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, 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 4-21-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs vs. / @ Royals: Series Thread (Games 10-13)

Submitted by Charlie on

How 'bout this weekend? The Cubs swept the Pirates at home, including a walk-off 11th inning victory on Sunday (and some socially distanced air-fives), we saw the new extra-inning rule, and Rob Manfred warned that the season might already be over. With Manfred now anticipating the season being played to completion--and his warning described as a "bluff" by Sports Illustrated--I guess we can proceed with another series thread.

The Cubs (7-2) greet the Royals (3-7) at Wrigley for two games before heading off to Kansas City for another two. Let's call it a 4-game series? Can the starting rotation continue to lead the way? Cubs pitchers will need to dodge blasts from old friend Jorge Soler.
Game 10, 7:15pmCDT, Aug. 3
CHC: RHP Alec Mills (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
KC: LHP Danny Duffy (0-1, 5.79 ERA)

Alec Mills looked more than serviceable in his first 2020 start, inducing plenty of weak contact in six innings and even missing a few bats. He made three relief appearances with the Royals in 2016 and spent parts of 5 season in their system.

Duffy gave up 4 earned runs to Detroit in five innings last time out, despite collecting eight strikeouts.


Game 11, 7:15pmCDT, Aug. 4
CHC: Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 4.05 ERA)
KC: Brady Singer (0-0, 3.60 ERA)

Hendricks went only 4.1 in his second start after going the distance in the opener.

23-year-old Brady Singer has gone five innings and allowed two runs in each of his starts so far.


Game 12, 7:05pmCDT, Aug. 5
CHC: TBD - RHP Yu Darvish (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
KC: TBD - LHP Kris Bubic (0-1, 4.50 ERA)


Game 13, 6:07pmCDT, Aug. 6
CHC: TBD - RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-0, 0.71 ERA)
KC: TBD - RHP Brad Keller (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Tags
2020 Gameday Thread

Comments

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:10 pm

Jon Heyman: At least a couple Cardinals did go to a Casino, as @TheRealJHair 1st suggested. MLB has since tightened its rule on leaving the team hotel from very strongly discouraged to not allowed. Cards Covid count going into today: 3 players, 4 staff

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:02 pm

"take off your mask while you eat/drink" indoor venues has been one of the stupidest missteps in this whole thing.  i can safely say if i've been hearing this in covid briefings at work for months that government leaders have, too.

it's one of the most disasterous missteps we've taken during re-opening and there is little american appetite for ending it on a government or "personal responsibility" level.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:32 pm

Cards-Tigers tonight is cancelled and supposedly tomorrow's game is iffy.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:00 pm

MSNBC: 13 members of the Cardinals organization are positive, 7 players, 6 staff.

Sportswriters saying that the Criteria for shutting down the season is 3-4 teams with uncontrolled spread. 

Entire series between Tigers-Cards canceled.

Hanging by threads...

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:54 pm

the "field of dreams" game that absolutely no one asked for, wanted, or cared about (STL/CWS) has been cancelled.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:08 pm

bryant(LF) / rizzo / baez / contreras / schwarber(DH) / bote(3rd) / heyward / hoerner / happ

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:58 pm

m.soroka (ATL) is having to be helped off the field unable to put weight on his right leg.

it looks like he really screwed something in his calf/foot area that's not specifically the ankle.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:28 pm

The Cardinals have to test negative for the next two days for the Cub-Cardinal series to happen this weekend (per Len Kasper) 

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:29 pm

a.mills is good for 140+ pitches, right?

*looks at pen*  uh...right?

he was shakey through the first 2ip and stellar since.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 08:15 pm

pen manages to string 2 good innings together...in a row!

the cubs are 8-2.

the cards are 2-3.  the marlins are 2-1.

we're 1/6th of the way into this and who knows how much longer it will last...

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:13 pm

Cardinal Coronavirus positives include: Yadi Molina, Paul DeJong.  Relievers Jr Fernandez, Kodi Whitley. Inf Edmundo Sosa and Rangel Ravelo. 6 members of staff not yet disclosed.

Yadi posted on Instagram (in Spanish). DeJong also released a statement. The team is to fly to StL on Wednesday but need two consecutive days of testing negative before they can travel.

Submitted by Cubster on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:16 pm

No new positives for either Marlins or Cards today. The Marlins are OK'd to play at Baltimore tonight (so far).

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:13 pm

so if the marlins keep covid'ing it up and finish with a 2-1 record do they make the playoffs with their kickass .667% winning percentage?

how does this circus work?

j/k...we're not gonna get to the playoffs.

Submitted by Eric S on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:23 pm

Nick Castellanos with HR number 6 tonight against the Indians.  He's just killing it to start the season

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:51 pm

bryant / rizzo / baez / schwarber(DH) / contreras / heyward / souza(LF) / kipnis / happ

Submitted by Eric S on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:35 pm

Ideally would prefer Hendricks not pitch right after Mills given their similar profiles

Submitted by Eric S on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:53 pm

Schwarbs looks more comfortable defensively in left field than Souza

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:29 pm

he's done nothing extordinary out there, but he's looked a lot more comfortable out there this year.

he was especially bad at anything near the line the last few seasons, not making the play or getting over there so late somewhat ordinary popouts looked like great effort.  small sample size and all, but it looks like he has a bit more of a clue.  if he can be at least average-ish out there, his arm gives him a nice plus on top of it.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:06 am

I believe that Ian Miller would be more-useful to the 2020 Cubs than Albert Almora because he is faster than Almora and is an outstanding base-stealer (if the Cubs need that late in a game), and so he can be both a high-leverage PR and a late-inning defensive replacement in CF (especially if that's all Almora was going to be).

Almora does have an option left (two actually) so it wouldn't be a big deal to option him to the South Bend ATS (and keep him with the club as a member of the traveling Taxi Squad) and call-up I. Miller, although Miller would have to be added to the 40. To make room for I. Miller the Cubs could release or outright Josh Phegley and keep him with the club as a member of the Taxi Squad (if he isn't claimed off waivers and if he is willing to accept an Outright Assignment), or otherwise Norwood or Wieck (especially Norwood) could be transferred to the 45-day IL.

And then once on the 40, I. Miller does have minor league options left it it becomes necessary or desirable to drop him from the Active List roster at some point down the line.  

Also, it would be really good for the Cubs to have an MLB-ready third catcher on the 40 who has minor league options available and who can be easily moved back & forth between Chicago and the South Bend ATS, because both Phegley and Lobaton have Article XIX-A status and can refuse an Outright Assignment or elect free-agency if outrighted (presuming the player isn't claimed off waivers).   

As for Souza, he certainly is replaceable. I would say that Hernan Perez (who is on the Cubs traveling Taxi Squad) would be more useful to the 2020 Cubs than Souza if only because he is (like Souza) a veteran RH hitter and (unlike Souza) can play all over the diamond (1B-2B-3B-SS-LF-RF) which in and of itself makes him a more-valuable bench guy than Souza. And while (like I. Miller) H. Perez would require a slot on the 40, that would just involve releasing Souza (or outrighting him, if he is willing to accept an outright assignment).   

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:34 pm

So MLB has changed the rules again. Instead of going from 30 to 28 to 26 players this year, teams will only go from 30 to 28 this Thursday and stay at 28 through the post-season.

Thinking about the Cubs potential moves, I would imagine that Jose Quintana and Brad Weick will be added at some point before the post-season and Rex Brothers, Colin Rea, Justin Steele, and one of Josh Phegley or Daniel Winkler would be sent down to South Bend (or released).

I prefer keeping Phegley just so the Cubs can use both Contreras and Caratini each game that they want to do so. (I'd be fine if Phegley just sat on the bench as insurance.) I feel like the Cubs have enough relievers with options remaining that they can cycle them through the remainder of the year. Thoughts?

The 3-man taxi squad is also changing to a 5-man taxi squad, but I'm not sure the Cubs are utilizing that too much anyway. (One required catcher if it's full.)

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 08:32 pm

jeffress used in the 8th...easy one for him.  looks like kimbrell is still the 9th inning guy.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:49 pm

Alec Mills was on MLB network about an hour ago. Apparently he's a really good golfer. Also, Mills has the lowest opponent avg exit velo (sub 80 MPH) among all MLB SP so far this season. That 65 MPH CV probably doesn't induce a lot of hard contact.   

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:54 pm

“I’m in the middle of conversations with Craig (Kimbrel),” Ross said. “We’ll have those first before I talk to you guys. We’ll see where he’s at. We’ll see how his arm feels, and we’ll go from there.’’

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:38 pm

Or, "Think how much fun you could have if you opt-out of the season." 

Just sayin'. 

BTW, if Kimbrel were to opt-out now, he would forfeit the balance of his pro-rated 2020 salary (about $5M that remains of his $6M pro-rated salary), but the Cubs would get under the CBT threshold for 2020 and not have to pay any penalties, and they could reset their payroll for 2021. (Right now the Cubs are about $9M over the 2020 CBT threshold, but eliminating about 5/6 of Kimbrel's original $16.5M 2020 salary would get the Cubs about $3M-$4M below the bar). 

That would actually really help out the Cubs a lot. 

So then what could the Cubs offer to Kimbrel/Boras in return?

1. A full-"no trade" in 2021-22 replacing the partial "no trade"; 
2. The 2022 $16.5M vesting option would be triggered if 55 games (appearances) in 2021 instead of 55 Games Finished and it automatically kicks in even if Kimbrel is injured at the conclusion of the 2021 season (which is not the case now), and the vesting option would include a player opt-out.  
3. If the vesting option does not trigger, the 2022 club option buy-out would be $3M regardless of the number of appearances in 2021, instead of escalating from $1M to $2M to $3M based on GF in 2021.    

That way, Ross could use Kimbrel any way he sees fit in 2021, and Kimbrel wouldn't be adversely affected financially if he works as a set-up guy or middle-reliever instead of as a closer in 2021. 

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:47 pm

bryant / rizzo / baez / contreras(DH) / schwarber / bote(2nd) / heyward / hoerner(CF) / caratini

7/30 rainout vs CIN will be played as a 7-inning double-header on 8/29

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/05/2020 - 08:01 pm

woo!  cubs hit out of the save situation with 2 outs in the 8th!

sometimes 3 runs isn't enough to feel comfortable.

Submitted by Eric S on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 08:37 am

Relievers Justin Steele and Rex Brothers optioned to South Bend to meet the new 28 man roster limit. 

Still no word on who comprises the five man taxi squad that stays with and can work out with the team 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 08:34 am

ERIC S: Other than assigning one catcher (who can serve as a bullpen catcher) to the Taxi Squad at home game, the Taxi Squad can only be used on road trips  

On the Cubs trip to Cincinnati last week, the Cubs definitely carried catcher Jose Lobaton, INF-OF Hernan Perez, and an unnamed pitcher (probably Colin Rea, because he was recalled while the Cubs were still in Cincinnati).

As for who will be the five guys on the Cubs Taxi Squad starting today (Thursday), it's probably Steele and Brothers (since they are already in KC with the club), Lobaton, H. Perez, and the pitcher who was on the original three-man Taxi Squad that traveled to KC and is (preferably) already on the 40 (maybe Dillon Maples?). 

Also, any pitcher on the IL who is not rehabbing at South Bend (like Wieck and/or Norwood) could be traveling with the club as well if they are able to throw. I don't know how close either are to returning to full action, but Norwood will probably get optioned if & when he is 100% although he could remain with the club while still on the IL for a few days as a back-up extra arm on the road trip (again, that's if he is able to pitch).  

Unlike Norwood, Wieck could get reinstated directly back to the Cubs MLB Active List roster once he is ready to roll because he has only been out for about ten days and since the Cubs are down to one lefty in the pen, but I don't know how close he is to returning or if he will need to ramp back up at South Bend. Also, Wieck's FB velo was down about 3-4 MPH from last year even before he hurt his hamstring, so there may be other issues with him beyond the hammy. 

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/06/2020 - 08:07 pm

top 9th, 1 out, men on 1st/2nd...alec mills steps to the plate.

they're down by 13 runs.  i want to end this, too.

Recent comments

  • Finwe Noldaran (view)

    Phil: Great to see what Rosario is doing!

    Do you think having Rosario may have influenced/impacted the front office's decision on including Hope in the trade for Busch at all?

  • crunch (view)

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  • Arizona Phil (view)

    No question right now Alfonsin Rosario is one of the Cubs Top 20 prospects (probably Top 15). Rosario is to the Cubs what Zyhir Hope is to the Dodgers.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Savannah Bananas will be playing the Party Animals at Sloan Park in Mesa this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The games are sold out (15,000+ each night), and berm tickets are going for well over $100. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    RAISIN: In the game versus the A's at Fitch Park last Friday, Mule threw half FB and half SL (16/16), and one CH (which coincidentally was the only hard-hit ball off him -- a near HR line-drive double off the LF fence). FB was 91-94 and the SL (really more of a "slurve") was 80-82, and he got three swing & miss on each pitch (six swing & miss total out of his 20 strikes). So I think it is safe to say that right now, Mule is strictly a two-pitch pitcher (FB/SL), 

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Recalled it was sampled in a Nas song.  Did a little sleuthing.  It was a Nas song called "Hate Me Now" that featured Puff Daddy.  Imploring the crowd to hate somebody seems a bit overly dramatic for a keyboardist but perhaps there is some other connection to the song. 

     

    In general there has been a weird overuse of Carmina Burana's O Fortuna in sports and commercials in past decade or so.  Maybe it is a fallback choice if there isn't anything else.   

     

    Sidenote, while the O Fortuna part has become a bit pop-culture cliched; the overall piece is very interesting and rather expansive in scope. I played percussion in a production of it while in college.  There is a rather jovial movement set in a tavern.  In the score it calls for the clinking of beer steins.  Let's just say we did a lot of research to determine the best sounding beer steins. 

  • crunch (view)

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  • SheffieldCornelia (view)

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  • crunch (view)

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  • crunch (view)

    in 2016 hendricks threw 190 innings for 45 earned runs.

    in the shortened 2020 season hendricks threw 81.1ip for 26 earned runs.

    in 2024 hendricks has thrown 21ip for 28 earned runs.

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