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

The Last Out.

It's the bottom of the 10th.
The Cubs are up by a run on the Indians in the last seconds of the 2016 World Series.
Joe Maddon has gone through every weird ass pitching change in the world, and after using up every last drop of every last pitcher he trusts, he puts in Mike Montgomery to get that last out.
Everybody in the country is bleary-eyed and staring with open mouths at this moment.
Michael Martinez, who was put out in right an inning before as a glove, is at the plate.
Montgomery throws a hook for a strike.
Martinez doesn't look like he should be the last gasp for a really good Cleveland team.
He just looks like somebody in a... baseball outfit (I didn't say "uniform" on purpose).
Montgomery throws another hook, and Martinez hits a dribbler towards Kris Bryant that's so badly struck it's just.. that side of a bunt.
It's moving so slowly that Joe Buck actually thinks Martinez might make it to first and says something like, "That's going to be a tough play".

You know how when you look at the sun and close your eyes, the image sticks behind your eyelids?
That happened next, only instead of the sun it was Kris Bryant.
He's smiling - goofily - ear to ear.
He scoops up the ball and throws.
Martinez is out and the Cubs win the World Series.
My head pops like a bubble, but I can't get Bryant's smile off my retinas.
He had such confidence in his baseball ability that he started smiling before he made the play.
By a couple seconds, he cheated the thing that has ruined our lives for all our lives.
I swear all the Cub things, the bad things, flashed in front of my eyes while the ball was taking it's time getting to Bryant's glove.
OHHH NOOOO HE DROPPED THE BAAAALLLLL OOHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOO said Ron Santo.
MOISES ALOU IS POINTING TO A FAN IN THE STANDS said Steve Stone.
THERE'S A BLACK CAT ON THE PLAYING FIELD said somebody in the stands in '69.
But then I see Bryant's smile, and I think this is where it all changed.
The Cubs really aren't that team any more, and they knew it way before me.
They're the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.

And we are finally free.

Comments

This Cubs team makes me want to make art, too. I'm glad you're around to supply some artifacts of the event, Tim! But I'm even gladder you have the energy and sight to illustrate all the other moments.

I had a vision of a bad throw followed by more bad things. I was absolutely stunned when Rizzo caught the throw.

David Ross officially retired prior to 9 AM (Eastern) on Thursday (before he would have been automatically declared an Article XX-B free-agent) so that he could retire as a Cub, FWIW.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Sideswipe a bit, but you'll know the answer. Can the Cardinals DFA Zach Duke, who presumably wants to rehab his TJS? Having a bit of a discussion elsewhere. I doubt they can pay him to go away, and free up a roster spot. Unless he agrees to a buyout. If he stays on rehab and the 40, it probably improves his pension status. TIA.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

TIM: The Cardinals can release Zach Duke at any time, but then they're still on the hook for his 2017 salary ($5.5M). There would be no reason for him to agree to a buy-out, and he has too much service time to get outrighted (he would have to consent to an outright assignment in advance, and he won't). 

What will probably happen is that the Cards will place Duke on their 60-day DL as soon as his 40-man roster slot is needed (a club can place a player on the 60-day DL beginning on the first day of Spring Training, but only if the club's roster is full), and then maybe he can return in September or in the post-season (if the Cardinals get there).  

Or he could be traded to offset the cost of acquiring another player with a substantial salary (as happened with Bronson Arroyo a couple of years ago), and then the club that acquires him would place him on their 60-day DL sometime during Spring Training and nurse him through TJS rehab and hope that he can maybe contribute in September or in the post-season.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks. I thought the MLBPA might object to him losing his service time if he was booted off the roster while rehabbing an injury. They might be staring at some 40 Man concerns, especially if they have some players needing to be Rule 5-protected. Thanks, as always.

Hitting a HR and being on the field for an extra innings Game Seven win to end a 108-year drought. Not a bad way to end a career. Well played, sir.

[ ]

In reply to by CTSteve

Ugh. Although, if this was done Friday afternoon, Miggy may have a had a few with his teammates earlier in the day. This seems inconsistent with what he has said his whole time here -- time for the younger busy to play, he wants to help them, etc. May have been the beer/champagne talking.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Eh. Nothing in the quotes seems all that bad to me. Mostly sounds like he's saying he was disappointed not to play more and that he's glad he got to play a big role in the final few innings, because otherwise he would've felt like he didn't really take part in the WS (which is kind of a more honest version of playing the humble type in an interview). The only part of it that seems like a baseball faux pas is when he talks about not getting the communication from management that he deserved--but if that's true, yeah, that sort of sucks. Not a trade-inducing offense, in my opinion.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

There should have been some communication with him, but he can't really complain, in my opinion. In fact, I wondered if something medically was wrong with him because he had trouble with some very routine things- catching pitches in the strike zone. He would regularly drop them.

after extending a QO to fowler, at least the draft should be interesting with a couple top-40 picks (pending losing one to an unlikely forfeit-signing), even if it's at the tail end of that 40. their 1st pick in 2016 was 104th overall in round 3 on the 2nd day of the draft. at least i imagine a QO for fowler will happen. hopefully there wasn't some under-the-table agreement to not offer him a QO...it was kinda weird how he ended up a cub out of the blue in the first place. as far as his value being 17m or not, i imagine there's a good amount of larger-market teams with a CF need that would bend over backwards to give him a 17m deal with only 1 year of commitment. i'm pretty much expecting a QO to happen and for it to be rejected by fowler. 2016 was the kind of bounce-back season he was gambling on. the bat improved and he went from "how long can he stick in CF" to "he can stick in CF for a while longer." he's in a much better position than last off-season with far less question marks about his ability. also, he doesn't turn 31 until the end of spring training 2017. it should be easy for any team with need to pony up loot on a 3-5 year deal for him without too much worry. as far as cubs upgrades this offseason, i can't imagine what's in store for the cubs as far as major moves that will impact the 2017 MLB roster. a high end reliever...the fifth starter situation...a possible CF/RF surprise...outside of that i have no idea how they'd make a splash on an outside signing that would be worthy of a headline. with a team like this that's not a bad thing. they're already good even if they don't do anything major.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

A QO offer to Fowler is no-brainer unless there was some gentleman's agreement. He would easily be worth 17 mil to the Cubs on a one-year contract next year. If he'd be willing to take a 3-year deal, I'd be happy to see the Cubs work something like that out with him too. But this is a great opportunity for him to cash in.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

There was a lot of buzz that there was an agreement -- that the QO hurt his chances of getting a contract last year. But, assuming Schwarber is healthy and the starting LF and Baez is at 2B puts Zobrist in RF and Heyward in CF. Plus, for now, there's Almora and Soler. Not sure there is a place for Dex, if everyone stays healthy (big assumption).

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Sorry -- double post. There was a lot of buzz that there was an agreement -- that the QO hurt his chances of getting a contract last year. But, assuming Schwarber is healthy and the starting LF and Baez is at 2B puts Zobrist in RF and Heyward in CF. Plus, for now, there's Almora and Soler. Not sure there is a place for Dex, if everyone stays healthy (big assumption).

rizzo, ross, fowler, and bill murray do SNL... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YreZRQupCYk as an aside...man...steve goodman (who wrote/recorded "go cubs go") would be absolutely blown away by what his corny ass song has meant to this team's fan base in the past decade and very especially this year. he died way too early in 1984, just days before the cubs won the NL Eastern division earning their 1st post-season appearance since 1945. his legacy faded then emerged out of the ashes like blah blah let's make a phoenix reference. the guy won a grammy award for willie nelson's cover of one of his song "city of new orleans" in 1985, 6 months after his death. it's amazing how much he's missed out on. he would be 68 if was alive today.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

his elbow must be in worse shape than was let on...at least i assume. 2m to cut him loose, 10m to keep him...basically 8m/yr for hammel after he put up 3.83era + 1.21whip if he's healthy he's one of the best FA pitchers in a historically poor FA pitching class. you got soon-to-be 37 year old rich hill and...umm...well, ivan nova is a FA...so is AARP member bartolo colon...and jeremy hellickson had a nice bounce-back 2016. there's risk gambles like doug fister and andrew cashner, too...

Cubs did put out a lengthy statement on not picking up Hammel's option which if you squint a little, pretty much reads that we could have picked up the option and traded him but wanted to give him a chance at the open market.

so either you hate the move for not being cuthroat enough or like them for looking out for a player that helped them win a championship. 

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

given the market i have no idea how the cubs don't keep/trade him if he's healthy even if it's a little brutal on the business side of things...bryant and lastella have put up with it recently. hammel's value in this market is high at his cost...if healthy. fwiw, the cubs even went out of their way to say he's healthy in the release and hinted they had some "gentleman's agreement" to not pick up his option if they don't want him around in the rotation for 2017. i guess that's what they're going with. it's a lost opportunity, but at least it's not a major blow to the team. there's serious talk that jeremy hellickson is going to get a $17m QO for what he did last year. the market weakness for SP is hardcore advantageous for anyone looking to shift a SP, too. *shrug*

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

"I'm guessing they read the market and decided the return was low enough to do the classy thing for Hammel."

That was my take. I think they like Montgomery and Zastryzny enough and believe in their ability to find some low-cost arms as they have done so well in past years.

We know they like guys who under-performed their FIP...a few names, many of which won't be available.

J. Gray, R. Ray, D. Price, M. Pineda, C. Archer, G. Gonzalez, J. Paxton, M. Andriese, M Wacha, J. Chacin

Archer would obviously be a helluva guy to nab to replace Arrieta.

Barring a trade, and assuming the carry 12 position players and 13 pitchers next year, the position players look pretty set (?) Contreras C Rizzo 1B Baez 2B Russell SS Bryant 3B Schwarber LF Heyward CF Zobrist RF Bench: Miggy, Almora, Soler, Szczur I assume they will deal one or more of the extra OFs -- they need some bullpen arms and could maybe use a backup IF.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

Yep. I assume Soler has the most value. Just looking at that possible starting lineup vs. this year (assuming health): Schwarber replaces Fowler and more Contreras vs. less Miggy/Ross, plus hopefully more growth from Addy and Baez -- could be better than this year. Offensively, anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

My bold prediction for Addison is that he posts a .350-ish OBP in 2017, provided he doesn't run into some sort of terrible BABIP luck. I'm less optimistic about offensive development from Javy, though we might see a home-run jump with regular playing time--probably due primarily to a hot streak or two.

Well, I was on a business trip in Lexington, KY for game 7. Not exactly what I had in my dreams. Raced off the plan to go find a hotel bar, that was completely empty, to watch the first few innings. Watched the last 6 or so in my room. That game was simply something else. and I ended the night in tears, just stunned by what just happened and really not sure what to say or do aside from cry. Anyway...just got back into town and watched the parade on TV and the game again. The parade was incredible and seeing that sea of blue is a sight I'll never forget. (That was NOT 5 million people) As for the game, being able to watch it again without the nerves a few comments: 1. It is amazing how many moments went wrong, yet we still won. 6 runs scored against after 2 outs, all 3 on Chapman after 2 strikes, the errors by Baez, the Ross error, the Wild pitch. Unlike other failures, in 1 year we will never remember those moments. 2. There is simply no excuse for what Maddon did throughout that game. Why put pitchers in the position that is least comfortable for them. He really didn't trust a pitcher with a 2 ERA to get out of an inning after a walk instead of putting in a starter mid inning? He really went to a closer who has stated he hates coming in mid inning. If the game went the other way, could Maddon have recovered from that in Cubs fans minds?

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.