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

Morning Breath

Good grief, you guys are verbose. Just for the sake of refreshing things, here's a new thread. Some random questions you can ignore, below...
  1. If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like?
  2. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be?
  3. The dumbest rule in the game is...
  4. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB?
  5. The best book on baseball I've read is...
  6. Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs?
  7. For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one (the game 77 thread) to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?)

Comments

do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one to 500, by the end of today Of course... if some ridiculous writer had not written a new post! :) And in the "it never hurts to ask" category... anyone know of any affordable places to rent for a vacation next week? My wife and I were going to go to a cabin in Eagle River, WI, but plans fell through. So now we are scrambling...

"Of course… if some ridiculous writer had not written a new post! :)" Bah! That's what makes it a CHALLENGE! :)

1. If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? They should keep the same design (manual scoreboard, ivy, etc), however modernize the bathrooms, concourses and all other amenities to the 21st century and increase the foul area size. 2. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? Bring back the stirrups! 3. The dumbest rule in the game is… DH 4. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Our boy Soriano, especially recently with all the assists 5. The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Glory of Their Times hands down 6. Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? God, I hope so 7. For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?) Good god Trans, I think I speak for most loyal readers of this blog when I say I think I could do without a crap article like this one. This blog should talk about DS9 or at least the conclusion of the Stargate SG-1 series. Speculate about seeing Amanda Tapping naked. Plain and simple. It’s not like there was no sci-fi action over the past few days or we have a dearth of sci-fi news to ponder. Makes me question the writer’s motives, to be frank...sorry I had a brief MDOG moment there...

Tom C - HAHAHAHA. that said, when I meant "below this one" I meant the previous game thread. I will go clarify that, now.... hehee. Great effort!

Okay... I will try to answer the questions. Or should I answer the questions in the other thread in order to arbitrarily boost the comment numbers? 1. If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? If it looked anything near as nice as PetCo I would be elated. And keep the Wrigley scoreboard. And easy access off of the El. And the ivy. And the organ. And add advertising for TCR. 2. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? Have every Cubs hat be like one of those reggae hats, with the fake dreads coming out the back. 3. The dumbest rule in the game is… How wins are determined for pitchers. 4. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Hmmm... Soriano is a good option. Ichiro is a good option. Barry Bonds is a good option. But I would have to go with Godenot. Who can be more entertaining to watch the the incarnation of God in Wrigley Field?!?! 5. The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Just to piss certain people off, I would have to say Moneyball! 6. Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? Well... being that the Cubs are playing some really bad teams right after they play Milwaukee, I would probably say no. Because since when do the Cubs beat bad teams? 7. For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?) I too am thoroughly disappointed that this thread is not about baseball. You should be embarrassed. And I normally enjoy your writing, but this wasn't even funny.

John Canning is looking like the new owner. He's a friend of Bud the Dud Selig, so that speaks volumes as to his chances. The franchise is going to fetch $900 million easy. Canning is a private equity guy at Madison Dearborn Partners, one of the nation's preeminent firms in that regard. He and his partners make their money via doing precisely what Sam Zell is doing with the Tribune Company. They either buy a company out right, or buy a majority stake. Then they insert their own stealth management team and eventually parcel off the pieces to the highest bidder. I have no idea the level of interest Canning really has in baseball. Is he a diehard Cub fan who is buying the team as a hobby and wants to win no matter what? Or is he intent to simply milk the cash cow that is the Chicago Cubs, ala precisely what the Tribune Company has done for years?

Dave - to answer your question: I have no idea any more. I was just trying to create an open thread! ~sob~

He’s a friend of Bud the Dud Selig, so that speaks volumes as to his chances. Not sure it matters... The Trib company is a publicly held company, which means that they are required to take the highest bidder. They cannot sell to a someone who bids less simply because Selig likes him/her.

Wrigley Field is past due for a major renovation. As in a $300-500 million type of renovation. I love the joint as much as the next guy, but truth be told it is a dump in too many respects. Now whether John Canning or a new owner will care, I have no idea. After all it's not like the place is half empty. Quite the opposite, ticket prices keep zooming upward and the place is packed to the rafters for virtually every home game. Wrigley Field has become a "hot spot" for the frat boys and sorority girls of Chicago, in addition to deep pocket business people out on a jaunt or with clients. It really is sad in many ways. The crowd at Wrigley used to be true diehard Cub fans and regular Joes who knew a great deal about baseball. Today, half the crowd doesn't even realize there is a baseball game taking place on the diamond. And the asshole quotient has zoomed up into the stratosphere. I guy to around 10 games per year, and quite frankly I have become disgusted with a lot of the crowd. Granted, there is a lot of "eye candy," even for us happily married middle aged guys.

Your mom is verbose. Just sayin... 1. I refuse to accept this as a possible scenario. 2. BRING BACK THE BLUE ALTERNATE 3. If a guy gets get caught in a rundown by the pitcher before a pitch is delivered, and he ends up safe at second, it's a SB on the catcher even though he never touched the baseball. 4. Manny should be the hands down choice. 5. I still think Eight Men Out is a classic. 6. Great is a relative term. Great by Cub standards, perhaps. 7. I'll do what I can, doc. I'll drop a "Barrett's great, Fontenot's a god, trade Z, Pie iz teh suxx0rz" post in the thread below.

I have no idea any more. Hehe... I think I confused Trans. Or made him said. Is making Trans cry kinda' like making baby Jesus cry? Or should I say it is like making Godenot cry?

Your mom is verbose. Just sayin… Wait... are we talking about Trans' mom? Or Johann's?

If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? PNC is my favorite park, but that concept doesn't really work at Wrigley. I guess I would hope it would integrate some of the classic elements of Wrigley along with 24th-century amenities. The screens going into the backs of the chairs at the new A's park sound cool as hell - something like this where you can watch instant replays, flip to other MLB games, order food and beverages, vote on in-game promotions and trivia, buy Fontenot jerseys, etc., would rock. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? Blue and white is too overdone. A color scheme that no other team (at least MLB team if not North American pro team) has. The dumbest rule in the game is… DH was a good choice. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Vlad. Watching that guy play is pure joy. The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Still waiting to find it. How about "99 Ways to Die: A History of Gaffes and Follies," chronicling exactly how this year has failed to deliver, loss by loss, bonehead play by dumb move, each and every year? Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? I expect more ups and downs like we've seen. This time is too talented to not put together good stretches here and there, but no we won't play .700 ball until October. For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one (the game 77 thread) to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?) Ask you-know-who. And my own question I'd like to add to Dr. Trans' list: If you could cherry-pick any player in baseball to join this year for the purposes of helping us win the Series in 2007, who would it be? I know the adage about pitching, but I'll take Jose Reyes. Our lineup would be downright frightening to NL teams.

ZHL - I almost put that cherry-pick question in the original list, and yeah, reyes is a great choice. oh, and "I guess I would hope it would integrate some of the classic elements of Wrigley along with 24th-century amenities" You must be hell-bent on seeing Wrigley last a long time, or else are convinced that the Tribune has a time-travel device, and will be bringing back treasures from the future.

The second one. =) I just meant, make it original, unique, progressive, exciting and visionary. If they built a Great American Ballpark-type stadium I'd kill a fool.

dave: Hmmm… Soriano is a good option. Ichiro is a good option. Barry Bonds is a good option. I have to admit, it was really fun watching Ichiro at work.

I think the most entertaining part of the game is watching the sharp defensive plays. I remember watching Nomar turn an amazing double-play at Wrigley.

If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? I would definitely spell the players names backwards...

HA! Brilliant Harry tribute! Or if you did upside-down, Lee could switch his number to 337 like Spaceman tried to.

I know it's been talked about in other places but the new owner should leave the bleachers and rip everything else down. Build a modern grandstand with more amenities west of the park where they've talked about building the garage. Huge restrooms could be built under the concourse saving more room for people to actually walk. I love Wrigley Field but there's nothing special about the stands and upperdeck. I wouldn't want the renovation to look too modern from the field, just underneath the stands. I would also leave the walls and on-field bullpens intact.

To answer at least one of my questions: For me, what makes Wrigley "Wrigley" is four things - the outfield wall, the scoreboard, the role of the wind off michigan, and the location of the warm-up mounds The warm-up mounds will almost certainly be moved, if (IF) we ever build a new stadium. It's a player safety issue - neither the union, nor the owners paying the salaries, are going to want that obstacle course there But the OF wall - bricks and ivy, with the two wells, the relatively long distance down the line and short power alleys, needs to be preserved. So does the scoreboard. disassemble and reassemble it piece by piece, if need be. Finally, the park needs to continue to have two personalities, depending on the wind... Am I basically suggesting that they just rebuild Wrigley? Not sure....

It’s a player safety issue - neither the union, nor the owners paying the salaries, are going to want that obstacle course there Hmm... but the hill in Houston is okay?

ZHL said: And my own question I’d like to add to Dr. Trans’ list: If you could cherry-pick any player in baseball to join this year for the purposes of helping us win the Series in 2007, who would it be? VLAD...

The neighborhood is the best part of wrigley. I don't see how they could tear down the park and rebuild on the same site? Not saying it couldn't be done. Just seems like a whole lot of extra expense.

AROD

I'm trying hard to get the previous thread up to 500 comments!!!! And any player? It would have to be Johann Santana. Reyes, Vlad, and A-Rod would be nice. But a dominating starter is more valuable come playoff time than any of those three.

dave, you are probably correct about santana and the value of a stud starter, however watching VLAD everday in right field would be so awesome.

oh.. no question henry. i lived in Los Angeles for 8 years, and loved getting the opportunity to watch Vlad for the last couple.

The emphasis as far as Wrigley goes should be on preservation and restoration rather than replacement/renovation. Wrigley is the last, most pure, baseball cathedral around, and it would be absolutely tragic to see it replaced by some souless Miller Park clone. Gut the bathrooms, update the plumbing/electric/etc., correct any structural degradation -- all that would be great, even if it meant playing in the Cell for a year. But don't rip the thing down. And personally, I think the Cubs (and the Red Sox, for that matter) should lobby the MLB for an extra cut of the profit sharing to help cover the costs of maintaining their classic stadiums. They're helping preserve baseball tradition as much for their own fans as they are for baseball fans as a whole. Every time I go to Wrigley I run into fans of other teams who are at the game just to experience Wrigley.

I like Miller Park too. I also like Costco, but that doesn't mean I want every grocery store I walk into to look like Costco.

1. Round-ish. 2. Bring back the blue. 3. DH, clearly. 4. Zambie barreling around the bases faster than his feet can take him is entertainment gold. 5. I guess Kinsella's "Iowa Baseball Confederacy" cause it involves the Cubs. Or Bo Jackson's biography that I read a as a kid. 6. Great? Maybe. Good? I think so. 7. I'm sure ST can do it single-handedly.

Speaking of entertaining... did anyone catch Prince Fielder yesterday flying into Loretta's leg at 2b? It was hilarious.

tv screens in the backs of seats? great on a airplane, but its a retarded idea for a ballpark. if you want to watch tv, stay home and watch tv.

If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? One of Wrigley Field's problems is that the place is just too small. I don't necssarily mean seating capacity, I mean the concourses and facilities are too small. If (actually when) they replace WF, I'm not sure how they could build a 21st century ballpark at Clark and Addison, especially given that the owners will undoubtedly want all sorts of revenue generating bells and whistles. So for starters, the new park should be more spacious. I'd keep the brick walls and the ivy. I'd eschew forced quirkiness like the hill and the flagpole at the juicebox. The new park wouldn't be perfectly symmetrical, but I don't share some people's fondness for footprints that look like abstract art. Ads would be okay, but I'd insist that the ads had a retro look, and not just be some generic corporate logos. Finally, I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I don't really share the popular fetish for mechanical scoreboards. I'd get a modern video board, but I'd keep an old fashioned organ instead of blasting pop music over the PA system. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? The alternate uni would be a retro version, maybe from 1945, or possibly even 1908, complete with baggy pants. The White Sox did this a few years ago, and it was cooler than most teams' regular unis. I'm amazed nobody does this now. The dumbest rule in the game is… Of course, it goes without saying that the DH is the work of satan. Other than that, one of my pet peeves is that when the closer comes in in the top half of the ninth, blows the lead but finishes the inning, and his team comes back to win in the bottom of the ninth, he gets credit for a win. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Carlos Zambrano The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Bunts by George Will Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? I think they will be a very good team in the second half. I don't know if it will be enough to catch the Brewers, who I think will continue to be very good themselves.

"For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one (the game 77 thread) to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?)" Actual substantive posts? You do realize that this is The Cub Reporter, right?

Miller Park? BLECH! Not cause its the Brewers. A freaking DOME? F THAT!!!!! F THAT IN THE A!!!! The model of a modern looking baseball field that I would like the CUbs to copy is Pac Bell/Monster/Cingular/AT&T park in San Francisco. Hands down an terrific place to watch a game. Old world charm with all the modern conveniences.

1. Wrigley Field with bigger bathrooms. 2. Everyone has to wear eye shadow with team colors. 3. I hate all the error rules. 4. Ichiro completely. Great hitter, great stealer, great defender, great arm and awesome quotes. 5. Moneyball. Then Ryne Sandberg's book. 6. Not if Marquis and Lilly continue falling off. 7. Only if we can discuss Barrett. 8. The one player I want is Ichiro. And Dave, that momma joke was uncalled for. We can only make jokes about your momma here.

Dumbest rule in the game? The fact that batters can't appeal check swing calls, only catchers/pitchers can. Either way it's an appeal of the home plate ump's call (or non-call), so the batter should be able to appeal. Also, I'd like someone to explain to me why the ball is tossed out of play after a pitch in the dirt, but after a sharp grounder on the infield dirt, the ball goes right back to the pitcher for the next batter. These are important issues to settle in life.

I have no idea the level of interest Canning really has in baseball. Is he a diehard Cub fan who is buying the team as a hobby and wants to win no matter what? Just responding to Silent Towel's query regarding Canning's intentions. While I certainly can't speak for the guy, I do know the Canning family and rest assured the guy is as passionate and desperate a Cub fan as anyone here. He is a baseball nut, having owned stakes in the Brewers (as reported) and several minor league teams. He's also been a Cubs season-ticket holder for many years. As far as I know, his dream gig is to run the Cubs. How that untimately translates into wins and losses, I have no clue, but owning the team is not merely a bloodless extension of his company's brand or portfolio. Nor is it a calculated mechanism or hobby/plaything to feed his ego. I believe he wants to own the team so that he can position it to win a championship or two. And his main reason would be the same as our reason -- he's a Cub fan.

Ooh another rule I hate. The winner of the allstar game having homefield WS advantage. This is ludicrous. If they're going to do something LIKE this, then it should be the overall winner of interleague games...you know, games that actually matter to the players.

1. If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? It tough to say. As much as we all love Wrigley, any rehabbed or new stadium will not be the same, so trying to keep all the Wrigley characteristics is probably a waste of time. If its a new park, make it all new, make it nice, but keep the sport of baseball front and center, and not money, food, or other distractions. 2. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? Allow an "untucked" look. To be used by all players on a team, not just whoever feels like untucking, and with a shirt designed especially for it. 3. The dumbest rule in the game is… DH 4. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Sammy 5. The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract 6. Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? yes, dammit.

If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? PNC Park. If you could change the MLB or Chicago Cubs uniform in one way, what would it be? I like it the way it is. The dumbest rule in the game is… Fielder's indifference. Who is the most entertaining player (intentionally, or otherwise) in MLB? Ichiro. The best book on baseball I’ve read is… Moneyball, by Michael Lewis. Is this six-game winning streak the start of a great second half for the Cubs? Of course. For the hell of it - do you think you can jack the number of posts on the thread below this one (the game 77 thread) to 500, by the end of today? (without any bush-league tricks, but actual substantive posts?) Obviously.

433: "Dumbest rule in the game? The fact that batters can’t appeal check swing calls, only catchers/pitchers can. Either way it’s an appeal of the home plate ump’s call (or non-call), so the batter should be able to appeal." Home plate ump's decision is final. Only he can permit an appeal. The catcher and pitcher can only request it.

Chad -- that's exactly my point, only the catcher and pitcher are allowed to request an appeal. The batter should be able to request one too.

If (IF!) the Cubs ever built a new ballpark, what should it look like? Everyone loves Wrigley. The worst business move would be tearing it down. I think there is plenty of space for them to improve Wrigley. 1) Replace all the lousy cheap 19" TV under the upper deck with 60" Flat screen panels. I just can not understand why TV maker LG advertises on those POS. 2) Rebuild the teams and visitors clubhouses under the field. They are going to tear up the field over the winter anyway. The current area can be converted to a restaurant and bathrooms. When you can not build up, build down. In fact build a bar under the field. Make it look like a Vegas Sports Book with stadium seating and a dozen or more TV showing live action feed of the game.

As far as entertaining players go...anyone remember watching Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams pitch? I know he's not an active player now, but man he was fun to watch.

I'd love for them to somehow close Waveland between Sheffield and the fire house. That'd give a little more room to maneuver.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.