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

Cubs @ Nationals: Hammel vs Strasberg (Game 64)

Pretty, pretty, pretty good. CHC (44-19): RHP Jason Hammel (7-2, 2.36)
WAS (40-25): RHP Stephen Strasberg (10-0, 3.03)
First pitch: 3:05pmCST

Hammel lost in Atlanta on Friday (5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 K, 0 BB). The Nats are 39-143 (.273) against him. Ramos is 3-9 with 2 HR.

Strasberg got beat up a bit but won against the Phillies his last time out (7 IP, 4 ER, 10 K, 1 BB). We missed him during the four-game set at Wrigley--but not really. The Cubs are 24-86 (.279) against him. Heyward is 14-34 with a HR.

It’s an off day tomorrow, then the Pirates come to town, when we’ll see TBA versus Arrieta (10-1, 1.86) at 1:20pmCST on Friday.

Go Cubs!

Comments

I hope Almora Jr gets the start. He earned it. I still remember the play the other day where he slid in left field and did an Addison Russell, pushing his leg out as he slid and using to brace his slide into the wall and pop up in an instant. Amazing for a guy who hasn't played that outfield. It's Almora Jr because, I suspect, Phat Albert wants to be called that in honor of his father. So for me, it's always gonna be Almora Jr.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

If that's his preference (and your point makes a lot of sense), I'm all for it. But, if it's another media botch, I will fight! Almora gets the start. Sitting Dex with a day off tomorrow - Joe must think he needs some rest. 5-for-his-last 31 with no BB and 10K. By the way -- anybody seen Matt Szczur lately? 3AB in the last week. Gotta be tough for him

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Crunch -- I am now with you. The Federowicz thing is just getting silly. He's got to go when one of the DL guys (LaStella/Soler) comes back. The question is -- who goes when the second DL guy (presumably Soler) comes back? Is it better for Almora to play every day at Iowa or be part-time for the Cubs? Given that Joe uses a lot of guys (sorry Szczur) and will replace Soler late in most games, and that Almora is the assumed CF next year, it may make sense to keep him up.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

it's not a very popular theory (an extremely unpopular theory), but i still think he's around for 2017/lester. i do think it's really weird he's not seeing late-inning replacement work at the very least, though. in the past 35 days he's has 2 innings of work with the glove and 5 plate appearances...crazy.

I think they are holding Federowicz for two reasons -- to give Contrearas more time to get ready and to put themselves in position to get some return when he is moved. Even if the Cubs go with Montero and Ross, if one is injured, Contrearas is a phone call away. Another 4-6 weeks of catching won't hurt his development. And ML teams are always looking for catchers. Not like the Cubs will get a windfall foe Fed but I suspect he is probably worth a lottery ticket from somewhere.

leadoff HR's are neat...especially off ace pitchers. ...so is following it with a double.

k.bryant with a nice OF assist getting the out on werthless at 2nd...sweet.

This game would give me a stroke...if the Cubs weren't insanely good and didn't have a 45 game lead in the division. However...this game also reminds me how little the regular season means this year and how much I would be dying if this was game 3 of a 5 game playoff series.

Two blown saves with 2 different pitchers. They don't deserve this one... Help THEO with another bullpen arm!

Warren looked horrible from pitch #1.  That was a bummer loss. Might only be be up 8.5 games after tonight. #perspective

Cubs just need to trade for Chapman and Miller and be done with it.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If it took Schwarber I would do that in a heartbeat for a lock down bullpen past the 6th inning. Theo seems in love with him though so not sure that would happen. /edit and looking like Cardinals and Pirates both losing tonight so overall we came out of this series still looking pretty darn good

I think likelihood would be Chapman if anything as a rental. Miller cost gonna be Schwarbs +

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: If the Yankees want back an approximate equivalent to what they gave up to get Chapman, the return from the Cubs would probably be something like Adam Warren, Ian Happ, Carl Edwards Jr, and Dan Vogelbach. The Cubs would then be able to recoup a compensation draft pick if they extend a Qualifying Offer to Chapman post-2016 (presuming he doesn't accept it, but if he does, the Cubs get him for 2017). 

For Miller, it would probably be something like Schwarber+Happ+Edwards 

Sean Doolittle (OAK) and Arodys Vizcaino (ATL) have more years of club control than Miller (Vizcaino through 2019 and Doolittle through 2018 with 2019-20 club options) and wouldn't cost the Cubs Schwarber, although Happ & Edwards would probably be the starting point for both plus one or two additional pieces (like Vogelbach and Zagunis to OAK or Clifton, Underwood, or P. Johnson to ATL).  

I realize all is well and all, but....the nagging problem is the inability to beat good teams in close games on the road. The STL walk-off loss, and this one, with both Strop and Rondon giving up runs...I realize they can't be perfect, but it would have been a huge win. Instead, it validates the Nats and gives them confidence. Crap.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

It's like game 64, what does confidence have to do with anything> The Cubs swept the Mets in the regular season last year, a lot good that did. Shit like that doesn't matter one bit. It was a close game, you're gonna lose them about 50% of the time even if you're good. No team has ever beaten those odds on a long term basis. They beat the same good team yesterday 4-3.  Beat St. Louis 9-8 and 2-1 on the road earlier. Much ado about nothing...other than Warren looks like a chump lately and Grimm and Richard need to be gone sooner rather than later.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

The "can't beat good teams on the road in close games" thing is a little emotional "you" talking now. Weren't you saying how good the same thing was last night? Maybe someone else... I am more concerned with Adam Warren who now has a +4.00 ERA and Maddon really does not want to use him much at all. Maybe the Grand Slam he gave up with the team leading by 5 didn't endear him to Joe. To give up Castro for this? Really? That, plus, a lock-down lefty reliever would be killer. The team is still awesome and is gonna make the Playoffs.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Yeah -- that was clearly some emotion there. Blowing a game twice against one of the top teams in the league will do that...plus, the Dusty thing. It would really suck if he beat the Cubs in the playoffs. I mean, like, really really suck. But, the Cardinals give up 2 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to lose 4-1. Rosenthal's ERA now over 4. Let's go win the next 6 and basically clinch the division.

june 15th, cubs lose game #20...last of the teams to lose 20. may 28th was the last time team(s) got to 20 losses.

What's the season record against the Nats this year? Oh, yeah. Note to Theo - it's hard to make throws from home plate to second and third when your back is messed up. Please investigate. Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

This will be very interesting. I can't see bringing him up to sit a lot so you almost have to think something is happening with Montero who has been overall terrible. He still knows how to handle the pitching staff though and Contreras would have to learn very quickly if he becomes the primary receiver. The additional bat in the lineup will be wonderful though and he certainly can't be worse defensively than Montero who also seemed to have a lot of trouble getting the ball out of his glove on throws. Like Montero Contreras also takes walks so no downgrade there.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

*triggering intensifies* also, meme...i don't think you know how that word works. i meant to bring that up last time you got a crush on me. we'll have another opportunity to discuss it sometime later. *hugs*

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Yeah with two older catchers and Montero with back issues I get why they wanted to keep someone like Fed. You didn't need to worry about playing time and he was there just in case. Contreras is someone you have to play though and more than just a spot here and there. Maybe they'll keep three catchers for a bit as Ross mentors Contreras and he gets to know the pitching staff but eventually he needs to be the primary receiver.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Carrie Muskat is saying they definitely want to have Montero and Ross mentor Contreras in the majors. I can understand that and I know Contreras needs works on some aspects of his defense, including pitch framing which Montero is very good at. He's also going to need to be taught how to handle a personality like Lackey and not give ground which I'm sure takes some time. I just really hope he's catching at least a couple times a week because I really want to see that bat this year.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Willson Contreras was a catcher as a 16-year old amateur in Venezuela, but the Cubs moved him to 3B as soon as they signed him in 2009, and he played only 3B for a couple of years before being morphed into a "four-corner" (3B-1B-LF-RF) guy. Then after three poor seasons as a hitter, he was almost like "might as well" moved (back) to catcher in 2012. 

So Contreras does have experience playing the so-called four corners, and while he is below-average defensively at all four positions, he can play those positions in a pinch. That should give Maddon more versatility than he had with Federowicz as the #3 catcher, at least the type of versatility he had when Kyle Schwarber was the #3 catcher.

No question Contreras is MLB-ready as a hitter (he's in the midst of a 20-game hitting streak at AAA), and now he can be eased into the catcher job gradually at the MLB level, with "big brother" Miguel Montero available to mentor him along the way.   

Contreras just needs to find a way to control his emotions on the field, because "pitch framing" is really just a matter of influencing the home plate umpire to give you the close calls, whether it be by mechanical means or by schmoozing the umpire and staying on his good side (like Ross and Montero do) so at least you get a fair shot to get the close calls.

There are certain MLB umpires where if you piss them off by showing them up when you get called out on strikes (as Contreras has done repeatedly in the minors), they will hold it against you going forward. So young catchers have to be especially aware of not doing that. 

Beginning today (6/16), automatic Article XX-B "no trade" restrictions have been removed from Trevor Cahill, Jason Heyward, Joe Nathan, John Lackey, and Ben Zobrist, although Heyward and Zobrist have contractual "no trade" rights that extend through the 2018 season (and Jon Lester has contractual "no trade" rights that extend through the length of his contract).

The 2015-16 International Signing Period (ISP) concluded yesterday (6/15), and after a 16-day "quiet period" when international free-agents subject to International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) restrictions cannot be signed, the 2016-17 ISP begins on July 2nd. 

Because the Cubs exceeded their 2015-16 ISBP by more than 15%, they will be restricted to signing international free-agents subject to ISBP restrictions to contracts with a maximum $300K signing bonus for the next two ISP (2016-17 and 2017-18), meaning until 7-2-2018 (preuming the ISBP rules are not changed in the next CBA).

INTERNATIONAL SIGNING POOL

There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money each MLB club can pay as signing bonuses to international first-year players before penalties begin to accrue.

Each MLB club is assigned an International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) for each International Signing Period (ISP). A club’s ISBP is based upon the club’s winning percentage from the previous season. (Clubs that finish with lower winning percentages will receive a larger ISBP than clubs with higher winning percentages, with the ISBP increasing inverse to the previous season’s standings). In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie.

The Cubs ISBP for the 2016-17 ISP is $2,063,100 (it was $3,230,700 in the 2015-16 ISP), and because the Cubs exceeded their 2015-16 ISBP by more than 15%, they will not be allowed to sign any international free-agent subject to ISBP signing bonus limits to a contract with a signing bonus in excess of $300K in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 ISP.    

A club's ISBP consists of four separate "Signing Bonus Values" (SBV) plus an additional $700,000. Each SBV corresponds to a particular "slot," and each slot is assigned a specific cash value (TBA prior to the start of the ISP).  

A Signing Bonus Value (SBV) can be traded, but with some restrictions:

1. An SBV can only be traded during the International Signing Period (ISP) to which the SBV was assigned (July 2nd through June 15th of the following year);

2. An SBV cannot be sold for cash. However, cash can be exchanged if it is used to offset the salary or salaries of a player or players acquired in return for the SBV;

3. An SBV cannot be substituted for a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL);

4. The entire SBV must be assigned to the other club when it is traded;

5. A club may not acquire an SBV in a trade if the club has already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

6. Once acquired, an SBV can be traded ("flipped") to a third club, as long as the third club has not already paid signing bonuses equal to or in excess of its ISBP;

7. A club's originally assigned ISBP can be increased by a maximum of 50%. If a club acquires an SBV in a trade that causes the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP, the portion of the SBV that caused the club's ISBP to increase to an amount that is more than 50% above the club's originally-assigned ISBP is subtracted from the SBV. 

A signing bonus paid to a first-year international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in an MLB-recognized foreign professional or "major" league does not count against the club’s ISBP. (A signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least three seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s 2013-14 ISBP, then beginning with the 2014-15 ISP, a signing bonus paid to a first-year Cuban international player age 23 or older who has spent all or part of at least five seasons playing in Serie Nacional does not count against the club’s ISBP).

Also, a club’s six highest signing bonuses of $50,000 or less and ALL signing bonuses of $7,500 or less that are paid to first-year international players do not count against the club’s ISBP. (Beginning in July 2014, only signing bonuses of $10,000 or less that are paid to first-year international players will not count against a club’s ISBP).

The penalty for a club paying signing bonuses in excess of its ISBP is a tax (no draft picks are forfeited) and a restriction on bonuses that can be paid to international players during the next ISP: 

1. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5% or less must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, but there are no restrictions on bonuses in the next ISP.

2. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 5-10% must pay a 75% tax on the ISBP overage, and is permitted to sign only one international first-year player to a bonus of $500K or more in the next ISP. 

3. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $500K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 10-15% must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next ISP. 

4. A club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its 2013-14 ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the overage, and is prohibited from paying a bonus in excess of $250K to any international first-year player in the 2014-15 ISP; then beginning with the 2014-15 ISBP, a club that pays signing bonuses that exceed its ISBP by 15%+ must pay a 100% tax on the ISBP overage, and no player may be signed to a bonus of $300K or more in the next two ISPs. 

Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their ISBP will be used to further the development of international baseball.  

A player subject to ISBP restrictions cannot be signed to a Major League contract. 

I'm getting an issue coming to the site where it'll sometimes say it's offline and if I click on the "retry for a live version" it'll usually work though it sometimes takes a couple tries. This happens both on by laptop using firefox and iPhone using Dolphin. I cleared cookies on laptop and still happening.

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.