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 @ Reds: Series Thread (Games 31-34)

The Cubs have a 4-game set scheduled in Cincinnati, including a doubleheader on Saturday. As of my writing this, it is not entirely clear whether these games will be played. Multiple professional leagues are now on strike--in response to police violence and domestic terrorism and in solidarity with protesters. Players on multiple MLB teams chose note to play on Wednesday and Thursday. As we have never been able to forget this year, bigger and more important things are happening than professional sports. However, I have listed the projected match-ups below, should the series be played.


Game 1, Friday, August 28, 6:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.55 ERA)
CIN: RHP Tyler Mahle (0-1, 4.41 ERA)


Game 2, Saturday, August 29, 1:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Yu Darish (5-1, 1.70 ERA)
CIN: RHP Trevor Bauer (3-1, 1.65 ERA)


Game 3, Saturday, August 29, TBD
CHC: RHP Alec Mills (3-2, 4.55 ERA)
CIN: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 5.71 ERA)


Game 4, Sunday, August 30, 12:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 6.06 ERA)
CIN: Luis Castillo (0-4, 3.90 ERA)

A scheduled day off follows the series before the Cubs proceed to Pittsburgh for a 3-game series.

Comments

AZ Phil, have you heard any rumblings about the AFL? Roster limits, more than 6 teams?

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

GEORGE A: The 2020 AFL (and FFL) season hasn't been canceled but it will be delayed. No word yet on the start date, number of teams, roster limits, etc, but the preference is for each club that wishes to participate to have its own team based in the club's AZ or FL Spring Training site (with no fans present). Some clubs might opt out. 

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Another late rally keeps the Cubs run differential on the positive side - so they got that going for them

Not that that helps. At all

tommy la stella has been traded from the angels to the a's.

franklin barreto coming over according to k.rosenthal...much better return than his last trade.

mark grace misses "his turn" in the booth after his low-key off-air break and len/jd go without a guest for a little while.

he's still part of marquee's analysts according to their webpage, but the last he was heard from he was subbing for bob in the booth for a Fox AZ broadcast.

hoener is getting his 3rd shot at 3rd base on the year...giving bote a rest.

caratini is getting good at catcher's interference...which isn't good...weird this happens to him multiple times.

Yu seems to be carrying the team. 6-1 and has already matched his 2019 win total (should have had more wins last year thru no fault of his own post-all star game)

alzolay only got 1 inning after mills only goes 3ip...interesting use of a "burner" roster slot pitcher here for the double header.

single and walked one to start, but followed it up by getting out of the inning with a couple Ks.

also in that inning, rizzo baited some ejections out of the reds dugout...further cementing him as one of the players CIN fans despise.  it's not the first time rizzo has screwed around with making CIN player tempers flare.

kimbrel gets his 1st save chance in a while...1 whole run to work with.  totally not nervous over here...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think that's something he will learn he needs to do. It's probably leftover feeling as a catcher and knowing pitchers don't like that.

I don't know what conversations are happening in the dugout at the time, but he needs his pitching coach to say "get him out of there, he's got nothing."

 Regardless, Ross needs to gain a better feel for when to take a pitcher out. And he needs to give up on Kimbrel as the closer for at least this year.

If 2018 Chatwood shows up again today, that will be cruel and unusual punishment following last nights Kimbrel meltdown. Of course, a bases clearing double by a Cub probably would have sealed the game but I suppose that's too much to ask. 

A's have a positive coronavirus test. Game between Astro-A's cancelled.

Cubs acquire former Cardinal Jose Martinez for 2 PTBNLs.

 can't wait to see what monsters the Rays turn those two prospects into.

Please not Marquez, Davis, Roederer, Alzolay, Franklin, or Jensen. (Roederer, Franklin, and Jensen are the most likely cause they can only be PTBNL right now)

Jose Martinez is under club control for two seasons beyond 2020 (through 2022), so the PTBNL are probably going to be a couple of decent prospects (maybe something like INF Pedro Martinez and RHSP Chris Clarke). Steven Souza is only under control through 2020 (he is a free-agent after this season), so the Martinez acquisition is also about 2021 and 2022.  


Martinez can be the primary RH DH in 2020 and also beyond (if the universal DH continues past 2020), and he can play 1B if anything happens to Rizzo or if Ross just wants to give Rizzo a day off against a LHSP and RF or LF if anything happens to Heyward or Schwarber or if Ross wants to give one of them a day off. This also should mean less OF time for Kris Bryant (once he is reinstated from the IL).  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

it really seems like we might be seeing that last of some core guys.  almora is all but gone already...i dunno if we'll see bryant after this year...paying lester $25m vs $10m to go elsewhere is looking like a $10m sunk cost at this point...

one more cheap year of rizzo...contreras is about to start costing big loot...

they have to replenish the minors with talent that's 2022-ready.  well, replenish would mean there was anything other than their top/1st round picks that did anything worth mentioning to begin with...they need a minor league, period...hopefully one that doesn't inovolve intentionally tanking for years.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Agreed with pretty much all you said. Think they've gotta get at least a couple of Javy, Rizzo, Willson signed to extensions ASAP. Or bring them back in FA. Extend the window. But they've GOT to supplement that group (and an emerging Happ with Yu and Hendrick in rotation) with more than Caratini and Hoerner. Both solid but secondary pieces.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I would not be happy if the return for Martinez were Pedro Martinez and Chris Clarke. I think Martinez is a great fit for what the Cubs need, but he hits LHP and that's really about it as far as the value he brings. He's 32 and a non-tender candidate for next year. The Cubs took a little salary off the Rays' books and freed up a DH logjam with this move, and I'd expect at most one prospect and cash or even just cash to round this one out.

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

he was working hard to throw 90-91 before he exited and was throwing a lot of off-speed stuff rather than the fastball.  spiking an off-speed offering into the dirt before calling the trainer isn't a good look.  it might be the last we see of chatwood.

If it is Clarke like Phil suspects you know he'll make the majors.  It's the only way that Theo can get a pitcher he drafted to the majors is trade them away.

breaking news: padres trade for everyone.  no, literally everyone.  they are currently 900+ over roster slot size after obtaining every single MLB player in the game.

it's a big brain move because you can't have playoffs if other teams don't have players.  checkmate.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

we gained next to nothing...that's for sure...

maybin isn't worth a f'n roster spot...we already got almora sucking at the role maybin sucks at...

josh osich...how did he even find work after the crap he did for the wsox last year?  BOS was more that willing to let the HR parade continue, and now the cubs are gonna get some of that.  having good control doesn't do much good when you're throwing batting practice.

i like the chafin pickup, at least...probably not high-impact, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Nothing?? We got an old ish injury prone replacement level corner OF, an injured LHRP, a bad LHRP (with team control BABY), and what I would call the RH version of Kyle Schwarber with the shocking exception that he makes Schwarber look like Mike Trout defensively

Seriously, if they gave up anything of actual value they need their heads examined. I believe in our front office but these are some real weird trades

Edit: Z Short traded for Maybin. That's more value than Maybin is worth. I think Short is at worst a backup middle IF  with minimal offense. But the writing was on the wall when he was the only healthy guy on the 40 man  not invited to South Bend.

Chatwood w Pronator strain. Better than UCL but it's the anatomy right next door (flexor-pronator muscle origin). Expect IL stay.

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.