Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus six players are on the 60-DAY IL

Last updated 10-2-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 22
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Brad Boxberger
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Tyler Duffey 
Jeremiah Estrada
Shane Greene
Kyle Hendricks
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
# Jeimer Candelario
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 8
Kevin Alcantara
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

60-DAY IL: 6
Nick Burdi, P
Michael Fulmer, P 
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Nick Madrigal, INF
Ethan Roberts, P
 


 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Ramirez to the DL, Nomar to the Hot Corner

Aramis Ramirez has been placed on the DL, and Ronny Cedeno has been recalled to take his spot on the roster. Of course, with the Cubs a mere 7 1/2 games out of the wildcard with five whole weeks of the season left, we can't expect Cedeno to actually play! This also explains why a third baseman (like, I don't know, Mike Fontenot, who's sporting a .374 OBP in Iowa) wasn't called up to replace A-Ram; we're going to need the veteran presence of Neifi Perez and Jose Macias at third in order to jump past Philadelphia, Florida, Houston, New York, Washington, and Milwaukee and make the post-season. Ramirez will be replaced, at least for today, by Nomar Garciaparra, making his first-ever appearance at third base. Iiiinteresting. Is it a one-off thing, or is it a way for Nomar to make himself a little more desireable on the free-agent market? Once the game starts, he will become the 103rd player to man third base for the Cubs since the Ron Santo trade.

Comments

Hey...if we didn't have Neifi or Macias, the Cubs would have a record of 0-125. You gotta reward their hard work in keeping us in the race, and still a few games ahead of the Pirates. They don't get paid as much as they do to sit on the bench, they've earned their shot. Furthermore, it's essential that we know what Macias and Neifi can do as starters next year...If Macias can transition to short, and Nefi to 2nd...then we have a playoff nucleus infield with a lot of dough to spend on an entire new outfield, a starting pitcher and a couple relievers. "Macias, to Perez, to Lee Double Play." Got a nice ring to it. And the young kids will get a chance to watch and learn from the grinders...Neifi and Macias have a lot to teach the kids.

The sad thing is that we're 7.5 back in the wild card at the same time we're 5 under .500. With 35 games to go, the Cubs would have to go 20-15 to just hit .500 on the season (a .571 tear), and 28-7 (.800) to get back to 89 wins. I doubt the wild card victor will have less than 90 wins, but I've been wrong before. I don't see this happening realistically.

I couldn't agree more with your comment. Macias should be nowhere near third base. I actually thought Ramieriz being hurt was going to be beneficial to Cedeno in that Dusty could play his beloved Perez at third and Cedeno could play SS. However, I was afraid of his beloved Macias playing third which is what I think will happen. The Cubs should be spending every game getting ready for next year: Wood to have his surgery, Hill and maybe even Mitre in the rotation, Murton in the OF, Van Buren in the bullpen, Hairston playing every day. These are absolute minimums.

Adam: 0-125? No player can swing 61 victories, no matter how good they are. I will give you that they've helped more than they've hurt to this point, but you can't put any success to this point on them. I do agree that the kids should play at this point, though - let's start shoring up what we have.

If you must start Nomar, why not second base? And let Neifie play third. If Cubs are just putting him at third to limit him from getting more hurt(if possible), just DL is his ass and wipe your hands of him.

The Cubs make no sense. It's just a fuckin' joke that they still think they have any shot whatsoever.

Nomar will be starting at third today. Interesting.

I'll try to be clearer. Putting Nomar at a position(3rd)that will do the Cubs no good for the future(2006)makes no sense. Start him second(remainder of season), see if he can peform there and evaluate him to see if you want him for second base next year. If he's at third, because he does not have to move alot because he would get hurt at another position(ss or 2b) put him on the DL. Then you start Neifi every day at 3rd, Cedeno at ss, and walker/fotenot at second. Lets look to 2006.

Interesting: Hairston Lawton Lee Barrett Garciaparra Burnitz Perez Cedeno Rusch

I see where you're going, Jacos, but I don't agree. If you're going to move Nomar off of short and have him play a brand-new position, third is much smarter than second. As a short-term fix, I don't mind it. In fact, it's creative thinking. Long-term, (ie the rest of the season) it might actually work. Nomar plays third, Cedeno plays short, and Fontenot splits time at second with Walker. That makes more defensive sense.

"Adam: 0-125? No player can swing 61 victories, no matter how good they are. I will give you that they've helped more than they've hurt to this point, but you can't put any success to this point on them." Sachmet...could you really not tell that my whole post reaked of sarcasm? come on now. We could probably through our A minor league team out there and still come up with a win or two here or there.

Adam... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NEVER give compliments to Neffi and Jose. They are both illusions. Neffi is off and on, and has had one big hit all year (the GS in St. Louis). Jose only gets hits with no one on base. He is a defensive liability and should not even be in the MLB. Your statement is rediculous! If those two start next year I will stop being a Cubs fan and Jim Hendry should be fired. You are insane.

I think that Jacos' point is that Nomar will not replace Ramirez at 3rd next year, so playing him there this year is pointless. At 2nd, he might play next year...

I guess this answers the question of is Nomar going to back next year and the answer is no. Playing 3rd helps his value as FA and let the Cubs try out Cedeno at SS to see if they need to go after Furcal. No Nomar also means no Walker for next year as from what i have read suggest the Cubs hate his defense and the only reason they signed him was to get Nomar. Finally there doing what they should have done at the trade deadline give up on the season and see which kids can help next year.

Dusty Baylor- I owe you a dollar for being my interperter.

that's cute Christian.... Nomar plays third, Cedeno plays short, and Fontenot splits time at second with Walker In reality, it's more like Nomar at third, Neifi at SS and Walker at second versus righties and Cedeno at SS, Neifi at 2b against lefties. Dusty Baker is still our manager and Neifi is his love-child this season.

No Nomar also means no Walker for next year as from what i have read suggest the Cubs hate his defense and the only reason they signed him was to get Nomar You got a link? Where did you read that?

Will people read my post again with this in mind. I'M KIDDING!!!! Clue #1: The Cubs would be 0-125 without Neifi & Macias. Clue #2: Reward them for keeping us a few games ahead of the Pirates. Clue #3: It's essential to know what Macias and Neifi can do as STARTERS next year. Clue #4: "then we have a playoff nucleus infield" with Neifi and Macias. Clue #5: "Macias, to Perez, to Lee Double Play." Got a nice ring to it" Clue #6: "Neifi and Macias have a lot to teach the kids."

Nomar is playing third. Hairston is playing center field. Kerry Wood is in the bullpen, Glendon Rusch is in the rotation, Dempster is our closer. What a season.

I really expected to see: 3b Macias ss Neifi! 1B Lee rf Burnitz 2b Nomah lf Holly cf Patterson c Blanco P Rusch Rusch goes 3 innings, throws 68 pitches and quits after our batters see 17. He doesn't even bother sitting down.

We may see that three inning, 68 pitch outing from Rusch!

Adam, You idiot, surely you can't be serious saying DLee is our first baseman of the future. Macias to Neifi to HOLLANDSWORTH... now that's a double play. ---

Recent comments

  • Childersb3 10/03/2023 - 10:46 pm (view)

    I understand this is a cost saving and control idea. But I wouldn't be happy giving up ONKC or Alcantara for Hayes and/or Bednar.

    I'm not saying they aren't good players. They are. They've never been "tested" with playing for a good team, but that isn't their fault. They produce good results. But not Jaguar and Big Red.

    Canario won't get to play for the Cubs, just like Velazquez, so he should probably go. Same for Mervis and Vazquez. Wesneski can get better but Bednar would certainly help us.

    But not to big power hitting OFs that are 21 yrs old and younger at AA already. I'm still holding out hope for the ONKC-PCA-Jag left to right OF. I'm just not giving up on that.

    Hayes for Morel kind of stings. I'd love for Morel to get a full year at 3B. Even if he failed there miserably, I'd like to give him a shot.

    Phil always comes up with common sense angles. This trade idea fills needs for sure and fills them with cost saving effective players.

    I'm thinking Morel goes to NYM for Alonso.

    We'll see what Jed cooks up.

  • Arizona Phil 10/03/2023 - 10:18 pm (view)

    It used to be that teams did not want to trade within their own division for PR reasons, but I don't see that with Ben Cherington in Pittsburgh or with Hoyer / Hawkins in Chicago, so the Cubs might target Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes and closer David Bednar.

    Hayes is a Gold Glove defender, a decent enough hitter (105 OPS+ in 2023), and he's under control at a VERY reasonable price ($8.75M AAV) through 2029 (with a club option for 2030). 

    Bednar is first-time salary arbitration-eligible post-2023 and under control through 2026. 

    One thing about the Cubs is that they can afford to overpay (which is what they would have to do to get both Hayes and Bednar) with a package consisting of a decent young MLB position player to replace Hayes in the lineup (like Christopher Morel, who could play LF in Pittsburgh) and prospects like outfielders Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie, or Kevin Alcantara (Pirates pick one, leaving the other two for the Cubs), a power-hitting 1B-DH like Matt Mervis or Haydn McGeary (Pirates pick one, leaving the other one for the Cubs), SS Luis Vazquez (who is MLB-ready but will never play SS in Chicago), 3B B. J. Murray (who could replace Hayes at the hot corner in Pittsburgh by 2025 if not sometime in 2024, and he obviously would be blocked in Chicago if the Cubs get Hayes), and an MLB-ready SP like Hayden Wesneski. 

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:02 pm (view)

    boog and glanville calling the PHI@MIL game on ESPN2.

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:59 pm (view)

    bellinger is my #1 want, but i fear he's the #1 want of many teams and will get crazy money + years, with the years being the big sting.  they need to replace bellinger's production if they don't get him no matter what position(s) played.

  • George Altman 10/03/2023 - 10:40 pm (view)

    I hope their top priorities are Bellinger, 2 RPs better than Fulmer/Boxberger (ideally 1 LH), and a 3B (Chapman my 1st Choice). That will put them right up to $237-257M AAV limit, but I don't see a playoff berth doing anything less.

    If they really want Alonso, Morel would be a good opening piece of that offer. 

    Unfortunately, Stroman will opt in ($23.7M) and Smyly ($11.5M) will be back. Steele, Taillon, Assad, Wicks will be rotation pieces. Would love a SP2 FA but don't see how they keep an effective offense and improve their bullpen while adding that.

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:03 pm (view)

    i cannot imagine getting a legit 3rd, whether signing or via trade, isn't the highest priority for the team.  it's almost obvious they don't see morel there.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester 10/03/2023 - 10:19 pm (view)

    I’m just hoping they have an actual 3B next year so we don’t need to worry about the M boys, Bote, and P Whiffy eating all the 3B at bats next year.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester 10/03/2023 - 10:13 pm (view)

    Willson was a OF/3B when we signed him too.

    On a less successful but still got to the show note, PJ Higgins was another college IF converted to C

  • crunch 10/03/2023 - 10:03 pm (view)

    truth...and personally, i'd give him ABs (especially at 3rd) over the 2 singles-hitting-ceiling guys that got the shot.  i'm sure he can cover the ob% and defense while surpassing the power of anything masterboney and madrigal brought to the team.

    i don't view bote as a solution at 3rd, but i find it hard to believe he couldn't outperform either of the main options they had there for a huge chunk of this season.

  • KingKongvsGodzilla 10/03/2023 - 10:47 pm (view)

    Color me impressed by this assignment for Trice right out of the draft as a convert. Seems worth following after the success of Caratini