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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Angels/Cubs Surprise Rangers with Offensive Deluge

Victor Caratini (Cubs) belted an RBI triple and an RBI double and scored two runs, Bo Way (Angels) stroked a two-run double and a single and score a run, Zach Houchins (Angels) rifled a two-run single, reached base on an HBP, and scored a run, and Michael Strentz (Angels) ripped an RBI double and a single, walked, and scored a run, leading the Angels/Cubs co-op squad to a 10-2 drubbing of the Rangers in AZ Advanced Instructional League game action this afternoon on Nolan Ryan Field at the Surprise Recreation Campus in Surprise, AZ. 
The Angels/Cubs co-op squad has done OK so far, winning four of their first five AZ Advanced Instructional League games.

And through his first five AZ Advanced Instructional League games, Cubs catcher Victor Caratini is 5-10 with two singles, a double and two triples, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. 

VICTOR CARATINI'S 2015 MONTH-TO-MONTH TRIPLE SLASH-LINE (AVG/OBP/SLG) PROGRESSION:  
APR: 204/278/245 (54 PA at Myrtle Beach)
MAY: 250/341/338 (91 PA at Myrtle Beach)
JUN: 256/364/402 (99 PA at Myrtle Beach)
JUL: 261/349/375 (106 PA at Myrtle Beach)
AUG: 284/329/432 (79 PA at Myrtle Beach)
SEP: 367/457/633 (35 PA combined at Myrtle Beach & AZ Advanced IL) 

Here is the box score from today's game (Cubs players are highlighted in bold and underlined

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP:
1. Bo Way, LF-DH: 2-4 (K, 2B, 1B, F-8, R, 2 RBI, PO)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
2. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH-CF: 1-2 (1B, P-3, PO)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Chesny Young, 2B: 1-4 (4-3, 4-3, 1B, 5-3, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
4. Zach Houchins, 3B: 1-3 (4-3, HBP, 1B, K, R, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-4 (1B, 6-3, K, F-8, R)
NOTE:  SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
6a. Victor Caratini, C-DH: 2-3 (3B, 2B, K, 2 R, 2 RBI)
6b. Wade Wass, PH: 0-1 (L-8)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
7a. Natanael Delgado, RF: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, RBI)
7b. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-2 (5-3, 5-3)
8a. Kody Eaves, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K, R, RBI)
8b. Andrew Daniel, 2B: 0-2 (BB, 1-3, 5-3, R)
9a. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-3 (1B, 3-U, K, R)
9b. Charcer Burks, LF: 0-2 (4-3, K)
10. Michael Strentz, DH-C: 2-3 (K, BB, 2B, 1B, R, RBI) 

RANGERS LINEUP
1a. Christopher Garia, CF: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, 4-3, R, SB)
1b. Jairo Beras, CF: 0-1 (L-8)
2. Jurickson Profar, DH: 0-2 (BB, BB, K, F-8, SB)
3a. Travis Demeritte, 2B: 0-1 (K, BB)
3b. Dylan Moore, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K)
4. Ronald Guzman, 1B: 0-4 (3-U, 4-6-3 DP, 3-6-1 DP, F-9)
5a. Tyler Sanchez, C: 0-1 (P-6)
5b. David Lyon, C: 0-3 (K, P-5, F-7)
6a. LeDarious Clark, RF: 1-2 (2B, K, R, SB)
6b. Jose Almonte, RF: 2-2 (1B, 1B)
7. Luis Marte, SS: 0-3 (K, BB, 6-4-3 DP, K, PO)
8. Darius Day, LF: 0-3 (4-3, K, 3-1)
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B: 1-3 (F-9, E-6, 1B, SB)

ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS
1. Tyler Skulina: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 4/2 GO/AO, 70 pitches (38 strikes) 
2. James Pugliese: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (17 strikes) 
3. Steve Perakslis: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 24 pitches (16 strikes) 
4. Matt Brazis: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 13 pitches (9 strikes) 

RANGERS PITCHERS
1. Sam Wolff: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes) 
2. Luis Ortiz: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 28 pitches (18 strikes)
3. Brett Martin: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2/0 GO/AO, 25 pitches (15 strikes)
4. Jefri Hernandez: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 24 pitches (11 strikes) 
5. Scott Williams: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 pitches (3 strikes) 
6. Joe Filomeno: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 25 pitches (13 strikes) 
7. Peter Fairbanks: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 2/2 GO/AO, 24 pitches (14 strikes) 
8. John Kukuruda: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (9 strikes) 
9. Joseph Palumbo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes)

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. C Victor Caratini: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 3rd base allowed runner to score)  
2. SS Chesny Young: E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)  

RANGERS ERRORS: NONE 

ANGELS/CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Victor Caratini, 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above) 
2. Michael Strentz: 0-1 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures 105+ 

ATTENDANCE: 28 (mostly scouts) 

Comments

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13774883/female-coach-justine-siegal-… "OAKLAND, Calif. -- Justine Siegal, who was the first woman to throw batting practice for a Major League Baseball team, will serve as a guest instructor during the Oakland Athletics' instructional league that begins Sunday at the team's spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona. Siegal will assist the A's player development staff both on and off the field during instructs, which run through Oct. 17." neat.

are we supposed to be hoping for and cheering cubs losses to set up a better draft pick? thank god that shitty aspect of cub fandom (some fans) is done...hopefully for a long time.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Dunno -- this team is pretty bad at everything. I can't see them beating the Pack, Lions or Vikings with AP -- that's a total of 10 losses right there. They don't have the personnel to play a 3-4 dense, can't cover kickoffs and have no threat at WR. 12 losses is very achievable.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

"13-14 not out of the realm of possibility" Let's be ambitious, shoot for fifteen losses and then draft a QB. Even a proud franchise like the Lakers was able to maintain their focus on losing and outdo the Sixers last year. If your team smells, invest in noseplugs. This was certainly the "Cubs' way" a couple of years ago. Mediocrity is the enemy. Cutler (62-61) is the enemy. Don't let him on the field.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Cutler is not the issue right now though I'm sure we'll have to draft a QB in the next couple years. We have one good offensive lineman, an aging running back who will be a free agent, receivers who can't stay healthy and maybe one or two defensive players who can be starters in the future. I think Cutler has been massively underrated his whole time here but even if hate him drafting a QB this next draft (and I'm not even sure there are guaranteed stars in the draft) and putting him behind this awful line with a defense that will still be bad is setting him up for failure from the start and will guarantee that mediocrity you talk about. We need to rebuild our lines on both side and we're gonna probably have to replace Forte and Alshon both. We also need new linebackers and Kyle Fuller looks like a bust. This team is in such awful shape it's depressing.

[ ]

In reply to by johann

Everyone points at Cubs and Hawks on how they took lumps and then rebuilt. One major key no one mentions is that there was a change in ownership. Rocky came in knew it needed fixing, and Ricketts did the same. If you think that fossil, who proposes to ban the forward pass at every owners meeting, and her dim wit family will make a change, I have a bridge to sell you.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I hated George Halas growing up. He coached way too long and presided over the humiliating loss--66-24--to a team, the KC Chiefs, that wasn't even in the NFL at the time. Reading Halas's biography in Wikipedia not too long ago, I changed my thinking. I don't at all mind the Bears having a direct connection to that great man. (I invite you to go read his story yourself.) Virginia wasn't going to make decisions about the team so she passed it down the line, starting with her husband Ed, who wasn't, after all, a Halas, and next to Mike, and now to George. I say, keep the line moving. Supposedly they had eleven kids. There must be someone in that group who is made of stuff similar to the old man's.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

crunch, if you want to take the short-sided view of a complete rebuild that's on you. Don't ridicule the fans that understood the process, the importance of high draft picks to that process and hoped for it. The pick of Kris Bryant wouldn't have been possible if they hadn't had the draft position they had. And if Bryant isn't on the Cubs now, they're not in the post-season. You sound like the grumpy uncle screaming "get off my lawn!"

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

1- it was a joke 2- not liking it doesn't mean you don't understand it. i clearly understood the shit-fest i sat through for years setting this current situation up. it doesn't take a single braincell to understand it. 3- this was not the only way to get it done, but it's the way it got done. they at least delivered what they promised. ...beyond this...watching people root for losses, watch reverse standings like a hawk, and cheer winter signings for what they'll bring mid-season...for 3 years...yeah, that was a thing.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

1-It wasn't a funny one. 2-If you can understand why the draft picks are so important to the process, you should also be able to tolerate those who root for the highest draft pick possible instead insult them. 3-It pretty much is the only and best way to do a complete rebuild of an organization. ...beyond this...listening to people bash and complain about committed Cubs fans who are excited about how the overhaul and ground up rebuild is going...for 3 years...yeah, that was a thing, too. Have fun yelling at the kids to get off your lawn now that no one is on it and the grass is lush and green. Way to needless bring up the past that is no longer present. Or is that just your way of celebrating how successful this rebuild has been?

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

i do/did tolerate them, i don't insult them, i will joke about them. different people have different senses of humor, stop the presses. just because you don't like the joke doesn't make it an insult any more than what happened was the "only and best way" for a rebuild. oh yeah, and get the fuck off my lawn. :D

Thanks for the Instructs updates, Phil. Caratini is en fuego! I'm excited to see how his bat handles the quality of pitching jump he'll face in AA. If his bat can develop, he sounds like a real future asset.

From what I have read, TheoJed have always liked Caratini, and he's been able to hit in stretches. He and Contreras are the catching future pretty much right now. CRUNCH, I see your constant point re A Jackson. He cannot hit much anymore, can't steal a base (if he ever gets on), and his fielding so far in limited Cubs action is not what I had expected (last night's whiff in RF not outstanding).

Catching-wise, I saw Cael Brockmeyer in Woodbridge, VA, (Pelicans at Nats) the other week and was struck by the way he convinced the umpire that Duane Underwood's chronic low fastballs were actually strikes at the knees. Brockmeyer is a defense-first catcher, but he's also a big strapping fellow and can swing the bat. It was laughable, anyway, when there was a conference on the mound, to see the 6-5 Brockmeyer standing next to first baseman Ben Carhart, listed generously at 5-10. (Carhart does catch, and Brockmeyer plays a little first.) They obviously like Caratini's bat--in the playoffs, he was their hitting star while Brockmeyer sat--but I think both catchers are real prospects.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    happ, right hamstring tightness, day-to-day (hopefully 0 days).

    he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I guess I'm not looking for that type of AB 

    Just a difference of opinion

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I don’t see Tauchman as a weak link in any position. He simply adds his value in a different way.

    I don’t know that we gain much by putting him in the outfield - Happ, Bellinger and Suzuki and Tauchman all field their positions well. If you’re looking for Taucnman’s kind of AB in a particular game I don’t see why it can’t come from DH.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Tauchman gets a pinch hit RBI single with a liner to RF. This is his spot. He's a solid 4th OF. But he isn't a DH. 

    He takes pitches. Useful. I still believe in having good hitters.

    You don't want your DH to be your weak link (other than your C maybe)

  • crunch (view)

    bit of a hot take here, but i'm gonna say it.

    the 2024 marlins don't seem to be good at doing baseballs.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Phil, will the call up for a double header restart that 15 days on assignment for a pitcher? Like will wesneski’s 15 days start yesterday, or if he’s the 27th man, will that mean 15 days from tomorrow?

    I hope that makes sense. It sounds clearer in my head.

  • Charlie (view)

    Tauchman obviously brings value to the roster as a 4th outfielder who can and should play frequently. Him appearing frequently at DH indicated that the team lacks a valuable DH. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally onboard with your thoughts concerning today’s lineup. Not sure about your take on Tauchman though.

    The guy typically doesn’t pound the ball out out of the park, and his BA is quite unimpressive. But he brings something unique to the table that the undisciplined batters of the past didn’t. He always provides a quality at bat and he makes the opposing pitcher work because he has a great eye for the zone and protects the plate with two strikes exceptionally well. In addition to making him a base runner more often than it seems through his walks, that kind of at bat wears a pitcher down both mentally and physically so that the other guys who may hit the ball harder are more apt to take advantage of subsequent mistakes and do their damage.

    I can’t remember a time when the Cubs valued this kind of contribution but this year they have a couple of guys doing it, with Happ being the other. It doesn’t make for gaudy stats but it definitely contributes to winning ball games. I do believe that’s why Tauchman has garnered so much playing time.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Miles Mastrobuoni cannot be recalled until he has spent at least ten days on optional assignment, unless he is recalled to replace a position player who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And for a pitcher it's 15 days on optional assignment before he can be recalled, unless he is replacing a pitcher who is placed on an MLB inactive list (IL, Paternity, or Bereavement / Family Medical). 

     

    And a pitcher (or a position player, but almost always it's a pitcher) can be recalled as the 27th man for a doubleheader regardless of how many days he has been on optional assignment, but then he must be sent back down again the next day. 

     

    That's why the Cubs had to wait as long as they did to send Jose Cuas down and recall Keegan Thompson. Thompson needed to spend the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he could be recalled (and he spent EXACTLY the first 15 days of the MLB regular season on optional assignment before he was recalled). 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.