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

Free Matt Murton

I've been informed that indeed, the Cubs brass do read this website and have promoted Matt Murton. No word on who is getting sent down. Kidding about the Cubs brass reading this website, but our pal Steve Holley at Inside the Ivy is the one giving me the news and he's with the team currently in New Orleans. We can only assume it's Eric Patterson being sent down.


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Comments

Yay. Welcome back Orange Guy. One down, Mumia and Tibet to go.

Murton is not in tonight's line-up for Iowa---Vitters got called up to Peoria today

Watching the Brewers-Reds game here in Madison. Sheets left mid-game with a sore tricep. Was pinch hit for in the 6th after only giving up 2 hits through 5. He then left the dugout for the clubhouse.

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

Well Vitters is a first round pick whether he 'deserved' a callup to A ball or not, they have some millions invested in him so I'm sure he will get plenty of chances at every level in the minors.

[ ]

In reply to by Jeff_Pico

Yeah, but he's also an eighteen-year-old who doesn't need to be rushed through the minors when we've got a third baseman set for years. If he needs to spend half of 2008 in EXST, then leave him there. I haven't seen a single article that says that the Cubs are completely sure he's ready to face A-ball pitching.

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Regardless of whether or not Vitters deserves and/or will benefit from the call-up, Peoria now has two legitimate right-handed hitting prospects--Vitters and Donaldson. When they have games where the put it together, those guys could be dangerous in a-ball. Of course, there will likely be a number of games in which one or both of them looks absolutely lost. Tony Thomas is off to a nice start in Daytona, though he's struck out a lot. Keeping track of Iowa Cubs games isn't nearly as much fun this year as it was last. No Hoff-power so far, no Fontenot, no Pie, no Soto, no Marmol, no Marshall. Gallagher can only play once every five games--who else can I get excited about? Well, I am still a fan of Josh Kroeger's potential, though he's getting old to be talking about potential. Jake Fox seems like an unusual minor league figure to me. What does one do in the minors to prepare for a career as a right-handed pinch-hitter, emergency corner outfielder/infielder, and emergency-emergency catcher?

Levine implied the same thing on his MJH spot with Murt. They just did not feel Epat was going to be of much use with 3 out of the next 5 verus lefties.

Eh, they looked at Fontenot and Patterson (since a lefty bat would be nice) but neither looked good. So it's DeRo back to 2B with Murton headed to LF.

[ ]

In reply to by RowdyYates

I wouldn't count on Murton being the everyday LF until Soriano returns, I think we will see all kinds of different lineups with Derosa, Fontenot, Murton, Johnson and Pie. Maybe even a Ward sighting in Right and Fuku in center.

latest Steve Holley update... http://cubs.scout.com/2/747641.html METAIRIE, La. -- Cubs outfielder Matt Murton was a late scratch from the initial starting lineup in Friday's game between Class AAA Iowa and New Orleans -- a move that might indicate Murton is headed to Chicago. The lineup change was announced roughly one hour before the scheduled 7:05 p.m. (CT) start. Iowa manager Pat Listach declined to say whether Murton will be recalled by Chicago, but the outfielder was not in uniform for Friday's Iowa Cubs game at New Orleans. Through 13 games, Murton batted .317 (13-for-41) for Iowa.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

well I wouldn't lie to you guys and Steve gives me all kind of info that he tells me I can't run. In this case, he explicitly said I could run it and be sure to give him credit.

He then sent me an email 20 minutes later, that he talked to Listach who wouldn't confirm it, but certainly didn't deny it either...something along the lines of "maybe so".

Murton will be in Chicago tomorrow.... 

Tribune reporting that Reed Johnson gets its shot at leadoff on Saturday v. Gorzelanny.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubnut

I'll guess the lineup

CF Johnson 

SS THeriot

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Fuku

2B DeRosa

C Soto

LF Murton

I'd put theriot 8th, Murton 2nd, but Theriot's had a few nice games in a row and I'm guessing that's the lineup Lou will go with.

Murton vs Duke

10/22 .455/.500/.682  (2 2b, 1 HR)

vs Gorzelanny

4/10 .400/.500/.600 (2 2b) 

 

the cubs already hinted at this move when Epat got called up and looking at the schedule: Pirates, Mets, Rockies, Nats...all those teams have a few lefties in the rotation, although I'm unsure how it's going to play out after the Pirates series.

when do we get to start beating up on the Giants?

Does anyone think that EPatt being called up was the last straw for Matt, and he's a nice guy and everything but why else would he keep those photos of Lou and Dusty if he wasn't going to use them?

Richie Sexson up with a man on and two outs...already homered twice tonight. Nails a hanging slider to center that Torii Hunter brings back into the park for the Angels win. Fun stuff. Might of hit right at the top of the wall, but really damn impressive...

Todd Wellemeyer pitched over 100 innings for the first time in his career Friday night and moved to 2-0 after a seven inning, four hit performance. Wellemeyer allowed only one run and struck out six. His ERA sits at 3.24. Granted, he was facing the Giants, but Wellemeyer looked great. He kept the ball down and worked ahead all night. Of the 107 pitches he threw, 72 were strikes. He has suddenly become a very nice-looking option in NL-only leagues. Especially because he'll face the Pirates next time out.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I'm not really surprised Wellemyer has had a nice stretch, he always had good stuff but walked too many people, his career walks per 9 innings is about 5 but this year he's got it down to about 3.. if he can keep up that kind of reduction he might be a different pitcher, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

March 28, 2006: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Florida Marlins for Lincoln Holdzkom (minors) and Zach McCormack (minors). June 9, 2006: Selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals from the Florida Marlins. May 15, 2007: Selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Kansas City Royals. ...as I recall Wellemeyer was traded by the Cubs because he was out of options.

The pesky redhead returns! He's been jab, jab, jabbing @ Iowa [13 singles, 10 bb's, zero rbi's]& is ready to start throwing haymakers in Chicago...good luck, 'pesky', AKA, 'le petit orange'...

I like that Murton too but I just wish that he could learn to be a better outfielder. I don't expect much but Murton has got to understand that his future will depend on him having the ability to play the outfield well left field and right field. In addition, it wouldn't hurt if he could try on a first baseman's glove and see if he could make himself a bit more valuable. A weak hitting poor fielding left fielder will only get him so far.

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 10/04/2023 - 10:38 am (view)

    Outside the box idea for 3b, Anthony Rendon.  Angels eat some of the contract but even then the prospect cost would be light.  Getting healthy and getting the hell out of the Angels organization could be a good change of scenery, bounce back candidate. 

  • Charlie 10/04/2023 - 10:51 am (view)

    A Bryan Reynolds CF and Christopher Morel LF outfield defense would be laughable in that Pittsburgh ballpark, though.

  • 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