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

Senzel Can't Be Stopped or Contained

Blake Trahan lofted a sacrifice fly to left with one out in the 7th to tie the game and Daniel Sweet followed with a two-out RBI single to give his team a 3-2 lead, and Nick Senzel (Reds 2016 1st round draft pick - 2nd overall pick in the draft) provided an insurance run with a gargantuan home run over the scoreboard in right-centerfield leading off the bottom of the 8th, as the Reds rallied late and then held-on to edge the Angels/Cubs co-op squad 4-3 in AZ Advanced Instructional League game action Tuesday afternoon on Field #1 at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex in Goodyear, AZ.  

Brendon Sanger (Angels) and Alberto Mineo (Cubs) belted solo home runs and Mineo also doubled and scored on a Jason Vosler (Cubs) two-out RBI single to account for the three Angels/Cubs runs.  

Although they lost the game, Angels/Cubs pitchers (actually they were all Cubs pitchers) fanned 14 Reds in the game (11 swinging). 

Nick Senzel continues to wow scouts & spectators alike with his awesome power to all fields. Reds fans didn't have a whole lot to cheer about this past season, but I would expect the University of Tennessee product to make the Riverfront Stadium scene sooner rather than later, providing misery to Cubs pitchers (and to all opposing pitchers) for years to come. He could be the next great young stud MLB third-baseman, following in the footsteps of Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado, and Kris Bryant. 

The Reds starting lineup featured four players who will be playing for the Peoria Javelinas in Arizona Fall League beginning next week, including SS Zach Vincej (singled and scored), CF Brian O'Grady, 1B Chad Wallach (RBI double), and 3B Brandon Dixon. Wallach is the son of long-time MLB third-baseman Tim Wallach (Expos, Dodgers, Angels).  

Here is the box scoere from the game (Cubs players highlighted in bold and underlined):

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Donnie Dewees, CF: 0-3 (L-8, 4-3, K)
1b. Brennon Lund, CF: 0-1 (K)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 0-4 (P-3, P-6, 3-U, P-6)
3. Christian Villanueva, DH #1: 1-3 (BB, 1B, F-8, P-4, PO) 
4a. Matt Thaiss, 1B: 0-2 (P-5, F-9)
4b. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 2-2 (2B, HR, 2 R, RBI)
5a. P. J. Higgins, C: 0-1 (BB, F-9, CS)
5b. Ian Rice, C: 1-2 (F-8, 1B)
6a. Hutton Moyer, SS: 1-2 (P-4, 1B)
6b. Connor Justus, SS: 1-1 (HBP, 1B) 
7. Jason Vosler, 3B: 1-3 (BB, 5-4-3 DP, 1B, 6-4-3 DP, RBI)
8. Eddy Julio Martinez, RF: 0-2 (L-4, 6-3, BB)
9. Brendon Sanger, LF: 1-2 (BB, HR, F-7, R, RBI)
10a. Jose Briceno, DH #2: 0-2 (P-6, F-7)
10b. Jared Walsh, PH: 0-1 (K) 

REDS LINEUP
1a. Zach Vincej, SS: 1-2 (4-3, 1B, R)
1b. Blake Trahan, PH-SS-DH: 0-1 (P-3, F-7 SF, RBI)
1c. Mitch Trees, PH: 0-1 (K) 
2a. Brian O'Grady, CF: 0-2 (K, K)
2b. Daniel Sweet, PH-LF: 1-2 (F-7, 1B, RBI) 
3a. Chad Wallach, 1B: 1-2 (6-3, 2B, RBI)
3b. Gavin LaValley, 1B: 0-2 (L-9, 4-3)
4a. Brandon Dixon, 3B: 0-2 (4-3, K)
4b. Nick Senzel, 3B: 1-2 (K, HR, R, RBI)
5a. James Vasquez, DH: 0-0 (BB, BB)
5b. Alfredo Rodriguez, PH-DH-SS: 1-2 (2B, F-9)
6a. T. J. Friedl, LF: 0-2 (K, 3-6 FC)
6b. Aristides Aquino, RF: 0-2 (L-8, K)
7. Jose Siri, RF-CF: 1-4 (1B, F-8, K, K)
8a. Cassidy Brown, C: 0-2 (K, K)
8b. Chris Okey, C: 0-1 (BB, 6-3, R)
9a. Brantley Bell, 2B: 0-2 (K, K)
9b. John Sansone, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K, R)
 
ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 35 pitches (21 strikes) 
2. Justin Steele: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 41 pitches (27 strikes) 
3. Kyle Miller: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/4 GO/AO, 34 pitches (19 strikes) 
4. Manuel Rondon: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 0/4 GO/AO, 19 pitches (11 strikes) 
5. Tommy Nance: 1.0 IP,  1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 0/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (10 strikes) 
6. James Norwood: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (9 strikes) 

REDS PITCHERS:
1. Braulio Ortiz: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 PO, 1/6 GO/AO, 50 pitches (22 strikes) 
2. Lucas Benenati: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 3/4 GO/AO, 40 pitches (24 strikes) 
3. Jesse Strickland: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 0/3 GO/AO, 22 pitches (10 strikes)
4. Patrick Riehl: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
5. Joel Kuhnel: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (9 strikes)

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

REDS ERRORS: NONE 

REDS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Cassidy Brown: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 7 

WEATHER: Sunny & a bit breezy with temperatures in the 90's 

Comments

Thanks PHIL. Indeed the Reds after making the Playoffs with Dusty, have embraced the SUCK model. With Senzel and RHP Robert Stephenson, plus OF Jesse Winkler, they should be very competitive soon enough. I should also say that the times I have seen the Brewers at Wrigley this year, they have some very nice young talent that should make an impact the next 3-5 years as well.

Article up at Cubs MLB.com site today breaking down Cubs defensive efficiency ratings: http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/204934024/anthony-rizzo-cubs-defense… Leads me to wonder, should the Cubs start Baez at 2B and Zobrist in LF for game 1? It not only gives you better overall infield defense, but it also allows the Ross-Baez combo to be an additional deterrent to the running game. Or do you sit Baez in favor of getting Coghlan's lefty bat in LF?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

HUGE proponent that KB/Addy/Baez/Rizz is what I want to start for me in the Playoffs. The margin for error is SO slim, and with runs even more difficult to come by (with a sometimes-RISP-challenged team), I feel ya on having Zobrist in the OF. Soler is a butcher in the OF and with Lester on the mound I want the absolutely the best 8 guys I can muster.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

from rotoworld

Should the Mets win the Wild Card Game against the Giants on Wednesday, Bartolo Colon or Robert Gsellman would start Game 1 of the NLDS. Colon is an option to pitch out of the bullpen during the Wild Card Game. Should the Mets not need him in that capacity on Wednesday, though, he would start the first game of the NLDS (assuming a victory). Gsellman would start Game 1 if Colon is used out of the bullpen in relief of Noah Syndergaard during Wednesday's winner-take-all contest against Madison Bumgarner and friends.

Bochy put Ninja and Cueto on the Wild Card roster, mentions Ninja has bullpen experience. I mean, if I had that hot mess of a bullpen, I'd certainly rather throw either of those 2 guys before just about anyone else.

really grown to love the 1-game WC sudden-death game. it weakens the entry of the WC team as opposed to the older version where they started on the same pitcher use as division champs. plus, it's like having 2 "Game 7" games to kick off the playoffs. i hope we're done with playoff expansion with adding more teams, though. i don't want the post-season saturated.

uh oh... 3r HR in the top 9th with 1 out for SF...double-sided shutout over. looking a lot like SF is going to get a chance to extend their "even numbered year" streak.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

That's what happens when you use your closer in a non-save situation. Actually, it's standard procedure for the home team to use its closer in the ninth inning of a tie game, since there will never be a save situation in that particular game (except for the visitors).

LEAVE NO DOUBT! Make sure they remember -- FOREVER! -- the year they played the Chicago Cubs!

The Cubs should watch last nights game to see how not to play the Giants. You need to get to their bull pen, so allowing Madbomb to only pitch 14 pitches to get through 2 innings is not a great approach.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

I didn't see, did Madbum even throw > 100 pitches last night? It didn't seem like it. The Mets were doing things like rolling over the first pitch into a double play. Weak. I think the Cubs and Giants are evenly-matched teams in many ways, so I expect this divisional series to be a very good matchup. Whoever wins has a very good chance at advancing to the W.S.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

He made 119 pitches, and I disagree the Cubs and Giants are evenly-matched. That said in a short series where the Giants will have two very good pitchers making three of the five starts anything can happen so I get your point. The Cubs offense needs to force the Giants starters out of the game early by driving up their pitch counts, and they need to avoid turning average or below average players into heroes.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

The Giants have some good starters, arguably better than the Cubs this year if you take out the defensive equation. But on every other level the Cubs are the better team.

The Cubs need to force long AB's and get into the bullpen, everyone knows this. That being said, they can't be so driven for long AB's to miss hittable pitches early in the count.

But for a match-up for the Cubs pitchers, the Giants were definitely the best lineup to face. Apparently Nunez is hurt, so the running game won't be much of an issue for Lester or Arrieta(although they have Span and Pagan too who are okay). And they reallly don't have a lot of home run hitters and putting the ball in play is exactly what this Cubs team and defense is designed for...

Saw a tweet this morning that teams that won 15 or more games that matched up in the playoffs saw the better team winning 9 out of 10 match-ups. The only loser was 2001 Mariners versus the Yankees.

I think the Cubs win this in 4. And I've decided I'd rather face the Dodgers (Kershaw, HIll and Maeda) then the Nats (Scherzer, Roark and Strasburg) because #1) Cubs have killed lefties all year and #2) losing to Dusty Baker would be the epitome of Cubbery.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

"I disagree the Cubs and Giants are evenly-matched." So do I. The Giants have one guy (Belt) with a higher OPS than Zobrist and Fowler, let alone our big boys. Russell would lead them easily in HR and RBI. What they are, really, is a bunch of Zobrists and Fowlers. Not that that's easy to beat, but they're not like us.

I thought this morning (for once) - for those thinking, "Oh shit, they have to face the Even-Year Giants & their pitching" - but then I thought, "SHIT! They are playing the Cubs now!" Anyway, b/c they were in cruise control for so long, we forget that this is really a very, very good team. We'll see if they can sustain this soon enough. #Cubswin

my meaningless predictions...

  • Cubs over Giants
  • Dodgers over Nationals
  • Blue Jays over Rangers
  • Indians over Red Sox

 

  • Blue Jays over Indians
  • Cubs over Dodgers

 

  • Cubs over Blue Jays

There's really no rhyme or reason other than it always seems a WC gets to World Series these days and hell if I'm picking the Giants. Also think the Red Sox pitching is crap, they may get past Indians because of injuries, but I'm not jumping on their bandwagon.

Thanks for posting stuff today. I should be working, but I'm agonizing and I need content to insert into my eyes and ears. I don't know how long I'll survive this postseason.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

That is a really nice piece of sports journalism, and here's what I like most about it: It undercuts the inaccurate caricature of Hendricks as "The Professor." (Well, it does reinforce it a little when it talks about why Hendricks can make that in-season adjustment.) He may be a white kid with mediocre velocity who went to an Ivy League school, but his pitching performances in 2014 and 2015 were neither cerebral nor crafty. He was a two-pitch starter who relied on raw stuff and throwing strikes to be effective. Now he's a got a pitch mix that gives him more strategic options. He's learned more of his craft this year.

There was Bobby Hill and there was Eric Patterson and now there is Arismendy Alcantara

@mlbtraderumors Reds Claim Arismendy Alcantara, Designate Patrick Kivlehan

it's crazy what a couple of clankers off the glove and a badly played fly ball can do to an inning. 5 runs scored off 2 clankers and 1 badly played ball all after 2 outs. plus, ham threw a zillion pitches in the 3rd (42 pitches). no errors, and those clankers were off hard hit balls, but that was a 6 out inning.

anyone know why Carlos Gomez is in LF and Ian Desmond is in CF? Team seniority or is Gomez hurt?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

gomez barely played CF in his short time with the TEX team, plus he came to TEX from HOU after playing some questionable D there. that said, ian desmond settled out as an average-at-best type defender in CF after starting his tenure there playing some flashy CF...him tracking that ball he totally missed was a hell of a time for that average style to turn into crap.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

figuring it's some BS like well Desmond played there before you got here. Gomez's issues in Houston all seemed to be mental gaffes from what I read and he seems to be back on track in Texas. The statcast replay they just showed had Desmond tracking it quite well and alligator-arming it near the wall that he wasn't actually that close to...oof.

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.