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 @ Giants: Hendricks vs Bumgarner (Game 113)

CHC (59-53): RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.81)
SF (45-70): LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-5, 2.88)
First pitch: 2:45pmCST

Hendricks gave up 3 ER in 7 innings and lost to the Nationals on Friday. He beat the Giants at Wrigley in May (7 IP, 2 ER, 5 K, 0 BB). Overall, the Giants are 12-48 (.250) against him. Pence is 2-2.Bumgarner lost to the D’backs his last time out (7 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, 2 BB). The Cubs are 22-95 (.232) against him. Jay is 6-20.

Tomorrow we rest, then it’s Lackey (9-9) and Corbin (8-11) in Arizona at 8:40pmCST.

Go Cubs!

Comments

RHRP Koji Uehara to the 10-day DL with neck stiffness, and Cubs recall RHRP Justin Grimm 

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

they've been stretching out pena in AAA. they were doing it with rosscup before they gave up and traded him. he's gone 2-3ip his last 3 appearances and has been pitching more than 1ip per appearance since mid-july. looks like he's being groomed to either take over for montgomery's role next year or compliment montgomery in the pen next year (and sept+ this year).

So facing Bumgarner and Bartolo starting for the Twins against the Brewers. Not good. Hopefully Cahill can do the Cubs a solid against the Cards.

"kyle doesn't hit well with 2 strikes. maybe he won't get to 2 strikes." - len ...schwarber proceeds to go 0-2 K's on a 2-2 count. neat.

Phil, any word on the draft picks who haven't made an appearance yet? I believe all that are left are Estrada, Brady Miller and Braxton Light.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DJL: Braxton Light is at AZL Cubs but he hasn't pitched in a game yet, and Brady Miller and Jeremiah Estrada were here when they signed but I don't know their current whereabouts. Miller is from Oregon so he may be at Eugene, although he hasn't pitched in a game yet.  

Estrada signed after July 1st so he could have been "Signed for Future Service" (signed a 2018 contract), which would mean he could not make his pro debut until post-season Instructs (as happened with Thomas Hatch last year).

The Cubs usually take a conservative approach with pitchers signed after being selected in the June Draft, so inactivity isn't particularly alarming. 

"Span singles on a pop up to second baseman Ian Happ" That sums up this recent skid. (Yes, I know the play in actuality wasn't close to what it was written as)

RIP contreras's right hamstring. awesome. this game is a big bag of mashed up assholes.

On the upside, Cubs still have gained 6 games on Mil, 2 on STL, and 2 on Pit since the All-Star break.

Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat Reports from San Fran say #Cubs Contreras will have MRI on Thu on right leg. Had to be helped off the field. Expected to go on DL

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

If it turns out Contreras will miss an extended period of time, the Cubs may look to acquire still another veteran back-up catcher, but this time one with a plus-arm (Avila has just an average arm) who can control baserunners when Jon Lester starts. Possible candidates would be Rene Rivera (NYM) or A. J. Ellis (MIA). Both would be short-term rentals (both are free-agents after the season) and probably wouldn't cost much. 

Of course there is no way to make up for what Contreras contributed to the offense from the catcher position. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Something else to keep in mind about hamstring injuries is that even after the player returns to action, the player will sometimes aggravate the injury (as happened with Starlin Castro this year), even after the player thinks he's 100%.  

A hamstring strain can be the gift that keeps giving. 

Wow this day is depressing. Giants get the winning run with some good luck (soft contact going for hits) and Contreras likely going to miss time. Very unfortunate to land on the DL when respecting 90. Luckily they traded for Avila. I know that some people will panic over losing 2/3 to a bad team like the Giants, but Blach has pitched well and it doesn't matter if you face a pitcher like Bumgarner if it's the Dodgers or the Phillies. When facing an elite pitcher, throw the team record out the window.

[ ]

In reply to by chitownmvp01

I'm not worried about losing 2/3 to a bad team. That will hapen to anyone (except the Dodgers). I'm worried about losing 6 of 8 and in really ugly fashion in line with the first half of the year. Errors, poor situational hitting, giving up early runs, bullpen explosions, etc.

He probably beats it out if he doesn't get hurt. The play was very close for a player who got hurt when running down the line.

Looking at the ESPN schedule for the Cubs, Lackey vs Bailey next week. Inb4 the final score is Cubs 12, Reds 10.

Well, what did we all really expect? 2015 was a fun and unexpected gift. 2016 was a once-in-a-liftime joy ride. It's 2017. There is an understandable letdown. Everybody -- fans, players, management -- seems a little testy and on edge, like the party has gone on too long and has gotten a little stale. Losing Fowler, Ross and Travis Wood ripped a lot of the leadership and fun out of this team. Even Maddon has noted that this team doesn't seem to be having much fun (winning obviously impacts that). I like Happ's game, but the guy has all the emotion and personality of a fire hydrant. Wrigley is also becoming a less fun, more corporate place. Luxury clubs are being built underground; glassed-in club seats are going to be put in the upper deck behind home plate. The Wrigley feel really took hit when they moved the bullpens to an undisclosed location. It was never going to be the same after last year, but the changes to the ballpark and the personnel have made it a stark, raw change.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I still feel Wrigley will always be wrigley as long as the location stays the same, the walls have Ivy and the centerfield scoreboard remains. Everything else I am willing to give up as long as those dollars are put back into the quality of product. I fully believe those video screens, the hotel, the remodel, are directly and substantially related to the Cubs winning the World Series. Not a coincidence. When the plans got approved, the Ricketts opened their wallets for on field talent. I also think added night games at Wrigley had a huge impact in improved quality.

As I mentioned a couple months ago, for a couple of the reasons you mentioned, plus the pitching at the time, I didn't think the team would make the Playoffs. Typically, a team needs one or two guys to have All Star years. Last year, they had 5-6, plus a battle for league MVP! This year? Well... The Nats and Dodgers are for real. I expect Dusty to lose again, and for the Cubs to be much better next year.

Everybody starts the playoffs 0-0. Cubs the only team with an NL championship (let alone a WS), so they'll be the experienced entry. Maybe they get hot. The downside of the way they've been playing is that they could be fifteen out, but instead they find themselves in first place. It's all (potentially) good.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Yep -- if they can get in, it is conceivable to believe that: 1. Lester, Jake and Q could provide some outstanding starts 2. Rondon, Monty, Strop, CJ (?), Wilson and Davis could throw some quality innings out of the 'pen 3. Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, Russell (?) & Baez bats could get hot Of course, none of these things (particularly the bats) have happened on a regular basis so far this year, but the potential is there.

no cubs game today...MIL + STL playing, though. noon EST...still waiting on that contreras MRI/news/etc

Victor Caratini is not in the Iowa Cubs lineup today (Thursday), meaning he was probably called up to the Cubs "Taxi Squad" pending a roster decision on Willson Contreras prior to tomorrow night's game at Arizona. 

A club can recall a player from a minor league Optional Assignment and place the player on its "Taxi Squad" for one day. If the player is not added to his club's MLB Active List by 3 PM (Eastern) the next day or at least three hours prior to the scheduled start of the next day's game (whichever is later), the player must be removed from the Taxi Squad and returned to his minor league assignment.

A player on the Taxi Squad does not count against his club's MLB active roster or the minor league club's active roster, and the player does not accrue MLB Service Time while on the Taxi Squad. The most common reasons to recall a player and place him on the Taxi Squad is when a club is considering whether to place a player on the Disabled List (or other MLB inactive list) but has not yet decided or if a trade is imminent but has not yet been consummated.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: I could have picked-up Caratini at Sky Harbor this morning after I dropped my wife off at work (I was only a couple of miles from the airport), but the Cubs didn't ask. (They probably have seen me drive and they don't want to risk losing another catcher right now). 

With the Cubs in town to play the D'backs, I wonder if Addison Russell might take the opportunity to play a rehab game or two with the AZL Cubs before getting reinstated from the DL on Sunday.

The AZL Cubs play the AZL Diamondbacks at Whirlwind Field (D-1) at Salt River Fields tonight and then they play the AZL Diamondbacks at Sloan Park in Mesa tomorrow night, probably the most convenient minor league rehab assignment possible.

Thinking about Billy's Wrigley's comments, yes things have changed, the Ricketts have completely monitized the brand which they were entitled to after the big-ass risk they took dealing with asshole Zell. But would you rather have the "old" Wrigley and have Gary Bussy playing organ for 9 innings, and during rain delays for 2 hours? Give me a break. I don't know about the "stark, raw change". Change is inevitable. With success, its REALLY inevitable. I am for sure bummed about the bullpens. But, the energy and entertainment value has been increased exponentially in my opinion.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Well, I agree and disagree (obviously). At Fenway, they have so many banners and signs it looks like a NASCAR race, but they didn't change the ballpark itself. To me, the bullpens were part of what made Wrigley Wrigley. Now watching the relievers warm up looks like it's being beamed in from the space station. I doubt moving the bullpens was a huge financial boon for the Ricketts. I'm not against change per se -- I have no issue with the video boards or all the development around the ballpark. But, to me, the bullpens, ivy and old scoreboard were landmarks that made Wrigley a different place.

If Rizzo and Bryant and others step up and get hot, Contreras injury could be blessing in disguise. I think Addison Russell is key though, a lot of clutch hits in 2016 and was heating up prior to landing on the DL. Zobrist not underperforming would be great too.

[ ]

In reply to by chitownmvp01

hot or not, a leg injury to the catcher that makes lester a more complete pitcher isn't something that excites me. at least it's his hamstring rather than his knees. it seems hamstring re-injuries pop up a bit more, but contreras's comfort crouching and mobility out of the crouch is a hell of a compliment to his high velocity arm and busted up knees are huge culprit in harming that ability. hopefully he returns, gets through the rest of the year, and has a nice rest over the offseason. he's a young/healthy dude. i'm not that concerned long term.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Squatting position is not a hamstring stretch as the knee and hip are both flexed. A hamstring stretch is done with the knee in full extension and hip getting progressive flexion. More or less like touching your toes with knees straight. On the field before games you can see several players helping each other with hamstring stretches. Usually the player getting stretched is lying on his back and the other is gradually pushing the leg towards the head. Here is some eye candy video on how to stretch hamstrings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwpEdxZ4H4

Reds had a 10-2 lead over the Brewers, but the Brewers scored 7 in the 6th to make it 10-9 after 6. Wow.

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.