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

Baez and Victorino in Action at Riverview

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Shane Victorino (calf strain) singled twice and doubled and Javy Baez (thumb contusion) belted an RBI double and scored a run in Minor League Camp intrasquad game action this morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #5 was called after 5-1/2 innings, and the game on Field #6 was stopped after 7-1/2 innings of play. 

The game on Field #5 started and ended before the game on Field #6, allowing Victorino to move between the four teams and the two fields and collect a total of five Plate Appearances (P-2, 2B, 1B, 1B, E-4). He also stole a base and was caught stealing.

Baez played LF for two innings in the game on Field #6 and batted three times, once in each of the first three innings. He belted a double off the LF fence and scored in the 1st, flied out to the warning track in LF in the 2nd (a 12-pitch AB), and was hit on the helmet in his third PA (but left the field under his own power).

The #4 starters for the four Cubs full-season affiliates (Pierce Johnson, Tyler Skulina, Erick Leal, and Carson Sands) were the starting pitchers in the two games. The four were left behind to get their scheduled work when their teammates left town yesterday.      

In Minor League Camp roster news, C Erick Castillo was moved-up to Myrtle Beach from Eugene/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) and OF Trey Martin was sent to Extended Spring Training (injury rehab) from Myrtle Beach, 1B-OF Kelly Dugan and RHP Cole Brocker were moved-down to Extended Spring Training from AA Tennessee, and RHP Pedro Araujo, RHP Kyle Miller, LHP Jose Paulino, LHP Tyler Peitzmeier, and RHP Alexander Santana were moved-down to Extended Spring Training from South Bend.  

A total of 15 players have arrived at Minor League Camp from the Cubs Dominican Academy over the past few days, including INF Aramis Ademan, INF Jhonny Bethencourt, RHP Hector Garcia, OF Jose Gonzalez, RHP Jose Leidenz, 3B Rafael Mejia, SS Rafael Narea, LHP Pablo Ochoa, LHP Eugenio Palma, SS-2B Yeiler Peguero, SS Yonathan Perlaza, OF Ruben Reyes, OF Abraham Rodriguez, RHP Andri Rondon, and OF Jonathan Sierra, and they will be participating in Cubs Extended Spring Training.     

Here are the box scores from the two games: 


FIELD #5

SQUAD "A" LINEUP: 
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-2 (P-2, 2B, R)
NOTE: Victorino led-off the top of the 3rd and top of the 4th innings
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 0-3 (K, K, L-6)
2. Rafael Narea, SS: 1-2 (BB, 2B, K, R, RBI)
3. Chris Pieters, 1B: 1-2 (1B, F-9)
4. Ricardo Marcano, 3B: 0-2 (4-6-3 DP, K)
5. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-2 (2B, F-8, R, SB)
6. Eric Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, F-9)
7. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C-DH 0-2 (K, K)
8. Ruben Reyes, RF: 0-2 (F-7, 4-3)
9. Tyler Pearson, DH-C: 0-2 (F-8, P-3)

SQUAD "B" LINEUP: 
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-1 (1B, SB)
NOTE: Victorino batted 4th in the bottom of the 5th inning
1. Jose Gonzalez, CF: 1-3 (1B, E-3, F-9) 
2. Yonathan Perlaza, SS: 1-3 (K, K, 3B, R)
3. Yohan Matos, LF: 1-2 (P-3 DP, F-7 SF, 1B, 2 RBI)
4. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, L-4, K)
5. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 1-3 (1B, F-9, K)
6. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 0-2 (K, BB, K)
7. Gustavo Polanco, C-DH: 0-2 (4-3, 6-4 FC, R)
8. Miguel Amaya, DH-C: 0-0 (BB, BB, R)
9. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI)

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS: 
Pierce Johnson: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 2/6 GO/AO, 95 pitches (57 strikes) 

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS: 
Erick Leal: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/8 GO/AO, 82 pitches (55 strikes) 

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
1B Chris Pieters: E-3 (two-base fielding error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely)

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE 

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Gustavo Polanco: 1 PB

FIELD #6

SQUAD "C" LINEUP: 
X-1. Javier Baez, LF: 1-2 (2B, F-7, HBP, R, RBI)
NOTE: Baez batted 3rd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings 
X-2 Aramis Ademan, PR: NO AB
NOTE: Ademan ran for Baez in the 3rd after HBP 
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 1-4 (K, 4-3,1B, F-9, RBI, SB)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 2-4 (1B, 2B, K, 4-3, R)
3. Ricardo Marcano, DH-LF: 0-2 (F-9, K, BB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-4 (5-3, 5-3, F-8, E-6)
5. Alex Bautista, RF: 1-4 (1B, K, K, 4-6-3 DP, RBI)
6. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 1-4 (3-U, 2B, 4-3, 5-3)
7. Vimael Machin, 2B: 0-1 (BB, BB, 6-3)
8. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (6-4-3 DP, 5-4 FC, BB)
9. Abraham Rodriguez, DH #2: 1-2 (BB, 3B, 6-3, R, CS)

SQUAD "D" LINEUP: 
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-2 (1B, E-4, CS)
NOTE: Victorino led-off bottom of the 1st and 2nd innings
1. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-3 (F-7, 3B, 1-3, BB)
2. Jhonny Bethencourt, SS: 1-4 (F-7, K, 2B, F-8)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-3 (K, F-9, 3-U, BB, CS)
4. Kelly Dugan 1B: 0-2 (BB, 3-1, 3-U, BB, R, SB)
5. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-3 (BB, F-8, F-8, 2B, RBI)
6. Michael Foster, LF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, BB, F-9 DP)
7. Sutton Whiting, 2B: 0-3 (4-3 DP, E-3, K)
8. Tyler Payne, C: 0-2 (L-8, BB, K)

SQUAD ":C" PITCHERS: 
1. Carson Sands: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP, 4/6 GO/AO, 88 pitches (47 strikes) 
2. Junior Marte: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (18 strikes)

SQUAD "D" PITCHERS: 
1. Tyler Skulina: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 6/1 GO/AO, 88 pitches (54 strikes) 
2. Jose Paulino: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 6/2 GO/AO, 42 pitches (27 strikes) 

SQUAD "C" ERRORS: 2 
1. 2B Vimael Machin: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 1B Alberto Mineo: E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

SQUAD "D" ERRORS: 1
SS Jhonny Bethancourt: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

SQUAD "C" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Jhonny Pereda: 2-3 CS 

SQUAD "D" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Tyler Payne: 1-2 CS 

SQUAD "C" OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
RF Alex Bautista - runner doubled off 2nd base 9-6 

ATTENDANCE: 18 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperarures in the 80's 

Tags
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Javy Baez
Shane Victorino
Pierce Johnson
Tyler Skulina
Carson Sands

Comments

Submitted by John Beasley on Mon, 04/04/2016 - 04:27 pm

Thanks for the update! Are any of those Dominican players especially heralded or potential-laden to your knowledge?

[ ]

Submitted by K Dub on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 04:47 am

Ademan, Perlaza and Sierra were all big money signings this summer. Peguero and Mejia had nice seasons as 17-year-olds last year in the DSL. Bethancourt was the Cubs best hitter in the VSL as an 18-year-old (still his 1st season in the league). I believe Narea was the Cubs highest paid IFA signee in 2014 when they were restricted to no more than $250,000 per player.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 04:01 am

Unlike the 2013-14 International Signing Period when the Cubs signed the consensus top two IFA players (OF Eloy Jimenez and SS Gleyber Torres), the Cubs did not sign any Baseball America Top 10 rated IFA in this signing period. 

However, OF Eddy Julio Martinez ($3M signing bonus) was rated one of the Top 5 Cuban prospects, and, SS Aramis Ademan ($2M bonus) , SS Yonathan Perlaza, and C Miguel Amaya ($1.2M bonus) were rated in the Top 25 (not including Cuba), and OF Jonathan Sierra (who got a $2.5M bonus) and RHP Jose Albertos ($1.5M bonus) were not rated in the BA Top 25. 

Submitted by craig on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 04:50 am

Phil, do you have a feel for who will be the fifth starters at Myrtle, and South Bend? Is Myrtle going with Hedges again, and if so does he have any velocity or big-league potential, or mostly just a rotation filler? Or are they going with one of the finesse lefties, Ihrig or Thorpe or one of those type guys? Is Ryan McNeil clearly going to be used in relief, or is there a chance they might give him a crack at rotation this year? (He had a lot of regularly scheduled 2-3 innings outings last year, a little long for a reliever, so I wondered whether last year was a controlled-usage year post-surgery, but this year they might give him a look in rotation?) I've kind of forgotten about Maples; was he hurt for part of last year, or just XST to try to get his delivery/control improved? Hard to fix a wild man, but he's certainly got enough arm if somehow they did. He and McNeil might both be interesting relief arms at Myrtle, guys who might surprise and pop. Any idea what's up with Jeremy Null, and how far behind he is? Surprised at Supelveda skipping to south Bend. Is he very interesting as a major-league prospect? Strictly a singles hitter, or does he have some snap in BP or a frame that looks like it could add power? strictly a utility guy, or does he have some flash with the glove and agility that might be conducive to SS? I thought Paulino would likely make South Bend. Does he look like the next-in-line, other than Cease? I'm imagining a scenario where Preston Morrison handles South Bend pretty easily, and get bumped to Myrtle in late May, then Cease or Paulino being promotion candidates. Or, perhaps if Kellog also pitched well, and both Kellogg and MOrrision got bumped up, then perhaps both Cease and Paulino would go to South Bend?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 04:22 pm

CRAIG: Good to hear from you! 

Jeremy Null was slowed a bit with arm fatigue during Minor League Camp and could not get stretched-out in time for the start of regular season, which is why he was left behind at EXST. I would presume once he is stretched-out he will be the #5 starter at Myrtle Beach.  

In the meantime, Zach Hedges was moved back into the Myrtle Beach rotation toward the end of Minor League Camp, although I suspect his eventual role will be as a "piggy-backer" and #6 (emergency) starter. Hedges' stuff is not exceptional, and I'm not sure how far he will get beyond Hi-A.  It's possible that Thorpe could replace Hedges as a rotation starter, because Thorpe is essentially a left-handed version of Hedges.   

Ryan McNeil's velocity is back but his command comes & goes, and so I believe he will be used as a low-leverage reliever for a while longer. I think the Cubs would very much like McNeil to return to the starting rotation as he was pre-TJS, but for now he's primed as a two-inning reliever. 

Tyler Ihrig is sort of a younger version of Jeffry Antigua, the kind of pitcher who can throw just about every day and pitch multiple innings when needed. He has that "Bugs Bunny" slow curve that takes forever to get to the plate. He moved around the organization last year, and probably will again (Have Left Arm, Wil Travel). I see him as a future pitching coach  

Dillon Maples has a 94 MPH fastball and a hammer curve that he uses as a chase pitch, but he sometimes loses confidence in his fastball because there is no decption with it, and then if he does get hit, he starts throwing the heater high & outside and he walks the world. His velocity has not increased or decreased since the first time I saw him four years ago, and his curve is a real wipeout pitch (and always has been)... IF HE CAN SET IT UP BY COMMANDING HIS FASTBALL.  

Actually, I was a bit surprised that Kellogg and Morrison were moved so quickly down to South Bend, because they both started Minor League Camp with the AA Tennessee group and appeared headed for Mytrle Beach. That said, both had a couple of very good outings and a couple of very bad outings, and given the fact that both were just drafted last year, I guess I can see why they are beginning the season at South Bend rather than at Myrtle Beach. Also, although Kellogg went to Arizona State, he is from Canada (he pitched for the Team Canada junior team), and so he probably can handle Midwest Aprils better than the others in the rotation. 

As for the South Bend rotation, it should be Morrison-Steele-Alzolay-Sands-Kellogg (at least that's the way it was the last week of Minor League Camp) with Twomey and Bloomquist stretched-out as starters but likely working as "piggy-backers." However, either Twomey or Bloomquist could get moved into the rotation sooner rather than later. I don't think the Cubs are in any hurry to bring Oscar de la Cruz up to South Bend, because he isn't even throwing bullpens right now (although Underwood is). 

Jose Paulino was outstanding in the intrasquad game yesterday at Riverview, with the hard breaking ball and 92-94 MPH fastball with movement on full display. With Paulino it's all about command (which comes & goes), and the Cubs had moved him to the bullpen while he was with the South Bend group last month, but it looks like he's getting stretched-out now that he's been left behind in Mesa. Paulino was the last cut from the South Bend staff and thus could be the first in line to get moved-up. 

As you know, the Cubs have gone heavy into Mexico over the laast 18 months, and Carlos Sepulveda was the first Mexican position player they signed in the 2014-15 IFA. He was the #1 overall pick in the Mexican Pacific League Draft post-2014, but gave up a chance to play winter ball in Hermosillo to sign with the Cubs. Once he got to Mesa, the Cubs found out he had a stronger arm than might be expected from a 2nd baseman, and so he got reps at shortstop as well, but his best position (by far) is 2B.  He is a very smart player (high "baseball IQ") , sort of an Albert Almora type. Very mature, high-motor, fundamentally sound, has a plan when he comes to bat, makes the savvy play on defense, and runs the bases very well (although he has just average speed). You would never know he is 19.   

Submitted by CTSteve on Tue, 04/05/2016 - 04:31 pm

Attention Parachatters: The sounds function has returned. (Sent sound: Thunder!) And the ads are gone! Enjoy.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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!

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