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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Late Dinger the Difference as Brewers Edge Cubs

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Chris McFarland led-off the bottom of the 8th with a moon-shot solo home run over the LF fence and onto the roof of a portable classroom at Frank Borman Elementary School, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving his team the lead, as the Brewers scored one in the 7th and one in the 8th to edge the Cubs 2-1 in Opening Day Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #7 (Paul Molitor Field) at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, AZ.

Milwaukee’s 18th round pick in the 2011 June draft, McFarland received a $315K “overslot” bonus to give up a chance to play college ball at perennial NCAA powerhouse Rice University.

Rehabbing from June 2011 Tommy John Surgery, RHP Rob Whitenack got the start for the Cubs and threw a shutout inning (15 pitches), allowing two hits before getting out of the frame thanks to a timely 6-4-3 DP and a 5-3 GO.

20-year old Cuban defector LHP Gerardo Concepcion followed Whitenack to the mound and threw three shutout innings, showing an advanced feel for pitching to go along with a plus-curve, solid change, and outstanding control (75% strikes).

Although the Cubs scored only one run, they did have a plethora of baserunners during the course of the game. Gioskar Amaya, Jeimer Candelario, and Trey Martin reached base three times a piece (Amaya walked three times, Candelario tripled, singled, and walked, and Martin singled twice and doubled and stole two bases), but some bad baserunning at inopportune moments hurt the Cub cause.

The game was extended an extra three outs so that Felix Pena could get his pre-scheduled inning of work.

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Oliver Zapata, CF: 1-4 (F-8, 1-3, 1B, 3-1, RBI)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-1 (BB, BB, F-9, BB)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-3 (3-U, 1B, 3B, BB)
4. Rock Shoulders, 1B-DH: 0-4 (K, 4-6-3 DP, 1-3, K)
5a. Javier Baez, SS: 1-3 (5-3, 2B, 2-5 FC, SB)
5b. Danny Lockhart, SS: 0-1 (P-5)
6. Dan Vogelbach, DH-1B: 0-4 (P-6, K, 4-3, 6-3)
7a. Trey Martin, RF-DH: 3-3 (1B, 2B, 1B, 2 SB, PO)
7b. Neftali Rosario, PH: 0-1 (K)
8a. Wilson Contreras, C: 0-0 (BB, E2-CI, R)
8b. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-2 (5-3, 5-3)
9. Shawon Dunston, Jr, LF: 1-2 (BB, 1B, 1-3)
10. Anthony Giansanti, DH-C: 1-2 (F-8, BB, 3B)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Rob Whitenack: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 15 pitches (11 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
2. Gerardo Concepcion: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches (27 strikes), 2/5 GO/FO
3. Frank del Valle: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 62 pitches (35 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
4. James Pugliese: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 27 pitches (14 strikes)
5. Felix Pena: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 11 pitches (9 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 3
1. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E-4 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E-4 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score)
3. P Felix Pena - E-1 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Anthony Giansanti: 3-5 CS

ATTENDANCE: 5

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 90’s

Tags
Extended Spring Training
EXST Cubs
Trey Martin
Gerardo Concepcion
Rob Whitenack

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:30 pm

Top 1st: Seattle - C. Figgins walked - D. Ackley struck out swinging - I. Suzuki singled to shallow left, C. Figgins to second - J. Smoak singled to right, C. Figgins to third, I. Suzuki to second - K. Seager singled to center, C. Figgins and I. Suzuki scored, J. Smoak to third - K. Seager to second on wild pitch - M. Saunders walked - M. Olivo singled to shallow right, J. Smoak scored, K. Seager to third, M. Saunders to second - M. Kawasaki walked, K. Seager scored, M. Saunders to third, M. Olivo to second - B. Ryan struck out swinging - C. Figgins grounded out to third ew darvish. welcome to the big show, dude.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:29 pm

I-Cubs with a 9-2 lead over the Isotopes in the 5th. Rizzo with another HR (2 run). Travis Wood (whoa) also has a 2 run HR. Rizzo, Cardenas (double, triple) and Vitters with 2 hit nights

Submitted by superjimmer on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:40 pm

Someone please notify Castro that you don't have the luxury to guess with bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, 2 out, 0-2 count and down 2. Jesus. Especially if you are not guessing fastball and frickin swinging.

Submitted by Koyies Bansaw on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:01 pm

Hey AZ Phil, I'm curious if you've seen/ heard what's going on with Ramon Garcia, Roderik Pichardo, and Charles Thomas? Also, have you seen anything of a couple guys from last year's draft, like Levitt, Urban, Dickson, Maltos-Garcia (how's his rehab going?), Elias, Marra, and Tayler Scott? Thanks as always

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/09/2012 - 04:37 pm

Mon, 04/09/2012 - 9:01pm — Koyies Bansaw Hey AZ Phil, I'm curious if you've seen/ heard what's going on with Ramon Garcia, Roderik Pichardo, and Charles Thomas? Also, have you seen anything of a couple guys from last year's draft, like Levitt, Urban, Dickson, Maltos-Garcia (how's his rehab going?), Elias, Marra, and Tayler Scott? ================================= K-BANSAW: Charles Thomas, Ramon Garcia, Roderik Pichardo, Pete Levitt, Ian Dickson, Ethan Elias, and Tayler Scott are all presently active at Extended Spring Training. C. Thomas got demoted from the Peoria squad right at the end of Minor League Camp because he had difficulty throwing his 98 MPH fastball for strikes, but he looked very good when he threw in one of the Fitch Park intrasquad games last week. He could be back with Peoria sooner rather than later. R. Garcia pitched well enough in Minor League Camp where he maybe could have made the Peoria Opening Day roster, but he got caught in the end-of-camp numbers game. After signing with the Cubs in June, Ethan Elias spent the balance of the 2011 season on the AZL Cubs DL, and he also missed AZ Instructs and was restricted to limited activity the first half of Minor League Camp, too. He is active now, but I don't know why he was not active earlier. Austin Urban hasn't thrown in a game (including AZL, Instructs, Minor League Camp, and EXST) since the Cubs signed him. He is in the Rehab Group at Fitch Park, and he was restricted to limited activity throughout Minor League Camp, too. I don't know if he had surgery or some kind of lingering soreness someplace, but he has been basically inactive for at least nine months. Arturo Maltos-Garcia had TJS last June (at about the exact same time as Rob Whitenack) but he didn't throw in Minor League Camp, so his rehab is going much slower than Whitenack's (who threw another 15 pitches in the bullpen after his one inning/15 pitch stint this morning, BTW). Justin Marra was active the first half of Minor League Camp and was playing in Cactus League Minor League games, but he is now out with an injury that precludes him from running and/or hitting but not catching. I don't know when he will be back active. BTW, 1B Ryan Cuneo (who had an outstanding Minor League Camp with the Daytona squad before getting moved down to the Boise/Mesa squad with back issues) just got moved up to Peoria from Extended Spring Training (his ST performance literally saved him from getting released), and RHP Joe Zeller just got promoted to Tennessee from Extended Spring Training. Getting bumped from EXST to AA might seem a bit much, but Zeller throws a knuckleball, and he can be downright mystifying to hitters (at any level) at times. And then other times he gets whacked. I doubt that Zeller will go back down. Either he makes it at Tennessee, or he gets released.

Submitted by Jace on Tue, 04/10/2012 - 04:38 am

just got arrested for brawling with police... did anyone else think that Guerrero was still playing baseball?? I sure did!

Submitted by TJ on Tue, 04/10/2012 - 04:57 pm

I would like to get some thoughts on Baez being in extended spring training. I thought for sure he would be in Peoria. I know he is a year out of high school, but I believe Corey Patterson went straight to low A and had a really good year, probably the only really good year he had. Is this a sign that they are taking it slow with the prospects?

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 04:58 pm

RF DeJesus 2B Barney SS Castro LF Soriano 3B Stewart 1B LaHair C Soto CF Byrd P Dempster

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

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