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

Bard Totally Wild at Talking Stick

Jenner Emeterio singled, doubled, and tripled, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Varonex Cuevas singled and scored in the 3rd and belted a two-run home run in the 6th, and Carlos Jimenez singled, doubled, reached base on an HBP, and scored a run. as the Cubs edged the Diamondbacks 6-5 on Whirlwind Field, and Raymel Flores drilled a two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded to key a four-run 3rd, as the D'backs shutout the Cubs 6-0 on Jackrabbit Field, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split squad doubleheader played this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Both games were called after 7-1/2 innings of play. 

Veteran MLB RHRP Daniel Bard had a very odd/unusual day. Working one inning in the game on Whirlwind Field, Bard issued three walks, struck out two (both swinging), and uncorked six wild pitches. That's six wild pitches In one inning!

In EXST Cubs roster news, catcher Eric Gonzalez has been assigned to the DSL Cubs, and catcher Tyler Pearson has been moved-up to AA Tennessee.  

The 18-year old Gonzalez got into eight Cactus League EXST games (14 PA), going 0-13 with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw out one of three baserunners attempting to steal against him (33% CS). Gonzalez was signed by the Cubs last June, and he hit 254/297/322 in 19 DSL games last season.

The DSL Cubs begin play a week from tomorrow (Saturday May 30th), and it's possible that additional players who are presently at Extended Spring Training will get assigned to the DSL Cubs prior to DSL Opening Day.

The 23-year old Pearson was the Cubs 25th round pick in the 2014 MLB Fiirst-Year Player Draft out of Texas State (by way of Rice). He hit 235/322/431 in 21 games with AZL Cubs last season, and 250/333/458 in 14 Cactus League EXST games (30 PA) this season (with three doubles and a triple, three walks and an HBP, eight strikeouts, a SH, a SF, and two GIDP). He had a 14% CS, with one passed ball in Cactus League EXST games.

While he was assigned to Tennessee and will physically report to the Smokies, he will not be activated until he is needed. The Cubs have been doing that quite a bit this season, which is to say a a player will be placed on a minor league affiliate's 7-day DL or assigned to Eugene or AZL Cubs (but only on paper), without the player actually leaving the club or reporting to Extended Spring Teaining. Then other times, the player does report to EXST.

One player on a Cubs minor league affiliate's 7-day DL who is definitely at Extended Spring Training is OF Shawon Dunston Jr, who is rehabbing a right arm injury (I believe it's the right shoulder) sustained about a month go at Hi-A Myrtle Beach. Dunston is just now beginning a throwing program and to take BP at EXST, so he probably won't be ready to return to the Pelicans for a while.

Here are the abridged box scores from today's games (Cubs players only):

JACKRABBIT FIELD 

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-2 (BB, K, K)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 0-3 (4-6 FC, F-7, K, CS)
3. Eloy Jimenez, RF-DH: 0-1 (BB, BB, K)
4. Tyler Alamo, C-DH: 1-3 (F-8, 4-6-3 DP, 1B)
5. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-3 (F-7, 3-U, 6-4 FC) 
6. Kevin Encarnacion, DH #1: 0-3 (L-7, L-8, 4-6 FC) 
7. Adonis Paula, 3B: 0-2 (K, BB, K) 
8. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-2 (K, 5-4 FC) 
9. Yohan Matos, DH-C: 0-1 (BB, K)
10. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-2 (K, F-8)
11. Danny Gutierrez, DH-RF: 1-2 (1B, P-3, SB)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS
1. Justin Steele: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 4/0 GO/FO, 65 pitches (37 strikes) 
2. Dillon Maples: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 3/2 GO/FO, 39 pitches (22 strikes) 
3. John Michael Knighton: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/4 GO/FO, 14 pitches (12 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
LF Ricardo Marcano: E-7 (dropped fly ball allowing batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSISTS
LF Ricardo Marcano - threw out batter 7-4 trying to stretch single into double

WHIRLWIND FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP
1a. Roberto Caro, RF: 1-3 (BB, K, 1B, 3-U, R, RBI, SB, CS)
1b. Andruw Monasterio, PH-SS: 0-1 (L-7)
2. Robert Garcia, CF:1-4 (6-3, 2B, K, 4-3, RBI) 
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-1 (BB, BB, F-7 SF, K, RBI, CS)
4. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, K, K, BB)
5. Jose Paniagua, LF: 2-4 (1B, P-3, F-8, 2B)
6a. Erick Castillo, C: 1-2 (5-4-3 DP, 2B)
6b. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (P-4, F-9)
7. Carlos Jimenez, SS-DH: 2-3 (P-3, 1B, 2B, HBP, R, CS)
8. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 2-4 (1B, F-8, HR, K, 2 R, 2 RBI)
9. Jenner Emeterio, DH-RF: 3-4 (3B, 1B+E5, 2B, K, 2 R, RBI)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 3/2 GO/FO, 65 pitches (45 strikes) 
2. Enrique de los Rios: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/1 GO/FO, 27 pitches (16 strikes) 
3. Daniel Bard: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 6 WP, 30 pitches (13 strikes) 
4. Jae-Hoon Ha: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/FO, 15 pitches (7 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS, 1 PO

WEATHER: Mostly sunny & VERY breezy with temperatures in the 80's

ATTENDANCE: 28 

Comments

30 pitches...6 wild...that's impressive for all the wrong reasons. maybe someone will give him a coaching/instructor job if he's looking...dunno how much longer he can play "comeback." hate it for him...

Here is the details of the I-Cubs 7 spot in the 2nd tonight:
Iowa Bottom of the 2nd Christian Villanueva singles on a line drive to right fielder James Jones. Taylor Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Christian Villanueva to 2nd. Rafael Lopez doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder James Jones. Christian Villanueva scores. Taylor Davis to 3rd. Taylor Teagarden singles on a ground ball to left fielder Leon Landry. Taylor Davis scores. Rafael Lopez to 3rd. John Andreoli singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Stefen Romero. Rafael Lopez scores. Taylor Teagarden to 2nd. Rubi Silva doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder Leon Landry. Taylor Teagarden scores. John Andreoli scores. Arismendy Alcantara flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson. Rubi Silva to 3rd. Matt Szczur grounds out, shortstop Ketel Marte to first baseman Stefen Romero. Rubi Silva scores. Javier Baez doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Leon Landry. Pitching Change: Andrew Kittredge replaces Stephen Landazuri. Christian Villanueva singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Javier Baez scores. Taylor Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Christian Villanueva to 3rd.

Wow...what a terrible AB by Ross. First and third, no outs, DBacks conceding a run, and he can't make contact against a guy throwing 84 mph. Just awful.

Very frustrating game -- Lester gets taken deep by a guy who cannot hit (.194 w/0 HR before tonight), and the Cubs offense has been shut down by 2 bums (both w/ERAs 5+)so far. Bleh.

dat pen, though. ARZ wins 4-5 in 13. DFA everyone. "this one stings." - len ← truth

This isn't my mother's Junior Lake. He keeps working that count, and working it pretty nicely. Occasionally you'll see him slip into that chase mode but it is sure a lot rarer than it used to be. This is a guy I thought had no chance of being that kind of hitter when he first came up. Throw a few sliders at the ankles and you could pretty much ring him up every time.

Really glad I didn't stay up to watch that. Rondon had 2 strikes on the last 2 hitters, but couldn't put them away. I realize Goldschmidt is a really good hitter, but, damn, that one hurts.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Thought it was in the bag with a 2-run lead and Rondon coming in, so I went to bed. My mistake. Earlier in the evening I did a little statistics search on the Cubs website. Cubs current cleanup hitter ranks #8 among starters in slugging percentage. Also ranks #8 among starters in OPS. Might be time for a lineup shuffle.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

Last night was a good display of what makes this team a .500 team, maybe a tad better. Castro isn't a clean up hitter, but I think Maddon likes that he often gets wood on the ball. Last night he really had a beautiful hit late in the game where he really squared up on - if I remember right, an inside slider and roped it to left field. But he's still not a clean up hitter, and never really will be. I'm not one of the many Castro haters, in fact I'm one of his few defenders, but he's just not a cleanup hitter. I don't know who on this team is right now. Maybe Bryant is ready. I was really hoping Soler could do that, but he's not there yet. Next year, maybe. Another weakness is their strength, rookies. Addison Russell striking out in extra innings with the bases loaded. Who in their right mind would want him out of the lineup, but there you go. He's gonna do that this year. He'll start doing it less as time goes on. The other obvious weakness right now is their bullpen. You really just don't know what you're getting - although Maddon's fascination with Rosscup makes me think he read too many of Crunch's comments from a year or two ago. Yeah, he's got good stuff, but he doesn't know how to pitch yet. More growing pains for a young team. Now, Rondon is sucking, too. Mostly because he, too, doesn't seem to know *how* to pitch. Great stuff, just doesn't seem to know when to throw what pitch. I would expect Montero to take more control there like he did that one game a few weeks back where he practically yelled at the pitcher to do things his way. Maybe he did last night. I wasn't watching those two at bats but I read they were a disaster pitching location-wise. My hope overall is that they can just hang in there until 3/4 of the season is over and Soler starts to come around, and they can drop Castro down a bit in the order, and Russell keeps getting more experience. He's going to be awesome but he's still a bit raw. No matter how you slice it, if you don't have Castro batting cleanup, then it's a rookie, Soler or Bryant, most likely. That's the strength and weakness of this team. Next year, these guys will pretty much be the strength of the team. And I don't think it's a wait till next year team. They're so talented that they could make things interesting, and maybe even sneak into the playoffs and do some damage. It's exciting, but frustrating.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Rondon: 13 Hits and 4 BB in his last 10 innings. Definitely doesn't look confident. Very different coming into the year as closer for a team expected to challenge for a playoff spot versus being handed the job during the season for a team not trying to win. The pressure seems to have gotten to him a bit. If he continues to be inconsistent, it will be interesting to see how Maddon handles it. Right now, Grimm seems to be the only reliable guy in the pen, and that's a very small sample size.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

as long as the cubs keep advanced hitters in the 2/3 slots the 4 slot is gonna suffer compared to other's traditional lineups until soler/montero/?? step up to be a legit option there. many teams still treat that 2 slot as contact-heavy or "2nd speed guy" slot. i think this whole pitcher 8th thing is eye rolling, but if it mentally "allows" maddon to use the 2/3 roster spot like he's doing now, that tradeoff seems nice.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

as long as the cubs keep advanced hitters in the 2/3 slots the 4 slot is gonna suffer compared to other's traditional lineups until soler/montero/?? step up to be a legit option there. many teams still treat that 2 slot as contact-heavy or "2nd speed guy" slot. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not tracking here....unless you're saying less RBIs to be had since Bryant and Rizzo already got them. Castro is 2nd on the team in RBIs, so if that's the main job of the cleanup hitter then he's in the right spot. My thinking is since he's 8th on the team in SLG and OPS somebody else (and if you just go by the numbers anybody else) should be there.

close-to-trade-season news blurb...(i can't believe i'm about to type a close-to-trade-season blurb about who the cubs might pick up rather than who's going to scalp the club dry)... j.cueto (CIN) is going to miss his next start due to "elbow tightness" who's ready to get ninja from the whitesox for vogelbomb? :D <--- baseless humor(less) speculation

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.