Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

A Baker's Dozen of Cubs Playing Winter Ball South of the Border

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

In addition to the nine Cubs minor leaguers playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, 13 other Cubs minor leaguers are playing winter ball in Latin America: 

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO (Dominican Republic):

AGUILAS: 
Daury Torrez, RHP (eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-World Series)

CIBAO: 
Roberto Caro, OF (was eligible to be minor league 6YFA but has signed 2019 minor league successor contract)  

ESTRELLAS: 
Oscar de la Cruz, RHP (on Cubs Restricted List - serving 80-game suspension for violation of MLB-MLBPA JDPTP)
Jose Paulino, LHP (eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-World Series)
NOTE: Although de la Cruz is on the Cubs Restricted List and thus cannot participate in the Arizona Fall League, he is not prohibited from playing winter ball in Latin America. 

++++++++++++++++++++++

LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACIFICO (Mexico):

CULIACAN: 
Casey Coleman, RHP (eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-World Series) 

JALISCO: 
Jesus Camargo, RHSP 

MEXICALI: 
Mario Meza, RHRP (was loaned to Yucatan and Saltillo in Mexican League in 2018)

OBREGON: 
Carlos Sepulveda, INF (missed 2018 season after undergoing shoulder surgery)
NOTE: Sepulveda is on the Obregon reserve list and can play in LMP only if medically cleared by Cubs 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL (Venezuela):

ANZOATEGUI: 
Erick Castillo, C (was eligible to be minor league 6YFA but has signed 2019 minor league successor contract) 

CURACAS: 
Jeffrey Baez, OF (eligible to be minor league 6YFA post-World Series) 
Enrique de los Rios, RHP (eligible for selection in December 2018 Rule 5 Draft)

LARA: 
Yapson Gomez, LHRP (eligible for selection in December 2018 Rule 5 Draft)

MARGARITA: 
Eugenio Palma, LHRP (eligible for selection in December 2018 Rule 5 Draft)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (the Puerto Rican winter league) begins play in a about a month and rosters have not yet been announced. 

Unlike the Arizona Fall League, free agents are eligible to play in the Latin Winter Leagues, so while Baez, Coleman, Paulino, and Torrez are presently under control of the Cubs, they might not be by the time the leagues conclude play.   

In addition to the 13 Cubs minor leaguers on the rosters of Latin winter league clubs, more than 30 former Cubs major leaguers and minor leaguers are playing winter ball in Latin America as well, including INF Arismendy Alcantara, RHP Pedro Araujo, OF Junior Lake, OF Felix Pie, RHP Carlos Pimentel, RHP Ivan Pineyro, LHP David Rollins and LHP Raul Valdes (Dominican Republic), RHP Dallas Beeler, C Sergio Burruel, LHP Gerardo Concepcion, OF-IF Anthony Giansanti, RHP Aaron Kurcz, RHP Sergio Mitre, LHP James Russell, INF Issmael Salas, RHP Nick Struck, and OF Jesus Valdez (Mexico), and RHP Jose Ascanio, RHP Francisco Carrillo, INF Ronny Cedeno, LHP Hunter Cervenka, RHP Dayan Diaz, RHP Greyfer Eregua, RHP Eduardo Figueroa, INF Bryant Flete, RHP Ramon Garcia, RHP Mark Malave, RHP Jhondaniel Medina, RHP Miguel Mejia, INF Andruw Monasterio, RHP Williams Perez, and RHP Carlos Zambrano (Venezuela). 

Tags
Cubs Minor Leagues
Winter Ball

Comments

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 10/17/2018 - 10:56 pm

some of these guys are still trying to make it, but a lot of those "old names" playing winter ball on this level are in it knowing they're playing competitive ball in front of good fans while having some fun and that's about the best that will come of it.

i'm still waiting for the day they regularly show some of these games during the winter.  ESPN Deportes showed dominican league games about a decade ago...that was fun.

at least the Caribbean Series is televised, but that don't show up until february and it's only a week-ish long.  it's a nice warmup before spring training.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 10/19/2018 - 10:53 pm

w.sox gonna let matt davidson become a 2-way player.

90mph fastball, curve, threw 3 innings last year including a g.stanton K.

neat.

Submitted by Cubster on Sat, 10/20/2018 - 10:15 pm

Easy to second guess but putting Hader in for the 3rd, made them vulnerable later and there it is.

Different than using a starter like Becket, Sale or Madbum. More like burning a good Andrew Miller early.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 10/20/2018 - 10:16 pm

i understand j.jeffress had a good season, but he's been getting hit in the post-season.  i can't believe he even sniffed an appearance in a close game with plenty of arm left in the pen.

also, here's to hoping MIL doesn't improve their SP in 2019 because the bats and pen are set to be annoying for the cubs without much tweaking to be done.

[ ]

Submitted by Lester's rattl… on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 10:07 am

From what Smoltz was saying, some of those bullpen guys like Woodruff are supposed to be shifted into starter roles next season. For the Cubs sake, I really hope Stearns relies soley on that method to upgrade their starting rotation. He seems cheap, or doesn't get any leeway from ownership in spending more money, so I kind of believe that's what will happen. Intererstingly enough, I wonder if it could allow them to go after a guy like Manny Machado, which would be pretty funny considering what just transpired in the last week. Back to their pitching. If they do move relievers into starting roles, I wonder what their plan will be for stretching them out and allowing them to pitch through a full season, and into the playoffs. I can just imagine them being worn out by September, much less October. So that comes back to the fact that they do need to get in on signing a starting pitcher through free agency.

At this point, it's 2 straight years they've had a very good team and management has failed to upgrade the rotation to get them into the playoffs, and now the World Series. Had they added one starting pitcher like Happ or Hamels at the deadline, I think that would've taken a little pressure off the bullpen, and brought them all the way to the World Series, and maybe they'd even hoist that trophy in another week. It reminds me of the Strasburg innings limit and the assumption that they will be back in the same position in the following year. Alot can happen after an offseason; just like Cubs players seeming content and not showing the same fire of 2015 and '16, or all the injuries the Cubs battled through in 2018 that leaves a team too run down by the time the post season starts. 

Either way, I'll definitly be paying attention to what the Brewers do this offseason, because it does seem like they will be our biggest opponent in winning the Central next season. 

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 10:47 pm

"According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, Joe Girardi is believed to be waiting for a managerial opening with either the Cubs or White Sox."

a'ite then.

Submitted by The E-Man on Mon, 10/22/2018 - 10:03 pm

Fuck the Motherfucking Brewers:

On the same team they have -

A guy arrested for DWI and suspending for like 50 games (Jefress)

A lying, cheating, steroid user who ruined other’s careers and got suspended for nearly a year (should have been banned, period) Braun

And, a homophobic closer who gets a standing ovation praising him.

Fuck all of them and I hope we beat their asses next year.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 10:37 am

j.jeffress vs marijuana was kinda unreal.  dude loved his green.  3 violations for 150 total games suspended...

fair or not (ahem...not), he pretty much collectively missed an entire season because of getting high.  that said, he knew what was on the line and he did it anyway.  it's worth noting they don't test for weed in the bigs.  we may not have a game to watch if they did.

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

Click HERE for the last 50 comments