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

Cubs @ Tigers: Games 28-30

Submitted by Charlie on

Having barely dodged a sweep at the hands of the 3rd-place White Sox, the Cubs now take-on the 4th-place Tigers in Detroit. Unlike the hot Sox, the Tigers are 2-8 in their last 10 games. This could be a chance for the Cubs to add to their lead before a stretch of 18 games against NL Central opponents Aug. 28-Sep. 13.

Game 1, Monday, Aug. 24, 6:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Alec Mills (2-2, 4.76 ERA)
DET: RHP Casey Mize (0-0, 6.23 ERA)

Alec Mills took his second loss and had his first really bad start of 2020 last time out. He couldn't get out of the fourth and allowed 6 earned runs. With the Cubs' offense slumping, he'll need a return to form in order to get back on the winning side of the books.

23-year-old Casey Mize made his MLB debut on Aug. 19, exiting after 4.1 with his first 7 MLB strikeouts under his belt. Prior to that start, he had not pitched above AA. He features a mid-90s fastball to go with a good cutter and splitter and the occasional curveball.

Game 2, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 6:10 pm central
CHC: LHP Jose Quintana (probable, 0-0, -.-- ERA)
DET: RHP Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 3.65 ERA)

As of my writing this, the Cubs game 2 starter is still TBD. However, Jose Quintana should be available to make his first 2020 appearance. Quintana went 13-9 with strong peripherals in 2019, yet will mostly be remembered as having a down year due to a 4.68 ERA. His recent hand injury adds the biggest wrinkle to his narrative. Has he recovered well enough to command his pitches? We may find out soon. He will likely be on a strict pitch count and may piggy back with someone like Colin Rea.

Spencer Turnbull made 30 starts for the Tigers in 2019 and put up respectable numbers except for his 3 and 17 record. Taking his performance alone, he certainly didn't deserve 17 losses. He has yet to surrender a homerun in 2020, but there are several Cubs who should be ready to turn that trend around. He has reverse splits in 2020, but in the larger 2019 sample lefties had a significant advantage against him. The difference could be more than just luck--he has thrown his changeup more in 2020.

Game 3, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:10 pm central
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 5.06 ERA)
DET: LHP Michael Fulmer (0-0, 9.53 ERA)

Lester has gotten roughed up two games in a row, and in the last start he couldn't get out of the second. He surrendered 4 homeruns to the White Sox; weak contact was nowhere to be found. He'll need sharper movement and command to handle the Tigers' lineup. The aggressiveness of their best hitters may play into the veterans' hands if he can hit his spots.

Michael Fulmer is off to a rough start to his fourth season in the Tigers' rotation. He's made four starts and has yet to pitch more than 3.0 innings in a start. In only one of those starts, a scoreless 3 innings on Aug. 10, has he managed to allowed less than one earned run per inning. Fulmer missed all of 2019 following Tommy John surgery and had another surgery on his elbow in March of this year.

Tags
2020 Gameday Thread

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 08:17 pm

Q will pitch out of the pen when he gets back and chatwood will soon return to slot into the rotation...

Submitted by Eric S on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 08:06 pm

Bases loaded and curl up into fetal position? Check

Base running foolishness? Check

Alright then, now that we checked those boxes perhaps we can start playing like a first place team should play

Submitted by Eric S on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 08:19 pm

Cubs pop their run differential back to double figures: from +4 to +10

So now they only trail the Dodgers (+79) by a measly 69 runs

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 08:24 pm

mark grace is in the booth calling the ARZ game (for ARZ).

okay.

he's been put on pause from Marquee because of the fallout from his ex-wife "dingbat/all in the family" story...and he's in the booth for Fox Sports AZ tonight... *shrug*

i mean, he's not taking bob brenly's slot full-time f'sure because he's solidly holding on to that gig.  it's just odd to tune into a late night ARZ game and hear grace in the booth again.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:06 am

moving into "mid-season" trade time...i wonder what talent the cubs will give away for a month of work out of a mid-level, non-impact relief pitcher to add to the pool of a dozen they already have in-house.

the 9-21 angels are strongly shopping talent (especially d.bundy).  rough start for joe maddon's new club...

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:38 am

AZ PHIL: What happened w/Tom Hatch? What was so "terrible" that they got rid of an upper-round draft choice who is now performing well for the Jays? Asking for a friend (or two). Thanks.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:39 am

E-MAN: The Cubs had a group of about eight or ten minor league piching prospects last season who were very similar (MLB prospect but mid-level ceiling) such that trading one (or three) wasn't really a big deal because there were still six or seven left in the pipeline pretty much just like the ones who were traded.  

Also, the Cubs actually had David Phelps under control through the 2020 season, but decided after the club's late September meltdown (and after he hit his escalator bonus) not to exercise his 2020 club option and also not to offer contracts to Strop, Cishek, and Kintzler, and instead cut payroll and start fresh with some different (and cheaper) bullpen arms. 

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:55 pm

I definitely was tracking that and was annoyed when he appeared in his 40th especially because the season was toast by then. I know you do right by your players but that was a little overkill.

If you were to give up Hatch, might as well get more than two months out of the return. I think Phelps would have been back this year for $3 mil 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:27 pm

it's nice marquee network is trying expose people to some "non-standard" stats, but showing a lineup with only OPS numbers gives no information...do they get on base?  are they slugging?  are they somewhere in the middle and which way do they lean?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:21 am

CRUNCH: I was never a fan of OPS as an offensive "shorthand." It would be like having a stat that combines stolen bases and home runs, because OBP and SLG combined don't really tell you anything.   

So I much prefer the AVG/OBP/SLG "triple slash line" (plus HR rate, BB% ,and K% if there is room) as "basic" stats. And then statcast stuff like average exit velo and line drive & hard contact rates are really useful, too. 

And actually those same stats (but in reverse) would be the best stats for pitchers, too, with some added info like first-pitch strike %, pitch types and usage, FB velo, spin rate, and outcomes based on the number of outs and the ball-strike count.   

And as you may recall, I believe WAR is total bullshit (unless it's used to describe a player subjectively -- like the 20-80 scouting scale does). Like "so & so is a five win player," or "so & so is a two win player," etc, because we know in our heads kind of what that number means. But otherwise WAR is an attempt to use stats to compare disparate things that cannot be compared objectively/statistically. 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:43 pm

barf.

Submitted by Eric S on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 08:48 pm

Tigers grand slam. Cubs run differential no longer double digits

Cubs still looking for their first extra base hit with the bases loaded

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:59 am

Tony Watson, lefty reliever might be obtainable from Giants. He's what the bullpen is currently lacking. 1-month rental should generate low level talent in return, no?

Anyway, I can hope he's better than Justin Wilson (who wasn't at the end of a contract, so was more expensive, ie Candelario and also got Avila short term). 

[ ]

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:30 am

Bowden proposes wild trades including some Cubs ones, in The Athletic article:

Trade pitching prospects Brailyn Marquez and Kohl Franklin and catching prospect Miguel Amaya to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed closer Josh Hader. 

The Cubs’ window for another world championship is this year and the next and because they’ve decided to hold on to their entire core, they might as well go for it one more time. Cubs fans won’t like this idea after watching Eloy Jiménez on the South Side of Chicago and Gleyber Torres in the Big Apple, but remember how great that parade was? Wasn’t it worth it? So let’s go one more time and trade top pitching prospects Marquez and Franklin and top catching prospect Amaya to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed closer Josh Hader. Hader, 26, is the best closer in baseball. He’s pitched in eight games this year and hasn’t given up a hit or a run while striking out 13 and walking 5 in 8 1/3 innings of work. The two-time All-Star is a game-changer and is controllable through 2023. The Brewers need to quickly retool somehow because they have one of, if not the worst, farm systems in baseball. This trade would allow them to build back their system while solving their long-term catching position with Amaya while Marquez would immediately become their top pitching prospect and Franklin wouldn’t be far behind.

The backup (and more realistic) plan would be to deal for Trevor Rosenthal of the Royals, but Chicago is built to win now and it’s time for Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein to try and go big one more time with a mammoth trade for Hader.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:36 pm

Cubs cutting a bunch of staff in scouting and player development.

This really sucks for them, hate to see it happen.

Also sucks for the team given how they just overhauled these departments in hopes of building a better pipeline.

Just ugh all around.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:36 pm

happ(LF) / rizzo / baez / schwarber(DH) / contreras / heyward / bote / kipnis / almora(CF)

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Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:21 pm

giants/dodgers are talking about whether they will play tonight.

we might be on the cusp of a full sports strike if this keeps flowing.

also, jason heyward is not playing tonight for similar reasons and d.ross is in full support (he was initially in the lineup).  according to p.mooney, the rest of the team is playing with the support/urging of heyward.

buckle up sports fans.

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:05 pm

Trump demands MLB follow CDC new guidelines. No covid testing unless there are symptoms. Season over. 

Just kidding. But the CDC taken down by corrupt and stupid politicians is deplorable. 

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:37 pm

awww... epic cubs comeback ends short on a lightning-fast comebacker to the pitcher.

at least things got good for a little while.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 08:13 pm

i have no idea what's been so important about pumping money into supporting candidates down ballot on the state level, myself.  it's not like there's some thin margin of moderate and "extreme" R, but the ricketts family has been picking favorites in primary battles.

on the national level, senators ben sasse and deb fisher are very safe and not going to age out at any time soon.

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 08:47 am

Ian Happ did not look comfortable in RF last night. I wonder if he was having trouble with the lights or if he just wasn't seeing the ball well.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 08:05 pm

"MLB commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement Thursday saying that he "has not attempted in any way to prevent players from expressing themselves by not playing, nor have I suggested any alternative form of protest to any Club personnel or any player."



This is in response to a hot mic moment from Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, who indicated that Manfred suggested the Mets and Marlins stage something more in line with a symbolic walkout before playing an hour later than originally scheduled as opposed to a full postponement. Van Wagenen later retracted his comments and apologized to Manfred, saying that symbolic gesture idea was actually Jeff Wilpon's."

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 08/27/2020 - 08:03 pm

STL loses both games of their double-header tonight.  they're still in 2nd place, but with a 11-11 record (cubs 18-12).

Recent comments

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • 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. 

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