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

The Tipping Point

Another day, another loss and this season has somehow become even less interesting than last season. Incredible.

The trade deadline won't even give us much to peak our interest, the players that could net anything interesting are paid too much and few teams have the money or the willingness to take on that type of salary. Carlos Pena could make sense for the Rays or Giants and possiby Mariners or Angels, but how willing are they to take on his $5M balloon payment for next year or the remaining $2M or so he's owed this year and then how interesting will the prospects be that the Cubs could get back?  Aramis has warmed up and 3b always seems like a tough position to fill, but he'd have to waive all his options that kick in($1M if he's traded plus his 2012 $16M option) if he's traded along with his no-trade clause. I'm sure he sees the writing on the wall that he won't be back with the Cubs at $16M next year so he may be willing to do that, but that's gonna take a lot finessing to happen and then to find a team to move him to. Some contending teams with black holes at third base include the Mariners, Tigers, Brewers, White Sox and Pirates.

The other options that the Cubs may consider moving would probably be Jeff Baker, Reed Johnson, Kosuke Fukudome and if any dumbass team would want Zambrano or Soriano's contracts, but good look with that. None of those will really net more than minor league filler though. I suppose Kerry Wood as well, but my feeling is that Wood is pretty much committed himself to being a Cub for the rest of his career and Hendry will respect that.

I also just wanted to note that I got through the Cubs 2011 draft on Wiklifield and some guardian angel was helping out with the signings, so thanks for that. I still have to go back and do the 2010 draft and re-do previous years so all that sortable info is useful. Also updated the All-Star page and Futures Games for anyone interested.

Garza vs. Livan Hernandez tonight in an attempt to avoid the 4-game sweep. Cubs currently hold the 2nd worst record in the baseball, 5 games ahead of the Houston Astros for the top draft pick.

Tags

Comments

bad video angles of Austin Kirk's no hitter http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/7/7/2264171/minor-league-notes-july…
in 2009, Kirk was on my pre-season Sleeper Alert! list and it looks like he's waking up. His best pitch is his curveball. I have conflicting reports on his fastball velocity. One source says 86-89, like last year, another source reports a vague velocity increase but with few details. I am working to get that conflict resolved one way or another. In any event, he's having a great year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Rusin has been pitching well lately. The problems that McNutt, Rusin, Raley, Cabrera and Dolis were having at Tennessee in the earlier part of 2011 caused the influx of 38-year-old pitchers at Iowa. A few of Rusin's cumulative minor-league numbers compared to Sean Marshall's: Marshall (336 innings): 1.133 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.6 K/9, 3.26 K/BB. Rusin (222 innings): 1.176 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9, 7.2 K/9, 3.17 K/BB.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

The problems that McNutt, Rusin, Raley, Cabrera and Dolis were having at Tennessee in the earlier part of 2011 caused the influx of 38-year-old pitchers at Iowa. none of that is really true, but I do find Rusin to be an interesting prospect. His K numbers though are way down so far this year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Wow... Kosuke is making a lot of money. I didn't realize how much. I don't have a problem with Kosuke, per se, just have a problem with how much money he makes.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I don't have a problem with Kosuke at all, even his bat. He can work a count and isn't afraid to take a walk. If I were starting a team from scratch, I wouldn't mind keeping him at all... at half the salary. When he was signed, he was supposed to be the second-coming of Ichiro. Clearly, that hasn't panned out, but if it had, I might feel differently about his salary.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

"I don't have a problem with Kosuke, per se, just have a problem with how much money he makes." I have a problem with him if he played for Brett Jackson money. Fukudome scores fewer runs per plate appearance than any other Cub starter. That's hard to do if you lead off. Less surprising is that he drives in fewer runs per PA than any other starter. He should only play on the 4th of July: he's a dud.

Anyone else hear Buster Olney on Mike and Mike in the Morning? He was asked if he thinks Sandberg would have been a better hire as manager than Quade. He said that Quade going into this season was like a guy holding one sand bag and looking at a flood. He doesn't believe it would have made any difference who they hired as manager. He feels the Cubs' biggest problem is the lack of veteran leadership. He feels they get the least leadership per dollar of any team in the majors. As little as I usually pay attention to Olney (especially with trade rumors), I thought this was an interesting angle. I would like to know who might be available as a FA this coming offseason, or by trade, that might be able to help with this leadership void. Is the general consensus that he is especially talking about Aram, Zambrano, and Soriano?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Hey Jeff Russel, why did you suck today? "Well, because I didn't have Kirk Gibson telling me not to suck." Buster Olney should be fired for implying that veteran leadership counts for 14 games in the standings over half a season. No offense, Jace, but that's Olney comment is remarkably stupid. The Cubs biggest problem was lack of starting pitching depth. Leadership might rank around #6 on their things to fix.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

Olney is saying that, too. I also agree. How does everyone (except TRN) feel about the clubhouse culture? Doesn't part of being a better player also mean that you are a better leader? Saying that we need better players is somewhat synonymous with saying we need more veteran leadership, at least in my mind.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

you're commenting on a sports blog on the Internet... I'm attempting to point out the fallacy of Olney's statement and anyone who may for one second buy it. cause #1, it's pretty much bullshit (see 2007 and 2008 with the same guys that are the problems now) and #2, the Cubs brought in Wood and Pena at least to attempt to combat that perceived problem. The problem with the team is their defense sucks, as has their starting pitching(somewhat surprising) and their offense hasn't been too great either. Other than that, they're well on their way to a championship.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

"Saying that we need better players is somewhat synonymous with saying we need more veteran leadership, at least in my mind." It is not synonymous in my mind at all. Baseball teams don't win because of leadership. They win because they out hit, out field and/or out pitch the other team. Baseball is not football.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

I am firmly in the camp that the manager doesn't matter much. ---- Unless you have a manager who can't make out a lineup, can't manage a pitching staff, and appears overmatched in all aspects of in-game moves.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

"Unless you have a manager who can't make out a lineup, can't manage a pitching staff, and appears overmatched in all aspects of in-game moves." The same was said about Baker, Lou and I bet pretty much every manager the Cubs have had in my life time. I just don't think even the best manager make much of a difference. Just get a cheap one that the players respect.

I see Steve Rosenbloom is trying to fill the Jay Mariotti void of write something that will piss people off just to write it... http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/07/columnist-bashes-carlos-za… Now get a load of this: Zambrano plans to fly to Guatemala over the All-Star break to prepare for the adoption of his son. Can you say “utter disrespect,’’ boys and girls? apparently the Cubs and Z are idiots for allowing him to fly to Guatemala to prepare for adopting a son over the ASB because he didn't fly to Washington or something.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

szczur fever...surprised he's "only" 48 with all the love he's getting from all over. "50 Paul Goldschmidt, 1b, Diamondbacks" cold... yeah, there's lingering concerns about whether he's exclusively a "mistake hitter," but meh...i think a bit higher of him in 2011.

former manager Dick Williams passes away at age 82, manager of the '84 Padres. Z to rehab in Peoria on Friday.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I have no proof at all, but I get a weird feeling about Curt Schilling. The way he rails against steroids gives me a George Rekers feeling. I wouldn't be surprised if like 5 years from now someone will find evidence that he did steroids too. Prior to age 30 he was 52-52, 7.3 K/9, a WAR of 15, and couldn't stay healthy at all. He then goes 164-94 after age 30, with nearly 2 more K's per 9 IP, a WAR of over 50, and he starts stacking up 35 GS seasons. His best seasons were ages 34, 35, and 37. Maybe it just took him a long time to get his groove, to play for the right teams, to get healthy. He wouldn't be the first player in major league history to put it together late. But wouldn't shock me if he had some help either.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

But does he float? I got the chance to talk to him a little bit, and though he's really into the "cool cache" of being a MLB player, he just didn't strke me as a hypocrite. He was one of the guys encouraging players not to take the test, if memory serves.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6746765 "As long as I feel good tomorrow, I don't see a reason why I can't pitch on Saturday," Dempster said after his side session on Thursday. "I got a bunch of fluids in me, and I feel good. Just loosen it up and get some stretching in there and hydrate as much as possible. "It feels good, and I think I'll just miss the one start."

from sullivan's twitter: Quade on Cubs: “I believe we can turn this thing around, and I think it can start today, and I believe that everyday."

Small, happy children holding up a sign on TV saying, "First Cubs Game!" I feel sorry for those kids. Someone should call DCFS on their parents.

So is Livan Hernandez going to throw 80 mph slop up there all night and we won't do squat? That's rhetorical, I already know the answer.

that escalated quickly Q-Ball will have to wait until tomorrow for things to start to turnaround.

If I was getting this kind of stuff out of my people at work the software my customers use would be broken and I'd be fired. I can't imagine upper management scratching their heads while things are going down in flames around them and saying that they believe in me and that I'll turn things around.

All we can hope for right now is that Ricketts wakes up near the all-star break and realizes nobody can watch this stuff as-is. I know changing managers and GM's isn't going to right the ship overnight, nor is it going to fix the complete lack of talent on this team, but it would be nice to know the captain is awake at the wheel.

at least Garza's off the hook for the loss now... there's gotta be some team that wants Pena's power for the playoffs

Crazy game, great win. This was looking like the lowest point of the season.

Does anyone know how to dig out old Cubs videos on mlb.com or do they go into some black archive hole and are never seen or heard from again? I was interested in going back and checking out the 2003 playoff highlights, the Aramis walk-off against the Brewers from June a few years back, the Reed Johnson catch vs. the Nationals, and other stuff and couldn't find it anywhere. Can I pay some sort of subscription fee to get more access to old highlight videos?

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

I've tried to watch that Reed catch before and could never find it. MLB is annoying. If they won't archive it, they should at least let people put it on youtube.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Thanks for doing some digging. I agree they do suck because in the information era, we should be able to find that stuff with a couple of clicks on the net. I know everything can't be saved forever, but when you are constantly cock-blocking every person who uploads a MLB video on the web, the least you can do is have the playoff games and highlights available... TERRIBLE!

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.