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 2020 Minor League Camp Rosters


2020 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS
 

* throws or bats left 
# bats both


IOWA
: 47+7 

PITCHERS: 23+6
Cory Abbott (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)
Jason Adam 
Adbert Alzolay 
Corey Black (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - April 2019 TJS #2) 
Casey Bloomquist (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - right elbow - 2019 TJS?)
Bryan Brickhouse 
Craig Brooks 
Bailey Clark 
Oscar de la Cruz 
Scott Effross 
Zach Hedges 
* Ryan Kellogg 
* Conor Lillis-White (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - right hip) 
* Luis Lugo  
Tyson Miller
* Jordan Minch
Tommy Nance  
* Tyler Olson (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)  
* C. D. Pelham 
Colin Rea
Duncan Robinson (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - June 2019 TJS) 
Caleb Simpson 
Brock Stewart 
Jake Stinnett 
Jerrick Suiter (ex-!B) 
Matt Swarmer 
* Matt Tenuta 
Keegan Thompson 
* Jerry Vasto 

CATCHERS: 5+1
Erick Castillo
Marcus Mastrobuoni 
* Alberto Mineo (INACTIVE - quarantined in Italy) 
Tyler Payne 
Jhonny Pereda
Jordan Procyshen 
 
INFIELDERS: 11
* Aramis Ademan 
* Carlos Asuaje 
* Christian Donahue 
# Robel Garcia
Trent Giambrone 
* Corban Joseph 
David Masters
* Jordan Patterson 
* Alfonso Rivas 
Zack Short 
Delvin Zinn 

OUTFIELDERS: 8 
Charcer Burks  
Noel Cuevas 
* Donnie Dewees 
Eddy Julio Martinez 
Connor Myers 
* Jared Young 
* Vance Vizcaino 
Mark Zagunis 


TENNESSEE: 41+3

PITCHERS: 22+2
Javier Assad 
Dario Beltre 
Jesus Camargo 
* Adam Choplick 
Jonathan de Marte 
Juan Gamez 
Brian Glowicki 
* Luke Hagerty (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - June 2019 left flexor tendon surgery)
Ben Hecht 
Chad Hockin 
* Bryan Hudson 
Garrett Kelly 
Brendan King 
* Ryan Lawlor 
* Brendon Little 
* Brailyn Marquez 
Erling Moreno 
Jeffrey Passantino 
* Jack Patterson
Ethan Roberts 
Manuel Rodriguez (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - March 2020 bicep strain) 
* Justin Steele 
Erich Uelmen 
Alexander Vargas 

CATCHERS: 6 
Miguel Amaya
Cam Balego  
Eric Gonzalez 
Caleb Knight
Rafelin Lorenzo  
* Bryce Windham (ex-INF) 

INFIELDERS: 7+1
Jhonny Bethencourt 
Tyler Durna (LIMITED ACTIVITY -  left elbow/forearm injury)
Wladimir Galindo 
Levi Jordan 
Christopher Morel 
Ian Rice (ex-C now playing 3B) 
Luis Vazquez 
* Andy Weber 

OUTFIELDERS: 6 
* D. J. Artis 
# Roberto Caro 
# Zach Davis
Grant Fennell 
Kevonte Mitchell 
* D. J. Wilson 


MYRTLE BEACH : 46+3

PITCHERS: 28+3
Jose Albertos
* Chris Allen 
Max Bain
Hunter Bigge 
Matteo Bocchi (INACTIVE - quarantined in Italy)  
Zach Bryant 
Josh Burgmann 
Derek Casey 
Tanner Dalton 
Jeremiah Estrada (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - August 2019 TJS) 
Fauris Guerrero 
Porter Hodge 
* Brandon Hughes (ex-OF) 
Ryan Jensen 
Chris Kachmar 
* Bryan King 
Chi-Feng Lee
Riley McCauley 
Zach Mort 
Joe Nahas 
Raidel Orta 
* Eugenio Palma  
Eury Ramos (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - right elbow - 2019 TJS?)
Jake Reindl
Peyton Remy 
Aneuris Rosario 
Cam Sanders 
Riley Thompson 
Cayne Ueckert 
Carlos Vega 
Blake Whitney 

CATCHERS: 5 
Pablo Aliendo 
* Ethan Hearn 
Raymond Pena
* Jonathan Soto  
Jake Washer 

INFIELDERS: 7 
# Josue Huma 
Nelson Maldonado 
# Fidel Mejia 
* Yonathan Perlaza 
* Luke Reynolds
Jake Slaughter 
Luis Verdugo 

OUTFIELDERS: 6 
* Edmond Americaan 
Brennen Davis 
* Cole Roederer 
* Jonathan Sierra 
Zac Taylor 
Nelson Velazquez 


SOUTH BEND: 44+1 

PITCHERS: 27 
Maikel Aguiar 
Elian Almanzar 
Chris Clarke 
Shane Combs 
Danis Correa 
Yovanny Cruz
Brad Deppermann 
Manuel Espinoza
Emilio Ferrebus  
Kohl Franklin 
Jamie Galazin (ex-OF) 
Richard Gallardo 
Jose Miguel Gonzalez 
Manuel Heredia 
* D. J. Herz
* Adam Laskey 
Michael McAvene 
Ivan Medina 
Alex Moore
Eduarniel Nunez 
Carlos Ocampo 
Johzan Oquendo 
Yunior Perez 
Tyler Schlaffer 
Niels Stone 
* Didier Vargas 
Danny Zardon (ex-C) 

CATCHERS: 5 
Alexander Guerra 
Orian Nunez (ex-INF) 
Henderson Perez 
Gustavo Polanco 
* Ronnier Quintero 

INFIELDERS: 6+1
* Grayson Byrd 
# Reivaj Garcia
# Pedro Martinez  
Miguel Pabon 
Fabian Pertuz 
# Ryan Reynolds 
Chase Strumpf (LIMITED ACTIVITY - left arm in cast)

OUTFIELDERS: 6 
Yovanny Cuevas 
# Jose Gutierrez 
* Darius Hill 
Fernando Kelli 
Jacob Olson 
* Ezequiel Pagan 


EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): 25+2

PITCHERS: 10+2 
Willy Cabrera (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - right elbow - 2019 TJS?)
Francisco Fermin 
* Misael Garcia
Jose Gomez 
Elias Hererra 
Gabriel Jaramillo (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - right elbow - 2019 TJS?) 
* Joel Machado 
Carlos Paula 
Luis Ramos 
Jorge Remon 
Benjamin Rodriguez  
* Luis Rodriguez 

CATCHERS: 1 
Richard Nunez  

INFIELDERS: 8 
# Flemin Bautista 
* Rochest Cruz 
Luis Diaz 
Widimer Joaquin
* Ervis Marchan 
Rafael Morel 
Oswaldo Pina 
* Abraham Rodriguez 

OUTFIELDERS: 6 
Manny Collier  
Kevin Moreno
Carlos Morfa 
Carlos Pacheco 
* Brailin Pena
* Yohendrick Pinango  

Comments

AZ Phil or others - Does anyone know which players on a minor league contract have opt-out clauses built in to their contracts? I think I recall Phil saying something about automatic ones for certain players. I'm thinking that it wouldn't be smart to give a fringy player with a June 1st opt-out clause a roster spot at the expense of a player with some upside who just hasn't performed yet. I would think that all things being equal, I'd rather keep the guy we can control all year vs. the guy who leaves as a free agent in 2 months (unless we truly intend to add him to the 40-man roster).

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

W-RAT: By rule Brandon Morrow and Jason Kipnis (post-2019 Article XX-B MLB free-agent who signed a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Oening Day) will get an automatic $100K retention bonus and a June 1st opt-out if not released by 12 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day prior to MLB Opening Day and added to the MLB 40-man roster by Opening Day.

I mentioned in a previous comment that in 2016 the Cubs had three Article XX-B minor league players signed to minor league contracts in Spring Training (Munenori Kawasaki, Manny Parra, and Shane Victorino), and the Cubs released all of them prior to the deadline and then immediately re-signed them to new minor league contacts with no retention bonus or 6/1 opt-out. So the Cubs could do that with Brandon Morrow and/or Jason Kipnis (although the player has to be willing to do it for it to happen). 

It's possible that other veteran players signed to minor league contracts (like Hernan Perez, Rex Brothers, and/or Josh Phegley) have special (custom) contractual opt-outs (could even be an Opening Day opt-out, meaning if the player isn't placed on the MLB 40-man roster by Opening Day he can opt-out and become a free-agent), although none of the opt-outs (if there are any) have been reported (yet). And if a player like Perez, Brothers, or Phegley has an Opening Day opt-out, that could significantly impact the final 26-man roster decisions.  

Also keep in mind that some players (Hernan Perez, Josh Phegley, and Danny Hultzen) have no minor league options left and so once added to the 40 (and the 26-man roster) the Cubs are pretty much stuck with them. Perez and Phegley also have Article XIX-A rights (both have accrued at least five years of MLB Service Time), so once added to the 40 they cannot be outrighted to the minors without their permission. And Hultzen has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted previously in his career), so he can elect free-agency if outrighted (not to mention the possibility that he could get claimed off waivers).  

Conversely, Ian Miller and Rex Brothers do have minor league options left if added to the 40, so it's not that big of a deal if they make the Opening Day 26-man roster (well, it probably is a big deal for them!) because both can be optioned to the minors if roster circumstances change later in the season. However, Brothers will get Article XIX-A status (he will hit 5+000 MLB Service Time) once he accrues another 81 days of MLB Service Time, meaning once he achieves Article XIX-A status he cannot be sent to the minors without his permission. 

One way the Cubs might go is keep Ian Miller as the 26th man on Opening Day, and then when and if Contreras or Caratini go on the IL, Josh Phegley gets called-up at that time (but not until that time) to be the back-up catcher, and then when Contreras or Caratini are reinstated from the IL, Miller would be optioned to the minors with Phegley remaining on the rostet as the 26th man going forward.

And then if Caratini or Contretras go on the IL again later in the season, Miller would get temporarily recalled (because Phegley would already be on the 26-man roster), and Miller could also get recalled in September when rosters expand to 28. 

As far as a back-up shortstop is concerned, David Bote can probably play SS in a pinch, but if Baez gets hurt and is "day-to-day" for (let's say) three or four days, where he can't start but it's not bad enough to warrant a 10-day IL assignment, the Cubs could option Ian Miller to minors for ten days and temporarily recall Nico Hoerner or Zack Short, and then when Baez is OK to start, the Cubs would just keep Hoerner or Short on the 26-man roster until they can recall Miller (who would have to remain on Optional Assignment for ten days before he can be recalled). 

But what if the Baez scenario happens after Phegley has been added to the 26-man roster and after Ian Miller has already been optioned to Iowa? In that case, the Cubs would have to option somebody else to Iowa for ten days (probably Albert Almora) to temporarily make room for Hoerner or Short. 

And again, the idea in September would be to have both a third catcher (Phegley) - AND - a PR/OF speed guy (Miller) on the 28-man September roster (as has most always been the case in previous seasons). 

Keep in mind that under the new MLB roster rules, two additional players must be added to a club's active list roster in September, but only one can be a pitcher (so a maximum of 14 pitchers can be on the active roster in September). 

BTW, limiting the number of pitchers on an MLB active list to 14 in September means it will be difficult to keep pitchers active and in game shape over the last month of the season (after the minor league seasons have concluded). So expect clubs to assign two or three of their MLB-ready extra pitchers (the ones who used to get called-up in September) to the Arizona Fall League. There are no longer any service time roster restrictions in the AFL, so (for example) the Cubs could assign Alzolay, Cotton, Maples, Norwood, et al, to the AFL so that if they need an injury replacement in September or in the post-season beyond the 14 pitchers already on the active roster, the guys they would consider for recall are staying in game shape in the AFL.

Something MLB might want to consider is changing the minor league schedules so that the minor leagues start a month later (May 1) and end a month later (October 1), because the new September roster limit (28, of which only 14 can be pitchers) will mean that injured players will need to be placed on the IL in September and the minor league players who replace the injured guys must be in game shape. 

Thanks so much Phil! I know you had to repost some of that from previous comments, but it makes a lot more sense now! It sounds like you don't have Hoerner making the team out of spring training. I was 50/50 on it, but I like him as the starting 2B and backup SS with Bote playing around the IF to give players days off. That means Perez (or hopefully Machin) would be the backup SS at Iowa with Short playing everyday. I think Rivas is ready for AAA, so I have him getting most starts at 1B and alternating with Jordan Patterson, Mark Zagunis & Robel Garcia in RF & LF to increase his versatility. I think Giambrone might settle in at 2B with a few starts in LF & 3B and Asuaje & Garcia splitting starts at 3B. I'm guessing that Corbin Joseph & Noel Cuevas will be cut. (Random Thoughts) 

night game with A-list lineup.

bryant / rizzo / baez / schwarber / contreras / souza / kipnis / almora(CF)

darvish pitching.

len, grace, and jd working the booth tonight.  nice.

grace also in the booth for tomorrow's game according to len.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

hell, if there's a game tomorrow...

in the past 90 minutes the US has banned travel from europe, tom hanks got coronavirus overseas, a congressional staffer has been diagnosed in DC, and the NBA has suspended their season after a player was diagnosed pre-game...

MLB to suspend operations (including games) later today...cubs game already canceled.

the regular season is expected to be delayed to open, too.

"Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. today announced that MLB has decided to suspend Spring Training games and to delay the start of the 2020 regular season by at least two weeks due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic."

"As of 4 p.m. ET today, forthcoming Spring Training games have been cancelled, and 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifier games in Tucson, Ariz., have been postponed indefinitely."

I bought tickets for the last three games of the 4-game series with the Reds in Cincinnatti 06/04-06/07. No idea how this is going to work out

RHRP Tanner Dalton (Cubs 2019 17th round draft pick - Sacramento State) is now known as Tanner Jesson-Dalton. 

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.