Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Baez Hits for the Cycle at Diablo

Javier Baez hit for the cycle and drove-in all five Cub runs with a two-run triple and a three-run home run, but the Angels rallied for five runs in the middle-three innings to edge the Cubs 6-5, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe, AZ.

In addition to his big day at the plate, Baez also stole a base (3rd base following his double) and made the defensive Play of the Day, going deep into the hole to backhand a grounder headed for LF, and then nailing the out with a leap and an on-the-money throw to 1st.

In his first four Extended Spring Training games, Baez is 9-15 with three three-run home runs, three triples, two doubles, and a single, and in his last game prior to the start of Extended Spring Training, Baez clubbed a two-run HR off Paul Maholm in an intrasquad game at Fitch Park.

Today's game was extended an extra inning so that all of the Cubs and Angels pitchers who were scheduled to throw today could get their work.

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Shawon Dunston, Jr, LF: 1-2 (K, 2B, R)
1b. Jeffrey Baez, PH-LF: 0-1 (6-3)
1c. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 0-2 (F-8, 5-3)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B-DH: 2-4 (BB, 1B, K, 1B, P-4, 2 R)
3. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 0-4 (BB, F-9, 6-3, K, K, R)
4. Javier Baez, SS: 4-5 (3B, HR, 2B, 1B, K, R, 5 RBI, SB)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, BB, K)
6. Trey Martin, CF: 1-4 (K, 1B, P-4, 3-1)
7. Neftali Rosario, DH-C: 0-4 (P-4, K, 5-3, F-9)
8. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 1-4 (6-3, K, K, 1B)
9. Yaniel Cabezas, C-DH: 3-4 (F-8, 1B, 1B, 1B)
10. Brian Inoa, DH-2B: 0-4 (K, K, 5-3, K)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tayler Scott: 2.1, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 51 pitches (25 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 37 pitches (26 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
3. Brian Smith: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 33 pitches (19 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
4. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 27 pitches (19 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
5. Charles Thomas: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 21 pitches (13 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
SS Javier Baez - E-6 (errant throw allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yaniel Cabezas: 2-2 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Trey Martin - threw out batter-runner 8-3 after batter singled to CF and then took too wide of a turn around 1st base

ATTENDANCE: 8

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy at times with temperatures in the 70’s

Comments

does baez still do that weird semi-double-clutch before throwing thing? a lot of his scouting video showed some weird throwing action.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 4:12pm — crunch does baez still do that weird semi-double-clutch before throwing thing? a lot of his scouting video showed some weird throwing action. ========================================= CRUNCH: Sometimes he takes too much time to make the throw (like the E-6 today) and then doesn't make a strong throw when he does let it go, and that might give the impression that he's double-clutching.

Phil, Has Javy Baez been the best player on the field you've seen (any team)? Give us a general comp for his hitting, please. I've heard Gary Sheffield like bat speed and power. Similar build, too. Did you see where Zapata had a nice debut for Peoria? Just let the kids play every year. He'll probably flop like most do, but we Cubs fans live off the hope of a player. Play the young ones. Also, did anyone notice in a rubber match with the Cardinals, early in the year, we rested 4 of our top 6 hitters. I understand resting guys before a day off to give them two days off, but I didn't like giving St. Louis our weakest lineup in a series finale. Dale needs to save that stuff for the Pirates (we can't beat them anyway).

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 4:36pm — Childersb3 Phil, Has Javy Baez been the best player on the field you've seen (any team)? Give us a general comp for his hitting, please. I've heard Gary Sheffield like bat speed and power. Similar build, too. ================================= CHILDERS: Javier Baez is the best player out here that I've seen. If there's another one as good or better, I'd like to see him. I guess Gary Sheffield would be as good a comp as any. Baez absoluterly crushes the ball. BTW, in addition to his three EXST HR, he also just missed with a couple of others. For example, his double today hit the 422 sign in dead center. (A lot of these ball parks are huge).

Campana 8, Jackson 7, Gonzalez 3, Valbuena 6, Castillo 2, Cardenas 4, Sappelt 9, Vitters 0, Amazega 5, Coleman starting McNutt goes for Tennessee, awaiting starters #Cubs lineup: Szczur- CF, Torreyes- 2B, Perez- DH, Rohan- 3B, Jones- 1B, Alcantara- SS, Silva- LF, Bonne- RF, Burruel- C...Jokisch- P Chiefs Monday lineup: DeVoss 4, Darvill 5, Lopez 2, Cuneo 3, Hoilman DH, Easterling 8, Hernandez 6, Gonzalez 9, Zapata 7, Jensen 1

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Amezaga and Campana both reach with 1 out on errors by the 3bman, Campana steals 2B, then Jackson BB's. After a sac fly scores Amezaga, Campana and Jackson pull off a double steal and Campana scores on the throwing error. 2 runs, 0 hits that inning for Iowa. McNutt through 4 with just a run allowed on 3 K and 1 BB. Jokisch goes 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 K, 3 BB and gets the loss vs. Toronto's stacked affiliate Peoria up 3-1, R. Cuneo with a HR

Phil - do you know the penalty under the new labor agreement for going over the "pot of money" available for signing draft choices this year?

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 7:19pm — DavidP Phil - do you know the penalty under the new labor agreement for going over the "pot of money" available for signing draft choices this year? ========================================= DAVID P: A club's "Signing Bonus Pool" is the aggregate $$$ value of all of its draft pick slots in the first ten rounds (added together) of a given Rule 4 Draft (including compensation picks). The value of each draft slot in the first ten rounds (including supplemental rounds) is determined by the MLB Commissioner prior to each Rule 4 Draft. The pre-assigned $$$ value of any slot in the first ten rounds is subtracted from a club's Signing Bonus Pool if the club fails to sign the player selected with that pick. A bonus paid to a player selected in any round below Round 10 (rounds 11-40) is exempt from the Signing Bonus Pool limit as long as the bonus is less than $100,000. If the bonus is $100K or more, it is applied to the club's Signing Bonus Pool. PENALTIES: If a club spends 0-5% over club's Signing Bonus Pool - penalty is 75% tax on overage. If a club spends 5-10% over club's Signing Bonus Pool - penalty is 75% tax on overage and loss of 2013 1st round pick. If a club spends 10-15% over club's Signing Bonus Pool - penalty is 100% tax on overage and loss of 2013 1st and 2nd round picks. If a club spends 15%+ over club's Signing Bonus Pool - penalty is 100% tax on overage and loss of 2013 & 2014 1st round picks.

AZ PHIL: It is great that there seems to be some actual talent coming into the fold recently with respect to the position players. However, has anyone on the mound knocked your socks off this spring? In a Cub uniform, that is.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Mon, 04/16/2012 - 7:26pm — The E-Man AZ PHIL: It is great that there seems to be some actual talent coming into the fold recently with respect to the position players. However, has anyone on the mound knocked your socks off this spring? In a Cub uniform, that is. ================================= E-MAN: At Extended Spring Training, Rob Whitenack looks to be coming back nicely from his June 2011 TJS. Once he gets his pitch count up, he should be back with Tennessee. He is a very good SP prospect. And Gerardo Concepcion had a solid first start a week ago at Maryvale vs MIL, before getting cuffed around a bit in his second start last Saturday vs OAK. At Minor League Camp last month I was most impresssed by LHP Kyler Burke, RHP Ben Wells, RHP P. J. Francescon, RHP Yao-Lin Wang, and RHP Michael Jensen (all ended up at Peoria), RHP Tony Zych (the closer at Daytona), RHP Dallas Beeler (rotation starter at Tennessee) and LHP Jeffry Antigua (#1 lefty reliever at Tennessee), and LHP Chris Rusin (rotation starter at Iowa). The thing to remember about Kyler Burke is that he is eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent (so-called 6YFA) after this season, so it's not a matter of taking a chance that he could get selected in the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the 40-man roster after the season. He can just walk away. So unless he implodes or suffers a career-threatening injury sometime prior to the close of the 2012 season, Burke MUST be added to the Cubs 40-man roster no later than 5 PM on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series. Again, it's NOT a matter of adding him to the 40-man roster so that he won't get selected in the next Ruile 5 Draft. It's because he can be a free-agent.

Thanks for this report, Phil. When I read it, I had an unfamiliar feeling. I think it's a prospect boner. Should I be using a cream or a balm or something?

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.