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

Does Brandon Inge Interest You?

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Cubs and Tigers have had "general discussions" about getting the Tigers some bullpen help. The Cubs are, of course, in the market for a right-handed hitting, three-spot outfielder.
The Cubs have considered adding a right-handed hitter who is capable of playing centerfield. Whether coincidental or not, Brandon Inge is expected to start in center for Detroit this afternoon against Philadelphia.
I should note that the Tigers played the Astros today and Inge does not show up in the box score and I see no mentions of a split-squad game, so it's entirely possible that the writer is whacked. 

The article also mention Marcus Thames, but Leyland seems to like him, and he's not really suited for centerfield supposedly. 

Of course, the same could be said of Brandon Inge, who came up as a catcher and has played third base most of his career. He has played some outfield, including 20 games at center (most of those in 2004). But is this what the Cubs had in mind? 

Somehow I doubt it, but I did hear one of the local Detroit press guys on XM radio a few weeks back saying that Inge could TRULY play all eight positions on the diamond and excel at most of them. Unfortunately, Inge has stated his unwillingness to be a platoon player or semi-regular. Not to mention he had a truly awful season offensively last year(236/312/376) and has a rather hefty contract (signed through 2010 with over $19 MM left on his deal). But if the numbers could work and if the game was based on theory, he wouldn't be a bad player to have around. In reality, it's doubtful this rumor will go anywhere...which would put it up there with most of the Cubs offseason hot stove talk.

Comments

Trading Inge away to be a part time player would be a move Domb. probably wouldn't make. He's a bit too classy to do that to a guy he signed to a long term contract that's still capable of starting.

"The Cubs have considered adding a right-handed hitter who is capable of playing centerfield. Whether coincidental or not, Brandon Inge is expected to start in center for Detroit this afternoon against Philadelphia." fwiw, leyland stated after inge's "okay, i caught, but no..dont want this" thing that inge would be playing CF. yesterday he said it i think...kinda off the cuff. maybe the day before.

I should note that the Tigers played the Astros today and Inge does not show up in the box score and I see no mentions of a split-squad game, so it's entirely possible that the writer is whacked. 

I too watch a lot of Tigers, and NO. He is a good team player, but consistently disappointing in clutch situations. He salary is way too big for what he is. And to be honest, why would the Cubs want a CF who has never played there consistently? Inge is a great athlete, but not the right fit for the Cubs.

I say we get another player we don't need. This is my feeling. We need to put Pie out there to sink or swim. The position the Cubs need is shortstop but they refuse to admit that and/or doing anything about it. It's like getting bombed by an Afghani terror organization then attacking Iraq. KIDDING!!!!!!! DO NOT BEGIN A POLITICAL DEBATE!!!!!

Don't we have a third baseman? Isn't getting veteran shlubs to compete with the young talent the exact thing the Cubs did under Dusty? We should have enough offense. Let Pie play.

I don't get it. The Cubs have one legitimate defensive shortstop in Ronny Cedeno, and one Brian Roberts-ish second baseman in Mark DeRosa, and two middle infielders who can sub in Theriot and Fontenot. And they want to trade the shortstop and prospects for a second baseman? The Cubs have a blue chip center field prospect in Pie, a decent backup in Fuld, and a highly regarded Japanese import in Fukudome who many feel can play center, but they want to trade for Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd? The Cubs have a premium catching prosect in Soto, and a solid-as-a-rock, everyday thirdbaseman in Ramirez, yet they want to trade for the expensive Brandon Inge who plays those two positions and see if he can hack it in center? I don't really see how any of those trades help the Cubs. I guess Roberts would probably be a little bit better than DeRosa/Fontenot/Theriot, and if he was acquired Piniella might actually be convinced to bat him leadoff instead of Soriano, but the defensive hit in playing anyone but Cedeno at short and the loss of prospects in an already mediocre system would more than offset that.

"and a solid-as-a-rock, everyday thirdbaseman in Ramirez" Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That solid everyday thirdbasemen has really been tearing up the Cactus League so far, hasn't he? I like Aram-Ram but replacing his bat in the lineup with Mike Fontenot just isn't that great an idea, to me. Inge does make sense that he can fill the role DeRosa would be pushed to if we get Roberts. It doesn't make a great deal of sense to trade for both of them, though. I don't think it's going to happen, but Lou wants a super sub. If it's not going to be DeRosa or Cedeno then Inge is better, in my mind, than Torres or Cintron. The team is going to be better with Inge than without.

TRN: You are, of course, being sarcastic about Ramirez? After a week of Spring Training? He has averaged .283/.336/.500 in his career, and over the last 3 seasons, .310/.366/.549. That's really solid. Screw spring training.

I was focusing on the 'everyday' part. Aramis is a good bet to miss 20 to 30 games. He's not exactly Cal Ripken. That's why having Ronny Cedeno and Fontenot as his backups aren't so appealing to me. If he was going to play 155 games, either would be fine, but if you need a guy to start 30 games, Inge isn't so unnapealing.

Going out and getting a square peg to fit into a round hole. If they truly feel that they need a RH hitting backup Cfer. There will be a dozen of them available at the end of ST. It might not be a guy with the "name recognition" that Jim Hendry seems to so desperately rely upon. But the chances are that it will be a guy who fits MUCH better. Not to mention that said guy won't prevent future moves from a cumberome/millstone contract.

Man i still can't believe people think DeRosa is on the level of Brian Roberts. Brian Roberts is one of the elite 2nd basemen in baseball. Mark DeRosa isnt. Its a pretty widely held fact.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Do you believe Alfonso Soriano should be playing 2B for the Cubs?   

Like Soriano, the best parts of Eric Patterson's game at 2B are his range, arm strength, and his ability to go out into the outfield and catch pop-ups. He can make difficult plays look easy.  

His big problems are (like Soriano) the inability to consistenltly make the routine play. He is a two-guard playing point guard. The more time he has, the more likely he is to throw the ball away, and he has difficulty making accurate throws to the shortstop on DP balls. He panics. He also has a propensity for mishandling routine ground balls. The easier the play, the more likely he will blow it. He doesn't do it every time, but it happens often enough that over time you begin to see a pattern. 

Like Soriano, Patterson might play 2B in the big leagues, but over time, he will get exposed as a defensive liability at that position. 

If you think E-Pat can be an everyday MLB second-baseman and the ability to consistently make routine plays is overrated, then why not play Murton in LF and move Soriano back to SS? Wouldn't Soriano's offense trump his defensive shortcomings as a middle infielder?

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I worry about Soriano's health at SS. I really WOULD like to see Soriano given a chance to play second, to be quite honest. I could live with 10-15 errors and improved range at second, as opposed to 5-7 errors and Average Range that DeRosa brings to the table. The only reason Soriano moved to Left was because Jose Vidro was the 2nd best hitter on the 2006 Washington club. But I would venture to say that Soriano's teams are WELL above .500 with him starting at 2nd base. I could live with 15 errors from him at 2nd. 25 Errors? Maybe not then.

He had between 19 and 23 errors in each of his seasons as a starting 2B, and that doesn't factor in the numerous defensive plays that don't get listed as errors (e.g. missing a DP opportunity).

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

This is it from me one this one. I am not advocating Soriano for 2nd base. But for the sake of full disclosure. Here is career fielding numbers AT 2nd BASE. Mark DeRosa .984 4.09 Range Factor Todd Walker .981 4.33 Range Factor Fonzie Sori .971 4.69 Range Factor B. Roberts .987 4.57 RF RynoSandberg .989 5.10 RF So basically Todd Walker was an average defender overall. DeRosa is overrated as a defender. Soriano wasnt THAT bad, Brian Roberts is a slight defensive upgrade.(Though not as big an upgrade as some seem to think.)

I don't know how reliable Range Factor is, but Walker's was lower as a Cub (4.08, 4.19. 3.67). Maybe, then, it's just my perception of watching Walker vs. DeRosa, but DeRo seems smoother to me. Plus he plays RF and 3B as well, is much more athletic than Walker, etc.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    For sure. This lineup isn’t exactly stacked as is, and subbing out a Cooper or even a Tauchman for Madrigal won’t do it any favors.

  • crunch (view)

    the ESPN bottom graphic taking up 1/8th of the screen sucks.

    i only use ESPN during baseball season and i'm forced to watch a baseball broadcast designed to be broadcast in sports bars and betting parlors where the news/scores of other games is as important as what you're actually tuned in to watch.

  • crunch (view)

    morel triple to start the season....yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.