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

Nuts & Tourists Invade Riverview Park

The Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies Lo-A affiliate) rode a 13-hit attack that included three doubles, two triples and a home run, to coast past the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 9-5 on Field #5, and the Modesto Nuts (Rockies Hi-A affiliate) cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) on Field #6, in Cactus League minor league game action this afternoon at Mesa Cubtown at Riverview Park.


Eloy Jimenez had a fine day for South Bend in a losing cause on Field #5, clouting a solo home run, as well as drilling two singles, drawing a walk, stealing a base, scoring two runs, and collecting two RBI. If Jimenez continues to hit in games the way he has so far, he might find himself the Opening Day RF at South Bend.

Both Gioskar Amaya and Mark Zagunis collected a double, a single, and a walk (Amaya also stole two bases) in the Pelican loss on Field #6.

The Defensive Play of the Day was turned in by South Bend third-baseman Jesse Hodges, who made a diving stop of a hot grounder to his right, quickly got to his feet, and made a pinpoint laser-throw to first to nail the Asheville batter by a half-step. (Hodges would later commit a throwing error on an easy one-hopper where he had plentry of time).

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

FIELD # 5

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1a. Charcer Burks, LF: 1-3 (3B, 6-3, 5-3, R)
1b. Shamil Ubiera, LF: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B-DH: 0-4 (6-3, 4-3, 4-3, K)
3a. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 1-2 (BB, F-9, 2B, R)
3b. Calvin Graves, CF: 0-1 (P-6) 
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 3-3 (1B, BB, HR, 1B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)
5. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-4 (2B, 4-6-3 DP, K, K, 2 RBI)  
6a. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 1-2 (2B, HBP, 3-1)
6b. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-1 (K)
7. Tanner Witt, DH-2B: 1-3 (BB, F-9, 1B, 6-3, R, SB)
8a. Alex Tomasovich, DH #2: 1-3 (F-9, 2B, L-9)
8b. Tyler Alamo, PH: 0-1 (4-3)
9a. Erick Castillo, C: 0-1 (3-U, HBP)
9b. Tyler Pearson, C: 0-1 (BB, L-8)
10a. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-2 (K, 5-U FC)
10b. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-0 (BB) 

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Erick Leal: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 2/3 GO/FO, 37 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Trevor Clifton: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 49 pitches (24 strikes)
3. Dillon Maples: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO, 16 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
5. James Farris: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 24 pitches (20 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1
3B Jesse Hodges - E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 2-5 CS

SOUTH BEND OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
LF Shamil Ubiera - threw out batter-runner 7-4 trying to stretch single into double

FIELD #6

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. Gioskar Amaya, C: 2-2 (1B, 2B, BB, R, 2 SB)
1b. Justin Marra, C: 1-1 (2B)
2a. Chesny Young, 2B: 1-2 (F-9, 2B, BB, RBI)
2b. Bryant Flete, 2B: 0-0 (BB)
3a. Gleyber Torres, SS: 0-3 (K, 6-3, K)
3b. Varonex Cuevas, SS: 0-1 (K)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-4 (K, K, K, 1B) :
5. Mark Zagunis, DH #1: 2-3 (BB, 1B+E7, 2B, 5-4 FC)
6. Jason Vosler, 3B: :1-4 (4-3 DP, F-7, 4-3, 2B)
7. Charlie White, RF: 0-4 (4-3, 1-3, K, L-9)
8. Kevin Encarnacion, LF: 0-3 (5-3, K, 6-3)
9. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (5-3, K, F-8)
10a. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #2: 0-2 (3-U, K)
10b. Roberto Vahlis, PH: 0-1 (6-3)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Paul Blackburn: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 3/3 GO/FO, 39 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Jeremy Null: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 2/5 GO/FO, 49 pitches (32 strikes)
3. Lars Huijer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 15 pitches (10 strikes)
4. Tanner Griggs: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/FO, 4 pitches (3 strikes)
5. Daniel Lewis: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (8 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
RF Charlie White  - E-9 (fielding error on line-drive single to right allowed batter to take an extra base)  

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Gioskar Amaya: 0-2 CS

WEATHER: Sunny with tempratures in the 80's

ATTENDANCE: 71 

Comments

"If Jimenez continues to hit in games the way he has so far, he might find himself the Opening Day RF at South Bend. " South Bend? Why not the big club? Bring him up!!

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It seems a little tied in to what Maddon was saying about Baez the other day, loving the bat speed, but not the inability to control it. The big concern - voiced to the point where it is 3/44 I guess, is that I'm not sure you can teach what Baez has to learn. Castro may have given him the best advice, in swinging earlier, but can you really learn that? I was a terrible hitter - bad eyes - so I have no idea because if it was me I'm just up there flailing hoping for a miracle, but can a guy like Baez just learn to see the ball better? I read an interesting article about Miguel Cabrera awhile back where they said he was able to actually see the spin of the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand. Obviously, that sets him apart if true since that is probably pretty rare, but if Baez really doesn't know when to launch that wild swing of his, can it be taught or learned at this level? That's a question for people who know more about hitting, not a "I don't think he can make it" comment.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I know I've said this before, so apologies for being repetitive, but I think it is a mistake to always consider ability to see/react to the pitch separately from swing mechanics. A big swing could mean that you have to start earlier as a hitter, meaning that you are reacting to the pitch earlier and making a decision with slightly less information than someone who can wait a bit longer. Cutting down on a swing or adjusted swing mechanics in other ways can actually allow you to see the ball better in a variety of ways that are independent of quality of eyesight itself. I always figured that was the cause of Soriano's vulnerability to the breaking ball vs. A-Ram's (or Castro's, for another example) relative ability to hit them. Soriano's decision to swing or lay off and his bat path may have both been determined when the ball was farther away from him because he had so much load up and overall exertion. This is not to say, of course, that raw eyesight is never a causal factor.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

That makes a lot of sense to me. It makes sense, too, that some hitters may even compensate a bit for not being able to see the ball as well as others by having ferocious swings that crush the ball when they make contact. Baez doesn't have to be perfect up there - he's shown that he can hit low sliders a long way. He just has to somehow find a way to not swing at every friggin pitch, and, like Castro says, start a bit earlier (maybe?)

This is getting ridiculous. OK, so start him with the Cubs. Who knows? This may turn out to be their best chance to win for the next 10 years -- solid rotation, promising bullpen, good leadoff guy, young power bats -- take your shot.

I know the probability that they all make it as MLB everyday players is not great, but it's hard not to drool over the prospect of Bryant, Soler, Russell, a not-struggling Baez, and Schwarber all in the same Cubs lineup. Especially with so many of these prospects (with the exception of Baez) putting up some good offensive numbers this Spring Training.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

AZ Phil was able to talk me out of the odds against it happening by pointing to some teams with a lot of successful prospects. The thing is, Bryant, Russell, Soler, and Schwarber all seem to have a really good idea of what they are doing at the plate. Baez may be the odd man out, but even he could be a force if he just gets things under control a bit. A Soriano type, maybe, but that's not a bad career.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Based on the Cubs' hitting today, I'd like to add to my comment the following prediction: 6 years from now all current Cubs prospects have enjoyed the first several years of illustrious careers, fans of every other MLB team hate Cubs fans and Kris Bryant, and our bodies and minds are ruined by years of almost uninterrupted masturbation. Kind of like St. Louis Cards fans now. [cymbal crash]

Okay, you guys have convinced me from the previous thread. Keep Bryant down for those two weeks. Who needs him?

But seriously, this is kind of weird. I realize it's spring training, but how does this even happen at this level?

Welington Castillo should be on this team. David Ross, sure, at least until Bryant needs to be recalled, so he's got a few weeks. Pitch framing matters, but so does offense.

Wow, Baez and Fowler didn't get on base. That's going to be a big waste of Bryant's next home run. Sheesh, guys, get in the game a bit.

The good news is the Cubs are now being run by smarter guys than us. The better new is the Cubs have Kris Bryant.

Rick Sutcliffe (@Sut_ESPN) tweeted that, in the Cubs dugout today, Billy Williams compared Kris Bryant to Roy Hobbs. Via @thecubreporter, I asked whether Billy was referring to the heroic movie depiction of Roy Hobbs or the fallen-hero-crushed-by-his-own-hubris depiction of Hobbs from the novel. Sutcliffe tweeted back that he will confirm with Billy tomorrow. 

Jesus Christ he's on fire. But so was Bryan LaHair ... anyone can have a hot stretch. This game is about the long haul. No, Kris Bryant is not an ageing AAAA player like LaHair, but someone of his talent level playing to kill in spring training against pitchers trying to find their stuff and get innings in does not mean he's gonna be a world beater in 2015. Chances are he IS rookie of the year. Fine. Maybe. Chances also are he still has a lot to learn. Chances also are the Cubs are still a year away from contending. But just because he's pissed off and annihilating spring training pitching doesn't mean you bring him up for 9 days and lose a year on the back end. There's very good odds he doesn't do shit the first month. Maybe he cools off literally and at the plate. I still vote send him down. Last year baez crushed homers his first week. Soler killed the ball at an unearthly clip, Alcantara had an insane first few games. It's adrenaline and a sprint. But baseball isn't a sprint. Something to prove and pitchers learning. Bryant is doing it in spring training - games don't count. Doesn't mean too much with regard to the long haul. Gonna be ups and downs. He'll start down.

Maddon saying Bryant to get outfield work starting this week. That works well in a number of ways. He can be sent to AAA to get outfield reps for a couple of weeks. Olt can start at third. Rizzo, La Stella, Castro, Olt, Montero, Bryant, Fowler, Soles for a lineup, with Alcantara as utility and Baez ready to push La Stella to the bench if he does well in AAA.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I don't have strong feelings about it, but at least it should make the transition easier if they have to Miguel Cabrera/Ryan Braun him. Still like him a lot better at 3B if he can play passable defense there. I do like the possibility that it gives Olt a few more chances to prove he can have value as an MLB player.

there is way too much "making fun of people who want bryant to be up" snark going around the internet (not here as much)...and too many of those on board with keeping him down are so full of shit. he doesn't need to "work on" anything...he's most likely going down for the same reason he wasn't brought up last september...money and service time. i understand and support the decision to keep him down, but there's not some noble "casual fans don't understand" reasoning for sending him down aside from the service time issue unless the kool aid is flowing so hard that those who are buying the official line actually believe it has very little to nothing to do with service time. it's getting toxic out there on both sides of the issue. myself, it's hard to argue with keeping him down a couple weeks...i don't care if he breaks with the team or comes up in late-april. the system needs fixing, not bryant, not theo/jed, not boras, not tony clark, etc etc...fix it and it's not an issue going forward. this has been going on for years...TB's very familiar with the hate and angst and they've never cared.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I would think that the casual fan is the one who cares the most. I went on record in the previous thread that I wanted him to start with the MLB club, but I don't feel very strongly about it, and I would think most thinking baseball fans won't, either. If Bryant doesn't start the year with the big club, my man Olt gets a few more chances at things, and so that's a plus. I don't think it's a mistake if Bryant doesn't start off with the big league club, I just think the whole service time thing is kind of silly since we cannot possibly know what things will look like six years down the road. For me, it's a slight preference that he start up with the big league club. But I also kinda want to see Olt in the lineup for a month to see what happens there. This team is so loaded with prospects that it's fun no matter what happens.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

i'm really not seeing much irrational (hell, nothing really) about what's been going on here, but on other boards, twitter, and etc things are getting off the hook. there's a group of people out there who see the front office as a 100% outlet for truth, gospel, and anyone suggesting there's anything going on besides exactly what they're saying are heretics who don't deserve to be cubs fans.

hammel just recorded the last out with a man on 2nd. he was hitting 8th...hurrah for that crap. i think t.wood is the only guy in this rotation that should be hitting 8th...though not over alcantara like hammel is today.

rockies released j.chacin...that's worth keeping an eye on. he's had a horrible spring so far, fwiw.

Recent comments

  • 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? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks