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

The Night the Lights Went on In Bushville

Like an obedient child emulating a revered parent the Iowa Cubs are at work on the installation of a new state-of-the-art HD video board in time for their home opener on April 17th.

At 24x64 or 1,536 square feet the magic screen will pale in comparison to the 42x95, 3990 sq. ft. colossus that’s being erected to tower above Wrigley Field’s left field bleachers and Waveland Avenue. It will be less than half the size but is certainly imposing enough to be viewed, let us say, as a Triple A scale model.

It’s high time for an upgrade. Depending on the vantage point and the mood of the sun the new board’s predecessor could be effectively invisible and in recent years has displayed more marketing and promo filler than, for instance, player stats. Not that that trend’s likely to change.

Speaking of trends at America’s ballparks, you know of course that all of this modern malarkey traces directly back to an event that happened right here in Des Moines, long a baseball hotbed, on May 2, 1930, right?

On that date the first professional baseball game ever played under permanent lights was won by the Class B Western League Des Moines Demons by a score of 13-6 over the Wichita Aviators. Were it not for the novelty of the nocturnal experiment the last eight innings would have been anticlimactic after the Demons hung an 11-spot in the bottom of the first. That’s right, 11. And no, it wasn’t at all because the visitors had no visibility. They played an errorless game and everyone agreed at game’s end that the lights were more than bright enough, thanks to a design by GE engineer Fred Ralston. Depending on where you look, Ralston is variously referred to as the father and the inventor of nighttime ballgames.

Lee Keyser was the Demons’ owner and the man who actually flipped the switch by deciding to take the considerable chance on primetime game times. What did he and his counterparts across the country have to lose by then? Not much. As the Great Depression was kicking into gear the minor leagues seemed doomed. But after that game in Des Moines, which drew a crowd in excess of 12,000 to watch a team that typically attracted no more than several hundred, light standards quickly went up at bush league parks across America. Eventually, the Opening Night game came to be called The Game That Saved Baseball in some quarters..

It also marked the night when Shorty Irslund was born, according to the opening pages of a book entitled Versus the Demons. But that’s another story.

 

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Comments

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I can only think of 2-3 teams (Phils, Tigers, DBacks) with any need and DBacks aren't going to raise their offer. Unless O's get nervous about Wieters, but they survived last season with what they have. Phils aren't in a position to give a lot right now. And Tigers seem content with Avila and whatever. I'm sure he'd get scooped up on a waiver claim, but still don't think anyone is going to give up much. He's still a short side platoon hitter with questionable defense.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Assuming we're stuck with Ross, which we are, I still believe the best 13-man hitting group out of camp is going to be: Rizzo, Castro, Alcantara, LaStella, Olt, Fowler, Soler, Coghlan, Denorfia, Lake, Montero, Castillo, and Ross. And if you make the argument that Baez needs to make the team, I still think the best guy to drop down (again, assuming we have to have Ross, which we do) is Lake. So I don't really see this as a problem. That provides versatility both with handedness and defense. This only becomes a problem in my view once you need to make room for both Baez and Bryant. Having a Swiss army knife like Alcantara gives you flexibility at an awful lot of positions.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Well, the big problem with that initial set of 13 is that Alcantara is your back-up for 2B, SS, and 3B. La Stella can play 3B but then Alcantara would HAVE to play 2B those innings. That makes pinch hitting and giving guys days off nearly impossible. Adding Baez for Lake makes that much easier and the roster far more flexible, but he may need reps in AAA to continue his development. So you may see Jonathan Herrera, who can play 2B and SS, begin the season in the majors (for Lake), with Baez in AAA to get reps.

Then in a few weeks Bryant will be called up. If Olt is struggling that will be a 1 to 1 swap, with Olt going to AAA. Herrera will stay until Baez does well enough in AAA to be called up to replace him. If Olt is doing well, then Bryant will come up to play LF. That's a bit more tricky. If he replaces Herrera that again makes Alcantara the only back-up for SS or 2B, though at least it allows for Bryant to play 3B in place of Olt, which is slighly more flexible. Otherwise Bryant would have to replace an outfielder, but all four are veterans. And even if that happens, Baez would then have to replace an outfielder when he is eventually called up. So I don't see a huge issue starting the season with 3 catchers, but if Olt and Bryant and especially Olt, Bryant, and Baez all are playing well at some point, there is likely to be a roster crunch and they may have to find a way to drop to two catchers. Of course, at that point someone is likely to be injured anyway and so this will all be a moot point.  

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

one thing they can try to open up a roster spot is option Kyle Hendricks to start season and bring him up before he's needed on April 15th vs the Reds. Technically that makes him the 5th starter, but it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Or if Maddon is really feeling frisky, start season with Lester, Arrieta, Hammel, Wood and Jackson as the top 5 (Jackson or Wood not needed until the 15th for just one start), and then call up Hendricks for the April 21st start vs. Pirates (presuming they don't want to miss anymore starts with him). It would certainly buy some decision time.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Swapping Lake for Herrera makes sense as well, and perhaps is even a better alignment. Alcantara essentially becomes your fifth outfielder at that point. You gain infield depth with only a minimal hit to outfield depth. If one player or another is tender and needs a few days, they are essentially interchangeable on the 25-man. The reason I prefer Lake to Herrera is the offensive upside. I still think offense is the single biggest reason why the Cubs will miss the playoffs this year. As for the defensive backup, selecting Lake definitely limits Maddon's ability to use the fourth non-Rizzo infielder (Castro, Olt, LaStella, and Alcantara) as a pinch-hitter, but there would be plenty of bench options for bats otherwise (Ross, Lake, and your choice of Denorfia/Castillo v. righties, Coghlan/Montero v. lefties). Between Lake and Herrera, I don't see a wrong answer. But I concede that the choice is essentially Lake v. Herrera and that Maddon may have his reasons to prefer the extra infielder.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I guess we're just presuming R. Sweeney is getting cut at this point?

If it isn't Sweeney, I'm going Herrera or Szczur. Lake hasn't shown anything interesting and the team defense is already a problem imo. While you think offense is there biggest problem, I'm guessing up-the-middle defense/run prevention is their weakness. Fowler, Castro, LaStella/Alcantara, Montero is pretty weak imo, passable, but average at best and not gonna help the pitching staff much. Arguably the 2 best defenders on this team are Soler and Rizzo.

C: Montero, Ross, Castillo

INF: Rizzo, Alcantara, LaStella, Castro, Olt, Herrera

OF: Coglhan, Denorfia, Fowler, Soler

If they go 3-headed catcher monster, then I suppose last spot is between Herrera, Lake, Szczur or Sweeney. And in about 2 weeks, it'll be different.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

ROB: Because he has accrued at least five years (5+000) of MLB Service Time, Ryan Sweeney must give his permission in advance before he can be sent to the minors, either by Outrright or Optional assignment (he has two minor league options left). In order to convince him to give his permission to be optioned, the Cubs would probably have to guarantee his 2016 contract (which right now is a $2.5M club option with a $500K buy-out). So he MIGHT agree to an Optional Assignment to the minors under those circumstances. But I doubt very much that he would accept an Outright Assignment, because he's not going to give his permission to be outrighted just so he can elect to be a free-agent (and forfeit his 2015 salary AND 2016 buy-out), and he wouldn't agree to an Outright Assignment and have free-agency deferred until after the season because then he would lose his 2016 contract (and potential $500K buy-out).  

If Sweeney does not give his permission to be sent to the minors (and again, he might agree to an Optional Assignment if the Cubs give him something back like guaranteeing his 2016 club option), then the only choices the Cubs would have are keep him on the 25-man roster, trade him, or release him. If the Cubs release him, they would be on the hook for his 2015 salary ($1.5M) minus whatever salary he might receive if he were to subsequently sign with another club (usually for the prorated MLB minimum salary, with the Cubs paying the balance), plus his 2016 buy-out ($500K). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

BTW, the Cubs have a similar situation with Tsyuyoshi Wada, who as a vested international player cannot be sent to the minors without his permission. Wada (like Sweeney) does have minor league options left, and in fact he gave his permission to be optioned to AAA Norfolk when he was with Baltimore in 2013, and then he did again last year with the Cubs when he was optioned to Iowa after he was added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster prior to his minor league opt-out date. There probably was some unwritten agreement in place both times, and this time he might agree to be optioned if the Cubs guarantee some or all of his performance bonus (he has a $4M base salary in 2015 plus another $2M in performance bonuses). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Something to keep in mind about Matt Szczur is that he gets a 4th minor league option in 2015, but he will NOT be eligible for a 4th minor league option in 2016 even if he spends the entire 2015 season in the big leagues. So if the Cubs want to option Szczur to the minors, they need to do it this season (2015), because he will be out of minor league options in 2016 even if he doesn't use one this year. (Same thing happened with Hector Rondon.... he was eligible for a 4th minor league option last season, but it wasn't used. and now he is no longer eligible for a 4th minor option). 

On the other hand, Jorge Soler is eligible for a 4th minor league option, and it can be used in either 2015, 2016, or 2017. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

A player who has accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time and an international player exempt from ISBP restrictions cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent. The player can waive this right, but the waiver cannot be signed more than ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, the player has the right to designate in advance which minor league team to which he can be assigned, and the waiver automatically expires if the player is not optioned to the minors within 45 days or by the 45th day of the MLB regular season (whichever is later).

 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Also, because he was a post-2014 Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signed a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, Phil Coke will receive an automatic $100K retention bonus and an automatic 6/1 opt-out if he is not either released by the Monday prior to MLB Opening Day or added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster by MLB Opening Day.

While the Cubs could send Coke to Iowa (with the 6/1 opt-out) and pay him the retention bonus, in actual practice clubs almost always either release the player or add him to their MLB 40-man roster. Last year, the Cubs released Tsuyoshi Wada on the Monday prior to Opening Dsy, and then re-signed him to a new contract the next day (a contract that was signed less than ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, so that the Cubs did not have to pay Wada the $100K retention bounus). Also, the opt-out date was changed from 6/1 to 7/1.

The Cubs did subsequently add Wada to their MLB 40-man roster on June 22 (about ten days prior to the new opt out date), and then immediately optioned him to Iowa (and Wada would have had to give his consent for that to happen), and then the Cubs recalled him on 7/23. All of this was very likely pre-arranged (albeit not in writing), and the process probably had something to do with the Cubs ultimately re-signing Wada for 2015.  

Since there is no game today, what do you think the Cubs could get in return for a package of Wellington, Wood and Coghlan?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

considering the roster crunch, it would all be minor leaguers with options. I'm guessing of the pitching type and probably not a lot of upside. They're pretty good with the scouting so maybe they luck into a Kyle Hendricks. In the "you can't have enough pitching", they could use a few AAA filler arms that can do the Iowa Express. Otherwise the usual A-ball relievers with nice K rates.

on a related note, noticed this today

Coghlan 280/412/440 (6 BB's in 25 AB's)

Olt (7 BB' sin 30 AB's)

Fowler (5 BB's in 27 AB's)

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.