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

Theo Sez

Saturday's weekly "Talking Baseball" show on ESPN 1000 radio, hosted by Bruce Levine and Fred Hubner wrapped up with a Q&A session with Theo Epstein. Bruce Levine asked Theo up front if he wanted to talk about playing electric guitar or baseball, ...and baseball it was. A summary was posted in the CCO but as it turns out I had a recording of the program and was able to get together several complete quotes from Theo on multiple topics, including:

• Dale Sveum's camp, the bunting contest and the 9am meeting  with a daily player "roast." (I doubt the roast would have gone over well in the Milton Bradley era)

• Lineup construction (after Hubner wanted Theo's opinion of Soriano leading off):

"Lineups are overblown to begin with. As long as you adhere to some basic lineup construction principles, it's really hard to screw up a lineup and also hard to get too great of an advantage out of it."

• On acquiring starting pitching depth:

"Frankly, going forward looking at the next several years, we don't have a lot of starting pitching coming up in the upper levels of the farm system and we didn't have a lot of starting pitching under control on the big league team."

• Samardjiza's opportunity to start:

"A quality starter is more valuable even than a quality closer, which is significantly more valuable than a setup guy or a middle man"

• Talent acquisition and the new scouting and player development manuals

• Matt Garza and any contract negotiations

• Hitting, Ted Williams and the number one foundational principle of hitting

• Theo's best organizational surprise upon coming to the Cubs, the Dominican Academy

the full quotes, after the jump...

Theo was asked about Sveum's camp:

A lot of attention to detail and fundamentals. Theo said Sveum shouldn't win the bunting contest, he should win a round or two and bow out gracefully.

The Cubs are "roasting" one player every morning in their 9AM meeting which is mostly a review of how things went the previous day. Good for team chemistry and all (some discussion of the value of the bunting contest and team bonding).

"The real team bonding occurs when you get down to 25 guys."

Theo was asked his opinion about Soriano leading off (by Fred Hubner): Theo said he wasn't paying attention to that.

"Lineups are overblown to begin with. As long as you adhere to some basic lineup construction principles, it's really hard to screw up a lineup and also hard to get too great of an advantage out of it. If there is ever a time to experiment, it's now. Dale (Sveum) understands the principles of lineup construction and I think you'll see lineups that reflect that during the course of the season."

Levine commented/asked about their off season depth acquisitions of (left handed hitters and) starting pitchers:

Theo: 

"Building starting pitching depth and acquiring controllable starting pitchers was something that was important. It serves both of our primary purposes. It was important for the 2012 club. It was something that hurt us last year as the injuries early in the (2011) season we weren't equipped to handle those. We needed to build depth to put ourselves in a more competitive position for 2012. Frankly, going forward looking at the next several years, we don't have a lot of starting pitching coming up in the upper levels of the farm system and we didn't have a lot of starting pitching under control on the big league team. As we look to our chances in future years, let alone this year, we knew we had to do something now, acquiring as much starting pitching as we can."

Quite a bit of commentary on Jeff Samardzija (after a Fred Hubner question whether Shark will get a chance to start):

"The primary factor is how he throws. Our job is to put our best players in a position to make the most impact in the short term and in the long term. There's no doubt that if you think you have a quality starting pitcher on your hands, you find a way to get him into the rotation. A quality starter is more valuable even than a quality closer, which is significantly more valuable than a setup guy or a middle man. Right now the focus is on him and what he can do and we'll see how the parts fit together later in the spring. This is part of his evolution and we'll see if that leads him to the rotation. A year or two ago he was not ready to be considered for a starting spot. He didn't have the command or the 3rd or 4th pitch to rely on. He wasn't mentally, physically or fundamentally ready to be a starting pitcher, getting through a lineup 3 times or all those things a starting pitcher has to do. Based on what he did the 2nd half of last year, that was a lot of progress. He had a great winter. Consolidate that progress and build on it. The way he's throwing right now, he's very interesting as a starting option. The biggest caveat possible applies, he hasn't had (faced) anyone in an opposing uniform with a bat in their hands yet. So you can't draw any conclusions in the first couple of weeks in spring training let alone spring training as a whole. We're going to take a long look and see what we have."

Levine asked about the plan to acquire new talent/players: Theo outlined their options including the draft and international signings, with some new limitations from the CBA. Trades and the rare free agent who are 27-8 (years old), most free agents are over 30. There are few opportunities to acquire new players so we have to make the most of it.

"The way we're choosing to put ourselves in the best possible position is taking a fresh look in how we scout and how we develop players. This is a great opportunity to do that. Any time there is a change in an organization, it's a great time to try some new ideas, take a look at what the organization already does well and enhance that. Take a look at what we don't do well and make sure we try a new approach. There's been a new collective spirit of stripping this down to the nuts and bolts, defining how it is we're going to scout. We wrote a new scouting manual to define how it is we're going to teach the game and how we're going to develop players. We're in the process of putting together our player development manual with input from a lot of people with a lot of wisdom and experience when it comes to developing pitchers, developing hitters, teaching defense, teaching base running. We need to be a machine. We need to be really efficient. We need to be on the same page. We need to know what it is we are looking for in players and how we're going to develop those players. That's a long process. You never figure that out. It's something you try to get better at every single day. I can promise you there is a lot of effort going into it. That's were we're going to do our damage is by being well organized, having good ideas, working really hard and impacting players. The bottom line is you can't go out and buy young players, there is no opportunity to do that any more. You have to make sure you are better than the other organizations at identifying it and developing it."

Levine did ask about Garza and a contract extension.

Theo said any info on that would be kept confidentially and private.

"I don't believe in talking about that kind of thing. It's between the player and the club and nothing good comes out from talking about it. We'll keep that between Matt and us and see where it goes." (thud...sound of door slamming on Levine's foot)

Hubner asked about hitting and Rudy Jaramillo.

Theo mentioned they had a 6 hour hitting meeting where (they) decided what (the Cubs) are going to emphasize.

"A lot of it boils down to controlling the strike zone and getting a good pitch to hit. Ted Williams said it in his book. It's the number one foundational principle of hitting, which is, if your not getting a good pitch to hit, there is not really much you can do as a hitter unless you are a once in a generation freak like Vlad Guerro or Yogi Berra who can put any pitch in play hard. You need to get a good pitch to hit, control the strike zone and be selectively aggressive and that's going to be the foundation of our hitting program in the minor leagues and at that big league level. Now, obviously there is a lot of mechanics that go into it, there is physical preparation, there are more nuances to the mental approach as well but that's the basics and everything springs off that. I think we're on board with that in the minor and major leagues."

The final Levine question about what surprises he encountered in taking over the Cubs:

Theo replied that one of the most pleasant surprises was the Dominican Academy.

"We're way ahead of the game in how organized we are down in the Dominican, in how we teach the game from a player development standpoint, not only from a scouting standpoint. Those kids down there were really working hard, playing the game well and were fundamentally sound. From the other academies I've been to, you see the balls getting sprayed all over the place and it looks a long, long way from the big leagues. We have some really good instructors down there. You could see the kids were ahead of where they should have been fundamentally. That's something that's hard to build. The fact that is already in place now is a competitive advantage for us."

Comments

from Wittenmeyer's quotes and notes, (Ian Stewart in the 2-hole, Barney 8th):
‘‘I know I can help this ballclub any way they need me to,’’ said Jay Jackson, whose best shot at breaking camp with the team is the bullpen. ‘‘So anything they want me to do, I’m more than willing to do it.’’ Brett Jackson, a 2009 first-rounder, is trying to change the staff’s mind about sending him to Class AAA to start the season. The lineup for Sunday’s Cactus League opener against the Oakland Athletics: LF Alfonso Soriano, 3B Stewart, SS Starlin Castro, 1B Bryan LaHair, CF Marlon Byrd, RF David DeJesus, DH Jeff Baker, 2B Darwin Barney, C Welington Castillo. Rodrigo Lopez starts on the mound. ◆ Catcher Geovany Soto, who has been slowed for more than a week by a mild groin strain, is expected to be ready to play by the end of this week.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/11039667-417/cubs-see-wild… and a Campana article from Wittenmeyer too... http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/11040452-417/cubs-tony-cam…

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Ian #2? inspired choice and unexpected. at least he makes the pitcher work before ultimately striking out.

Wow all that bold text is really difficult to get through.

[ ]

In reply to by 10man

Wow all that bold text is really difficult to get through. --- Fixed. Got carried away with all the bullet points in the intro.

Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo seems to have taken his focus away from the Cubs and Theo. This weeks only mentions: Cubs president Theo Epstein has acknowledged that under the new CBA, he will need more time to rebuild the team’s farm system. If things had turned out differently, Dale Sveum might have been the Red Sox manager. While the Red Sox made the right choice in Bobby Valentine, Sveum may also have been the right choice for the Cubs. He arrives to the ballpark at 5 a.m. every day and has been emphasizing accountability and defense from a team that finished last in the NL in fielding last season. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/03/04/agent_…

I know it's just spring training, but no game chat going?

A's broadcaster just introduced Jeff Beliveau as "Jeff Bev-a-low." I guess in my brain I was saying "Bell-view." Does anyone know which is right? I'm taking the broadcaster with a grain of salt since he spent 5 minutes referring to the Cubs catcher as Wellington Castro.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

OK, nevermind, I went to the BR and came back and it was now "Bell-i-view." Must've been corrected again. As for Mr. "Bell-i-view," it's never good not getting to finish an inning early in spring training. Couldn't throw strikes. Never a good first impression with your new manager.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 2:50pm — John Beasley New Re: Theo Sez A's broadcaster just introduced Jeff Beliveau as "Jeff Bev-a-low." I guess in my brain I was saying "Bell-view." Does anyone know which is right? I'm taking the broadcaster with a grain of salt since he spent 5 minutes referring to the Cubs catcher as Wellington Castro. ================================= JOHN B: The P. A. announcer in the AFL last year called him "Believe- O". He was called "Bell-uh-vo" by Cubs P. A. announcer Tim Sheridan at HoHoKam Park today. I can remember one of the Cubs pitching coaches calling him "Bell-View" a couple of years ago at Fitch Park.

rhee = not ready. hell of a 4th so far.

soriano leading off again with stewart 2nd...i have to assume SWAIN wants these guys to see as many ABs as possible

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

...and stewart needs to take defensive practice grounders at 3rd as much as possible...another one off the glove going foul for a single. ...and brandon allen has 6 RBI today. 1 grand slam and a double. 4 for 5 on spring for him so far. supuhstah. welcome to the cubs trevor miller...1st pitch very wild leading to a scored run. i think we got a new 8th inning guy. ...welly gets the 1st cubs homer of spring on a fast linedrive homer that got out in about .001 seconds (wind is blowing straight out, btw) ...and ian stewart takes a swing at a 3-0 pitch for crap results...theo's gonna whip him Roots style. ...mota comes in to play 3rd and shows off a wild throw to 1st...error. neat. ...len keeps calling the OAK dugout the "ARZ dugout" ...carenas 3-run stand up triple vs. his old team to bring the cubs within 1 with no outs in the 6th...and the game is tied on a single by j.ha with 1 out.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

"i have to assume SWAIN wants these guys to see as many ABs as possible" That's the same reason my gay friend gave too when he signed up for a gym membership.

it's spring training for ...ahem... "top 5 prospects" too... "After relieving an ineffective Randall Delgado, Julio Teheran gave up six homers and seven runs in two innings against the Tigers on Sunday."

c.hart (MIL) getting MRI on his right knee...may require surgery...very swollen. len just said he's going to need surgery...4-6 weeks.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

SD gets to wait until spring training is over so they can assess where their greatest organizational need lies, and choose accordingly from the Cubs' list. If they unexpectedly have an injury in March, or they decide to promote someone in their system, that leaves a hole at the prior level and bingo--the Pads choose a Cubs player that fills that hole.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

mark grace could have been a HOF'r i guess. =p good luck enforcing that almost unenforceable window dressing rule.

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.