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 Yoenis Cespedas video. What an athlete!

You guys heard about this superstar Cuban outfielder guy, right? Yoenis Cespedas? And I'm sure you read that the Cubs are Yoenis Cespedas' leading suitor. Anyway, the other day I was driving around listening to The Score, and heard about this legendary Cespedas video. Dan Bernstein was saying that it apparently showed what an amazing, freak athlete this Cespedas guy is - that he reminded people of Bo Jackson. But also that mysteriously, You Tube had taken it down. Well, I went to You Tube and...they musta decided to put it back up because you can find it there! Only, it's over 20 minutes long so I thought I'd give you just the highlights in the above shortened version. On another note, there's a storm bigger than Iowa about to hit Chicago. If I didn't have to be at work, I wouldn't even be down here.

Comments

How disappointing. I wanted to see the oatmeal video of Cespedes on a jet ski with Oprah and Jesus in Outer Space ...or at least the Koala and Goat making whoopee just before Cespedes barbecues them

Prince Fielder Yoenis Cespedes Roy Oswalt Edwin Jackson Francisco Cordero Casey Kotchman Wilson Betemit Johny Damon Jeff Francis Rich Harden Brad Lidge Cody Ross Vlad Hideki Matsui Carlos Guillen Derrek Lee Raul Ibanez Magglio Ordonez Manny Ramirez wouldn't mind a run at Oswalt still, especially if they deal Garza for future prospects.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I doubt Cubs can afford Oswalt*, but if they can somehow snag him on a 1-year, then hopefully he stays healthy and they flip him at the deadline. But I would imagine Oswalt has enough interest from other teams to sign with someone planning to compete who will keep him around all year(s). *Assuming $35.2M balloon payment due to Alfonso Soriano on 10/4/12.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Cubs can afford anyone out there right now, just a matter of if they want to. You hate to say they have enough pitching but right now you've got Garza, Dempster, Volstad, Maholm, Wells, Wood, Sonnastine, Samardzija, Coleman, Lopez, Jay Jackson, Nick Struck, Rusin, McNutt and you'd have to promise Oswalt a spot obviously. Now most likely he'd prefer a contender, so chances are slim of course. But if they move Garza for long term prospects and sign Oswalt on a 1-year deal for $8-$10M, I don't think there's a big drop off in performance and you've set yourself up better for the future. why the balloon payment?

it doesn't look like anyone is biting on Edwin Jackson for a multiyear deal...another one that Boras may have overplayed his hand based on what Cincy, Yankees did to find younger and a less expensive (albeit high end prospects) cost It will be interesting to see where he winds up and for how much.

Bruce Levine: "If the Cubs began play today, they would have $109 million committed to the 25-man roster and $3 million to the 15 other players on the 40-man roster. Major league teams also add another $2 million in medical replacement pay for recalls when players go on the DL. The total would be $114 million with the only arbitration case rounded off to $10 million for Matt Garza. Let's assume the team will still add a couple of back-up infielders that might bring the 2012 payroll up to $120 million, which would be a savings of $11 million from 2011." Wait, I thought it was at $70 million?

Reducing the daily meal allowance is the first thing the new regime did that is absolutely idiotic. This is not the way to revamp your scoutng department. It is a way to piss of your scouts and discourage hiring other scouts. What is the point of this nickle and diming?

Woo! Cubs have #1 and #10 ranked prospect first basemen from mlb's Jonathan Mayo... http://t.co/X9rTBiBa Rizzo went up to the top from #7 in 2011. The video includes a Rizzo HR and a defensive gem robbing Fontenot of a hit. and this little tidbit on VogelBOMB...
Non-athletic would be a kind way to describe Vogelbach's body type in high school, but he's already trimmed down as he prepares for his first season of pro ball.

Yes Virginia, there is a a real Fausto Carmona. ...and the real Fausto's mom rats the Indian's pitcher out. per rotoworld:
During an appearance on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Friday, Pedro Gomez reported that Fausto Carmona was outed several weeks ago on a popular radio show in Santo Domingo by the mother of the real Fausto Carmona. According to the report, Carmona (aka Roberto Hernandez Heredia) had been paying the family of the real Carmona for the use of his identification and refused to increase payments after the Indians picked up his $7 million club option. The U.S. government subsequently began an investigation following the interview and arrested Heredia when he went to apply for his work visa earlier this week.
video link... http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7484728

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

You seriously think the Cubs goal/plan is to be the worst team in baseball the next three years? They don't want Pena because they need to get TheHair and eventually Rizzo playing time which, I'm sure, is basically your point. Who should we have hired? And what should his/her plan have been? Keep restocking the rotting major league carcas with overpaid free agents? The pessimism and snarkiness is getting old. They have to start somewhere, no? Also I think they'll avoid being among the worst 4-5 teams in baseball even this year, and it'll be fun to watch compared to the double-off-the-wall-watching, cushy-assed, no-defense, first-pitch-waving lazy-assed teams of the last few years.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:
"Prince Fielder, 1B, free agent - The fact that one of the best hitters in the game is unsigned as we head into late January is the story of the winter. Who will give Fielder seven years? One AL East GM thinks it comes down to the Rangers and Nationals, with the Brewers and Cubs taking a shot if he settles for a one-year deal and elects to become a free agent again."
Why would the Cubs be interested in signing Fielder for just one year? By all accounts, 2012 is going to be a wasted year for the Cubs. Why would they want to pay someone $25 million to be part of a mediocre (or worse) team? It seems much more likely that the Cubs only have interest in Fielder if they can get him on a 5-7 year contract. That's they only way he's going to be part of the team in a year or three when the Cubs are supposed to be good. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/01/22/2012_r…

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

With Rizzo waiting in the wings, it wouldn't be the worst move. You'd have some slugging in Wrigley, which the casual fan loves, and you'd have the option of signing him longer term if he loves it here, and Rizzo doesn't pan out. If Rizzo smokes up AAA, and Fielder still likes it here and you want to resign him for more, you have a nice trade chip in Rizzo. Besides, if you bring in Fielder, you have a shot in a pretty mediocre division. Normally, I'd think the Reds aren't mediocre, but with Dusty at the helm...

Everyone says that 2012 will be a wasted year, but their criteria is that the Cubs are not likely to win their division. But winning it all isn't the only thing, especially if you have interest payments on the debt to make. The only pertinent question to Epstein and Ricketts, in deciding whether to sign Fielder to a one year contract is whether he will bring in more income than they have to pay in salary. Most of us on this board are rabid fans who want only to win. But a great many fans go to Wrigley strictly for entertainment and excitement. And home runs are both entertaining and exciting. The park was filled when Sammy Sosa was hitting home runs for a mediocre team. It will probably be filled if Fielder is hitting home runs for a mediocre team. With income coming in from ticket sales, beer and food sales, rooftop sales, jersey sales, as well as general good will generated by a home run star, I have no idea what Fielder is worth in a one year deal. But I bet that Epstein and Ricketts know.

Well, I wonder what the general TCR consensus is: you have $50-80MM you can ammoratize, and you have enough ammo for either Cespedes, or Fielder knowing all there is to know,on face value. What will you do? "You make the call." Keep in mind Cespedes' real name may be Javier Blanco, and he may be 31.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

C'mon navigator. You of all people know those are not Chicago Cubs prospects, but rather HS kids from Idaho. For all I know the Cubs let them use the name because of the affiliation with the Boise Hawks. Maybe for a fee, maybe just to spread some local goodwill. But to the original articles from Big League Stew and the CBS Sports blog and my original point, those are not Cubs prospects as they wrote. They've both since corrected their articles.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

it's a cubs sponsored prospect camp, that's all. it's a good semi-private showcase for scouts and instruction from coaches for kids looking to get something beyond their highschool or college coaches. it attracts kids from all over the northwest. it's practically a private scouting session while dangling instruction at a cheap price from pros as a carrot. it's not attracting the cream of the crop as much as it a place where diamonds in the rough are polished a bit and get a good look from scouts for that thing or 2 (or more) that might up their game.

fwiw... "According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Tigers, Marlins and Cubs have been "most active" on Yoenis Cespedes." also, i don't have a link, but i read something last night about MIL being out of the P.Fielder sweepstakes, even for a 1 year deal, because they're going to be over-budget as it is once they pay their arb kids. after the rizzo trade i doubt the cubs are in on fielder, though.

2/$40.5M for Lincecum 2 year deal with 3rd year option for Betemit from O's Nats seem like the last team standing for Fielder.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

"The league average XBH% while Rose played was 6.3%. In contrast, Pierre's 4.5% XBH% compares to a league average of 7.9%." Not sure what your point is here. Are you saying that Rose would hit more doubles today? Alternatively, you could be saying that Rose would still be a singles hitter but would be appreciated less today. In either case, here are a couple of other names off the top of my head, Aparicio and Ozzie Smith. Aparicio's XBH% was 5.1, Smith's 4.6. Their gloves and the position they played had a lot to do with their reputations today, but no one is saying that Pierre is a hall of famer, just that he has some skill as a hitter.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

**Not sure what your point is here. Are you saying that Rose would hit more doubles today** I'm saying that you have to understand players within the era that they played in. Saying that Rose and Pierre are remotely similar due to their XBH% is silly. **Their gloves and the position they played had a lot to do with their reputations today** Ya' think? Again, not even remotely similar. If Juan Pierre could play defense like Ozzie Smith, at any position, he would be a MUCH better baseball player. And I don't think anyone ever considered Ozzie Smith a good hitter. And I have no idea what people thought about Aparicio when he played, but he surely wasn't a good, or even decent, hitter either. He was actually pretty awful. So I'm pretty sure that you don't really want to compare Pierre to Aparicio.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

can't say I watched Fox play, but his defensive numbers look pretty good on Baseball Reference and he won 3 GG's. Not that I would put a ton of stock into it. Fox also walked a bit more with a bit more slugging than Pierre and more importantly was better at hitting singles (which is really just better at making contact). Every player that is good enough to make a major league roster is gonna be good enough to hit singles. It's a matter if they can make consistent enough contact and their other skills that will define how good they are. and also, the era you play in obviously defines the quality of player you are. Nature evolves, so does baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

You know, it should also be noted that Moneyball wasn't really about things like OBP, but instead about how the A's (and others) determined what was undervalued (OBP) at the time. It is undeniable that OBP has a very high correlation to runs scored. But that really isn't the point. Successful teams, especially small-market ones, need to find ways to get more value than they are paying for. It is VERY possible that speed or defense may be undervalued. But it isn't very possible that OBP will magically no longer have a high correlation to runs scored. In other words, the actual value of a player isn't cyclical. But the way that teams perceive that value may be cyclical, which in turn creates the market for players, and may lead to undervaluing certain skills.

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In reply to by big_lowitzki

teams have been aware of ob% for decades...it shows at contract time. what the A's did was overblown as hell, and what was accomplished before the "celebration" layed out in the book made the A's look stronger than what was spelled out in the book. the "grade" the A's have gotten from what was celebrated in the book and afterwards has been mediocre at best. TB has been quietly living the Moneyball reality top to bottom while the A's can't even wheel spin or march their way back up in a 4-team division. maybe their minor league system could use more PEDs. and yeah, there's more to moneyball than hiring a bunch of guys who can't run or hit for contact well that can walk 30 more times than their peers.

Since the Tigers are obviously going all-in now with this latest move, does that mean there's still hope they might trade for Garza? They're one solid SP away from matching up with the Yankees and Rangers pretty damn well. Send us Turner and Castellanos (who is now blocked at 3B) for Garza and we'll call it a deal. Other than Garza, Oswalt is about the only other remaining option out there, and I thought I read he doesn't want to pitch in Detroit for some reason. Unfortunately, Detroit's move does mean there is now a zero market for Soriano, we're either stuck with him or Ricketts will need to eat the entire $54MM.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Guh, didn't see that......Garza is the prize, why the hell would the Cubs send money to the Tigers Aaron? Plus a useful lefty reliever? Nutty indeed. Regarding my original post, I suppose Toronto might conceivably still be interested in Garza, but I don't know that they have the prospects that are as interesting as what Detroit has to offer. The Nats might conceivably be a trade partner, they seem committed to improving NOW and they missed out on several high-profile free agents. And I guess the Angels might be a remote possibility if they panic now that Darvish is signed. On a different note--it is stunning how much the top talent in baseball has shifted to the AL in recent years. Junior circuit in name only. Honestly, you can count the marquee players in the NL at this point on two hands.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...