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. Mets: Series Thread (Games 89-92)

The Cubs finish of the pre-All-Star portion of the season with 4-games against the New York Mets. See below for the daily matchups.


Game 89, Thursday, July 14, 7:05 pm central

CHC: RHP Keegan Thompson (7-3, 3.04 ERA)

NYM: RHP Carlos Carrasco (9-4, 4.55 ERA)


Game 90, Friday, July 15, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (2-5, 4.91 ERA)

NYM: RHP Taijuan Walker (7-2, 2.63 ERA)


Game 91, Saturday, July 16, 1:20 pm central

CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (2-5, 4.43 ERA)

NYM: RHP Max Scherzer (6-1, 2.15 ERA)


Game 92, Sunday, July 17, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Adrian Sampson (0-1, 3.33 ERA)

NYM: LHP David Peterson (5-2, 3.48 ERA)

Comments

Why is tonight different from all other nights?
 

it's not Passover but Crunch sounds like he's working on the Cubs version of the four questions.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

i'm from the south, but far north of florida.  i have limited exposure to even passing references to jewish culture aside from TV, so i learned new stuff tonight.

i went searching for enough info for a decent comeback, but ended up learning a bunch of stuff about passover and how traditions around it are passed on.

but hey, i understand the joke now at least.

also, the past 10 minutes reading about this has been better than the game.  i'm ready for 2023.

Cubs are now tied with the Reds at 34 wins. Only 5  losses above the Nats for the worst record in both leagues.

I splurged and got a killer seat Field Box between home and 1st. Hadn't seen Keegan Thompson live yet, and it was just so gorgeous out. Oh but then the game part... So many Met rockets. People were saying maybe Thompson was tipping. When Ross got tossed, the whole place was quiet enough for me to hear a Met fan go, "What's that guy yelling about?" I woulda laughed but...

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

it's getting real up in here.  2023 real, hopefully.

stroman - ??? - hendricks - steele - thompson

herz and wicks in AA/AAA ready to feed the pipeline.  killian in the mix already primed to be MLB or MLB/AAA type player.

alzolay technically exists, but he'll be 28 in march 2023 and he's never been able to throw more than 130 innings in a full season on combined levels in his 10 year pro career.  it would be nice to see him work a full season in the pen with his stuff, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

D. J. Herz will be Rule 5 Draft-eligible post-2023 so the Cubs could call him up anytime in 2023 if they think he's ready. Jordan Wicks will not be Rule 5 Draft-eligible until post-2024. HOWEVER... If Wicks were to be called up sometime in 2023 he would get a 4th minor league option in 2026 (just like Caleb Kilian getting called up in 2022 means he will be getting a 4th minor league option in 2025), so the Cubs might not think twice about calling up Wicks next season. We might actually see a starting rotation of Steele, K. Thompson, Herz, Wicks, and Kilian by this time next year (presuming the Cubs can trade Hendricks and Stroman in the meantime). 

FWIW, OF Kevin Alcantara is one of the Cubs top 5 prospects and he is Rule 5 Dtaft-eligible post-2022  so he will almost certainly be added to the 40 in November. But if he is added to the 40 in November he will be eligible for a 4th minor league option year in 2026, so there will be no need to rush him. Same goes for RHSP Luis Devers. 

I think that Alzolay's starting days are over, at least for the next couple of years.  I would like to see him coupled with Steele or Thompson, coming in for the last three or four innings of the game.  If and when Herz makes it, I would like to see him begin that way also.  Very similar to the way they handled Thompson in the beginning.

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

if he can work back to back days he could be (if he's still go the same stuff) the cubs closer of the future.

what's in the arm is great stuff.  i dunno how stable that arm is, though.

at the very least he could be a medium-rest long man if he can't bounce back quickly after doing work.  some guys can't throw 10-25 pitches and come out to do it the next day for some reason.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

The multi-inning reliever (a pitcher capable of going once through the order) is now an important part of an MLB pitching staff, what with the 13-man pitcher limit. At least two are needed (they would have been Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson in 2022 if Hendricks, Stroman, Miley, Smyly, and Mills had been the five-man rotation).

Adbert Alzolay would seem to fit that profile in 2023 (likewise Brailyn Marquez if he ever gets back into game action), although it does not preclude him from eventually becoming a traditional rotation starter or high-leverage one-inning reliever. In fact, the multi-inning reliever role might be the best way to integrate a young pitcher into MLB in the 2020's.

game 1 is an oddly slow moving game for a low offense game.

lot of pitches being thrown without offense outcomes.

8th loss in a row...

contreras is sitting in the dugout by himself with his head in his hands...he seems to be so over all of this.  he doesn't seem pissed, but he seems worn the hell out.

damn.

this team really could use some time off.  we're doing ejections almost every game lately.  players seem moody.  no one's dealing with this losing season well, especially this current losing streak.

PCA went 1 for 2, double, in the futures game.  he was a bench substitution and played CF.

AL won, jassssssssson dominguez hit a homer.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

One thing MLB clubs tend to do is trade a good but not Top 100 prospect they acquired in a trade more-readily than a guy they signed. That's because a club doesn't have the financial (bonus) investment in a player they acquire from another organization.

So don't be too surprised if the Cubs flip two or three of the young outfielders (or first basemen) they acquired in trades over the past year or two in another trade for pitching or for an infielder or a catcher from an  organization that doesn't have much in the way of OF / 1B prospects. 

Most likely Cubs player to be traded is RF Alexander Canario (acquired from SF in the Kris Bryant trade), but they could flip one or two others as well.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Speaking of our gluttony of OF prospects.....what do you think Morel's "main" position is or will be? Of course he can play all over, but what's his best/main spot? His arm strength seems under utilized at 2B. He hasn't played much SS the last two years. Is it 3B? Just checking. Thanks Phil

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

childersb3: Although he is a natural SS and has played a lot of 3B in the minors, I would say CF is probably Christopher Morel's best position. However, no matter where he plays, he is still raw defensivley. His real value ultimately will be as a "bat-first" multi-positional super utility player (along the lines of Ben Zobrist), and to be that type of player, he will need to polish his defense (especially at 3B and SS) so that he can be at least passable at all of the positions he will be expected to play.  

Although CF is probably his best defensive position, if Morel plays mainly one position with the Cubs, for better or for worse, it would probably have to be 3B, simply because there will not be room in the Cubs outfield for him long-term. There will eventually be just too many other players just as good or almost as good as Morel who (unlike Morel) cannot play anywhere other than in the outfield.  

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.