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 vs. Pirates: Series Thread (Games 32-34)

The Cubs pulled off a sweep of the Dodgers, twice walking off in extra innings and raising their record to 15-16. They also climbed aboe Cincinnati and their next opponent, the Pirates, to take 3rd place in the division. Next up, the Pirates may get some say in that matter. They come into Wrigley for a three-game series. This will be the third time these teams have faced off in 2021. They've split the season series at 3-3 so far, but they have not seen each other since April 11. The Cubs will work to build on the momentum from the sweep and stay in the thick of the division. See below for the weekend's matchups.


Game 32, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Zach Davies (1-2, 8.22 ERA)

PIT: RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 7.40 ERA)

Davies last pitched on May 1st, when he set his current season best for earned runs allowed in a start (only 1), but also pitched only 4.0 innings. His walk rate remains worryingly inflated, especially for a pitch-to-contact guy. A sudden turnaround, particularly in terms of painting the corners, would be welcome.

Cahill is off to a rough start with the Pirates. The peripherals suggest he's due for better outcomes, however. His strikeout and walk rates are both better than his career averages, and he continues to get ground balls on more than 50% of balls in play. Last time out, the Cardinals knocked him around for 5 earned runs on 7 hits in 5.1 innings. Cubs hitters have seen little of him.


Game 33, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Trevor Williams (2-2, 6.00 ERA)

PIT: RHP Will Crowe (0-1, 4.66 ERA)

The Reds offense chased Trevor Williams from his last start after only 2.2 innings pitched. Before he could flee the scene, he was tagged for 3 homeruns, 6 hits, and 6 earned runs, and he surrendered 4 walks along the way for good measure. His only other bad start on the season was the April 11 loss to the Pirates, in which that offense sprayed 10 hits in only 3.1 innings.

Will Crowe made his MLB debut last season for the Nationals. He went 0-2 in three starts that season while walking almost a batter per inning. Walks have hampered him a nearly as high a rate in the early going of 2021 as well. He made one relief appearance, against the Cubs on April 3, and has made 2 starts. He's allowed 8 walks in 9.2 innings across those 3 appearances. Last time out he lost to the Cardinals, surrendering 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work. Most Cubs will be getting their first looks at him.


Game 34, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 6.07 ERA)

PIT: LHP Tyler Anderson (2-3, 3.24 ERA)

Hendricks pitched all 7 innings of the first half of the double-header against the Dodgers, allowing only one run on a solo homerun. Was it a rebound from a despair inducing start to the season, or was it one more appearance in an up-and-down start to the season? Cubs fans have yet to see Hendricks string together two quality starts in 2021. Adam Frazier has truly pestered Hendricks--he's hitting .478 in 23 at bats with two homeruns.

The Cubs scored 3 earned runs and served a loss to Pirates' lefty, Tyler Anderson, way back on April 3. His season record stands at 2-3, but he's allowed no more than 3 earned runs and has pitched at last 5 innings in every start of 2021. He's been a steady performer for the Pirates so far and is well-positioned to have his best season since 2018, when he went 7-9 with 32 starts with the Rockies. Rizzo is 6 for 15 with a homerun and Bryant is 6 for 14 with three dingers off of Anderson.

Comments

The Cubs have selected the contract of OF Nick Martini from AAA Iowa, LHRP Kyle Ryan has been Designated for Assignment, OF Ian Happ has been placed on the 10-day IL, and RHRP Jason Adam has been recalled from Iowa.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Of the four outfielders who were at Iowa, I would have thought Nick Martini would have been the last to get called up.

Cameron Maybin (because of his experience), Ian Miller (because he can play CF and PR), and Rafael Ortega (because he can hit LHP and high velo off the bench) would have been the more likely choices. 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

One of my favorite movie lines is when Clarence tells Nick at Martini's in It's a Wonderful Life, "Everytime a bell rings, an Angel gets called up from Salt Lake City." 

[ ]

In reply to by champsummers

Jordan Horrobin  @JordanHorrobin
#Cubs David Ross says Craig Kimbrel was "just down" today and that not having Kimbrel in the ninth was not injury related. 
He also said he expects Kimbrel to be available tomorrow.

w.miley (CIN) has a no-hitter through 8ip...0-0 game...106 pitches (season high)

decided to check in on corey black to see if anyone has signed that waste of space.  dont think anyone has yet.

he might want to remove the photo of the proud boys leader he has on his twitter as aggressively as he's removed some of his weird hot takes from the past.  actually, he should keep it there.  it will give him a reason to feel like a victim and that seems to be very important to him.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

both him and his sister (who's since left twitter) have some interesting opinions on what civility and real americans are and are not.

it may run in the family, but they're grown ass adults responsible for what things they put out in the world for public consumption.

beth and jd in the booth today.  beth had a great debut earlier in the year with very positive fan feedback for her work + homework.

crazy quiet at the park today in the 1st.

hendricks loading the f'n bases with 0 outs isn't helping.

PIT has 3 runs on on a walk and a slew of hits with an exit velocity comparable to the arm speed of a 5 year old throwing a dry sponge.

also, marisnick is injured and done.  he's walking off the field before being checked on.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Jake Marisnick has had several DL/IL stints due to hamstring injuries over the years, so this is nothing new.

I would think Cameron Maybin will probably get the call-up if Marisnick goes on the IL, although adding Maybin to the 40 would require a corresponding 40-man roster deletion (60-day IL or DFA). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

MRI for marisnick on monday...no d/l yet, but it seems likely

also heyward has a hand issue and that's why he was removed in the 9th for a pinch hitter.  no word on if that's going to be a thing going forward or just a "sleep it off" thing.

may 9th and hendricks puts in 5 innings (88 pitches) to bring the team lead in SP innings pitched to 34.2ip

if arrieta didn't get injured (missing his last game) and pitched a hell of a game he wouldn't have hit 40ip+ unless he threw a complete game.

might not have a single starter going 200ip this year even if they stay healthy.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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...