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

  • 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.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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