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 @ Cardinals: Series Thread (Games 106-108)

The Cubs head off to St. Louis for a 3-game set. As of this posting, they are tied with the Cards for first place and the Brewers are only one game back. Let's see who will be doing the bulk of the pitching work each day.


Game 106, Tuesday, 7:15pmCDT
CHC: RHP Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.54 ERA)
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (7-7, 4.63 ERA)

Notes: Darvish has improved lately! Wainwright is old! Go Cubs!


Game 107, Wednesday, 7:15pmCDT
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-8, 3.26 ERA)
STL: RHP Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.19 ERA)

Notes: Hendricks is the Professor! Mikolas played in Japan! Go Cubs!


Game 108, Thursday, 6:15pmCDT
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (9-6, 3.63 ERA)
STL: RHP Jack Flaherty (4-6, 4.17 ERA)

Notes: Lester has a better record than Hendricks? Flaherty strikes people out a lot! Go Cubs!


Time to get some work done in the division, Cubs!

Comments

Cleaning out the back of the closet? 

I'm wondering if we will see some more transactions at the bottom part of the roster before Thursday to clear out some players that the MLB club is not going to use in Sept or (hopefully) Oct. Maybe some DFAs (Zagunis?) or 60-day IL assignments (Descalso?). I know that they don't want to roster long term assets as it will burn an option year, but it sure seems that somebody like Evans (INF) would be more helpful on the 40 than Zagunis (no knock on his particular skill set, but clearly didn't win love from mgmt earlier this year & less of a compliment for "in case of emergency" situations). Or early-decisions/trades on "Iowa Shuttle" pitchers who are out of options for next year (Rosario, Mills, Underwood).... 

[ ]

In reply to by First.Pitch.120

Because of the change in the rules next season where a pitcher will be required to face a minimum of three batters in an inning unless the pitcher gets the third out, the LOOGY (lefty relief specialist) will likely go the way of Sunday doubleheaders, so the value of a LOOGY will likely be significantly diminished after this season. There will still be lefty relievers, but they will have to be able to get RH hitters out, too, not just be death on LH hitters only.   

Conversely, with active rosters expanding next season from 25 to 26 (where the 26th man cannot be a pitcher), an ace PH who can't play defense, a 5th OF / PR, or a third catcher will suddenly gain value they don't have now. So a versatile speed guy like 2B-OF Tony Kemp (recently DFA'd by HOU) might be a guy the Cubs could look to acquire, both for September this season and then as the 26th man in 2020 (Kemp is using up his last option year this season and so he will be out of options in 2020).  

[ ]

In reply to by First.Pitch.120

I have been a fan of Wyatt Short's since the Cubs drafted him. Not just because his name is apt, but because I enjoy B-side prospects who overperform and force a club to make a decision. I'm with you thinking that he could burn an option year in the inevitable last hurrah for LOOGYs. But I think all signs point to Hultzen filling that role.

[ ]

In reply to by erich081

Wyatt Short would only burn an option year in 2019 if he is added to the 40-man roster and then is optioned back to the minors prior to the conclusion of the season, but that wouldn't be an issue if he were to be called up in September.

However, Short's slot on the 40 would probably be needed post-2019 for a more highly-regarded prospect, so if he were to be added to the 40 in September he would have to get through waivers before he could be sent outright to the minors after the season. But since LOOGYs will cease to have much value after this season, I would doubt that he would be claimed if were to be placed on waivers post-2019.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Seeing Wyatt Short's name reminds me how John Arguello and I would distinguish between Zack Short and Wyatt Short when they were at Minor League Camp (they were both drafted the same year):  

There is Zack Short who plays short, and Wyatt Short who is short. 

Cubs acquire 32-year old RHRP David Phelps from Toronto Blue Jays for RHSP Tom Hatch (Cubs 2016 3rd round draft pick - Oklahoma State - first-time Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2019).

Phelps underwent TJS in March 2018 and only returned to game action within the last couple of months. He is signed through 2019 ($2.5M) with a $1M club option for 2020 that can increase significantly (to $3M if 30-39 games, $5M if 40-49 games, $7M if 50+ games, and $8M if 50+ games and 40+ GF in 2019). He also has up to $3M+ available in potential performance bonuses in both 2019 and 2020 that are tied to games and GF. 

Oy: Phelps, 32, last pitched Sunday against the Rays, allowing three runs on two homers and recording just two outs. It comps well with Kimbrel’s last outing!

Ouch!

so the 2020 pen now looks like kimbrel, k.ryan, chatwood, brach, cj edwards, and phelps (assuming exercised options for brach/phelps).

a.webster is lurking out there with the rest of the kids and dregs.  a.mills might have a role.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: If all the 2020 options are exercised the pen would be Kimbrel, Phelps, Ryan, Brach, Chatwood, and Holland, with Edwards, Rosario, Webster, Underwood, and Mills out of options in 2020 (also Hultzen out of options if he is added to the 40), plus Wick, Maples, Norwood, and de la Cruz on the 40-man roster but probably optioned to Iowa, plus Mekkes (50/50 chance to get added to the 40), C. Brooks (not likely to get added to the 40), and W. Short (not likely to get added to the 40) also at Iowa. 

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Cubs are responsible for only $425K and Giants pay the remaining $1.8M+ of what remains of Holland's 2019 salary and Giants pay the $500K buy-out if 2020 $7M club option is declined, but Cubs pay the entire $7M 2020 salary if club option is not declined, so I would expect the Cubs to decline the 2020 club option. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Cubs are responsible for Phelps entire remaining 2019 salary (about $820K) plus up to $430K of potential $2.5M in 2019 performance bonuses (for a maximum 2019 payroll liability of $1.25M), and Blue Jays pay any amount over $430K (all the way up to the $2.5M performance bonus maximum).

There is no buy-out so 2020 club option (which depending on whether or not he reaches accelerators could be as little as $1M or as much as $8M - TBD) can be declined without penalty. 

wow...if any of you have streaming mlb.tv check out that crazy PIT/CIN fight.  wow.

amir garrett straight up ran up on the PIT dugout throwing punches and y.puig (who was traded to CLE mid-game) has easily just earned himself some suspension time.

So it is possible to not blow a slim lead in the 8th inning?  Cubs should give that a try sometime. Also, 15 Cubs LOB so far this game - and Bote’s fielding continues to suck

Robel’s OBP now a robust .258 -- so the move to leadoff is paying big dividends. Check that: after his 4th K of the night, the OBP now .254

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

He can't hit anything with bend in it.  Seems pretty typical for stories like his.  He first comes up, opposing teams have no book, throw FBs to see if he can hit them.  Turns out he can.  Go to non-fastballs and find he can't hit those.  Pretty simple, that.  Up to Joe now to adjust by not using him.

ugg...STL solely in 1st now.

not a horrible game.  pitchers from both sides dominated.  cubs missed more opportunities, though.  sigh.

m.maldonado traded to HOU

CHC gets a handful of pocket change and an autographed Derek Bell baseball card with smudged ink.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

more useful than maldy, but kinda "meh" with happ/bote/garcia/russell/descalso (and zobrist, soon enough) in the mix.  he doesn't do much to stand out from what's already on board.

still...i'd like to have him around over maldy...and it makes me wonder if they have another trade in mind.  if i was happ, i'd be sweating right about now.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Given the new trade deadline rules, I liked having a 3rd MLB level catcher around, especially since Caratini and Willson have some positional flexibility.  Unless there is another move to shore up depth, Taylor Davis is the next guy up in case there is an injury.  Not like catching is dangerous or at all injury prone.

[ ]

In reply to by First.Pitch.120

Subthread - best / worst jerseys @ WF?

Still see a number of FUKUDOME jerseys; the occassional GARCIAPPARA; depending on personal preference lots of SOSA to go around. 

Last year I saw a FONTENOT, which I appreciated... both for the rare but not esoteric quality & the willingness for somebody to go all-in on a player they liked.  I think in 7-10 years there will be quite a few LA STELLA jerseys in this category. 

Of course, I am the guy who was finally in the position to purchase my first replica-quality player jersey in summer 2011, and I chose to get a Kerry Wood jersery.  That fall I was out at the bars on Halloween (Madison, WI - Freakfest) & threw on the jersey as an ersatz costume.  When we got carded at the first bar (I was 33 at the time), my brother-in-law (6 yrs younger & a STL Cards fan) started razz-ing the bouncer about not having to card a guy in a Kerry Wood jersey b/c nobody who owns a KW jersey is under 21. Pretty good burn & he kept it going all night eventually wanting to know why I didn't wear my ____ jersey instead.  He went from KW to Sosa to Sandberg to Rick Monday (respect for the semi-deep 70's pull from a Cards fan) to Banks... I think we were on Cap Anson by the end of the night.

i'm gonna give a bigass shout out to tim souers for that "stakes are high" trade deadline twitter post.

brews just made a "major trade" according to one of their beat writers...waiting...waiting...

Crunch finally gets his wish with JHey hitting leadoff tonight. I’d been against the move since he’s been so good mid-to-late order and I believe (from prior interviews) that JHey doesn‘t like hitting leadoff ... howevuh ... desperate times. I’m in with it too - at least until Whit rolls into town after the Cubs swing Descalso to the Royals for him 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The Cubs also traded OF Jimmy Herron (2018 3rd round draft pick - Duke) to the Colorado Rockies for still more ISBP space (that is, not actually money, but merely the right to spend money on IFA). The Cubs signed Herron for a $520K bonus, so I would think they received significant ISBP space from the Rockies in the deal.  

ISBP space can be traded in increments of $250K (including multiples of $250K) unless a club is trading all of its remaining ISBP space, and a club can acquire no more than 60% above its assigned ISBP space (which in the case of the Cubs is $5,398,300, with 60% of that being $3,238,980), so the Cubs get $250K, $500K, #$750K, $1M, etc, ISBP space from the Padres (In the Edwards trade) and likewise from the Rockies (for Herron).   

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

So it’s Oscar De La Cruz getting DFA’d. I assume this means he can’t be traded since the deadline is past? Doubt he clears waivers. Sad to see him on the way out but I suppose he didn’t help himself too much with the PED suspension. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

The Tigers have the #1 waiver claim in MLB and it's possible that Oscar de la Cruz would have been part of the Castellanos trade but the Tigers didn't want to commit a 40-man roster slot to ODLC just yet, so the Cubs keep him in DFA limbo for a week allowing DET to make roster adjustments, and then the Tigers will just claim him off waivers next week.   

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

this would make the most sense because giving up on de la cruz seems insane unless he's got something going on that's not public.

even if chances him of being a starter is wearing thin, it's not a stretch to consider him a high ceiling arm out of the relief role if he has the ability to pitch back-to-back days and multiple times a week on proper rest.

CJ for Brad Wieck from the Friars. CJ will never walk another hitter once he dons the Padres uni.

Name seems oddly familiar.  He is a big Lefty dude, 6'9", 255lbs. Significantly bigger than Sean Marshall. Hope he throws harder than Sean.

From a Padres blog:

the good: Big Brad Wieck can certainly pitch in the PCL. In 13.2 innings he has 26 strikeouts against only six walks as the opposition is hitting only .149 against him.

the bad:  Brad Wieck gave up five in 1 1/3 innings pitched. 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Oof!  -- on the five runs in 1 1/3.  Also, CJ's pitches have lost their movement.  Evidently, whatever he did to deal with his control problems also made his pitches much more hitable.  Putting his now-hitable pitches in the strike zone on a consistent basis doesn't sound very promising.

I get the joke you were making -- we've seen that story before.  Scott Eyre (Stevie Ire, to Lou P.) springs immediately to mind.

With the Cubs having traded Hatch, Lange, and Richan over the past couple of days, two starting rotation slots suddenly opened up at Tennessee and another is now open at Myrtle Beach, so Erich Uelmen has been moved-up from Myrtle Beach to Tennessee and a couple of other promotions are likely imminent. 

David Phelps and Tony Kemp have apparently arrived in St. Louis and are active for tonight's game, so Duane Underwood Jr has been optioned back to AAA Iowa.

Another 25-man roster move will be needed when Nicholas Castellano reports (probably Robel Garcia gets optioned to Iowa), then another one this weekend when Hamels is reinstated from the IL (probably Wick will be optioned back to Iowa), and then still another one next week (presuming Strop spends only the minimum number of days on the 10-day IL). 

What did the Cubs give up for Nick Castellano?  Follow trade trees:  Alex Lange - The Compensation pick for losing Dexter Fowler.  Paul Richan - Comp pick for Jake Arrieta.  Follow the tree back farther and you'll see it intertwines with the Aroldis Chapman Deal (losing Gleyber Torres), the Addison Russel deal the Starlin Castro to NYY deal.  What's left from these big deals? Pedro Stop/Nick Castellano (probably both bolt for FA) and Addison Russel who's future is bleek (at least in CHI).  A lot of trading/losing big name players for likely nothing left next year.  (Yes a ring, but I still maintain they could have done w/o Chapman and Torres would look a lot better than Russel tandem with Javy right now.

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

  it’s called a trade tree, it was suppose to be for fun.  Chapman deal fits in because they sent Billy McKinnie who got they got in the Russel deal.  Also they got Dan Straliy in tge Russell deal.  Which was flipped for Dexter Fowler.  Paul Richan was Fowlers comp, as was Lange for Arrieta.  Which now ties Those trades together.  It was just to show how many players and deals intertwined to come up with Nick Castellanos.  Chill out.

Play some more trade tree games from today: C.J. Edwards the last part of the Matt Garza deal.  Tony Kemp goes through Montgomery that sent All-Star Daniel Vogalbach to SEA (given he'd be homeless in CHI).  Did they need Monty for the ring probably (he did get the last out).  I don't think they needed C.J. "Deer in the headlights" to get that ring after all he had the chance to end it.

i.happ actually does somethig and gets his 1st RBI on the season on a single.

i wonder how much heyward in CF and castellano in RF we're gonna see going forward.

It’s not so much a question of whether the Cubs cough up the 1-0 lead on the road but which inning: 7, 8 or 9?  If Strop were active I’d say the 8th but will go with the 9th. 

cubs win!  back in 1st.

there's a lot of CHC vs STL+MIL games left in the season.

How often does Javy provoke a throwing error and advance at lease one base?  Seems like defenders get the yipps when he's on base.  Is there a stat for that?

Tonight’s lineup: JHey / Nick C (RF) / KB / Rizzo / Javy / Willson / Schwarbs / Kemp (2B) / Lester

Castellanos sporting a .357 OBP batting second with the Tigers this year

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In reply to by Eric S

kemp @2nd...i guess you gotta play him somewhere, but he's pretty cruddy there...not like he's much better in the OF, though.  hope he's ready to tandum with baez.

i don't really understand why he's even a cub, honestly.  the club already has 3-4 clones of him...only kemp is about 3ft tall.  he's probably in charge of guarding the pot of gold and magically delicious cereal tim collins was in charge of protecting.

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In reply to by crunch

Why do you think he’s cruddy at 2B? That was his primary position coming up and the metrics at least say he’s been average or better in limited MLB time there.

His major contribution over the other 2B/bench options is his high contact rate. He’s been an above average bat v. RHP the last two years (107 wRC+) so he should be an upgrade if he can keep that up. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

cruddy is a bit strong, but "average on his better days" is about as far as i'm gonna get with it.  he's not inept, but given the meh bat his talents get lost in the mix with what's already here.

and yeah, that contact rate is a big outlier over a lot of others here.  that's a specific tool that comes in really handy off the bench.

i don't have an issue with him getting a few 100 ABs a year.  i just didn't see the trade as an upgrade as much as i see him as a guy who's talents don't make him stand out from the group already here who can play 2nd/OF.

Every time we play the pissboy crew from the Lou I’m always struck by each starting pitcher seeming to own us in his career

d.holland, welcome to the cubs.

STL with a 6 run lead...lester on the hook for 5 of those.

Cubs - tired of scoring two runs against the Cards - saving their runs for the Brewers.  #strategery

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.