’s 

Tags
Extended Spring Training
EXST Cubs
Jesus Morelli
Matt Loosen
Todd Wellemeyer
Doug Davis

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 04:13 pm

much better 1st inning for Russell

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 04:59 pm

not that bad a pitch Ludwick hit out, low and inside curve haven't seen the Maybin one yet... back to .500 looming once again

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 04:11 pm

WSox on verge of losing their 7th straight... schadenfreude at its finest

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 04:42 pm

twitter buzz is that Q-Ball said Russell is better suited as situational lefty from here on out. They'll need a starter for Tuesday.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:12 am

BR has him at 6-3" and yeah, he's not going to catcher. Cubs have played him (in order of most games played) at 2B, LF, SS, 3B so we can see where that's going... maybe he shows enough to get the regular 2b job, which would be great, but more likely his best chance at the majors is the utility role. His power drop last year could be easily be explained by his HR's turning into doubles in the more pitcher-friendly FSL. also his drop from 2009 was .814 to .793 from A to Hi-A, there was 84 poor AA PA's that make it look a lot worse. Anyway, I don't know if he'll ever be a regular, but he's basically got 2 years to get there...certainly the early returns are promising right now.

[ ]

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:45 pm

Serious Phil, are you unable to read post #33 and #36? A guy who plays every infield position including shortstop and hits with power from the left side should have some value. 3rd basement, Josh Vitters, Shorstop Starlin Castro, first basemen Prince Fielder, right field Colvin, left field Soriano. Based on what we've seen thus far, he may hit just well enough to play second, but if he can't field there, he's not going to get a lot of starts ahead of those other guys, with the exception possibly of Soriano, so we'll have a converted infielder playing left without the bat to support it... and LeMehieu may already have claimed the same super-sub spot by that time. Meanwhile, our backup catcher is Chris Robinson. I am not saying it's a slam dunk or anything, but to me it's certainly an intriguing idea. Now if he hits 30 HR's this year, then he becomes a legitimate starting prospect, and you think of his downside as a bench bat. But typically guys who are 4th and 5th outfielders and super utility players hit the bigs with the expectations of winning full-time jobs. As a rule of thumb - take what you hope the guy is gonna be in AA - down grade it one notch, and that's what he becomes.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:39 pm

I assume that was a slip-up and you meant lefties, which is of course a big difference. But yeah, I'm going with the Cubs and Flaherty probably don't want to waste 2-3 years while he figures out how to be a catcher which wouldn't start until this fall, while he's currently kicking AA pitching around and seemingly good enough to play a variety of infield and outfield positions. I doubt he'll be a regular, although at 24, he still has a small window to improve and get in the conversation. And if he is 6'5" (or 6'3") that's probably one of the reasons why Wilkin drafted him and figured he'd grow into his frame and some power and not a guy they'd look to move to catcher even if there are some exceptions around the league.

[ ]

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:13 pm

He's two years away right now at his current pace I guess, But let's say I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the majors next year, or even this September depending on how his season and the Cubs goes. so you're saying it would take 4-5 years? Chirinos started at age 24 with the catching thing and now at 28 is still not in the majors, so yeah, about that. You can start him converting him right now, you don't have to wait until the fall. you can, but that's not how it ever really works to my knowledge. Flaherty I'm sure still thinks of himself as still being a possible starter in the majors (as well he should), so he has to agree with the idea. That's the key issue imo. He also has to notice that Darwin Barney is the current 2b-men and Ramirez is gone next year or possibly two, so there's some openings or at least a chance to compete there. It's catching, not brain surgery. Isn't he also a coach's son? He is, but doesn't mean wants to do it. We can point to Chirinos as an example, but from Phil's report, Cubs thought of him as a future coach from the get-go and were probably on the verge of cutting him. .Also the Cubs have Soto, Castillo, Flores, Brenly, Robinson, Clevenger that he would fall behind because most organizations value defense from there backup catchers. At the moment, he's the Cubs best 2b prospect.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:50 pm

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 7:06am. Flaherty's power is looking more legit. He hit 20 HRs in 2010, and he's got 4 already this year. If he is capable of 25+, can play good defense at 3B, fill in at 2B, 1B, LF and RF, and he can play SS in a pinch, then he's DeRosa, right? I doubt a conversion to Catcher is in the plans for Flaherty. He's 6'5" and he's hit well if not spectacularly. ================================ CHARLIE: Ryan Flaherty is a left-handed version of Jeff Baker, but with more HR power. But like a reverse Baker, Flaherty murders RHP, struggles against LHP, and his best positions are 3B-1B-2B. He seems to look most-comfortable at SS, because that's where he played in HS and college (Vanderbilt), even though he has very likely outgrown the position and lacks the range to play there at the big league level. I have seen him try to play LF, and he really struggles to track fly balls in the outfield. I don't know why, but he does. Flaherty would probably take Blake DeWitt's roster slot if he were to get called up to Chicago this year. (Flaherty is eligible for selection in next December's Rule 5 Draft, so he will very likely get added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline, if not during the season).

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 04:04 pm

Hey Phil - Any Brian Schlitter sightings? I'm wondering if he is actually out for the year or if he could rehab and become a AAA arm by the end of the year. Hendry says he's happy to have him back, so I imagine he's hoping for more than just a roster exemption for the playoffs! Thanks!!!

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 04:54 pm

Submitted by craig on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 12:10pm. Phil, any info on Austin Reed? He looked very good last year, but I don't recall him being mentioned in any of your reports. Is he damaged goods? ================================== CRAIG: Austin Reed is on the EXST Cubs Active List. He was supposed to have pitched last Thursday, but I wasn't at that game so you wouldn't have seen an abridged box score for it. I think he's supposed to pitch tomorrow or Saturday. The problem right now is that there are just too many pitchers at Extended Spring Training, and the younger ones keep getting bumped from their outings by the rehab guys, who always get first priority. So then some pitchers end up throwing sim games if they get pushed back too far.

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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