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

Tuesday Cubs News Round-Up

Some bits of news from the latest news cycle, most of it mentioned in the comments in the thread below.

- I admit missing out on this rather crucial piece of information, but apparently Aramis Ramirez 2012 option is a mutual option. Technically, if the Cubs exercise the $16M option, he can void it and forfeit the $2M buyout, and his agent suggests that with Hendry gone, that's looking more likely now.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad news yet. $16M for one season is a bit expensive for Ramirez, but there's not a lot out there to play the hot corner either.

- Tracy Ringolsby goes after Cubs team president Crane Kenney today over on Fox Sports.

You've got to love Ricketts saying Kenney is absolved of all blame for what transpires on the field because Kenney is confined to business matters. Yeah, business matters like overruling Hendry on more than one occasion because Kenney felt outside pressure to reel in high-priced veterans.

Veterans like Alfonso Soriano, who Hendry had declared would not get more than a five-year guarantee only to have Kenney's business sense overrule him and provide an eight-year sentence to the organization with its obligation to Soriano.

It was pointed out on Twitter that then president John McDonough took responsibility for the extra years on Soriano's contract, which Ringolsby acknowledges, but also claims to "trust his sources".

- Cot's Baseball Contracts have finally showed up on Baseball Prospectus as announced ages ago. They look cool.

- In the same link as the Aramis article, prospect Dillon Maples says Hendry was a big reason for him signing.

- Yet another prospective GM list, this time from Tim Brown at Yahoo.

- The Astros put Wandy Rodriguez on waivers and he was claimed. Doubtful it's the Cubs with a captainless ship at the moment, but I wouldn't have minded adding him(it's not, it's the Rockies). He's owed just $10M next year, $13M in 2013 and a $13M team option in 2014 with a $2.5M buyout.  He's put up ERA numbers of 3.54, 3.02, 3.60, 3.31 since 2008 and will be 33 next year.

- Andrew Cashner has a rehab outing for the Tennessee Smokies tonight, allegedly can be watched for free on MILB.tv.

- Speaking of the Smokies, Eric Jokisch in his second start since being promoted from Peoria went 6 innings, struck out 10 against 2 walks and 3 hits, while giving up just a run. Vitters went 3/3 with a double in the same game. Brett Jackson keeps going with a 2/4 night for Iowa. Zeke DeVoss went 4/6 for Boise with a double.

Tags

Comments

lineup Castro SS, Johnson RF, Ramirez 3B, Baker 2B, Peña 1B, Byrd CF, Soriano LF, Soto C, Coleman P good to see with Coleman pitching, that "Operation Higher Draft Pick" is back on schedule lefty Minor going for Braves

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

no? Hendry probably takes an advisor/assistant job to some GM...Colorado, Arizona, Detroit, Baltimore being some possibilities. He has no shortage of friends in the game and even some of the saber-minded clubs have spoken well of him. He's not going to be in charge of anything, but he's got great relationships with a lot of agents and players. I know the perception is he gives out too much money everytime, but he's signed some nice cheap and/or below market deals as well because of his relationship with players and agents. I'm sure some team will come knocking eventually.

Has anybody else besides Levine (in his Tuesday chat) come to Castro's defense in the last couple days?
Much ado about nothing. The guy is the most improved player in the NL since the All-Star Game, hitting .370 with only three errors. I'd like to have eight more of him.
Quade also defended Castro--somewhat indirectly--when he revealed that he usually turned the sound off when Valentine was talking, and by mentioning that the ESPN commercial breaks were extra long. The pitch Castro never saw was the first one of the inning.

Cashner 1st inning: K, K looking, groundball single, SB, run-scoring groundball single, runner takes 2b on throw, another run scoring single, Cashner out, Ryan Searle in so that went well allegedly throwing 96 at times, hopefully just a very limited pitch count. He threw 23 pitches apparently.

enjoy your "hey, might as well play the kids" baseball game everyone who likes that sort of thing... coleman wasn't ready...still isn't ready... 5-0 atl/chc...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

there's some people around TCR who are willing to play any kid at any time because it's not the toy that's currently in the big leagues at a position...the whole "the kid can't be as bad as..." thing. no one's clamoring for anyone right now that i know of by name except brett jackson...a few people want the AAAA 1st baseman dujour, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

all im saying is...the "play the kids for the sake of playing a kid" argument is one of the most ignorantly championed ideas that pop up a lot with fan requests...ranks up there with "blow up the entire system and start over" to me. i know coleman didn't even come up as a result of this...i know no one's championing coleman...i'm just saying...hey, here's your kid for the sake of having a kid, enjoy.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

it's a kid...he's up in the bigs...he's playing. there's not much to over-generalize about already broad statements that lead others to request kids play over vets without any reason involving baseball ability. replacing trash with trash doesn't do anything for me because just maybe the kid might have something he's not bothered to show so far. some people would have the cubs scrap almost everyone who's year is going to end in FA and play untalented replacements simply because they're kids.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

three people immediately replied that we don't care about casey coleman. generally the complaints about not playing kids is reserved to the ones we think may have a future with the team or if the vet playing isn't that good. 99/100 understand Byrd and Pena are doing well enough that LaHair and Jackson aren't going to start playing instead of them. On the other hand, Reed Johnson is playing over his head and will never be considered for a regular job, so just let Colvin play.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Personally it's more of a situation where "Veteran player A" has no future in the organization. So lets see if "Productive minor league guy B who is under cheap club control" can do something to help the club in the future. All the more reason why Reed Johnson, Carlos Pena and Koyie Hill should have been dumped by August. They aren't here going forward. Why not give their at bats to Colvin/Campana, LaHair and Castillo and see if those guys are viable roster candidates for next year?

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

There's a difference between putting a veteran on the bench and trading him. Obviously the Cubs were happy to trade Fukudome--since they're paying 84% of his paycheck THIS WEEK to be rid of him--but Quade wasn't comfortable putting him on the bench for a couple of reasons, and I can see that. I think Jackson and Flaherty will be on the Cubs next year but I don't expect to see them called up any time soon. Maybe after they help Tennessee win the Southern League championship, which I happen to think is a worthy goal. Switching leagues, it still irks me that the Memphis Redbirds (aka Cardinals), after edging out Iowa to get into the playoffs last year--remember Sandberg's ejection in the second inning of what could have been a clinching game?--went on to play in the AAA "world series" against the International League champ.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

These guys all kind of remind me of what I always hated the most about the Hendry/McFail regimes. They'd never give a legitimate shot to a player they didn't deem a suitable prospect. No matter how productive they were in the minors. Yet they continued to hype and push guys like Colvin and Vitters up levels. Even if they never really earned the spot. Makes you kind of understand where some of these guys found their sense of entitlement.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Fox, Murton, Darwin Barney, Theriot, and several relievers were all given a chance and Theriot worked out until he fell victim to The Peter Principle. Most of the others didn't work out because they weren't good (jury still out on Barney). I know it's TCR blasphemy to say Murton wasn't good, but he wasn't good. Murton wasn't good. Jake Fox wasn't good. Murton wasn't good. Just because a guy is young and energetic and has the drive doesn't mean he can compete with big leaguers. You're better off going with a guy with a proven track record. I know how blood-curdling this sounds to many of you, but it's true. In fact, one of my complaints of Hendry in recent years is relying too much on minor leaguers on a major league team.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

You're better off going with a guy with a proven track record. It's debatable about whether it's better to be playing Pena over LaHair right now. Knowing whether or not LaHair can play in MLB is more important to the organization than the extra game they may win playing Pena. Now if the Cubs were in contention for anything other than the #2 draft spot, you may have a point, but they're not, so why not figure out what you have now, rather than waiting until September where all the guys will be playing against the same guys they just saw in AAA?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Would you risk offering Pena salary arbitration though? He had to wait til December to sign a 1/2 deferred one year contract last year. He's still a sub .800 hitting first baseman. I'd rather sign Fielder, Pujols or Jason Kubel before I'd want Pena back. For 10 million difference I'd rather see if Bryan LaHair could handle the job.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

"Yet they continued to hype and push guys like Colvin and Vitters up levels. Even if they never really earned the spot." You know, I kind of agree with you on this. You were the only one around here expressing skepticism about Colvin at the start of the season. Of course, you apply that skepticism to too may youngsters, in my opinion, but I have to give you credit for Colvin. I like Colvin a lot, by the way, but I think the Cubs are hurting him by putting him in over his head. They should let him find a level where he can rake. It wasn't even Iowa, it's probably Tennessee. He's like a guy who isn't ready for college and needs remedial math and reading.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I would like the AAAA 1b and the prospects we would have received for Pena...maybe we receive a serviceable reliever or decent prospect. Whatever we received will be more valuable for the future of the Cubs than Pena's 2011 action. And maybe Lahair proves people wrong and becomes a useful reserve or pinch-hitter...I am going to guess that you and I (and scouts and GMs) have had their projected major league performance of prospects proven wrong when that player was promoted.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0824-instant-replay-20110824,0,1460… In the NFL, each side gets two challenges per game, plus a third if both challenges are used successfully. In Little League, each manager is allowed two review requests in a regulation six-inning game. Other than balls and strikes, the manager can ask for just about anything to be reviewed. If the manager is right, he keeps the challenges. Each time he's wrong he loses one. If the game goes to extra innings, each team gets only one challenge from that point on. gee, that seems simple enough, now doesn't it? Umps can also call for a replay if they feel they need help.

to face the heart of the lineup in the 8th b.mills (hou) brought in a lefty to face the first hitter...then brought in a righty...sent the lefty out to RF to keep him in the game...the righty gets his man...lefty returns to the mound to face the last batter while a replacement fielder comes out to RF. neat.

Caliis chat http://ht.ly/6bCKy Dan (Lansing): How good is the Cubs system right now? I know there is not a lot in the way of impact player's but a lot to like considering the influx of IFA's and the last 2 draft's so a ton of depth right? Jim Callis: Solid depth, middle-of-the-pack system. followed by Jim Callis: Yes. You obviously want both (ed. depth and stars), but I believe you win with stars, so I'd rather have some potential stars and less depth than solid depth but no real standouts. also Rick (Miami): Is the 2012 draft really looking bad or just not as strong as 2011? Can you still get impact players near the top? Jim Callis: Wouldn't say bad, but I'd say below average because of the college crop and it doesn't have the headliners we had at the top of the above-average 2011 draft

With this season another embarrassing chapter in Cubs history written for the final time by Jim Hendry, we should cheer things up by starting a thread where people can post their thoughts of what they think were some of Jim Hendry's biggest blunders. I will start the list in no particular order (I think we might be able to get to 1,000 posts on the new thread): 1. Thinking Corey Patterson was any good 2. Thinking Felix Pie was not Corey Patterson 2.0 (in almost every way) 3. Signing Milton Bradley I hope the Cubs go after a big name GM. Here in NY they are even talking about Cashman. Not sure he would leave, but Epstein would be nice. Go Cubs!

Anyone seen Chad around here lately? Did I activate the flux capacitor in my DeLorian this morning by accident?

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.