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

Schwarber Just Keeps a-rakin' at Riverview Park

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 

Comments

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...

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

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.

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

@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.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

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.

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.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

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.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

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)

    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.

    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?

  • 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. 

  • 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.