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

Caratini's Big Day Spoiled by Costly Errors & Mental Mistakes

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Narciso Crook bounced a game-tying RBI double down the LF line with one out in the bottom of the 9th and then circled the bases as LF Shawon Dunston Jr over-ran the ball for a walk-off two-base error, as the Reds rallied to edge the Angels/Cubs co-op squad 9-8 in AZ Advanced Instructional League action this morning at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ.

Garrett Boulware went 3-3 with three singles, two RBI, and a run scored, and Taylor Sparks drilled an RBI single, stole a base, and scored on a Boulware RBI single in the bottom of the 1st, and belted a solo HR in 4th, to aid the Reds cause. 

Narciso Crook went 4-5 in the game, collecting an RBI single and a run scored in the 1st, a single, a stolen base, and a run scored in the 3rd, a single and a stolen base in the 7th, and then the game-tying RBI double and game-winning run scored in the 9th.  

Victor Caratini (Cubs) had an even bigger day albeit in a losing cause, reaching base all five times he batted (a line-drive single and a run scored in the 1st, a two-run double in the 2nd, a walk and a run scored in the 4th, a game-tying two-run HR in the 6th, and a line-drive single and a run scored that gave the Angels/Cubs squad the lead in the top of the 9th). 

Shawon Dunston Jr (Cubs) had three hits (including an RBI single) and a 9th inning sacrifice fly that gave the Angels/Cubs an 8-7 lead, but he also was picked-off 1st base in the top of the 1st with the bases loaded and two outs when he forgot the count and took off for 2nd on a 2-2 pitch, and then of course there was the two-base error in the bottom of the 9th that allowed the winning run to score.   

RHSP Duane Underwood Jr (Cubs) got the start for the Angels/Cubs and he struggled right from the gitgo, allowing three runs on four hits in both the 1st and 3rd innings, and the Sparks solo HR in the 4th, for a total of seven runs (six earned) on ten hits (including one HR), a walk, and a WP in 4.0 IP. He did strike out five (four swinging) and had one 1-2-3 inning (the bottom of the second) in his four innings of work, but he also frequently was pitching from behind in the count (he threw only 57% strikes), laboring through a 27-pitch 1st inning and a 23-pitch bottom of the 3rd. Underwood also failed to back up home on an RBI single in the 1st that cost Rashad Crawford a throwing error (Underwood stood frozen on the mound as the ball bounced past catcher Victor Caratini before dribbling into the third-base dugout).  

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

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP: 
1. Rashad Crawford, RF-DH: 0-2 (K, BB, L-7, BB, R)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
2. Charcer Burks, CF-DH: 0-4 (K, 3-U, F-8, L-9, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
3. Victor Caratini, C-DH: 4-4 (1B, 2B, BB, HR, 1B, 4 R, 4 RBI)
4a. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K, BB, RBI)
4b. Michael Strentz, PH-1B: 0-1 (BB, K, R)
NOTE: STRENTZ & CARATINI SWITCHED SLOTS LAST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Wade Wass, DH-C: 3-5 (1B, K, 1B, K, 1B, SB) 
6. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, 3-U, F-8 SF, 2 RBI, PO)
7. Andrew Daniel, 3B: 0-5 (L-9, 6-3, K, 6-3, L-8)
8. Kody Eaves, SS: 1-3 (1B, BB, K, K, BB, R, SB)
9. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (1B, 5-3, BB, 4-3, K, R, CS)
10. Natanael Delgado, DH-RF: 0-2 (K, 1-3)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER 
11. Bo Way, DH-CF: 0-1 (5-3, BB, SB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
 
REDS LINEUP:
1. Blake Trahan, SS: 2-5 (1B, F-7, F-8, 4-3, 2B, 2 R)
2. Shedric Long, 2B: 1-5 (1-3, 5-3, L-6, 1B, 3-1, CS)
3. Narciso Crook, CF: 4-5 (1B+E9, 1B, 1-3, 1B, 2B+E7, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB)
4. Taylor Sparks, 3B: 2-4 (1B, K, HR, K, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)
5. Garrett Boulware, C-DH: 3-3 (1B, 1B, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
6. Kevin Franklin, 1B: 1-4 (K, 1B, K, F-9, R)
7. Chadwick Tromp, DH-C: 0-2 (F-8, 5-3) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER 
8. Jon Matthews, LF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 4-3, K, RBI)
9. Reydel Medina, RF: 0-3 (4-3, BB, K, F-7)
10. Cory Thompson, DH #2: 0-4 (K, E-5, K, K)

ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Duane Underwood Jr: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 4/3 GO/AO, 74 pitches (42 strikes)
2. Michael Jensen: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 7 pitches (5 strikes) 
3. Jordan Minch: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (10 strikes) 
4. Matt Brazis: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 22 pitches (17 strikes)
5. Steve Perakslis: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)

REDS PITCHERS: 
1. Ismael Guillon: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 BALK, 22 pitches (16 strikes) 
2. P. J. Cerreto: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (16 strikes) 
3. El'Hajj Muhammad: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 66 pitches (37 strikes) 
4. Carlos Machorro: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/AO, 27 pitches (16 strikes) 
5. Jimmy Herget: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 4/0 GO/AO, 29 pitches (18 strikes) 
6. Jake Johnson: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 22 pitches (15 strikes) 

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: 4 
1. RF Rashad Crawford: E-9 (errant throw home on RBI single allowed batter to advance to 3rd)
2. C Victor Caratini: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 3B Andrew Daniel:  E-5 (two-out throwing error with bases loaded allowed batter to reach base safely & unearned run to score) 
4. LF Shawon Dunston Jr: E-7 (two-base fielding error on RBI double allowed batter to circle bases & score winning run)

REDS ERRORS: 1 
P El'Hajj Muhammad: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)

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

REDS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Garrett Boulware: 0-1 CS, 1 PO
2. Chadwick Tromp: 1-3 CS

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 21 (mostly scouts) 

 

Tags
AZ Advanced Instructional League
Duane Underwood Jr
Shawon Dunston Jr
Victor Caratini

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:57 am

r.tejada (NYM) has a broken leg thanks to utley's slide. it's not a huge loss overall from a competitor's POV, but it's a big knock to their middle-IF depth.

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:47 pm

"Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said that Lance Lynn remains "penciled" in to start Game 4 of the NLDS despite appearing in relief in Game 2." he threw 24 pitches last night, fwiw.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:57 pm

The Cubs have selected the contract of catcher Taylor Teagarden from Iowa, and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada has been Designated for Assignment. 

The reason this move needed to be made was that Teagarden accepted an outright assignment to the minors in August, and as an Article XX-D player, Teagarden had the right to elect free-ageny when he was outrighted, either immediately (in which case his contract would have been terminated and he would have received no termination pay), or defer his election until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (as long as he wasn't added back to an MLB 40-man roster in the meantime). So Teagarden opted to defer his right to elect free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (and then he could make the election anytime starting on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th), with the possibility that he could get added back to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster in the meantime. 

If the Cubs had not added Teagarden back to their MLB 40-man roster prior to his electing free-agency, they would risk having Teagarden elect free-agency and leave them with Luke Carlin as the only catcher with MLB experience who could be a potential injury replacement in the unlikely (but possible) event that two of their catchers go down to injury during the course of the post-season. 

Only players who were on the Cubs MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day DL or on the reserve list of a Cubs minor league affiliate as of midnight on 8/31 are eligible to serve as a replacement for an injured post-season eligible player. Because he was not on the Cubs MLB Reserve List or MLB 60-day DL as of midnight on August 31st, Teagarden was not automatically post-season roster eligible, but because he was assigned to the Cubs AAA Iowa club as of midnight August 31st, he could replace an injured player (obviously it would be a catcher) during the course of the post-season, if the situation should arise (hopefully it won't). 

Actually I'm surprised the Cubs didn't make this move on September 1st, or at least on the last day of the MLB regular season. I suspect that the Cubs received some assurance from Teagarden that he would let the them know if and when he decided to elect free-agency, allowing the Cubs to postpone adding him to their MLB 40-man roster until  absolutely necessary.

Submitted by The E-Man on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:17 pm

Thanks AZ PHIL. He's not the worst insurance policy. Where do you think Dewees projects? Is he another MLB starter in your opinion?

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:38 pm

E-MAN: From what I have seen of him, I would say Donnie Dewees is an MLB CF prospect.

He has plus-speed, he can bunt for a hit, he hits the ball square and usually with hard contact (he led NCAA D-1 in hits in 2015), and he has at least occasional power (he was tied for 4th in NCAA D-1 in HR in 2015, although he did not show the HR power much at Eugene or at Instructs). He has a below-average arm, however, and he is an aggressive hitter (he doesn't draw a lot of walks). 

I would compare Dewees to Jake Hannemann, except Dewees is a better hitter and a more-polished all-around baseball player than Hannemann (who played both football and baseball at BYU, and is still a work-in-progress), and Hannemann is a batter base-stealer. 

 

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:51 pm

the KC/HOU game is also featuring the "too common" 6-10-15+ empty seats right behind home plate thing...and that's not counting the scattering of empty seats just out of camera range in the same area. i imagine some of it is being pushed by scalpers who lost their bets on the seats, but i hope we don't see much of that at wrigley.

Submitted by Ryno on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:30 pm

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 1:34pm Permalink Cubs go home 1-1, with Arrieta starting game 3, I like our chances in this series. Tomorrow's pitching matchup is lousy on paper, so today is obviously crucial. Will be fun to watch. My two keys are scoring early, and keeping Lester's pitch count below 15 per inning.
Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 10/09/2015 - 2:33pm Permalink You have angered the baseball gods. Now Lester will lose and Hendricks will win.
Close...

Submitted by The E-Man on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:30 pm

Which Starter for Game 4? So, in checking the advanced stats, Lester's ERA on 3 days rest is much better than Hammel's fairly atrocious Postseason record. However, Lester's ERA is like a full point lower on 4 days rest and better on 5 days, career-wise. If the Cubs would be fortunate enough to win tomorrow, which button so you push to potentially slam the door on the NLDS?

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:35 pm

utley suspended 2 games (games 3+4) for his slide into 2nd...also torre and the player's union are going to be in talks (later on) about changing contact rules for middle infielders.

[ ]

Submitted by Ryno on Sun, 10/11/2015 - 10:46 pm

MLB rule 7.08b, a runner is out if "He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball" It seems like they could expand/clarify/enforce this rule so that it includes runners sliding into a base. The Kang injury was very unfortunate.

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.

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