Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* 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: 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 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs vs. Reds: Series Thread (Games 150-152)

The Cubs swept the Pirates at home and will aim to provide just that sort of treatment now to the Reds as they come into town. They'll have to continue to do their work without Javy and now Rizzo too will be unavailable. No word yet, as far as I can tell, about when Russell might become available again--but fans are generally pleased with Hoerner's first MLB stint anyway. The Cubs now trail the Cardinals by only 2.0 games in the division and the Nats by 1.5 in the Wild Card. The Brewers remain hot on their heels, despite the recent loss of Yelich, while the Mets, Phillies, and D-Backs have dropped back to likely also-ran positions. Don't expect the Reds to be a walk in the park, but the Cubs will at least dodge Luis Castillo. Continue below for the match-ups.


Game 150, Monday, Sep. 16, 7:05pmCDT
CHC: LHP Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.89 ERA)
CIN: RHP Kevin Gausman (3-8, 5.83 ERA)

Hamels worked an effective but inefficient 4.1 innings and took a loss to the Padres in his last start. He walked four and struck out six will allowing a solo homerun as the only scoring. He's 0-1 vs. Cincinnati this year, having been limited to four innings in two starts, both away from Wrigley. Perhaps the Friendly Confines will treat him a bit better.

Gausman came over from Atlanta after the trade deadline. The Reds have used him exclusively out of the bullpen, but they haven't used him on consecutive days and they over turn to him for more than one inning of work. He took a loss to the Cubs in his first appearance with the Reds, allowing two earned runs in two innings on August 8th. Castellanos is 4-15 with two homeruns off of him, and Zobrist is 8-13 with four doubles and a homerun.


Game 151, Tuesday, Sep. 17, 7:05pmCDT
CHC: RHP Yu Darvish (6-6, 3.97 ERA)
CIN: RHP Sonny Gray (10-7, 2.80 ERA)

Darvish built on his impressive second half by going collecting fourteen strikeouts (compared to two walks) in six innings for a win in San Diego. He lost in Cincinnati on August 9th, allowing four earned runs in six innings, getting hurt especially by three homeruns.

Gray took a loss in Seattle, providing 6.1 innings and allowing three earned runs. He struck out nine along the way and probably deserved better. He's provided 6+ innings in each of his last five starts. He's 2-1 against the Cubs in four starts this year, allowing seven earned runs in 23.1 innings pitched and striking out 28. Zobrist is 4-7 off of him and Castellanos 3-9, the closest to any thriving Cubs one can find in the match-up stats sheet.


Game 152, Wednesday, Sep. 18, 7:05pmCDT
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (13-10, 4.59 ERA)
CIN: RHP Tyler Mahle (2-11, 5.11 ERA)

Lester labored through unfavorable pitching conditions to earn a win against the Pirates despite allowing seven runs, four earned, in five innings. He's had a ton of traffic of late, allowing 24 walks and 56 hits in 46.2 innings since the beginning of August, for a WHIP slightly over 1.7. He's somehow managed to go 4-4 in those nine starts. The Reds have feasted on him for a .825 OPS in 200 at-bats. Eugenio Suarez has done much of that damage, going 14-39 with five homeruns and generally disrespecting his elder.

Mahle got a no-decision in his last start, in which he allowed four earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched against Seattle. He's been plagued by the long-ball in 2019, allowing 1.7 homeruns per nine innings. His other peripherals should give Reds fans some room for hope, particularly his 9.28 strikeouts to 2.24 walks per nine. Schwarber is 4-10 with a homer off of him, but it's been feast or famine as he's also struck out five times.


Meanwhile, the Cards and Nats face off in St. Louis, so it's on the Cubs to win in order to gain ground on one or the other any given day. The Brewers will be taking on the Padres in Milwaukee.

Comments

zobrist / cast / bryant / schwarb / contreras / caratini (1st) / heyward / hoe / ham

so far so good...

go schwarb

it's kinda frightening that schwarb in LF is a better option than schwarb playing 1st with rizzo out.  i wonder how bad it really is...

cole hamels continues to suck.

3.1, 4.1, 3.1 innings his last 3 starts.  he hasn't been the same since coming back after his july injury rest.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DJL: I think Cole Hamels has probably pitched his way out of a QO.

Even though it means the Cubs won't get a compensation draft pick were Hamels to sign elsewhere prior to next June's draft, the danger in offering a QO would be that he would either accept the QO and tie-up about $20M in 2020 payroll, or decline the QO and then (like Keuchel and Kimbrel) wait until after the June draft to sign with another club so that the Cubs wouldn't get a draft pick. 

Also, Kendall Graveman has pitched well enough in minor league rehab appearances at the end of the season such that he would probably be a decent-enough #5 SP option in 2020, and Colin Rea (2019 PCL Pitcher of the Year), Alec Mills (who has pitched very well for the Cubs in limited action at the MLB level this season), and Adbert Alzolay (who is one of the Cubs top two SP prospects) are other legit candidates for the #5 rotation slot. 

And if they keep the $20M they would have been willing to give Hamels with via QO, it's possible that the Cubs would be able to sign Nicholas Castellanos to a multi-year deal.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

With all of Lester, Hamels, and Q struggling, how likely would you say a Graveman or Rea callup would be at this point in the season to add some long man depth or even take one of those guys’ next turns? Assuming they could call up Steele and place him on the 60 day IL to free up a roster spot. Obviously there’s the matter of Graveman’s bonus but Rea would be relatively cheap for two weeks. 

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

BRADSBEARD: Colin Rea hasn't pitched in almost two weeks so I doubt that the Cubs will call him up (they probably should have assigned him to the AFL to get him back into SP shape, but they didn't). That said, If the Cubs were to call-up Rea right now (and they would really need to do it ASAP for him to be useful as a SP) they could recall Justin Steele and place him on the 60-day IL to open up a spot on the 40 for Rea, so that part really isn't a problem. 

As for Kendall Graveman, his roster bonus only applies to the MLB regular season (MLB players aren't paid salaries in the post-season, instead they receive playoff shares depending on how far the club gets), so if the Cubs wait until the post-season to reinstate Graveman from the 60-day IL they would just have to drop another player from the 40 (and they can't place a player on the 60-day IL once the MLB regular season is over, so in this case it wouldn't be Justin Steele), but it wouldn't cost the Cubs anything more in terms of 2019 payroll than what Graveman was paid in the regular season. The problem is, Graveman will not have pitched for three weeks by the time the post-season starts, so (like Rea) he probably wouldn't be a viable option as a SP. 

If anything, Alec Mills might be a SP option if Quintana and/or Hamels continue to struggle. Maddon really likes Mills a lot. 

Regarding last night's 9th: Kyle Ryan unwilling or unable to throw his curveball is a little ugly.

Keep in mind that Yu Darvish does have an opt-out after this season, so if he and/or his agent think he can get at least 4/$81M (which is what he presently is owed 2020-23) as a post-2019 FA he could opt-out.   

Meanwhile, the Cubs hold a very reasonable $10.5M club option ($1M buy-out) on Jose Quintana for 2020 and then he's a FA (which might make him an attractive trade target as a 2020 rental if the Cubs decide to move him), and while Jon Lester is signed for next season (with a full "no trade"), the Cubs have a $25M club option (or $10M buy-out) on Lester for 2021 (there is an automatic vesting option for 2021 that Lester will not reach), so I suspect Lester will likely be gone after 2020. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I think Jon Lester wil be treated as a much-respected "franchise legend" next season, getting the honor of starting on Opening Day, but then being considered the #3 or #4 starter after that before getting his well-earned $10M "golden parachute" after the season. He won't be disrepected by the club, but his time as the go-to guy at the top of the rotation will be over. (Actually it's already over). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I strongly believe that there will be some major changes on the Cubs after this season, even if the Cubs somehow win the World Series. There won't be a tear-down/rebuild lke 2012-14, but I can see the Cubs going younger.

The only free-agent signing I can see would be bringing back Nicholas Castellanos, which would relate directly to the Cubs trading Kris Bryant before his value diminishes as he gets closer to post-2021 free-agency. If the Cubs get a younger MLB-ready SP as part of a Bryant deal, they could trade Jose Quintana for a young bullpen arm. And as I've written here before, Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber would seem like perfect fits in Cincinnati, with Nick Senzel or Jonathan India the potential long-term Bryant replacement at 3B (Senzel - IF - his right shoulder injury isn't career-limiting, otherwise India with Bote playing 3B until India is MLB-ready) and relievers like Amir Garrett and Robert Stephenson the type of younger MLB bullpen arms the Cubs will target.   

Addison Russell will be gone (if they can't trade him, he will be non-tendered), and the older relievers (Strop, Cishek, Kintzler, Phelps, Holland, Morrow, and Cedeno) will leave as free-agents and be replaced by younger arms (some in-house, others to be acquired via trade).     

With $60M+ in payroll coming off the books, I think the Cubs would feel comfortable signing Baez and Contreras to long-term mega-contract extensions, and Rizzo to a lesser extention (probably only through 2024) that will guarantee his 2020 and 2021 performance bonuses as well as over-paying him a bit a franchise hero. 

But I think the days of the Cubs trading their better prospects (like Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and Isaac Paredes) for established MLB players and signing veteran MLB relievers to multi-year contracts is probably over, and if the Cubs FO gets the feeling that Maddon isn't OK with that, Maddon won't be back in 2020 (of course he might not be back anyway). 

28 year old PIT closer felipe vazquez (one of the best in the game for the last 3 years) nabbed for hooking up with a child for the past couple years (age 13-15).

anything less than a full exoneration pretty much sinks his career unless he wants to run for office in Georgia.

he's being charged with "one count of computer pornography - solicitation of a child and one count of providing obscene material to minor" (this was all uncovered when the mother of the child discovered text messages)

later dude.

Betcha the Dodgers are really glad that they didn't trade Gavin Lux for Vazquez at the trade deadline. 

zobrist / cast / bryant / schwarb / contreras / caratini(1st) / heyward / hoerner / darvish

c.kimbrel threw a 16-pitch simulated game, he could return by week's end if he doesn't have a setback

darvish hates the cubs, and america, and puppies, but mostly the cubs.

16 pitches, man on 1st, 3 runs in, and a visit from the pitching coach.  that's good stuff.

hoerner is a steady glove, but so far he is not much of a "playmaker" with how quickly he can turn a play.

the mechanics are solid, but they're not quickly fluid.  watching javy will spoil a fan, though.

zobist / cast / bryant / schwarb / contreras / caratini (1st) / heyward / hoe / lester

for a guy with a .480 ob% this month and a .594 ob% last month, bote can't seem to make an impression on maddon to actually get some playing time.  he's only had 57PA in that time period...tony kemp's had 70PA for his killer .175/.229/.254 slash.

zobrist is on a nice streak, but he's not a better defender than bote at 2nd.  it's not like zobrist doesn't deserve to play with his hot bat since coming back, but it seems like bote is in some weird ass doghouse.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

It’s mostly a case of nowhere to play, although you could argue he should be in there over Caratini right now with Rizzo out (though Caratini has been great all season). He’s kind of stuck in a platoon situation even though he‘s struggled against LHP this year and been great against RHP. Honestly I hope he has the inside track on 2B next year until Hoerner is ready, with the possibility of Hoerner shifting to CF some to accommodate both of them. I think Bote has shown he can be an above average player so far in his career. 

EDIT: obviously Hoerner is ready now, but if they decide to give him some AAA time to start the year I’d like to see Bote playing every day. 

marty brennaman (46 years, retiring, last game at wrigley) taking len's place on the booth on the fly to call the 3rd.

classy stuff right there.

cast gets beat by a mile by the throw after stupidly going for a double, but he's still safe after some slide gymnastics.

baez had to have loved that.

Seems like Joe is determined to let Strop blow another game.

We‘d still be leading this division if Joe wasn’t bound and determined to make 2019 Strop into 2018 Strop.

Schwarber caught that complerely flat footed - no shot at throwing out the runner tagging up at third

So fortunate to be down only 2-1. I think there’s been two games (so far) this year where the Cubs were one-hit, with the only hit by Castellanos. Shaping up that way yet again

contreras!!!

the fans are feeling stretch-run playoff fever.  place is jumping for the tie game homer.

it's nice to see chatwood throwing something other than fastballs lately.  he seems to be trusting some of his other stuff a bit more.

Probably brought up here before but Zobrist keeping the estranged wife’s walk up music. Dude is mentally tough

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

yeah, he was rehabing with RHCP "Can't Stop", but he returned with the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenny still going on.  i'm not sure anyone's asked him about it that's bothered to share it with the world.  as long as he's hitting and able to show up to work in good physical and mental shape, he can keep on with that annoying tune.

I’m having a bad flashback to those two consecutive blown games with Bote at short and third in the ninth. Rather not have to relive that experience again

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

he made a killer play before that, but that sprinting clanker was ugly even if he was rushing it because of the runner speed.

that said, i would have little issue seeing him at 2nd over happ or zobrist.  i like his play there.

he's played some straight junk 3rd base this year, which is weird because he played it well last year (short sample size etc)

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

i'm all about kemp protecting a lead in the last few innings or getting to play after some pinch running, but that dude's bat is getting way too much work.  now that getting him starts isn't a priority he's still getting a lot of early shots off the bench at the plate.

i hope to not see him next season.

ugg

Gotta do better than three hits in nine innings in a start by Mahle - this one is on the bats

Contreras's receiving didn't do Norwood any favors in that Vanmeter at-bat. And Norwood needed some favors.

Heard Len say Descalso’s name and about had a heart attack. Then heard him say “pinch runner” and settled down a bit

Reds win season series 11-8 - possibly the first thing you point to should the Cubs miss the post season

The Cubbies are in a tough situation. If they make the playoffs, they will have earned it!. Enjoy the ride folks.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I think if you had ranked players by how much the team could ill afford to have them miss significant time, Steele would be right at the top of the list.

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Use pitchers when you believe they're good. Don't plan their clock.

    I'm sorry. I'm simply anti-clock/contract management. Play guys when they show real MLB potential talent.

    If Brown hadn't been hurt with the Lat Strain he would've gotten the call, and not Wick.

    Give him a chance. 

    But Wesneski probably gets it