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

Revenge is a Dish Best Served in Formaldehyde

I can see the Simpsons animating this one (with a guest appearance from heaven by Ricardo Montalbán).

byline, Nick Cough-fart-doo and Kent Brockman:

The Red Sox announced the completion of the Theo Epstein compensation package today.  The Cubs will receive as their PTBNL, the bone spur from Chris Carpenter's elbow in a jar of formaldehyde.

Would the Red Sox really refer one of their newest hurlers to (video link) Dr. Nick?

On a more serious note, it's not a good spring to be named Chris Carpenter. The Cardinals ace pitcher has a significant pinched nerve somewhere between his neck and pitching shoulder that has caused some weakness and discomfort. According to the St. Louis media his timetable to return to the Cardinals rotation isn't certain.

News broke out of Red Sox camp yesterday as fans were wondering why "the other Carp" had only thrown 2 innings all spring.  Former Cub, Chris Carpenter tweeted:

“Headed into surgery tomorrow with Dr Andrews to remove a bone spur in my elbow,’’  “Stayin positive and prepared to work harder than ever to come back as soon as I can this season.’’

I'm Spur-ed on to write just a little more, after the break...


Update: (Thursday noon, CST), per a Carrie Muskat tweet:

RedSox send 1B Jair Bogaerts to Cubs to complete compensation deal for Theo. Batted .288 in Dominican Summer League. He's 19.

Elbow spurs or in medical speak, "osteophytes" develop in response to localized areas of cartilage damage. If the underlying bone reparative process gets stimulated, it can lead to a mix of bone and cartilage (the osteophyte) that often protrudes beyond the once smooth cartilage surface of the joint. The elbow is a complex hinge joint and any bone prominence that develops can block movement and lead to pain or loss of normal range of motion. The elbow is responsible not only for the hinge-like flexion and extension but also forearm rotation (supination and pronation).  When symptomatic spurs occur, they can be shaved using arthroscopic techniques (video link) with usually 2-4 small incisions. Because the elbow is a smaller and tighter joint it requires a smaller scope and shaver than used in knee or shoulder arthroscopy. Once removed, a throwing athlete can begin rehab almost immediately but the timetable to full recovery is usually 2-3 months. I recall Koske Fukudome had similar surgery in August 2007 before the Cubs acquired him in 2008.

Once Carpenter tweeted his news, all the usual media jumped all over the info, including Boston's Gordon Edes (ESPN), Peter Abraham and the real Nick Cafardo (Boston Globe) as well Chicago media such as Cubs.com writer Carrie Muskat.

Cafardo added his usual knife twisting bitterness over the Theo Comp Caper:

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington confirmed that Carpenter is having surgery, but would not comment on whether the injury predated the Feb. 21 trade with the Cubs or when Carpenter might return.

Is Cafardo hinting at a full scale Congressional investigation based on damaged goods received? Will Theo and Ben have to go back to the drawing board for 4 more months? Did Moses really have to climb back up Mount Sinai and re-type the "final version" of the ten commandments after throwing the original tablets at the blasphemers? Surely, Nick C. still has beautiful dreams of other people's nightmares.

I recall that the "final terms" of the Theo Compensation involved sending relievers Chris Carpenter and Aaron Kurcz to Boston and the Cubs were to get a low level minor leaguer back just to make it a "player transaction."

From the above ESPN link (Gordon Edes and Doug Padilla):

Cherington was asked why the Red Sox have to send a player to the Cubs. "This is still a baseball trade," he said. "It's satisfying the compensation issue, but it's still a baseball trade and in any baseball trade there has to be something coming and something going." Hoyer said he expects the exchange of players to be named to occur by April 15

ADDENDUM (Thursday noon, CST), per a Carrie Muskat tweet:

GM Hoyer on Carpenter elbow: "It's something we had no knowledge of. I don't think he had any elbow issues for the last two years."

RedSox send 1B Jair Bogaerts to Cubs to complete compensation deal for Theo. Batted .288 in Dominican Summer League. He's 19.

Scouting Report: Very strong - particularly his hands.  Raw power potential.  Should be able to improve his receiving skills quickly.  Loves to play.

...and Carpenter's Spur tracking number (783429482123) by Fed-Ex.

I guess body parts from a player will make this a new twist on those rare trades where a player is traded for himself (such as Harry Chiti and Dickie Noles).

Comments

Ah, Kirk, my old friend. Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? ... It is very cold in space. I couldn't resist. Star Trek and the Cubbies are my passion. Sad, I know.

Carrie is tweeting her brains out today... (another abby-normal reference?) Samardzija pumped about starting. Says he feels he earned it. It's Gonzalez not Amezaga who was sent down Coleman and Amezaga also. Lalli, Parker, Maine, T-Wood, Tolbert and Sappelt also sent down. Looks like Samardzija, Volstad in Cubs rotation. Wells says he's disappointed Randy Wells sent to Minors. Clevenger gets cubs backup catcher job http://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/

So who is left? Lendy, RLopez, Corpas and De La Cruz (pitchers); Amezaga, Campana (hitters). Starters: Dempster, Garza, Maholm, Volstad, Samardzija Pen: Marmol, Wood, Russell, Dolis, Camp, RLopez and Corpas (vs. De La Cruz and Lendy Castillo) OF: Soriano, Byrd, DeJesus INF: LaHair, Barney, Castro, Stewart C: Soto Bench: Baker, DeWitt, RJohnson, Mather, Clevenger (vs. Campana and Amezaga)

more Muskat: GM Jed Hoyer says bullpen still in flux. Lopez could be long man. Rotation order will be Demp, Garza, Samardzija, Volstad and Maholm. Mather and DeWitt both made Cubs Opening Day roster

Maybe Amezaga? Muskat recanted her original mention of Amezaga going to Iowa (and said Edgar Gonzalez was sent down). Later Muskat: It's Gonzalez not Amezaga who was sent down. Early Muskat: Coleman and Amezaga also. not that I care one way or another really.

Theo Comp redux via Muskat: GM Hoyer on Carpenter elbow: "It's something we had no knowledge of. I don't think he had any elbow issues for the last two years." RedSox send 1B Jair Bogaerts to Cubs to complete compensation deal for Theo. Batted .288 in Dominican Summer League. He's 19. ...and Carpenter's spur tracking number (783429482123) by Fed-Ex.

More Cafardo on Theo-Gate: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2012/03…
The Red Sox had complete access to Chris Carpenter's medical records, and the pitcher had passed both his Cubs physical and also his Red Sox physical after he was dealt to the Red Sox as compensation for Theo Epstein, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Red Sox will likely not receive a different player from the Cubs because everything was up front and out in the open.
Of the eligible names the Red Sox had to chose from, Carpenter was the pitcher Sox GM Ben Cherington wanted because they had scouted him at Kent State and liked him then. In some of Carpenter's early outings, Carpenter had major control issues, but that's been his history.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thu, 03/29/2012 - 12:26pm — Rob G. More roster cuts possibly De La Cruz supposedly waived. ============================== ROB G: If Frankie de la Cruz was placed on waivers today, we won't know if any clubs made a claim until Saturday at 1 PM (EDT). If no clubs make a claim, the Cubs can outright de la Cruz to the minors. However, de la Cruz is an Article XX-D player (he was outrighted previously in his career), so if he is outrighted to the minors, he has the right to refuse the Outright Assignment and be a free-agent immediately (but receive no termination pay), or accept the Outright Assignment and defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the 2012 MLB regular seaon (unless he is added back to the 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season). Another possible outright candidate (Marcos Mateo) cannot be placed on waivers if he is injured. He could be placed on the 15-day DL, or on the 60-day DL if the Cubs need his slot on the 40-man roster. John Gaub (who has not thrown yet) is another candidate for the 60-day DL, but the Cubs would have to recall him from his Optional Assignment before they can place him on the 60-day DL, and if they do that they would have to pay Gaub at the MLB rate ($480K), versus his minor league split salary if they don't ($78,250). And then there's Rule 5 RHP Lendy Castillo, who would be removed from the Cubs MLB 40-man roster if he isn't kept on the MLB 25-man roster. If the Cubs decide that Castillo isn't ready for The Show, MLB Rule 6 kicks in. MLB RULE 6 RETURN PROCESS: Castillo first goes on Outright Waivers (where any of the other MLB clubs can claim him for the Rule 6 waiver price of $25,000 and asume the Rule 5 roster obligations), and if he is not claimed, he must be offered back to the Phillies for half the Rule 5 Draft price ($25,000). The Phils would have 72 hours to decide, and if they do opt to re-claim him, he is automatically sent outright to AAA Lehigh Valley (the AAA club from which he was drafted). It's at this point that a trade could happen. If a trade can be worked out, the Cubs could send L. Castillo outright to the minors without any restrictions.

Seems like Wells deserved more of a shot... 7.1 IP 4H 0ER 0BB Only appeared in 3 games. did he get hurt or something? He went 10 days between his last two appearances... Is there more to this story? Did he bang someone's wife or something?

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Thu, 03/29/2012 - 1:27pm — Jace No argument really. It just seems that he didn't get to pitch much in ST. They gave just about everyone they were considering for a roster spot more appearances than he got. Just curious why he only got into 3 games, with 10 days in between... ============================== JACE: Randy Wells threw five innings & 75 pitches in a "B" game versus Cleveland at Goodyear on 3/19. The Cubs sent an entire squad of players out there in shuttle vans, even though they were playing an MLB Cactus League game that same day in Peoria vs SEA. I thought it might have made more sense to have Wells stay in Mesa and just throw in a Minor League ST game at Fitch Park (as Maholm, Dempster, Volstad have done), but the Cubs decided otherwise. Perhaps the Cubs were showcasing Wells for the Indians?

Chicago Cubs Signed: RHP Shawn Camp Released: RHP Colin Richardson, LHP Brent Ebinger, LHP Trever Miller, C Mario Mercedes, 3B Jacob Opitz, OF Mayke Reyes Elected free agency: RHP Andy Sonnanstine Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Adrian Cardenas Removed from 40-man: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (outrighted to Triple-A) Outrighted to Mexican League: RHP Oswaldo Martinez (Mexico City)

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thanks ROB G. Shawn Camp is better than some of the rag-armed RH relievers with ERA+ of: 127 141 102 the last three years in the AL East. This is significantly better than Rod Lopez (70's and mid-80's), as well as the usual recent inventory of Silva, Coleman, T Diamond, Grabow, Berg, The Fabulous Mitch Atkins...etc. Hopefully he will have a nice year. Low risk. Cheap price.

some X. Nady rumor let the Marlon Byrd rumors begin, doubt they want to pay starters price tag though for a bench bat.

2-run single, 4-0 Cubs DeWitt and Mather with RBI's as well. C. Richard pitching.

gives up a 2-run HR to Jason Bartlett...ugly.

lot of hits given up by pitching in almost every ARZ based spring game today...wind doesn't seem to be a factor, though...unless it's a lack of wind. also, d.barney is 4/4 (in the 5th inning) with 3 singles and a double...batting .450...ha. joe mather is 2/3 bringing his average up to .426 (slacker).

Cubs get Strasburg on Opening Day. good luck with that...

Under the knife, TJ surgery.

from BP's transaction analysis on Shawn Camp:
You have to credit Camp for hanging on this long. Drafted in the 16th round in 1997, Camp is a small righty with a high-80s sinker and platoon splits to back it up. Pitchers with that profile are common, making Camp’s survival after a rough start in the majors (230 2/3 innings and a 5.27 earned run average over his first four seasons) all the more puzzling, but he has turned things around since landing with the Jays in 2008 (257 2/3 innings and a 3.63 earned run average). Camp can frustrate when his groundballs bleed through the infield or his manager neglects to micromanage his appearances, but he has a place in a big-league bullpen so long as the sinker keeps working.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16325

New John Grisham book, Calico Joe. I suggest Rob G. bid on the movie rights ASAP.
Whatever happened to Calico Joe? It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz. In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen. The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records. Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13154952-calico-joe

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs looked into re-acquiring Tom Gorzelanny from the Nationals earlier this month.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Morris, Hicks and Burgess can probably go right back. Gorz's peripherals seem to always be better than his performance and he's not too good at staying healthy. Get him back and we're a Zach Duke away from that historical mid-00's Pirates rotation.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Honestly, with today's blogosphere I don't see how it is remotely possible to keep any trade or deal hidden. Sometimes I like this. While I would rather things not return to Pre-Watergate disclosure levels, sometimes there is just too much information on the rumor level.

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.