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

Pirates @ Cubs - Locke vs. Wood; Game 19 Thread

Cubs need a win and a Cardinals loss..granted, to the Phillies...to head back into first place.

Jeff Locke vs. Travis Wood

#Fowler CFHarrison 3B
*Rizzo 1BMercer SS
Soler RFMcCutchen CF
Bryant CFHart 1B
Castro SSMarte LF
Lake LF#Walker 2B
Castillo CCervelli C
Wood PRodriguez RF
Russell 2B*Locke P

Denorfia is unavailable with some sort of foot injury, so recently called up Junior Lake gets the start. At least it's against a lefty, which is also the reason for the Beefy start. Speaking of catchers, Kyle Schwarber has already hit a home run tonight for the Smokies, #4 on the year (Hannemann hit one as well and Alcantara one for Iowa). Otherwise, pretty quiet day in baseball so far other than if you write for an Angels blog or live in Baltimore.

 

 

Comments

I have a completely irrational and unfounded optimism that Pond is going to be not-awful, and actually-kind-of-decently-useful in this go-around with the major team...

 

Back to grading....

I think it's fortunate that Travis Wood is killing it on odd years, because the Giants only are automatic WS winners on even years. It's just an opportune circumstance.

Gordo with his daily reminder: "They’re doing it with guys like Wood (2-1, 3.04) and Monday’s winner, Jason Hammel (2-1, 3.55), outperforming winless $155 million free agent Lester (6.23, 1.569 WHIP)."

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Well, I hate modern free agency, but I was glad the Cubs took a chance on Lester. Overall, if his body of work is good over the next three years or so, I'll be happy. I don't expect anything but an albatross of a contract by its end. He looked ok his last outing as the game wore on, so I think his arm is ok.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I tweeted to Gordo: Never change, @GDubCub: "They’re doing it with guys like Wood and Jason Hammel outperforming winless $155 million free agent Jon Lester." He responded and then deleted it: If you (and others) can't see the context value of that, then you might at least consider not broadcasting your ignorance.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

let's flip that back to the original point while we're at it...why does it rank up there with annoying rage reserved for people who write checks for their ass to cash when it's absolutely nothing to others? if he didn't put a dollar amount on it, it's a point...if he puts a dollar amount on it, it's rage time...fixation rage time. is there room for people noticing others who seem to not like what gordo is doing keeping the narrative alive? i wouldn't even know about it if not for this board and the people who care about it. that said, even at the 10th time i'm hearing it...i don't care it's being said. just wondering why tacking loot onto a comment gets rage...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I can't decipher that first part, so I'll just say that it's annoying to me personally, and unfair in general, IMHO, for Gordo to point out Lester's salary every day, especially in the context of "He's getting paid $155 million and he's kind of sucked so far." As if four starts is some indication that he's not earning his money. If you don't find it annoying, or can't understand why it would be, more power to you.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

i get it, and i'm not saying this to insult, but we're totally different personalities for this aspect of communication. this wouldn't even register as a thing or a major point to me even if he said it 1000 times beyond picking it up to joke about. the fact it upsets so much that it keeps being repeated here is weird to me. this is the only place i hear about it, and it's from multiple people (this doesn't mean no one else is discussing it elsewhere, just not that i've seen...i could be missing something here). as long as lester is shitting himself i don't mind if gordo tweets his name, situation, salary, spot in the rotation, baserunning stuff, etc. if lester was doing great, but making minimum a year, i wouldn't care if gordo made the point that he's doing great and only making minimum in every tweet. *shrug* again, i understand...and it's not foreign to me...i was just wondering why the fixation on him mentioning loot seems to be a trigger point.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

he mentions $155M Lester evertytime he mentions Lester, regardless of the context, it's hacky horseshit from a hacky horseshit writer and every respectable Cubs person I follow on twitter finds the passive-aggressive B.S. annoying. And everyone caught on to Gordo's B.S. years ago, he railed on the Cubs about not spending and then they spend and he was already railing on $155M Lester in spring training. He pretty much sounds like you so...

As I said earlier, it's no surprise that you don't get why it's annoying.

If he wrote last year's playoff loser Jon Lester everytime he mentioned him, it would be just as annoying. If he wrote minimum wage Hendricks everytime he mentioned him, it would be just as annoying. It has little to do with the dollar figure.

Upset isn't the right word either, anymore than being "upset" when Grandpa brings up the story of how he walked up a hill in the snow to school when everyone else is talking about what to eat for dinner that day.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

He messaged me: "Pay that much for a FA to build around & team does well while he's worst performer -- that's context that matters. Whether u like it or not." So take that message to heart, people. It's less that he's bringing up the money (though that's a large part of it) as much as it's repetitive. It's the same thing as referring to Hammel as "flip guy" in nearly every reference before he was traded. WE GET IT, GORDO.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I know Twitter isn't the forum for this, but does he ever elaborate on why that context matters, or does he just assume it is obvious (in which case, really why repeat it)? I mean if his point is just--"Look--this guy get's paid the most, but he isn't the best! *gasp*" Then... duh? That's how the CBA works? I feel like a fun Twitter response would be to tweet criticisms of Gordo accompanied by incessant references to his salary. Like, amateur sportswriters leading the way with substantitive analysis, while $***** beat reporter Gordo repeats himself ad nauseum.

A. Cashner


7 outs..7 K's so far.

No Russell tonight...

1. Gregory Polanco (L) RF 2. Jordy Mercer (R) SS 3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF 4. Neil Walker (S) 2B 5. Starling Marte (R) LF 6. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B 7. Jung Ho Kang (R) 3B 8. Chris Stewart (R) C 9. Gerrit Cole (R) P

vs.

1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF 2. Jorge Soler (R) RF 3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 4. Kris Bryant (R) 3B 5. Miguel Montero (L) C 6. Starlin Castro (R) SS 7. Chris Coghlan (L) LF 8. Kyle Hendricks (R) P 9. Jonathan Herrera (S) 2B

Yay, this game is on a channel that I get... I've never actually seen Hendricks pitch. That's right, the year is 2015 and I'm talking about which channel I can watch this on because MLB has be blacked out of Cub games. ... fuckers.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Bummer you haven't seen the next Greg Maddux. Don't worry, we are all missing this year's Ben Zobrist, because he's in Triple AAA right now. Hopefully you can see the Cubs' Mike Trout soon, or maybe Barry Larkin. Hey! I wonder how many walks the Cubbies' version of Joey Votto will get tonight.

"Tommy La Stella (oblique) has been throwing and doing work in the pool but has yet to resume hitting." also, n.ramirez has been tossing, but not off a mound...and grimm threw a pen session yesterday if you missed hearing about it.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

you're welcome that I left him in my Ottoneu lineup when I very much wanted to bench him.

Smarter people than me can tell us what's happening with him. His velocity seems about the same and frankly he had pitched better his last few outings before today. Does seem to be going cutter a lot this year and away from his fastball per fangraphs. I was expecting a big free agent year from him and he could still fix it before it's all said and done, but his K's are way, way down this year.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yeah, I don't know. I mean the weird part is just his demands of #1 TOR money from the Cubs and the respect he's received in general despite the fact he's really never had sustained success. That said I do wish him well, and it seems something weird is up this year. But maybe he's just not that good?

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

the results never seemed to match the stuff for sure...

at this point with the rash of injuries, any pitcher that turns down a reasonable extension offer is many cards short of a full deck.

He was neither my favorite nor least favorite Cub, though he did strike me as a little less than smart.

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.