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 121-123)

The Cubs have matched their season high for *checks notes* games lost in a row, at eleven. Next, they get to face the second place Reds, who trail the Brewers by 8 games and are fighting for a Wild Card spot. See below for the matchups in this three-game series.


Game 121, Monday, August 16, 6:10 pm central

CHC: LHP Justin Steele (2-1, 2.95 ERA)

CIN: LHP Wade Miley (9-4, 3.00 ERA)

Steele gets his second start of the season and looks pretty secure in the rotation to the end of the season now that Arrieta has officially departed. He allowed three earned runs to the Brewers in five innings in his first start, striking out only one batter along the way.

Miley allowed five earned runs to Atlanta in five innings last time out. He did not earn a decision when he faced the Cubs on July 26, allowing three earned runs and five walks in 4.1 innings.


Game 122, Tuesday, August 17, 6:10 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (13-5, 4.15 ERA)

CIN: RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (8-3, 3.95 ERA)

The Brewers absolutely wrecked Hendricks in his last start. They collected eleven hits and nine earned runs off the veteran righty in 4 innings and ended his undefeated streak. The Reds tagged him for five earned runs in 4.1 innings when they saw him near the end of July.

Gutierrez has won four straight going back to a July 27 victory against the Cubs.


Game 123, Wednesday, August 18, 11:35 pm central

CHC: TBD, probably RHP Keegan Thompson (3-2, 2.21 ERA) RHP Adrian Sampson (6-12, 5.71 ERA in 153 innings at the MLB level)

CIN: RHP Tyler Mahle (10-3, 3.58 ERA)

Thompson made one start for the Cubs back on May 4. He last appeared for the MLB club on 7/26 and has since gotten stretched out a bit in the minors. Out of the bullpene he's missed enough bats to succeed, but his command has been inconsistent.

AZ Phil noted below that Adrian Sampson is on schedule to start on Wednesday and would be the likely call-up. He's made 20 MLB starts in his career and 21 additional relief appearances, and he spent 2020 pitching in the KBO. He brings a low 90s fastball and a slider and changeup.

Mahle is coming off seven scoreless innings in Philadelphia. He pitched six scoreless against the premium Cubs experience back on July 28.

Comments

That very well could have been Dan Winkler's last game as a member of the Cubs. He's closing in on another performance bonus ($75K if he pitches in 50 games, and this was game #47) after already having earned $50K when he pitched in his 40th game and another $50K when he pitched in his 45th game (on top of his $900K base salary).

I could see Winkler getting a DFA on Wednesday and the Cubs calling up RHSP Adrian Sampson from Iowa to take Adbert Alzolay's spot in the rotation. (Sampson was already scheduled to start for the I-Cubs on Wednesday). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil, 

I don't know if you feel comfortable answering this, so your call.

Given all the prospect capital traded for this year, how good are the current Cubs Player Development staff?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

This is kind of an interesting experiment in a high school chemistry class kind of way... what if you took a AAA team like the Iowa Cubs, and had them play in MLB? How would they do? Would they lose every game? Almost every game? I guess we'll find out.  

Go Corn Go. 

Go Children of Corn Go.

Who doesn't like corn?

Winkler DFA, Hermosillo selected. Still TBD who starts tomorrow

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

And because he has not been outrighted previously in his career, Johneshway Fargas will not have the right to elect free-agency if he is outrighted, although he would automaticaly be declared an MLB Rule 9 (formerly MLB Rule 55) 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series if he is not added back to an MLB 40-man roster or does not sign a 2022 minor league successor contract in the meantime. 

adrian "who the hell is adrian sampson" sampson gets the wednesday start...wow, okay...whatever.

i mean...who cares, but really?

it's like we're out here killing time rather than checking out 2022 realities.

Heuer looked nasty. Congrats to Hendricks on the win at a place/team that's particularly tuff for him. 

sampson pitches 4 innings.  it's a shame he got pulled and doesn't get a shot at the win.

61st cub player this season.  lot of cubs in 2021.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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).