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 Week in Quotations 06-06 to 06-12

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels "Henry was good. He said he will slap me." - Carlos Zambrano, on Henry Blanco coming out to talk to him after walking the first 3 batters in Sundayís game versus the Padres Not Settling for Second Best "It's early, but we don't want the Wild Card. We want to win the division. We will win the division. That's our goal." - Carlos Zambrano laying the smackdown Not That There's Anything Wrong with that... "He's a beauty." Jeromy Burnitz, on Carlos Zambrano Hot, Hot, Hot!!! "I'm feeling hot. You can see the team and everybody getting hot. It looks like 'D-Lee' woke up everybody. He was carrying the team at the beginning. I see that, I see 'D-Lee' play like that, how he's playing, how he's hitting. Let's fight for the team. We have a pretty good team, we have hitters, we have pitching. We'll do anything to win as many games as possible to catch St. Louis." - Carlos Zambrano Just Win Baby! "Everybody talks about having fun. 'Oh, let's go out and have fun.' I never understood that. Never. You have fun when you put together some wins. That's what we've done, and it's been a good time." -Jeromy Burnitz Hearing Voices "I heard a couple yells to go to second. I thought we had him -- I should've put a little more on it to make a more accurate throw. It ended up we didn't get him at first either." -John Koronka, on his ill-advised throw to try and nail the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt You Know, We've Been Saying That All Along "Neifi's been unbelievable all year, In that leadoff spot or No. 2 spot, he's been on base the whole time. He makes the plays, he's won a Gold Glove. The way he's swinging the bat, he's an All-Star right now." - Derrek Lee Campaigning "There should be a Cubs shortstop there, and it's the guy who's playing there right now. He's been unbelievable. He definitely deserves it." -Nomar Garciaparra Thereís No Such Thing as Bad LuckÖÖBut Just to Be Clear! "Not to me, it wasn't all black. It was black and white. I was thinking, 'Where did he come from? Does he live here?' [Omens] don't mean nothing to me." -Dusty Baker, on the cat that ran across the field during Wednesdayís game Is There Such A Thing as a Smart Mental Error? "I made a stupid mental error, I've maybe done it twice in my career. And unfortunately, [with tonight's situation], we end up losing. -Will Ohman, on not covering first properly in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays Preparing for The Future "You can't get enough pitching, but our plan was to get the best available guy. We're realistic in knowing it's a certain period of time to the big leagues. In the farm system, you want as many talented players as you can. We generally take the best available talent." -John Stockstill, Cubs Scouting Director, on the Cubs draft straregy At Least Someone is Noticing "What I've noticed is that he's leading the league in complete games and averaging under 100 pitches during his games. Maybe we can pay attention, especially some of the younger guys, on how to minimize your pitches." -Dusty Baker, on Roy Halladay's efficient pitching method Has He Seen The Light? "I tried to take what had been working on on the side and take it out there. Just trying to keep it a little more smooth. Sometimes, depending on the situation in a game, you want to try to do a little more and end up jumping. I'm trying to keep everything the same, regardless of the situation in the game. -Kerry Wood, on trying to steady his mechanics Thievery "They just have to have a little more larceny in their veins and cause a little more havoc. Just utilize their speed because they have the green light most of the time. It's a matter of letting your ability take charge and be a little more daring.'' -Dusty Baker, on Jerry Hairston and Corey Patterson stealing more bases Death By Speed "You are going to make some mistakes, but speed kills and creates mistakes. This is what I want them to do.'' -Dusty Baker It's Too High, It's Too High "I hit it in the wind. I hit it high enough for the wind to blow it far enough." -Greg Maddux on his Friday homer Back to the Bench, Dubois "I believe in 'Holly. It's a matter of him believing in himself. He has the skills. He can run, he can throw, he has power, he can hit. The last few games, he's starting to wake up and starting to swing the bat well again. -Dusty Baker But You Make It Look So Easy "[Red Sox catcher Jason] Varitek, he knows how I think. For example, when I hit a curveball to left field my first at-bat, he knows I eliminate that pitch and start looking for other pitches. So my next at-bat, first pitch, curveball. It makes it difficult." -Todd Walker, after Saturday's game We Never Doubted You For A Minute....Well Okay Maybe a Minute "I thought it was just a matter of time before we meshed." -Todd Hollandsworth

Comments

Zambrano walked the first and third batters with strikeouts in between. Gave up the tater to the 5th batter Nixon.

Zambrano walked the first and third batters with strikeouts in between. Gave up the tater to the 5th batter Nixon. Yup. And he walked the first 3 batters last Sunday. But the Cubs won both games! Go Cubs!

We were talking on chat last night why Holly was not in the lineup Sunday vs. knuckleballer Wakefield. I thought maybe him fouling the ball off his leg was the reason or he did not do well vs. knuckleballers, but Baker said this: "He's not in the lineup because I don't want to mess up the stroke he's got with a knuckleball," Baker said. "Right-handers are hitting a whole lot more against Wakefield than left-handers. It seems like his ball moves away from left-handers more than right-handers." Willis on the mound today, so Dubois will most likely be in today, but Holly should be back in the lineup Tue and Wed with RHP's going both days.

The Cubs are TERRIBLE in home games played at night. Honestly, I'd bet they win only 30% of these games going back to 1988. What is the deal?

If this has already been discussed my apologies, but Joe Morgan is unlistenable, the two best (worst) examples: 1. After the Youkilis HR -- "that's what a number 3 hitter is supposed to do, not walk". Joe clearly hates rational analysis of the game. The comment was so out of place and so arbitrary, yeah, Joe a HR is better than a walk, but is a HR and 10 Ks, better than say, 5 walks, a single and 5 outs. It's all relative. 2. The Cubs really miss Sammy Sosa. Why? Because he's a superstar. uh-huh. Anybody do a Burnitz/Sammy analysis lately, please include $$. Sorry, I'm too lazy to do it. Guess I wouldn't have minded as much if the Cubs had won.

My beef is (K)orey Patterson the guy has all the media convinced he is the second coming of Willie Mays....I'm tired of hearing about his potential ... ten years from now he still will be hitting 260 with 2 K's a game One walk a week 3 SBs a month and RBI's for get it he is a rally killing LOB King and he is a very average fielder. On a good team he is on the Bench.

"[Red Sox catcher Jason] Varitek, he knows how I thin. For example, when I hit a curveball to left field my first at-bat, he knows I eliminate that pitch and start looking for other pitches." Uhh Todd, now the whole league knows it. I know you like to be amicable to the press and tell them interesting stories. But lets keep your trade secrets under wrap.

Good point DaKubs. I hope we see Cedeno full time at SS next year and Pie at CF. I don't think they're too young. Of course I'm dreaming. Management will probably trade all the young guys for Bagwell, Sheffield, Palmero, and Piazza. *sigh*

More fun paraphrased Morgan quotes: Joe: "That's why you can't replace stars with replacement players. Because they're just that, replacements." Wah? John: "Did you ever hit for the cycle Joe?" Joe: "umm...well...I don't...remember...umm...well...I guess I probably didn't." Jon: "Well, I think you would remember something like hitting for the cycle Joe." Joe: "you're right Jon, that's why I said I didn't. Let's get our stats guy on it." Joe: "Alot of people said the Giants would be better off as a team without Barry Bonds. Well this year so far proves that this is not the case." Huh?

Of course I'm dreaming. Management will probably trade all the young guys for ... Sheffield... I wish! I would love to have Shef in LF, even if he is an ass. I would trade top prospects for Gary Sheffield in a second.

Of course I'm dreaming. Management will probably trade all the young guys for ... Sheffield... I wish! I would love to have Shef in LF, even if he is an ass. I would trade top prospects for Gary Sheffield in a second.

>>> I wish! I would love to have Shef in LF, even if he is an ass. I would trade top prospects for Gary Sheffield in a second.

than last year's Last years? I guarantee you that you cannot find a Cubs player in the minors that will put up these numbers: .296/.402./.505 - 10 HR, 38 RBI, 34 runs, 6/7 in SBs. So who in the Cubs organization, other than Derek Lee and maybe A-Ram (without the SB's), can put up these kind of numbers?

Sheff also has 12 win shares this year, which currently places him tied for 9th in all of baseball. Now...I do not believe that the Yankees would be willing to part with Sheff, as that would be signaling a white flag, which George would never do. But if he was available, I would love to have hit abilities in our lineup.

Phil--"Anybody do a Burnitz/Sammy analysis lately, please include $$. Sorry, I'm too lazy to do it."
Because the net effect of the Sosa trade was the Cubs giving the Orioles Sosa and $16.15m for Hairston, Fontenot and Crouthers, and with Burnitz signing a $4.5m deal (plus $500k buyout of next year), I believe the net effect of the Sosa trade is that the Cubs are actually paying just $0.35m less to have Burnitz play right instead of Sosa. In other words, money no matter.
Ryno--"Good point DaKubs. I hope we see Cedeno full time at SS next year and Pie at CF. I don't think they're too young."
Bitching about Corey and then hoping the Cubs rush Pie to the majors when he has similar strikeouts problems to those Patterson had at the same stage of his development, gotta love it.
Joe Morgan--"That's why you can't replace stars with replacement players. Because they're just that, replacements."
So if ESPN replaced Joe Morgan, not that he's a star or anything, that'd make his replacement just a replacement. Okay, I could live with that.
Joe Morgan--"Alot of people said the Giants would be better off as a team without Barry Bonds. Well this year so far proves that this is not the case."
Well, if there's one thing I've said all along, it's that having a guy with a 12 billion OPS stops you scoring runs. Okay, not really. Shut up, Joe. Too proud to say "I never hit for the cycle".

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.