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

Cubs Look to End 5-Game Losing Streak, Midwest League Finals Begin

Cubs finish up their north of the border series versus the Blue Jays and attempt to end a 5-game slide. With Kyle Hendricks on the mound, it seems possible. Although not in the lineup, Anthony Rizzo was spotted taking BP and might be ready to return sometime this weekend.

In non-depressing news of the day, it's is the opening of the Midwest League Finals. Kane County takes on Lake County (Indians affiliate).  Jen-Ho Tseng gets the start and the lineup for the Cougars will be: Dunston Jr. LF, Zagunis DH, Candelario 3B, Balaguert RF, Rogers 1B, Brockmeyer C, Penalver SS, Martin SS. I presume Clint Frazier is Lake County's biggest prospect name if you're looking for such things.

While you were sleeping, Bryant took home the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year and the Yahoo one as well. Cubs got 5 mentions on their all-minor league teams (Bryant and honorable mentions for Schwarber, Soler, Russell and Rivero at their individual positions).

Just for kicks...potential 2015 Opening Day Lineup?

Alcantara CF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Soler RF, Baez 2B, Castro SS, Olt LF, Castillo C, Arrieta P

Comments

If Bryant wasn't up in September, he won't be up until late April. It's not about the 40-man roster spot (not primarily); it's about the arb clock. Gotta get that extra year.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I'm sure it will play out that way, but I would be less than surprised if it doesn't either. If Bryant is crushing the ball in the spring and Valbuena and Olt aren't doing much, think he heads north. Also depends on what they do with the roster over the winter.

And i think you mean free agency clock, arbitration would keep him from getting called up until June or even July to avoid Super 2 status. They can bring him with them in April and send him down as well if he struggles to gain that extra year. Less likely scenario, but in the land of pre-arbitation extensions, I think Cubs are less worried about all that right now.

Yes, I know Boras and all, but plenty of clients have fired Boras or gone against his wishes. I think Carlos Gonzalez was a Boras client who signed pre-free agency. It can happen at the right price in the right situation.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yes, free agency clock I meant, thanks. Theo Co. will definitely work the free agency clock, but arbitration won't be an issue that holds his back unless he looks terrible next year. Boras is Boras. Gonzalez got an $80M+ contract that bought out 3 free agency years at more than $17 million apiece. I don't think Bryant is getting offered that deal under any circumstances. Bryant won't do a Longoria or Jon Singleton contract just to get to the majors. I-Cubs have an 8-game homestand ending April 24, so I figure he gets called up April 20-23 range (if the math works on those dates) since I've noticed this regime likes to promote guys before road trips. As a coincidence, Cubs will be in CIN on April 24-26, which is also where Castro and Soler had their MLB debuts. I hope you're right Rob, I just don't see it.

missed that Bradley Zimmer is on Lake County roster, another good prospect for them'

KC up 2-1 on a Zagunis HR

did jose abreu kick jeff passan's dog or something? that was quite an odd "player of the year" writeup. also, he has j.gallo as the minor league 3rd baseman of the year. alright, then.

D. Hutchison making Cubs look silly, 10 K through 6

Baez and Olt with 2 each, Abracadabra felt left out and has 2 as well.

(Baez does have a walk).

Hendricks killed by BABIP in the 6th (and errors).

1B, 1B, Soler error scored a run, line out, K, 1b, BB, 2B scores 2 more

5.2 IP, 5 K, 6 H, 2 BB...deserved better

That was one of the longest most effortless opposite field homers I've seen in a while. Soler. I thought it was a fly out when it left his bat.

baez's side-arm throwing strikes again...and luckily olt snagged it. castro's picked up a side-arm throwing thing this season, too. he's doing a lot of it...mostly well...but he also has had rizzo around for most of it.

KC Cougars win 4-3. Heard in the background of radio broadcast, fans singing Go Cubs Go.

15 strikeouts and 3 errors tonight; I guess theo and jed sat the boys down and explained just how important getting a protected pick is

homeruns: Cubs 1 Blue Jays 1 runs scored: Cubs 3 Blue Jays 28 wins: Cubs 0 Blue Jays 3 lessons to learn: Cubs 1 Blue Jays 0

"One of the most pleasant surprises this season has been being a teammate of Starlin Castro and how he talks about baseball, how he has the desire to win and how he wants to play every day," Baker said. "He requested to be here in his (walking) boot with his teammates. That says more about him than any of those anecdotal stories." ________________________ More about Castro is said in the article. It might be a key reason we keep him, he may have a lot of heart and competitive fire that might be underestimated: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-rick-renteria-rep…

If anybody remembers me saying the Cubs were fun to watch because they play good baseball, I formally apologize for the hex. But it was true for most of the season. In all fairness, we are in truth observing how a Triple A team would fare playing MLB teams for a few weeks. That's not a dig at those guys, it's the truth. It is pretty much the Iowa Cubs against the rest of the league. I can honestly say I'd rather watch this than the journeymen we have been watching the previous few years. Sometimes it's mighty ugly, but other times pretty fun. Normally I'd say it'll be good to see them get out of Toronto, but Pittsburgh likes to beat up on them, too.

BP Cub prospect stuff..
Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP, Cubs (Kane County, A-): 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 8 K. Because he’s just 19, because he’s coming off of a strong year in full-season ball, and because of Cubs fans, Tseng should receive a lot of helium this winter when it’s horribly cold in Chicago and the Wrigley faithful need a reason to be excited about their pitching prospects. But just because he may be the best pitching prospect in the Cubs system doesn’t mean the hype warrants the same level of intensity as other clubs’ top pitching prospects. Tseng is impressive, but the most impressive aspect of his game is his polish for a 19-year-old, something that will be less impressive as he gets older and his competition catches up. He has big-league stuff, but it’s not the top-of-the-rotation, impact stuff you want from your top pitching prospect. He should be a starter, but he’ll fall in somewhere in the middle of the rotation when it’s all said and done.
Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Kane County, A-): 2-4. As if it weren’t tough enough to make a name for oneself in the Cubs system, Candelario laid an egg in the Florida State League to begin the year, then rebounded only slightly after being demoted back to Kane Country, performing on par with his previous stint in the league. The good news is that he’s only 20, so there’s plenty of time to take another hack at the FSL and move quickly, but the obstacles in between him and Wrigley seem a lot less surmountable than they did at this time last year, and Candelario didn’t make things any easier on himself with a disappointing season.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24624

"gadzooks" With language like that I'm just glad my children weren't reading over my shoulder. Didn't know this site was rated X rob.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Gadzooks --- Rob probably has heard such language from his twin daughters

Cubs picked up a draft spot yesterday with loss and Astros win. Currently with 7th pick, game behind Red Sox and they have tiebreaker. Twins lost game 1 of a doubleheader already today.

-edit- and Game 2...sheesh, is there no pride in baseball anymore?

2-0 KC up in bottom of 3rd, Balaguert RBI single brings in Dunston, wild pitch brings in another run

Underwood so far: 3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K

-edit- 3-0, BB loaded walk to Penalver

Ihrig in for Underwood top 7th. Still 0 hits. 5-0 KCC, last run on a Dunston single, Zagunis dooble.

Tyler Ihrig gives up back to back singles in the 8th, but no runs score. On to the bottom of the 8th. Dunston rbi, he's having quite a series. 6-0...and that's the final score. One more win in Cleveland clinches the series/championship for the Cougars.

Report on Stanton...

"Stanton suffered a facial laceration requiring stitches, multiple facial fractures and dental damage.”"

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

This was an ugly and scary evening of baseball. I think the umpires left something to be desired in the way they handled everything, I feel tha the Marlins actually kept their composure relatively speaking, and you could almost argue Roenicke has some culpability for keeping Fiers out there that long when he'd lacked control and been buzzing people's china all night. Fiers was freaked out but also dude chill the hell out, you're not the one in the hospital and getting dental surgury - frankly nobody cares it wasn't on purpose. They care you were putting lives at risk and it's almost scarier when it's unintentional. And yes I know he was sincerely freaked out and sympathetic. Clearly.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Exactly right. He was devastated and they left him in and then he hit Reed Johnson high and tight - Reed was in to finish Stanton's AB. It was just a nightmare. On top of it the umps called swinging strikes on both pitches (seemed they were turning in self defense as ball approached their faces, not swinging. Jesus.) - it was really inexplicably stressful and horrible for everyone involved I'm pretty sure.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Fiers has a deceptive delivery and a rising fastball (well technically doesn't rise, but that's what we call it in baseball). Both guys committed to the pitch and it rode in on them. Not sure about the lack of control all night, but I didn't watch the game. He had 3 walks through 5, but also 8 K's and 0 runs allowed.

Stanton got hit in the face because his first reaction was to swing at the pitch (he was obviously fooled by it a little), and then couldn't protect himself in time.

Reed Johnson got hit because that's what Reed Johnson does.

The umps can't eject a pitcher for a HBP that wasn't a HBP because in both cases they were called strikes because they deemed the hitter was trying to swing at pitch. Don't forget, although it's never called, that a hitter is suppose to make an attempt to get out of the way of a pitch.

It was all terrible and unfortunate of course, but I don't know what the umps should have done differently and Fiers certainly didn't deserve to be ejected. Brewers took him out after second HBP and end of inning cause he was shaken up.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Well I suggest watching it yourself. Fiers was visibly disturbed and he's even quoted many places as saying he felt weird throwing another pitch. Also this MLB article and many others gives you some of the Marlins' perspective: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/94315898/as-tempers-cool-marlins-brewers-… "I've never in my life experienced something like that," Fiers said, his voice cracking. "It was very hard for me to take in everything at the moment and come back and throw another pitch." Fiers, visibly shaken during the delay, remained in the game only to throw another high-and-tight pitch in the 0-2 count to Stanton's replacement, Reed Johnson, who was struck on the hand -- again during the act of swinging. Before Kellogg could appeal to Reyburn for a ruling, Marlins players rushed the field and Brewers players followed. "It's up around my face, as well," Johnson said. "I think that's why you started getting some chirping a little bit from our dugout. He was up around everybody's hands and face the whole night. I think that's why the frustration really set in at that point. "When you're trying to pitch a guy in and you have a tendency to miss up a lot, it's just a bad combination. There were just a lot of balls up around guys' faces tonight. One of them gets our big boy."

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I hadn't seen the Reed Johnson footage or Fiers reaction. I guess my thoughts are this: I understand why the Brewers management might want to leave Fiers in there to finish the AB and hopefully the inning. What you hope is that he can finish the inning quietly and the game can move beyond it. I also agree with Rob that Fiers obviously has a fastball with a lot of running action and hitters must not get a good look at it because he K's people all the time with an 88 MPH fastball up and out of the zone. Neither one of those are intentional beanballs, obviously. Fiers's reaction to people shouting from the dugout isn't all that strange either, especially since he was clearly already upset. Gotta say that I did once hit 5 batters in a row (I was 9 and after the first one it just became a psychological thing) and if somebody had started yelling at me for it I would have... crumbled into a weeping puddle on the mound. Ok. But if I were 16 or older I would have resisted doing that by getting angry, because crumbling up on the mound would've been my only other option. It's easy in hindsight to say that Fiers's night should've been over as soon as Stanton had to get taken out on a stretcher.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Also Fiers has been fined for his gestures etc, which is part of what I was getting at in my post: http://m.jsonline.com/sports/blogs/274956701.html The umpires showed a lack of judgement in my opinion because it is debatable that those were actual swings in my opinion, but I might be wrong. In the case of the Reed Johnson pitch I just think it was ridiculous that Fiers came up and in, the bat probably never crossed the plane, and you don't reward the pitcher in that situation. Benefit of the doubt certainly should have gone with Marlins. And there sure as hell are a lot if judgements calls by umpires. Again just my bush league opinion.

the anti-Baez...

Pujols struck out 4 times tonight, first time in his career.

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.