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

2016 Arizona Fall League Schedule Released

The 2016 Arizona Fall League schedule has been released and rosters should be announced later this month.

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an MLB developmental league (approximately equivalent to "AA") that operates for six weeks after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. It features a 31-game "regular season" schedule plus the "Bowman Hitting Challenge" on the Saturday prior to Opening Day (formerly held on the Saturday after the first week of games), an All-Star Game (formerly called the "Rising Stars Game," but now known as the "Fall Stars Game") on the Saturday at the end of the fourth week, and the AFL;Championship Game (pitting the winner of the East Division against the winner of the West Division) on the Saturday at the end of the 6th and final week.

There are no games played on Sundays or on the day of the Fall Stars Game, but otherwise there are three games scheduled every day Monday through Saturday during the AFL regular season, beginning with Opening Day on the second Tuesday following the conclusion of the MLB regular season (which is October 11th in 2016) and extending up through the Thursday of the 6th week (which is November 17th in 2016).

The Cubs (as well as the other 29 MLB clubs) usually assign some of their better prospects to the AFL. Depending on what positions they are asked to fill on the Mesa squad, I would not be surprised to see the Cubs assign some combination of position players and pitchers such as catcher Victor Caratini, first-baseman Yasiel Balaguert, second basemen Ian Happ and/or Chesny Young, third-baseman Jason Vosler, outfielders Jake Hannemann, Bijan Radenmacher, Eddy Julio Martinez, and/or Eloy Jimenez, starting pitchers Duane Underwood Jr and/or Jen-Ho Tseng (the choice of starting pitcher is influenced by the health of the pitcher and how many innings the pitcher has thrown in the 2016 minor league regular season), and relief pitchers Pierce Johnson, David Berg, James Farris, Juan Carlos Paniagua, Ryan McNeil, Jordan Minch, and/or Dillon Maples. 

Here are the current AFL eligibility rules & restrictions. NOTE: Some of the eligibiility rules & restrictions have been changed over the past couple of years: 

1. There are six AFL teams, and each AFL team is affilated with five MLB clubs. SEA & SD (Peoria Javelinas), KC & TEX (Surprise Saguaros), LAD & CHW (Glendale Desert Dogs), AZ & COL (Salt River Rafters), CUBS (Mesa Solar Sox), and SF (Scottsdale Scorpions) are the "host organizations" for the six AFL teams, but the affiliations of the other twenty MLB clubs can vary from year-to-year. Besides the Cubs, the other four MLB organizations affiliated with the Mesa Solar Sox in 2016 will be BAL, CLE, MIA, and OAK (LAA, MIA, OAK, and TB. were the other four MLB organizations affiliated with the Mesa Solar Sox in 2015). 

2. Each MLB organization must assign a minimum of seven players to its AFL affiliate, including a minimum of four pitchers (preferably one pitcher capable of starting plus three relievers) and a minimum of three position players (specific positions needed to be filled by each organization TBD by a conference call "position draft" between the Player Development Directors of the five MLB organizations affiliated with that particular AFL team). NOTE: RHRP Corey Black, C Cael Brockmeyer (Taxi Squad), 3B Jeimer Candelario, C Willson Contreras, RHRP David Garner, RHSP Pierce Johnson, OF Mark Zagunis, and LHSP Rob Zastryzny were the Cubs players assigned to the Msea Solar Sox in 2015. 

3. An MLB organization can assign additional pitchers and/or players to its AFL team's "Taxi Squad" (players assigned to an AFL team's "Taxi Squad" can be activated on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, but a player can be transferred from the Taxi Squad to the 35-man Active Roster to replace an injured player).

4. A player can be selected to play in the AFL more than once, as long as the player continues to meet eligibility for selection.

5. MLB players (including Rule 5 players) with less than one year (1+000) MLB Service Time accrued (not including time spent on a Disabled list) as of September 1st are eligible.

6. Any player on a AA or AAA Active Roster or Disabled List on August 15th is eligible.

7. Two players on an organization's Advanced Class-A (A+) affiliate's Active Roster (or Disabled List) on August 15th can be assigned to the AFL.

8. Two additional players who were on the Active Roster or Disabled List of a minor league affiliate below AA (A+, A, SS-A, R) on August 15th can be assigned to the AFL.

9. Internatiional players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and/or Australia are eligible only if the player is not on the reserve list of a Winter League club from the player's home country. Otherwise, there is no maximum limit on the number of international players an MLB organization can assign to its AFL team.

10. A player on the Restricted List, Military List, Disqualified List, Ineligible List, or Voluntary Retired List is not eligible to participate in the AFL. 

11. A player who was on a minor league or MLB DL at the close of the regular season is eligible to play in the AFL as long as the player has been reinstated, but there can be no special limits or restrictions placed on the player's playing time (other than the automatic restrictions imposed on a player assigned to an AFL team's "Taxi Squad"). 

12. A player cannot be assigned to the AFL on a Minor League Injury Rehabilitation Assignment by a club participating in an MLB post-season series (LDS, LCS, and World Series). 

13. Players assigned to the AFL do not accrue MLB or minor league service time, each player receives the same salary, and the salaries are paid out of a special fund managed by MLB. 

Each MLB organization provides either the manager, pitching coach, hitting coach, or an athletic trainer to its affiliated AFL club (assignments rotate every year). 

Comments

per Joe Maddon (on his WSCR radio show)...Grimm back to Iowa as Hammel is re-instated from bereavement list. Discussed LaStella too and he said that there is a disagreement about reporting to Iowa but he expects TLS will need some time there to get his timing back (assuming he comes back, which is not a quote, but it's what I sort of heard). Not sure I'm reading clearly between the lines on this one but for a useful 25th roster person it seems not very warm and fuzzy. Neil at CCO often posts transcripts of various Cub radio interviews. I'm hoping he does this for today's Tuesday noon radio-fest.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Strange that the Cubs would reinstate Hammel today when they could have waited until tomorrow to do it, since he isn't scheduled to start until tomorrow (players can remain on the Bereavement List for up to seven days, and since Hammel was placed on the list last Wednesday, the Cubs could have waited one more day to reinstate him). And if they had waited the extra day, Grimm would have been an extra arm in the pen tonight. You never know when you might need one.

The AFL is often used as an audition for the MLB 40-man roster for minor leaguers eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft, especially the ones who are "on the bubble."

Here is my updated projection for Cubs Rule 5 Draft-eligible minor leaguers and post-2016 minor league free-agents in the hunt for a spot on the 40 post-2016:

VIRTUAL LOCKS:
Victor Caratini, C
Duane Underwood Jr, RHSP

VERY LIKELY:
Jose Paulino, LHSP (would get four minor league options if added to the 40 post-2016) 
Felix Pena, RHP (otherwise minor league 6YFA)
Armando Rivero, RHRP
Rob Zastryzny, LHSP

ON THE BUBBLE:
Jake Hannemann, OF
Ryan McNeil, RHRP
Bijan Rademacher, OF
Jose Rosario, RHRP (otherwise minor league 6YFA)

Also, veteran minor leaguers with MLB experience like C Tim Federowicz, IF-OF Logan Watkins, LHRP Jack Leathersich, and LHRP Brian Matusz could get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster in September, and 3B Christian Villanueva (who is ready for a minor league rehab assignment) could get reinstated from the 60-day DL on 9/1 after a twenty-day minor league rehab assignment. (Also, Almora, Grimm, Kawasaki, and Patton will likely be recalled from AAA Iowa on 9/1 or after the conclusion of the Iowa Cubs season), 

Players likely to get dropped from the 40 to make room for players added in September:
R. J. Alvarez, RHRP
Dallas Beeler, RHSP (transfer to 60-day DL)
Aaron Brooks, RHSP (transfer to 60-day DL)
Gerardo Concepcion, LHRP (can elect free-agency if outrighted)

Likely to get dropped from MLB 40-man roster post-World Series:
Dallas Beeler, RHSP
Aaron Brooks, RHSP
Zac Rosscup, LHRP (would be minor league 6YFA post-2016 if outrighted)
Giovanni Soto, LHRP (would be minor league 6YFA post-2016 if outrighted)

NOTE: If waivers can be secured, Alvarez, Beeler, and Brooks would NOT be eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-2016 if outrighted, and would remain under club control (as minor leaguers) in 2017.

MLB FREE-AGENTS POST-2016 WORLD SERIES:
Trevor Cahill, RHRP
Chris Coghlan, OF
Aroldis Chapman, LHRP
Dexter Fowler, OF (2017 mutual option)
Jason Hammel, RHSP (2017 club option)
Munenori Kawasaki, INF (NPB vested player)
David Ross, C
Joe Smith, RHRP
Travis Wood, LHRP

La Stella has been placed on the Temporarily Inactive list. Here is a Cub Reporter description of it: http://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3542 Such a weird situation. Jesse Rogers has said several times that the team has told him he is dealing with something more important than baseball and that was part of getting demoted. Madden said today though he has talked to him and he is trying to decide what he wants to do but wouldn't say anything more than that.

"Cardinals GM John Mozeliak acknowledged Tuesday that Michael Wacha (shoulder) is experiencing a recurrence of the scapular issue that sidelined him in 2014. Mozeliak said he's unsure whether the 25-year-old right-hander will be able to return this season and also admitted that Wacha's role as a 200-inning-per-year starter might have to be revisited this winter."

About the TLS situation: I doubt it's because he was upset about being demoted because there was a strong chance that he would be called up if someone lands on the DL and was guaranteed to be called up on 9/1. Also, I consider him to be a lock on the 25 man roster in the postseason because he is an excellent PH and can hit high velocity. I really hope his situation is nothing like Baez's last season (he missed about 2 months due to the death of his sister, right?). Hopefully TLS gets back soon because without him, our IF depth is weak (Candelario, Kawasaki, Baez somewhat). I want Soler to be a regular in the NLDS (take him out for defense late in the game), you can't forget that series against the Cards last season.

[ ]

In reply to by chitownmvp01

The reports today on LaStella said there was no family issue or medical reason for his absence. It's just on him. Jesse Rogers said something that LaStella was contemplating retirement before the season but came back to be with Cubs (I believe this was on the radio but mentioned by others on twitter that heard it...maybe he'll write something up on it today).

That face-plant by Choi on the LF bullpen mound ... as Rizzo's pop up fell into fair territory ... wow. Glad to see Choi not injured on the play - but it was funny as hell.

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

my favorite crapballer! sweet. seriously, though...hard to get too excited. his "fastball" is down to the low 80s rather regularly this season after it dipped into the mid-80s last year. deception can only take someone so far. the control issues are killing his game, too.

More on #ohtheresLaStella - The Cubs could not have expected a scenario like this, but still, I don't really understand the Coghlan re-acquisition. I'd much rather have La Stella than Coghlan. That said, La Stella wanting to "retire" at 27, with that hit skill, is pretty strange. He may not be the best hitter in the world or anything, but hitting a major league baseball is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. And he wants to quit the game? Whether he stays or goes, though, I'll always appreciate the snot blowing at the plate. Good stuff. Leave it to Joe Maddon to make a reference to Kurt Vonnegut while discussing the La Stella situation. If you haven't seen the clip, google it. Classic Maddon there.

Cubs assigned to Mesa Solar Sox (AFL): Victor Caratini, C James Farris, RHRP Ian Happ, 2B-OF Eloy Jimenez, OF Ryan McNeil, RHRP Steve Perakslis, RHRP Duane Underwood Jr, RHSP Brian Lawrence, Pitching Coach Jimenez, Happ, Caratini and Underwood are among the Cubs Top 10 Prospects, and playing in the AFL should help speed their development. Caratini, Underwood, McNeil, and Perakslis are Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2016. While Caratini and Underwood are virtual locks to get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster post-2016, McNeil and Perakslis will be trying to get Rule 5 Draft attention from other organizations. (McNeil does have an outside chance to make the Cubs 40-man roster, but it's a long-shot). Underwood spent a lot of the season on the DL with right forearm/elbow issues and he needs to throw more innings, and being a starter in the AFL should get him around another 30 IP before the close of the season. Caratini is (right now) approximately where Willson Contreras was this time last year, and now Caratini will get a chance to play in the AFL, just like Contreras did post-2015. Ex-Cubs #1 prospect SS Gleyber Torres (sent to the Yankees in the Aroldis Chapman trade) will be playing for the Scottsdale Saguaros.

Why didn't they wait until tomorrow to call up TLS? Don't they have to wait 10 days to bring Patton back up now?

CHITOWNMVP01: It is indeed odd that the Cubs did not just wait one more day to recall LaStella.

As far as Spencer Patton is concerned...

A player who is optioned to the minors generally must remain on Optional Assignment for at least ten days. (A player optioned to the minors during Spring Training generally must remain on Optional Assignment for the first ten days of the MLB regular season). The only exceptions are if the player is recalled as the "26th man" for a day where a doubleheader was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance (or for the second game of the doubleheader only if the doubleheader was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance), or is recalled to replace a player on the 25-man roster who is placed on an MLB inactive list (Disabled List, Bereavement List, Paternity List, Restricted List, et al), or if the season (including post-season playoffs) of the minor league team to which the player is assigned is over, or if the player is traded.

So since the last Iowa Cubs game is next Monday (the I-Cubs did not qualify for the PCL playoffs), Patton can be recalled on Tuesday (9/6) rather than having to wait the full ten days.

Maybe it's to get him some game action. He's only pitched for the Cubs once in the last 10 days. I don't really care much about him going down since he's sucked when up here. I really want Rivero to be called up.

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.