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 Take Sentimental Journey to Cactus League Victory

Submitted by Arizona Phil on
Joe Mather blasted a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the 7th to turn a 6-4 deficit into a 7-6 Cubs lead, and Blake Lalli smashed a solo HR over the RF bullpens in the 8th to provide an insurance run, as the Cubs rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in warm & sunny Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.

The game featured a pre-game fly-over by a World War II vintage B-17 bomber (“Sentimental Journey”) that is based at Falcon Field in Mesa.

NOTE: Scroll down for the updated MINOR LEAGUE CAMP rosters (effective today 3/12).

Ian Stewart got the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the 1st against RHP Bronson Arroyo, ripping an RBI triple into the right-center alley to score Marlon Byrd, who had singled with one out. (Brett Jackson rifled a single to right to lead-off the inning, but was thrown-out trying to stretch the hit into a double). Alfonso Soriano followed Stewart, slugging his 4th Cactus League home run (a two-run shot over the LF scoreboard) to cap the three-run inning.The Cubs scored another run in the 2nd, as Darwin Barney grounded a double down the LF line, and after Steve Clevenger and Brett Jackson walked to load the bases, with one out, Marlon Byrd lofted sacrifice fly to CF to drive-home Barney and give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.

After being sidelined with the flu last week, LHP Paul Maholm made his Cub game debut today, starting the game and allowing one run (a Todd Frazier solo HR) on two hits, no walks, and two strikeouts, in two innings of work (24 pitches – 13 strikes, 5/0 GO/FO). Maholm then threw another 15 pitches in the bullpen after he left the game, demonstrating that he probably could have gone another inning if that was part of the plan. A former rotation-starter for the Pirates, Maholm was signed by the Cubs as a free-agent during the off-season, and is expected to be in the Cubs starting rotation in 2012.

RHP Jeff Samardzija “piggy-backed” with Maholm, throwing three innings (39 pitches – 27 strikes). The Shark allowed two runs on two hits and a HBP in his first inning of work (the top of the 3rd), before retiring the last eight men he faced. The big righthander did not walk anyone, and he struck out three, with a 4/2 GO/FO. Samardzija should have gotten out of the 3rd allowing just one run, but SS Junior Lake rushed a throw while trying to complete a room-service 4-6-3 DP, extending the inning.

Like Maholm, Samardzija threw another 15 pitches in the bullpen after he was removed from the game, so he probably could have gone four innings if asked. (Samardzija appeared to be getting stronger & stronger and his command improved as he threw more pitches).

Rule 5 pick Lendy Castillo worked an easy 1-2-3 6th inning as he battles to win a job in the Cubs bullpen (although he faced only minor league hitters), but closer Carlos Marmol had another bad outing. With the Cubs up 4-3 through six, Marmol gave up the lead in the 7th, allowing three runs on a walk, a double, a HBP, a two-run RBI single, another walk that re-loaded the bases, and a sac fly. Marmol had just about zero command today (29 pitches – only 14 strikes).

Now down 6-4, the Cubs took back the lead in the 7th when Joe Mather continued his hot power-hitting, unloading his two-out three-run dinger that landed well beyond the left-centerfield fence off Reds RHRP Carlos Fisher, following walks to Dave Sappelt and Jim Adduci. Kerry Wood worked a scoreless 8th, and then Blake Lalli ripped his bomb leading off the bottom of the inning. RHP Marcos Mateo then worked a 1-2-3 9th (P-4, K, 6-3) for the save. (Mateo is out of minor league options, so the Cubs need to decide by the end of Spring training if he is MLB-worthy).

Defensive play of the day was a one-out diving catch by 2B Bobby Scales that kept the potential tying run at 3rd base (and saved Kerry Wood) with one out in the top of the 8th. Although he did get an NRI to Spring training with the big club, Scales will likely serve as a player-coach at AAA Iowa in 2012. (He is viewed by the Cubs as a potential future manager or instructor/coach)

Meanwhile, newly signed 20-year old Cuban LHP Gerardo Concepcion made his debut on Field #2 at Fitch Park, working out with the AA Tennessee squad. Also, several of the Cubs top prospects (including SS Javier Baez, 1B Dan Vogelbach, and 3B Jeimer Candelario) were moved down to the Boise/Mesa squad (which will become the Cubs Extended Spring Training squad next month) from the Peoria squad. There were a few other roster adjustments as well, as the six players sent to Minor League Camp this past weekend (RHPs Marco Carrillo, Trey McNutt, and Dae-Eun Rhee, C Micah Gibbs, INF Jonathon Mota, and OF Jae-Hoon Ha) have reported to Fitch Park.

Here are the updated Cubs Minor League Camp rosters (effective today)

IOWA (34)

PITCHERS (18):
Frank Batista
Dallas Beeler
Justin Berg (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Marco Carrillo
Hung-Wen Chen
Marcus Hatley
Aaron Kurcz
Jordan Latham
Oswaldo Martinez
Trey McNutt
* Brooks Raley
Kevin Rhoderick
* Nate Robertson
* Ryan Rowland-Smith
Brian Schlitter
Ryan Searle
Nick Struck
Tony Zych

CATCHERS (4):
Juan Apodaca
Luis Flores (see NOTE)
# Micah Gibbs
Mario Mercedes
NOTE: Luis Flores is on the RESTRICTED LIST while serving a 50-game Prohibited Substance suspension, but he is participating in Minor League Camp activities

INFIELDERS (8):
Leugim Barroso
# David Macias
Rebel Ridling
Jonathon Mota
Greg Rohan
Nate Samson
Marquez Smith
Elliot Soto

OUTFIELDERS (4):
* Michael Burgess
Evan Crawford
Jae-Hoon Ha
Ty Wright

TENNESSEE (32)

PITCHERS (17):
* Jeffry Antigua
Dan Berlind
David Cales (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
* Gerardo Concepcion
* Frank del Valle (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
* Brent Ebinger
Ricardo Estevez (see NOTE)
* Casey Harman
Ty’Relle Harris
* Eric Jokisch
Matt Loosen
Yoannis Negrin
Dae-Eun Rhee
Juan Serrano
* Matt Spencer (ex-OF)
Larry Suarez
Rob Whitenack (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
NOTE: Ricardo Estevez is on the RESTRICTED LIST while serving a 50-game Prohibited Substance suspension, but he is participating in Minor League Camp activities

CATCHERS (4):
* Sergio Burruel
Taylor Davis
* Rafael Lopez
Chad Noble

INFIELDERS (7):
* Justin Bour
* Matt Cerda
# Zeke DeVoss
* Jake Opitz
* Rubi Silva
Rafael Valdes
* Logan Watkins

OUTFIELDERS (4):
Abner Abreu
John Andreoli
Eliecer Bonne
Taiwan Easterling (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)

DAYTONA (33)

PITCHERS (17):
* Kyler Burke (ex-OF)
Zach Cates
Eduardo Figueroa
Dustin Fitzgerald
P. J. Francescon
Su-Min Jung
* Austin Kirk
Luis Liria
* Jeff Lorick
A. J. Morris
Starling Peralta
Jose Rosario
* Zac Rosscup
Bryce Shafer
Hayden Simpson
Charles Thomas (ex-3B)
Brett Wallach

CATCHERS (3):
Yaniel Cabezas (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Anthony Giansanti (ex-OF)
Neftali Rosario

INFIELDERS (8):
# Arismendy Alcantara
* Ryan Cuneo (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
* Wes Darvill
Dustin Harrington
Paul Hoilman
* Richard Jones
Pierre LePage
Ronald Torreyes

OUTFIELDERS (5):
* Pin-Chieh Chen
Reggie Golden
* Ben Klafczynski
Mayke Reyes
Blair Springfield

PEORIA (30)

PITCHERS (15):
* Hunter Ackerman
* Willengton Cruz
Ramon Garcia
Ryan Hartman
Michael Jensen
Pete Levitt
Dillon Maples (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Carlos Martinez
Hector Mayora
* Sheldon McDonald
* Andrew McKirahan
Tarlandus Mitchell
Yao-Lin Wang
Ben Wells
Joe Zeller

CATCHERS (3):
Wilson Contreras (ex-3B)
* Justin Marra
# Wilfredo Petit

INFIELDERS (8):
Gioskar Amaya
Xavier Batista
Ryan Durrence
Dustin Geiger
# Marco Hernandez
# Brian Inoa
Kenny Socorro
Brad Zapenas

OUTFIELDERS (4):
Yasiel Balaguert
* Eduardo Gonzalez
Dong-Yub Kim
# Oliver Zapata

BOISE/MESA (27)

PITCHERS (15):
Jose Arias
Ian Dickson
Ethan Elias (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
David Henrie
* Graham Hicks (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Jin-Young Kim
Felix Pena
Roderik Pichardo
James Pugliese
Austin Reed
Colin Richardson
Tayler Scott
* Brian Smith
Austin Urban (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Scott Weismann

CATCHERS (2):
* Alberto Mineo
Antonio Valerio

INFIELDERS (5):
Javier Baez
# Jeimer Candelario
* Danny Lockhart
# Rock Shoulders
* Dan Vogelbach

OUTFIELDERS (5):
* Delbis Arcila
* Shawon Dunston, Jr
* Trevor Gretzky (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)
Trey Martin
* Garrett Schlecht (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY)

NOT ON FIELD - WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN:
Gregori Gonzalez, IF-OF (?)
Yohan Gonzalez, P (?)
* Cam Greathouse, P (supposedly will report to EXST)
Alvido Jimenez, P (?)
Arturo Maltos-Garcia, P (2011 TJS rehab)
Amaury Paulino, P (?)
* Nelson Perez, OF (?)

Tags
Cubs Spring Training
Cubs Minor League Rosters
Carlos Marmol
Jeff Samardzija
Paul Maholm
Gerardo Concepcion
Joe Mather
Blake Lalli
Alfonso Soriano

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 03:14 pm

Mon, 03/12/2012 - 7:23pm — Rob G. J. Lake profile...seems to have taught the mastery of the delayed steal to team. Blake DeWitt pulled it off today ========================= ROB G: Junior Lake led the AFL in stolen bases last fall, and most of them (if not all of them) were the "Junior Lake Special." His technique in unreal and his timing is impeccable. Catchers and middle infielders know he is going to do it, and yet they still can't stop him. The catcher will frequently double-clutch and/or the middle infielders are constantly caught flat-footed. It's like he found the Twilight Zone between a conventional "straight steal" and a traditional delayed-steal.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 03:07 pm

Minor League Spring Training games start next Friday. That's when we'll start to see MLB pitchers who need work pitch in minor league ST games, and injury rehab guys play in ST games (usually batting once in each of the first five innings) at the minor league facilities.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 03:42 am

AzPhil, Two quick, minor questions, if you have the time. a) What's your take on Frank Batista with AAA for now? I had thought entering the season that he had a 50/50 shot at being in Tennessee (or going back to Daytona), but this seems to give him a better chance of starting at Tennessee than I expected. b) Matt Spencer at AA to start mildly surprises me. I can't help but get the feeling that this might be a make or break scenario for him, considering his age. Thoughts? Best.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 03:24 am

Tue, 03/13/2012 - 6:42am — toonsterwu AzPhil, Two quick, minor questions, if you have the time. a) What's your take on Frank Batista with AAA for now? I had thought entering the season that he had a 50/50 shot at being in Tennessee (or going back to Daytona), but this seems to give him a better chance of starting at Tennessee than I expected. b) Matt Spencer at AA to start mildly surprises me. I can't help but get the feeling that this might be a make or break scenario for him, considering his age. Thoughts? Best. ========================================== TOONSTER: I'm not surprised that Frank Batista was assigned to the Iowa squad (at least initially). The Cubs now have their four best RH relief prospects (Rhoderick, Kurcz, Batista, and Zych) assigned to the Iowa squad (Tony Zych was moved up to the Iowa squad from the Tennessee squad yesterday). Also, both Rhoderick and Zych pitched in MLB Cactus League games last week. Of course, it is likely that one or more of them will be moved down to the Tennessee squad once more pitchers arrive at Fitch Park from big league camp, but still, all four are together at the highest-level at Minor League Camp right now. I think what that all means is that while the Cubs may take even more time than did the previous regime with developing starting pitcher prospects (McNutt, Beeler, Rusin, etc), they appear to be wasting no time moving their best relief prospects up the pipeline (especially with Cashner and Carpenter no longer around), possibly with the result that we will see one or more of them in Wrigley Field by mid-season if the other more-experienced candidates falter. As far as Matt Spencer is concerned, I think the reason he was initially assigned to the Tennessee squad is all about his age. (He's 26). Likewise, the older Cuban defectors were assigned to the Iowa and Tennessee squads, too. (26-year old SS Leugim Barroso was assigned to the Iowa squad, and 27-year old RHP Ricardo Estevez, 27-year old RHP Yoannis Negrin, 28-year old INF Rafael Valdes, and 25-year old OF Eliecer Bonne were assigned to the Tennessee squad). Although he had pitched in HS and occasionally in his freshman year at UNC (before he transferred to Arizona State), Spencer just started pitching full-time at Instructs last year (and he had major control issues there), so he needs time to develop as a pitcher. I think it's very likely that he (like Kyler Burke last year) will be assigned to Extended Spring Training and then move up to Boise once the short-season teams start play, but because he will likely be tracked as a lefty reliever (his fastball is clocked in the upper 90's), he could move fast after that (and he is eligible to be a 6YFA post-2013, so the Cubs don't have a lot of time to mess around with him). Or he could just flame-out and get released. Speaking of converted position players, LHP (ex-OF) Kyler Burke is eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (6YFA) after this season, so the Cubs need to decide whether to add him to the 40-man roster by 5 PM (EDT) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the 2012 World Series, or risk the distinct possibility that he will opt to sign elsewhere. So with Burke, deciding whether to roster him is not going to be about whether the Cubs think he he might get selected in the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft. If the Cubs think he has big league potential, they would need to add him to the 40 just to keep him from walking away post-2012. (BTW, I suspect Burke might very well be on the list of players the Padres get to choose from as compensation for the Cubs signing Hoyer/McLeod).

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 03/13/2012 - 03:40 am

One other thing about a position player converting to pitcher or a pitcher converting to position player... There are service time restrictions in the lower minor leagues that normally would preclude very experienced minor leaguers from playing there except on injury rehab assignments, but a position player converting to pitcher (as was the case recently with Charles Thomas, Kyler Burke, Matt Spencer, et al) or a pitcher converting to position player (as happened with Chris Huseby a couple of years ago) gets a one-year exemption that allows him to play for the AZL Cubs, Boise, Peoria, or Daytona. However, there is a caveat. During the one-year exempt period, a position player converting to pitcher can only pitch in a game (he cannot play a position in the field), and a pitcher converting to position player cannot pitch in a game. In other words, no "two-way players" allowed if the exemption is being used.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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