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 @ Reds: Series Thread (Games 31-34)

Submitted by Charlie on

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.

Tags
2020 Gameday Thread

Comments

Submitted by George Altman on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 08:12 pm

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

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:42 pm

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. 

[ ]

Submitted by Eric S on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 08:13 pm

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

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 08/28/2020 - 08:38 pm

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.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 08/29/2020 - 08:57 pm

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.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 08/29/2020 - 08:58 pm

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

Submitted by Eric S on Sat, 08/29/2020 - 08:04 pm

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)

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 08/29/2020 - 08:57 pm

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.

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

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

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:32 am

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.

Submitted by Eric S on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:53 am

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. 

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:02 am

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

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:05 am

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)

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:10 pm

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).  

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Submitted by crunch on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:31 pm

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.

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:08 pm

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.

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Submitted by bradsbeard on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:32 pm

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.

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Submitted by crunch on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:05 pm

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.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever on Sun, 08/30/2020 - 08:22 pm

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.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:37 pm

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.

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:30 pm

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.

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Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:40 pm

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.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 08/31/2020 - 08:52 pm

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

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks

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