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

Schwarber Just Keeps a-rakin' at Riverview Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Kyle Schwarber ripped a double and an RBI single and scored a run, Charlie White belted an RBI triple and a single and scored a run, and Mark Zagunis singled twice, scored a run, drove-in another, and stole a base, in a seven-inning AZ Instructional League Cubs intrasquad game played this morning on Field #1 at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.

Trevor Clifton and three relievers combined to toss a three-hit shut out, as Team Johnson blanked Team Gonzalez 7-0 to take a 2-0 lead in the "Cubs World Series." 

For some reason, Cubs coaches wanted Scott Frazier to face only LH hitters in his one inning of work, so the lineup was adjusted to accomodate the plan. Frazier has what some in the Cub organization believe to be the best pure stuff in the system, but the big right-hander from Pepperdine has struggled to throw strikes going all the way back to Minor League Camp in March. The Cubs have tried almost everything to try and fix the problem, with facing only LH hitters being the latest attempt.    

Here is the box score from today's game:

TEAM GONZALEZ LINEUP:
1. Charcer Burks, CF: 1-2 (K, 2B, BB)
2. Andrew Ely, 2B: 0-3 (K, K, 4-6 FC)
3. Billy McKinney, DH: 0-3 (F-7, K, K)
4. Victor Caratini, C: 0-3 (5-3, 4-3, F-8)
5. Jordan Hankins, 1B: 0-1 (BB, BB, L-8)
6. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, 5-3)
7. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 0-3 (K, P-3, F-8)
9. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, F-8)
9. Jason Vosler, SS: 0-2 (6-3, F-8)

TEAM JOHNSON LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-4 (K, K, 1B, K, R, RBI, SB)
2. Chesny Young, 2B: 1-2 (6-3, 1B, BB, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-4 (4-3, L-8,  L-9, 1B, R)
4. Kyle Schwarber, DH: 2-4 (2B, F-8, 6-3, 1B, R, RBI)
5. Mark Zagunis, C: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, R, RBI, SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
6. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-2 (1B, K, 1-3 SH, RBI)
7. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 1-1 (1B, F-8 SF, R, RBI) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
8. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-2 (5-3, 5-3 SH, 4-3)
9. Charlie White, LF: 2-2 (3B, 1B, R, RBI, CS)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

TEAM GONZALEZ PITCHERS:
1. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
2. Josh Conway: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 21 pitches (14 strikes)
3. Justin Steele: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 4/2 GO/FO, 39 pitches (28 strikes)
4. Tommy Thorpe: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 25 pitches (15 strikes)

TEAM JOHNSON PITCHERS:
1. Trevor Clifton: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 31 pitches (19 strikes)
2. James Norwood: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 40 pitches (26 strikes)
3. David Garner: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/4 GO/FO, 34 pitches (16 strikes)
4. Daniel Lewis: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 9 pitches (5 strikes)

TEAM GONZALEZ ERRORS: NONE

TEAM JOHNSON ERRORS: NONE

TEAM GONZALEZ CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Victor Caratini: 1-2 CS

TEAM JOHNSON OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
RF Kevin Encarnacion - threw out baseunner (Jordan Hankins) 9-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on single

ATTENDANCE: 21 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 80's 

Tags
AZ Instructional League
Cubs Minors
Scott Frazier
Trevor Clifton
Kyle Schwarber
Make Zagunis
Charlie White

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 10/07/2014 - 10:15 pm

j.beckett to retire (34yo) because of injuries and a lack of motivation to keep his career going after upcoming labrum/hip surgery. maybe he'll change his mind post-surgery and rehab...who knows...

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 10:22 am

Hitting coach, top candidate (per Sahadev Sharma tweet):
Hearing Astros hitting coach John Mallee is top candidate to replace Bill Mueller as Cubs hitting coach. Chicago guy, worked w Hyde in Miami. Mallee was hitting coach with Marlins when Hyde was bench coach. Interviewed for Cubs minor league hitting coordinator job two years ago. My big takeaway: front office has a ton of respect for Hyde. He had a big hand in hiring their roving instructors, now this possible move.
https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 10:09 pm

Game 3 of the AZ Instructional League "Cubs World Series" that was scheduled to be played today at Riverview Park has been postponed due to rain.

Cub pitchers who were scheduled to face Kyle Schwarber in the game refer to this unscheduled day-off as a "Schwarber Day," although the day will have to made up at the end of the school year.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 10:44 pm

no baseball until friday...it's going to be a long winter. c'mon mlb network...show some AFL + winter league ball...

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 10:27 pm

@Ken_Rosenthal

Feeling among number of #Dodgers people is that GM Colletti is on hot seat, and that ownership has softer spot for Mattingly. We shall see.

Not that Colletti has ever made me think he's excellent at what he does, but that seems misguided. Obviously over the last few years it's just been writing big paychecks, but before the ownership change and TV deal, I did like how he structured some of the earlier contracts (more upfront money, shorter years, but higher AAV).

Since 2006 when he took over, team has had 3rd best record in NL behind Cards and Phillies. Although I guess if you own the Dodgers and see the Giants in the NLCS and World Series every other year, might be motivated for a change.

[ ]

Submitted by Old and Blue on Thu, 10/09/2014 - 10:43 am

Giants and Cardinals kind of in it almost every year, and, stating the obvious for TCRers, lots of home grown talent on each. I'm happy with the Cubs approach recently, stocking up on position players. Anyone who reads my posts (not many if you're smart) knows what I think of throwing lots of resources at established pitching resources, although I recognize that's gonna happen this year.

Submitted by rokfish on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 10:35 pm

Being a life long Cub fan and a young teenager in the 70s I had to have a second favorite team I followed the Royals in the middle 70s I can honestly say my favorite player all time is George Brett think of his numbers and what they could of been had he not been injured so much in his career.My second favorite Royal was the smallest player of his time originally of the pirates but in my view starred with the Royals Freddie Patek starting shortstop damn could he play . Those Damn Yankees spoiled it 3 years in a row I will never forget Freddie crying on the bench after one of those series so close but those damn Yankees. I can see how the Royals this year ,give me hope that the Cubs could be in for something special in the next 2 years 9 (Theo give us a top of the rotation pitcher) I am tired of waiting. Yesterday I spent the day with the same people I was with thirty years ago to the day to watch game 5 meltdown vs. Padres screw you Steve Garvey and Leon Durham ( Mr 5 Hole ). Go Royals this year, The Cub train is coming in the next year.

Submitted by DavidP on Thu, 10/09/2014 - 10:01 am

He seems to be talking about Vogelbach/Villenueva/Candelario/Pierce Johnson level prospects for Hamels. If the Phillies would accept it, I would trade half a dozen prospects of that level for Hamels. It isn't going to happen.

Submitted by DavidP on Thu, 10/09/2014 - 10:09 pm

Trading Jackson merely to reduce payroll doesn't make much sense. They don't really need payroll reduction. Swapping one bad contract for another can be a reasonable thing to do, but trading a top prospect just to get the Phillies to take on Jackson's contract doesn't accomplish much. They would be better off just to release Jackson. I agree with Rob. The Phillies will want not trade Hamels without getting at least one top prospect, and probably two. Much better off overpaying free agents like Lester, or even sacrificing a draft choice going after someone like Scherzer or Schields.

[ ]

Submitted by John Beasley on Thu, 10/09/2014 - 10:50 pm

I disagree. I guess Bryant, Soler, and Russell are probably as close to untouchable as prospects can be, but if it were another top Cubs prospect, I think the Cubs would make a reasonable deal to get a guy like Hamels. My guess would be a package of something like Baez, Olt, Edwards, Vogelbach, and another low-level, decent-upside guy like Tseng or Blackburn.

Submitted by Cubster on Thu, 10/09/2014 - 10:40 pm

It seems that Brandon Hyde has Theo and Jed's ear based on the Mallee hiring. BH has bridged the management (Director of Player Development) and coaching sides of the organization since he was brought in from the Marlins organization. Renteria has gone from (SD) bench coach to a "rookie" manager. Hyde now has one year of bench coach under his belt. Anyone care to discuss how Brandon Hyde did as a "rookie" bench coach? Were Renteria's flaws, when it came to in game strategy, some reflection on having a rookie bench coach? and Doug Dascenzo...that's an interesting choice. I didn't expect them to hire one of TCR's readers! Rumor had it Joe Pepitone was their next choice.

[ ]

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 10/10/2014 - 10:49 pm

And Gammons calls him a "huge get" for the Cubs, etc. But correct me if I am wrong, haven't there been similar quotes about the last several hitting coach signings? As someone who teaches and gets course evaluations regularly, I can say that some people like my style and some people don't; and I imagine it's the same with coaching. For every Coghlan there is someone that won't click with him and others probably liked Mueller and Jaramillo just as much as Coghlan likes Mallee. So I guess the main goal is to get to know your rosster well and understand what learning style predominates and then find a coach who A) shares your organization goals, and B) coaches towards that learning style. You'll then reach the most players you can with the message you want to deliver; but you always realize that you won't reach everyone. I imagine hiring coaches like this is one of the most frustrating things for upper management. You might work with a coach with one team and he did a great job but you put him with a different group of guys and they hate him and nothing clicks.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/10/2014 - 10:41 pm

the only "huge gets" that matter actually throw pitches and swing bats. the cubs hired the "best hitting coach in the game" not too long ago, rudy jaramillo...that didn't end well. still, not much to complain about with mallee...he comes with a low price tag (i assume) and it probably wouldn't hurt to have j.baez work with someone else (especially someone who's used to working with high-K batters).

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

    taillon we 100% know is pitching tonight.  who he's replacing and any additional moves are unknown as far as i can tell.

    p.wisdom was not in today's lineup in iowa (rained out) and he was removed from the game last night mid-game, but not for injury.  good bet he's with the team in the bigs, too.

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • 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? 

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