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

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

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) 

 

Comments

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.

"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.

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.

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

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. 

 

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 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...

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?

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.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

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

  • 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.