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 @ Pirates: Series Thread (Games 47-49)

The Cubs took two out of three from the Cardinals in St. Louis and climbed to 1.5 game out of first place. Meanwhile, the Brewers trail the Cubs by only half a game. The Cubs will have a chance to take on the last place Pirates yet again. The season series stands at five and four in the Cubs' favor heading into the week. The Pirates will be doing their work without Colin Moran, Philip Ervan, and, of course, Ke'Bryan Hayes. The Cubs may miss Willson Contreras, depending on how he recovers from taking a fastball to the wrist from his battery-mate, Kimbrel. Jason Heyward remains on the IL, and team sparkplug Matt Duffy is working around some back pain. See below for the pitching matchups for the series.


Game 47, Tuesday, May 25, 5:35 pm central

CHC: RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4, 4.46 ERA)

PIT: TBA

Arrieta surrendered 7 hits and four earned runs to the Nationals in his last start. Things didn't look all that bad until Juan Soto took him deep in the fifth. Overall, it was still a solid second start after his return from a brief IL stint.

Pittsburgh has not yet announced their starter for this game. 27-year-old righty Cody Ponce is an option. He's been working in AAA so far this season and last appeared on May 19. He made five MLB appearances with the Pirates in 2020, including 2 starts. He took a loss on August 2 of last year, giving up one unearned run on one hit while recording only one out.


Game 48, Wednesday, May 26, 5:35 pm central

CHC: RHP Trevor Williams (2-2, 5.97 ERA)

PIT: RHP Wil Crowe (0-2, 4.91 ERA)

Williams's inconsistent work in May has earned him a quick hook of late. He was pulled with one out to go in the fifth inning during his last start despite allowing only two earned runs and striking out five. He's totalled only 13.1 innings in 4 May starts so far. His strikeout numbers remain promising, but his WHIP is far too high as a result of both too many walks and plenty of hard contact.

Crowe has made one relief appearance and one start against the Cubs so far this year, allowing 3 earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched. He has struggled with his control at times this season, averaging over 4 walks per nine innings.


Game 49, Thursday, May 27, 11:35 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 4.74 ERA)

PIT: LHP Tyler Anderson (3-4, 4.73 ERA)

Hendricks earned the win and went 6.2 innings in his last start against St. Louis. His one blemish so far in May was a start against the Pirates in which they blooped and grounder-ed him to the tune of six runs, four earned, while averaging his lowest exit velocities in any single start of the season.

Anderson has already faced the Cubs twice and has split those two games. In his most recent start he allowed 9 earned runs to Atlanta in five innings pitched.

Comments

contreras sits...pj higgins gets a chance to improve his 0-7 start.

he's still d2d, but that may change.

Cubs place INF Matt Duffy on 10-day IL with lower back strain that he has been battling for a week or more and select contract of 1B-3B Patrick Wisdom from AAA Iowa. To make room for Wisdom on the MLB 40-man roster, RHRP Jason Adam (on AAA Iowa 7-day IL after undergoing surgery for a broken ankle) has been Designated for Assignment. 

The Cubs could have recalled Adam from his Optional Assignment and placed him on their MLB 60-day IL to clear a slot on the 40 for Wisdom, but if they did that Adam would get paid at the MLB rate (pro-rated $595K) instead of his minor league split rate (pro-rated $250K). If the Cubs release Adam, his termination pay is what's left of his 2021 minor league split salary. 

Injured players cannot be outrighted to the minors during the season, so Adam will certainly be placed on Outright Release Waivers and any club can claim him for $1. However, unlike the Cubs, any other MLB club that claims him would be on the hook for his pro-rated MLB salary, because an injured player cannot be optioned to the minors after being claimed off release waivers. 

So Adam will be released, and the Cubs will pay him what's left of his $250K minor league split salary. It's very possible that the Cubs will then offer Adam a new 2021 minor league contract at the AAA minimum ($16,800) so that he can continue his rehab with the Cubs, but if they do, he does not have to sign it. 

sigh...nico goes down hard in the infield and he's in bad pain.

be nice if it was a cramp...it doesn't look like a cramp.  left hamstring...

Phil, do you have any idea if Sergio Alcantara can play in the majors? He played a little for DET last yr. He's hitting for Iowa now. He's young (24). If Nico is out for a while (didn't look good / hamstring strain), with Vargas gone, Sergio reads like the next option. 

We'd have to open up another 40man spot. We're running out of space. Lots of guys already on 60day IL. Probably M. Rodriguez would have to go.

Thoughts?

phew.  i like good kimbrel.

STL down by 4, but it's still early.  if STL loses the cubs will only be 0.5 games out of 1st.

Hard for me to root for the WSox but they certainly have helped bring the Cardinals back to the pack.

Cubs sign the player formerly known as Dee Gordon to play in Iowa.

Tommy Birch (Iowa beat writer) now reporting OF Rafael Ortega is getting called up, not Sergio Alcantara. Maybe this means Nico injury isn't as bad as it looked, so they don't want to call up Alcantara and his no options because they don't want to risk losing him.

 If it is Ortega, guess we better prepare for a healthy anti-vax dose of Eric Sogard.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

I don't understand why the Cubs signed Strange-Gordon to play at Iowa when they need a 2B and not another LH-hitting back-up corner OF to replace Hoerner on the MLB 26-man active list roster.   

Strange-Gordon was playing every day (mostly at 2B and occasionally at SS or LF) at AAA Nashville as recently as last Friday and was hitting 333/378/500, so it's not like he needs to go to AAA to get into playing shape. 

Even if Sogard plays 2B pretty much every day, Strange-Gordon would seem to have more value on the Cubs MLB 26-man roster right now than a back-up OF. He can play 2B-LF, be the emergency back-up SS, and even PR late in games if you need to try and steal a run.  

Why is he going to AAA??? 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Maybe they know Duffy will be back (no pun) sooner, but they are expecting Heyward/Marisnick back later. If that is the case, then they could use another OF on the bench. Pederson, Happ, Martini, Bryant is a bit thin for depth. I was also thinking that maybe they are further evaluating Hoerner before making a decision on Strange-Gordon. 

Ortega brought up, S. Miller DFA. Ortega in lineup, Rizzo's back is bugging him again, KB1B.

no words for that awesome/stupid play by PIT allowing contreras to score.

some teams deserve last place.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Some more observations on that play: 

1. Contreras read the play perfectly. On some other angles you see that he hustles to 3rd, makes the turn, & waits.  If shenanigans are happening behind you  & JB is going to be safe at 1B, you don’t want a TOOBLAN between 3B & home for out #3. Willy reads what JB is doing & goes for it.

2. Javy’s suicide drill direction change at home was a pretty impressive physical feat.  He doesn’t get tagged & doesn’t interfere, and there were a lot of people in that real estate

3. After JB slides in to 1B & gets up to run to 2B, he touches 1B again with his left hand as he is standing up just to be sure. His presence of mind is uncanny... or he is Quicksilver from the X-men movies. 

The Javy video was the lead in story and shown repeatedly at least 5 times on MSNBC/Morning Joe  this AM at 5am and then 7AM rebroadcast. Ah, little league baseball is fun.

The Orb of Little League that surrounds Javy sometimes envelops others.  At some point I fully expect him to hit the ball over the head of an outfielder who is either looking at bugs in the grass or trying to decide if that cloud looks more like a beagle than a bunny.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

if they decide to lock him into a long-term contract, once his skills have declined enough that he needs to play the OF they need to get rid of him ASAP.  he'll spend his entire time in the OF looking for 4-leaf clovers in the grass or throwing his own glove up in the air to catch it.

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.