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

Giansanti a Ringer Ding-Dinger for AZL Cubs

Anthony Giansanti slugged a two-run double off the CF Batter's Eye to cap a three-run 1st inning and Ryan McNeil and three relievers combined to throw a shutout, as the AZL Cubs whitewashed the AZL Diamondbacks 3-0 in Game #1, and then Giansanti hammered a lead-off walk-off HR off the base of the scoreboard in the bottom of the 7th that gave the Cubs a 1-0 victory in Game #2, as the Cubs took both ends of a twilight-night doubleheader at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ this evening. 

Game 1 box score

Game 2 box score

The versatile multi-positional (C-1B-3B-RF-LF) Giansanti is on a rehab assignment from Peoria, after being placed on the Chiefs DL with a sprained ankle last month. He played 3B in Game #1 and 1B in Game #2 tonight, and with the depletion of the AZL Cubs roster in recent days and weeks thanks to call-ups and injuries, having Giansanti in the lineup (even if he is a "ringer") is just what the Cubs need right now.  

Two position-players from DSL Cubs #1 have also been called-up this week to provide some much-needed roster depth for the AZL Cubs, although both OF Jeffrey Baez and C Wilfredo Petit were in Mesa previously (Baez at AZ Instructs last year and at Extended Spring Training this year, and Petit at both Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training this season). Both players were assigned to DSL Cubs #1 when the Dominican Summer League season began play in June (prior to the start of the AZL season) after spending two months at EXST.  

Iowa Cubs RHP Rafael Dolis (placed on the I-Cubs 7-day DL in July with a sprained left knee) continued his rehab in Game #1 and threw 1.1 IP (24 pitches) of shutout ball (although he did allow a single and a double), and Peoria RHP Ben Wells (sprained elbow) opted to postpone TJS in the hope that his elbow would heal with rest, and it apparently has paid-off as the prized pitching prospect returned to action tonight after missing almost three months of action. The burly right-hander threw one inning of shutout ball, and while he did walk one and struggled with his command a bit (19 pitches - 11 strikes), he also struck out the side. 

18-year old RHP Ryan McNeil (Cubs 2012 3rd round draft pick out of Nipomo HS - Nipomo, CA) got the start in Game #1 and threw four innings (58 pitches - 40 strikes), allowing no runs on five hits and no walks, with two strikeouts and a nifty pick-off at 1st base.    

RHP Jasvir Rakkar (Cubs 2012 26th round draft pick) had the most-impressive outing of the night, getting the save in Game #1 after throwing 1.2 IP of shutout ball with four punch-outs. Rakkar has not allowed a run over the course of seven innings (and five AZL appearances) so far. The 21-year old Canadian attended SUNY - Stony Brook, and pitched for the Seawolves in the College World Series prior to signing with the Cubs.   

With tonight's doubleheader sweep, the AZL Cubs extended their lead in the AZL Wild Card standings to three games over the AZL Giants with only five games left to play, although two of the five games remaining are against the Giants.  

If the Cubs can hold their lead in the AZL Wild Card standings, they will qualify for the AZL playoffs as the Wild Card team and would play their 1st round game on the road versus the team with the best record (which right now is the East Division leading AZL Athletics). The winner of that game would then play the winner of the other semi-final game (probably AZL Dodgers versus AZL Rangers) in a winner-take-all (and loser-go-home) Championship Game the next day. (The AZL doesn't mess around).  

In fact, the AZL Cubs and the Boise Hawks are the only two Cubs minor league affiliates likely to qualify for the playoffs this year, and both are in pretty good shape to do so. It's just too bad that the AZL Cubs (should they qualify) would be playing without a lot of the guys (Vogelbach, Soler, Almora, Saunders, Martin, et al) who put them in a position to qualify for the AZL playoffs in the first place. 

Comments

so... whatever happened to that whole...starlin castro extension thing? did i miss something? seems like a rumor popped up, then strong rumors confirming it "after details are worked out"...then nothing.

Older scouting report on the new guy: Scouting Report: Socolovich's fastball sits between 88-92 mph. He uses his fastball predominantly. Also occasionally mixes in a 86-87 mph slider and a low-to-mid 80s changeup. Socolovich had to have a TJ surgery early in the summer of 2005, missing the entire season. Took time to recover from surgery through 2006. Needs to sustain his fastball better. Good bullpen potential, still very raw. Demonstrates success against weaker hitters, but seriously struggled even at the Intermediate A-ball level when given a shot. http://www.soxprospects.com/players/socolovich-miguel.htm

"Rays minor league second baseman Ryan Brett, right-hander Charles Cononie and left-hander Justin Woodall were all suspended 50 games each for failing a drug test." woo...team speed (lulz). all 3 teammates. meth and "amphetamines" (most likely adderall)

Anyone following the Texas / Minn happenings? Why did Diamond throw behind Hamilton's head? The announcers and everyone knew it was gonna happen. Anyone know the history / situation?

I'm going to watch the Cubs at Coco's Outback in Amsterdam tonight at 20:00. There is a coffee shop next door. Is this heaven? No, it's Amsterdam. I missed the final game of the Holland Series of Honkbal Hoofdklasse, Holland's top baseball league, by one day. Doh. Honkbal.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

I just moved back from Amsterdam earlier this year after living there for over a year. Skip the coffeeshops in Rembrantsplein it's tourist central. But if you want to stay in the area Smokey is probably the best. The Grey Area in the Jordaan area (fairly close to the Anne Frank house) is run by a few Americans and is cool but small. Barney's on Harlemerstraat (also in the Jordaan, closer to Amsterdam Centraal) is well known and they also have a restaurant (a separate place across the street) that's pretty good and they let you smoke inside. The Rookery is right off the flower market and is good too. As to bars, Coco's is pretty decent. Some of the bars in the "Spui" area are the oldest in Amsterdam. Drink some genever. It's awful. Check out de dekderde suster in the red light district if you get a chance. It's a bar where the beer used to be brewed by nuns and is quite good (and a pretty chill place usually). Go to the Van Gogh museum but go early or late the lines get really long, skip the Rijksmuseum (it's under construction and most of it is closed off). There's a tapas restaurant right around there called Pompa. I lived above there, ate there often, really good. And defintiely walk around Vondel Park. Post any questions if you have any, happy to answer.

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In reply to by Newport

Yeah, it's Barneys Uptown. The coffeeshop itself is fairly well regarded. The Jordaan in general is a cool area to walk around. Depending on how experienced you are with the stuff the iceolater hash can be interesting. Or you can end up losing your sh!t like that lady you saw. The big problem with the coffeeshops in the city center is that they're crowded and pricey. The Grey Area is on Singel and Oud Leliestraat. If you see a sculpture of a huge head you're there. The Anne Frank house is worth visiting but buy tickets in advance if you want to go. Tickets are for specific times. Otherwise you'll spend half the day in line especially in tourist season. Warning on the Zoo - it's pricey. IIRC it's 30 euros a person. If you're in that area and head a little bit further out check out the Windmill Brewery (Brouwerij 't IJ). Really good beer but off the beaten path. It's on the 14 tram I believe. It's a touristy area but I thought the best place to people watch was in Leidseplein. A few of the bars there are open until 4 am too. If you're into clubs there a bunch there as well.

Couple of beauties in the pitching boxscore for the AZ Cubs yesterday. Dillon Maples (SP) - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 WP Chad Martin (RP) - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP

Mather batting lead off today

claimed off waivers by Dodgers, 48 hours to make a deal. doubtful it happens, Red Sox are gonna want some good players and Dodgers aren't going to give up too many and take on that contract.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.