Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus six players are on the 60-DAY IL

Last updated 10-2-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 22
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Brad Boxberger
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Tyler Duffey 
Jeremiah Estrada
Shane Greene
Kyle Hendricks
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
# Jeimer Candelario
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 8
Kevin Alcantara
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

60-DAY IL: 6
Nick Burdi, P
Michael Fulmer, P 
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Nick Madrigal, INF
Ethan Roberts, P
 


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Extinguish Blaze, but Dragons Burn Cougars at Fitch Park

Darnell McDonald singled twice, doubled, walked, scored twice, and knocked-in a run, Taiwan Easterling singled, doubled, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, drove-in two runs, and made two outstanding catches, Jeffrey Baez drove-in three runs with a two-run double and a bases-loaded HBP, and Dan Vogelbach crushed a tape-measure two-run home run, leading the Daytona Cubs to a 10-7 victory over the Bakerfield Blaze (Cincinnati Reds Hi-A affiliate) on Field #3, and Starling Peralta celebrated his return to the Cubs organization with 3.1 IP of one-hit shutout ball, Gioskar Amaya singled and tripled, and Dong-Yub Kim singled twice, stole a base, and scored a run, but it wasn't enough as Joe Hudson (Reds 2012 6th round draft pick - Notre Dame) slugged a HR over the LF fence and onto Center Street to lead the Dayton Dragons (Reds Low-A affiliate) to a 3-1 victory over the Kane County Cougars on Field #2, in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action this afternoon at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #2 was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the Cubs pitchers could get their scheduled work.

Drew Carpenter and Darnell McDonald are assigned to the Iowa squad and Rob Whitenack and Austin Kirk are assigned to the Tennessee squad, but the quartet was left behind at Fitch Park as the I-Cubs and Smokies traveled to Goodyear where they played the Reds AA and AAA affiliates. All four saw action in the game on Field #3.

McDonald was a DH and got five Plate Apearances in the first five innings of the game, hitting 2nd in each inning. Carpenter started the game for Daytona, and was followed to the hill by Whitenack and Kirk. All three pitchers threw multiple innings. Whitenack walked four, hit a batter, and threw a WP in 3.2 IP as he continues to have difficulty throwing strikes, but Kirk had five punch-outs in 2.1 IP.

Because all of the Daytona innings were assigned to Iowa and Tennessee pitchers, Starling Peralta and Austin Reed were dropped down to the Kane County game to get their work (both are assigned to the Daytona squad).

Dillon Maples threw a two-inning "sim" game (30 pitches - 15 pitches per inning) versus players from the Boise/Mesa squad on Field #4.

The defensive gems of the day were turned-in by Daytona LF Taiwan Easterling, who made a spectacular diving catch in left-center field, and then another running catch on the warning track.

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FITCH PARK FIELD #2

KANE COUNTY LINEUP:
1. Oliver Zapata, RF: 1-4 (5-3, 4-3, 6-3, 1B, CS)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 2-4 (1B, 6-3, K, 3B)
3. Marco Hernandez, DH; 0-4 (F-7, 3-U, 6-3, L-6)
4. Ben Carhart, 1B-3B: 1-4 (K, 1B, 5-3, 5-3)
5. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 2-4 (1B, 5-4 FC, 1B, 5-3, R, SB, CS)
6a. Taylor Davis, C: 0-3 (F-8, 6-3, F-9)
6b. Justin Marra, C: 0-1 (K)
7a. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-1 (BB, 6-3)
7b. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 0-1 (E-3, BB)
8. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-3 (K, 1B, F-8, BB)
9. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (BB, L-8, 6-4-3 DP, F-9)

KANE COUNTY PITCHERS:
1. Ian Dickson: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 72 pitches (51 strikes), 7/5 GO/FO
2. Starling Peralta: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 29 pitches (22 strikes), 3/5 GO/FO
3. Austin Reed: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 22 pitches (17 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO

KANE COUNTY ERRORS: 4
1. SS Carlos Penalver - E-6 - throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely
2. P Ian Dickson - E-1 - errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed baseruner to advance to 3rd
3. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E-4 - throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely
4. SS Carlos Penalver - E-6 - fielding error allowed batter reach base safely

KANE COUNTY CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Taylor Davis: 0-2 CS

FITCH PARK FIELD #3

DAYTONA LINEUP:
X. Darnell McDonald, DH #1; 3-4 (6-3, BB, 1B, 1B, 2B, 2 R, RBI)
NOTE: McDonald batted 2nd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings
1a. Tim Saunders, SS: 2-3 (2B, 1B, K, R, SB)
1b. David Bote, 2B: 0-1 (BB, 1-U, RBI)
2a. Zeke DeVoss, CF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 4-6 FC, F-8, 2 R)
2b. Xavier Batista, LF: 0-1 (K)
3. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-5 (K, F-7, HR, K, K, R, 2 RBI)
4a. Chadd Krist, C: 0-3 (4-3, P-3, HBP, K)
4b. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 0-1 (F-9)
5. Anthony Giansanti, 3B: 1-4 (1B, BB, 5-3, L-5, F-9, 2 R)
6. Jeffrey Baez, RF-CF: 1-4 (2B, HBP, K, K, K, R, 3 RBI)
7a. Bijan Rademacher, DH #2: 0-2 (K, BB, K, RBI)
7b. Sergio Burruel, PH: 0-0 (HBP, R, SB)
8a. Taiwan Easterling, LF: 2-2 (1B, HBP, 2B, 2 RBI, SB)
8b. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 0-0 (BB)
9. Wes Darvill, 2B-SS: 1-4 (K, P-6, 6-3, 1B)

DAYTONA PITCHERS:
1. Drew Carpenter: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 32 pitches (24 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
2. Rob Whitenack: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 61 pitches (31 strikes), 4/5 GO/FO
3. Austin Kirk: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 43 pitches (29 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO

DAYTONA ERRORS: NONE

ATTENDANCE: 71

WEATHER: Warm & sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 70's

 

Comments

AZ Phil: DIdn't you mention that Dillon Maples had some injury this spring? Did you ever find out what was his problem? Does the sim game mean he's in some form of rehab program prior to getting into a real game? Thanks again for fantastic coverage of...well, virtually everyone in the Cubs system. I hope Rob Whitenack finds his way back. It sounds like he's got a rough road ahead. I was able to ask him some questions about his TJ surgery at the Cubs Convention this year. The star of that session wrt personality was Dallas Beeler. I'm rooting for his success too. How has he looked this spring?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: Although he threw a "sim" game today (30 pitches), it was Dillon Maples' first "game action" of any kind the year, and he is still in the Fitch Park rehab group. I don't know the nature of the problem that put him in the rehab group, but he did have a sprained elbow ligament this time last year and missed most of last season as the result (although he did NOT have TJS). 

I have only seen Dallas Beeler throw "live" BP because I haven't seen that many minor league games (due to the conflict with Cubs games at HoHoKam Park). All I can tell you is that he is healthy, and he was moved down to the Tennessee squad from the Iowa squad about a week ago.

BTW, several pitchers at Minor League Camp were moved down a level this weekend as the result of the most-recent cuts from big league camp (Rusin, Dolis, Coleman, Parker, Chapman, Lewis, and Carpenter), including Kyle Hendricks, Kevin Rhoderick, and Zac Rosscup (Iowa to Tennessee), Lendy Castillo, Luis Liria, Larry Suarez, and Yao-Lin Wang (Tennessee to Daytona), Steve Perakslis (Daytona to Kane County), and Ethan Elias and James Pugliese (Kane County to Boise/Mesa). 

Several other pitchers (and position players) have (for lack of a better description) very recently "disappeared," and I'm sure some of them were released (INF Dustin Harrington is definitely one of them). Because their Next of Kin may not have been notified, I will not mention the names of the others I suspect were released at this time.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Probably old news but...Baseball America says the cubs have...Released: RHP Ryan Hartman, RHP Su-Min Jung http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2013/03/minor-league-tran… and this commentary based on them acquiring Jose Dore from the Padres:
The Cubs have acquired a handful of Padres prospects in recent years, including Jose Dore (’10 eighth round; signed for $450,000), righthander Zach Cates (’10 third round; signed for $765,000) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (no introduction necessary). This is no coincidence given that Chicago GM Jed Hoyer, senior VP of scouting and player development Jason McLeod and scouting director Jaron Madison acquired all three players when they manned the same posts in the Padres front office.

Welington Castillo made it into Nick Cafardo's weekly baseball column:
6. Welington Castillo, C, Cubs — Castillo, 25, has become the Cubs’ full-time catcher and will be the one who shapes the pitching staff. Manager Dale Sveum, pitching coach Chris Bosio, and top brass Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein are all on board with Castillo’s ability to be that building-block player. “He’s come a long way in a short period of time,” said Bosio. “He’s a very talented guy with the arm, block-ability and throw-ability. His knowledge and aptitude have become a lot better.”
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/03/23/blue-jays-have-lot-hype-li…

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

What I've really disliked in the recent past about the Cubs is being asked to watch a team full of journeymen. So it's nice to see the Cubs roster begin to take shape in the way of some home grown talent like Castro, Castillo, Barney, and I'll include Rizzo simply because TheoCorp has been stalking him all these years. Even if they don't have a great record, I can root for these guys and actually even give a damn. It even feels to me like Soriano is a Cub now. It was enjoyable watching him rise up to the challenge last year of becoming a better player.

"Orioles executive VP Dan Duquette indicated Monday that Ryan Flaherty is the favorite to be the club's designated hitter against right-handers following the Wilson Betemit injury." dude wut?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Does anybody know of any video of Shawon Sr. really showing off his throwing arm at short? For example, as the middle man on a 4-6-3 double play or a rifle shot from deep in the hole? Any one of those throws that made you wince as that little white missile smacked into Mark Grace's mitt with enough force to fracture a metacarpal or two? Watching Grace catch a Dunston throw was an exercise in experiencing pain by proxy. You could hear the emphatic "POW" as it burned into the leather. Man, how I miss that! I'd love to show my son video evidence of this and have not been successful in digging anything up. My best chance was the DVD of the Cubs' playoff game against the Giants in '89 -- the Mark Grace game -- there was only one play involving a Dunston throw and it wasn't one of his signature cannon shots. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 10/04/2023 - 10:38 am (view)

    Outside the box idea for 3b, Anthony Rendon.  Angels eat some of the contract but even then the prospect cost would be light.  Getting healthy and getting the hell out of the Angels organization could be a good change of scenery, bounce back candidate. 

  • Charlie 10/04/2023 - 10:51 am (view)

    A Bryan Reynolds CF and Christopher Morel LF outfield defense would be laughable in that Pittsburgh ballpark, though.

  • Childersb3 10/03/2023 - 10:46 pm (view)

    I understand this is a cost saving and control idea. But I wouldn't be happy giving up ONKC or Alcantara for Hayes and/or Bednar.

    I'm not saying they aren't good players. They are. They've never been "tested" with playing for a good team, but that isn't their fault. They produce good results. But not Jaguar and Big Red.

    Canario won't get to play for the Cubs, just like Velazquez, so he should probably go. Same for Mervis and Vazquez. Wesneski can get better but Bednar would certainly help us.

    But not to big power hitting OFs that are 21 yrs old and younger at AA already. I'm still holding out hope for the ONKC-PCA-Jag left to right OF. I'm just not giving up on that.

    Hayes for Morel kind of stings. I'd love for Morel to get a full year at 3B. Even if he failed there miserably, I'd like to give him a shot.

    Phil always comes up with common sense angles. This trade idea fills needs for sure and fills them with cost saving effective players.

    I'm thinking Morel goes to NYM for Alonso.

    We'll see what Jed cooks up.

  • Arizona Phil 10/03/2023 - 10:18 pm (view)

    It used to be that teams did not want to trade within their own division for PR reasons, but I don't see that with Ben Cherington in Pittsburgh or with Hoyer / Hawkins in Chicago, so the Cubs might target Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes and closer David Bednar.

    Hayes is a Gold Glove defender, a decent enough hitter (105 OPS+ in 2023), and he's under control at a VERY reasonable price ($8.75M AAV) through 2029 (with a club option for 2030). 

    Bednar is first-time salary arbitration-eligible post-2023 and under control through 2026. 

    One thing about the Cubs is that they can afford to overpay (which is what they would have to do to get both Hayes and Bednar) with a package consisting of a decent young MLB position player to replace Hayes in the lineup (like Christopher Morel, who could play LF in Pittsburgh) and prospects like outfielders Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie, or Kevin Alcantara (Pirates pick one, leaving the other two for the Cubs), a power-hitting 1B-DH like Matt Mervis or Haydn McGeary (Pirates pick one, leaving the other one for the Cubs), SS Luis Vazquez (who is MLB-ready but will never play SS in Chicago), 3B B. J. Murray (who could replace Hayes at the hot corner in Pittsburgh by 2025 if not sometime in 2024, and he obviously would be blocked in Chicago if the Cubs get Hayes), and an MLB-ready SP like Hayden Wesneski. 

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:02 pm (view)

    boog and glanville calling the PHI@MIL game on ESPN2.

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:59 pm (view)

    bellinger is my #1 want, but i fear he's the #1 want of many teams and will get crazy money + years, with the years being the big sting.  they need to replace bellinger's production if they don't get him no matter what position(s) played.

  • George Altman 10/03/2023 - 10:40 pm (view)

    I hope their top priorities are Bellinger, 2 RPs better than Fulmer/Boxberger (ideally 1 LH), and a 3B (Chapman my 1st Choice). That will put them right up to $237-257M AAV limit, but I don't see a playoff berth doing anything less.

    If they really want Alonso, Morel would be a good opening piece of that offer. 

    Unfortunately, Stroman will opt in ($23.7M) and Smyly ($11.5M) will be back. Steele, Taillon, Assad, Wicks will be rotation pieces. Would love a SP2 FA but don't see how they keep an effective offense and improve their bullpen while adding that.

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:03 pm (view)

    i cannot imagine getting a legit 3rd, whether signing or via trade, isn't the highest priority for the team.  it's almost obvious they don't see morel there.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester 10/03/2023 - 10:19 pm (view)

    I’m just hoping they have an actual 3B next year so we don’t need to worry about the M boys, Bote, and P Whiffy eating all the 3B at bats next year.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester 10/03/2023 - 10:13 pm (view)

    Willson was a OF/3B when we signed him too.

    On a less successful but still got to the show note, PJ Higgins was another college IF converted to C