Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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


28 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus seven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two are on the 10-DAY IL, and three are on the 15-DAY IL


Last updated 9-22-20239
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 6
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 7
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Ben Brown, P  
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P
Caleb Kilian, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Michael Rucker, P

10-DAY IL: 2
Jeimer Candelario, 1B
Nick Madrigal, INF

15-DAY IL: 3
Adbert Alzolay, P
Brad Boxberger, P 
Michael Fulmer, P 

60-DAY IL: 4
Nick Burdi, P
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Ethan Roberts, P
 


Minor League Rosters

Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cub Power on Display in Maryvale

Jose Paniagua belted a solo home run, singled twice, walked, and scored three runs, Isaac Paredes doubled twice, singled, drove-in two runs, and scored three more, Marcus Mastrobuoni belted an RBI triple and a single, walked, and scored three runs, Yeiler Peguero drilled an RBI single and a two-run double, Vimael Machin collected three singles, a walk, and an RBI, Roberto Garcia ripped two doubles, scored a run, and drove-in another, and four pitchers combined to fan 17 opposing batters, helping the Cubs demolish the Brewers 15-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #7 (AKA "Paul Molitor Field") at the Maryvale Baseball Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

Nicolas Pierre (RBI triple), Gilbert Lara (RBI double), and Yeraldy Martinez (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits to highlight a four-run 3rd that gave the Brew Crew a short-lived 4-1 lead, before the Cubs scored the final 14 runs of the game.  

The game was called by mutual consent after 8-1/2 innings of play. 

Through today's Cactus League EXST game, the Cubs are 23-12-5.

But did you know?...  

1. SS-2B Yeiler Peguero is hitting 377/421/528 with only two strikeouts in 57 PA (including 50 consecutive PA without a strikeout 4/17 - 5/20);
2. SS (now 3B) Isaac Paredes is hitting 306/370/551 (9% K-rate) with a team-leading 16 RBI in just 16 games played; 
3. 1B Jose Paniagua is hitting 326/356/721 (11% K-rate) with a team-leading five HR (all five HR plus ten RBI in his last eleven games);
4. C-1B Marcus Mastrobuoni is hitting a team-leading 483/595/828 (5% K-rate) and is tied for the team-lead in doubles with five;
5. OF Kevonte Mitchell is hitting 277/438/426 (17% K-rate - 22% walk-rate) in 64 PA with a team-leading 14 walks and 15 runs scored and is tied for second in stolen bases with five; 
6. CF D. J. Wilson is hitting only 200/284/338 (15% K-rate) in 74 PA but he is hitting 281/343/500 over his last ten games (35 PA), and he leads the team in triples with four and in stolen bases with six,
7. 1B (ex-LHP) Chris Pieters is hitting 327/414/429 (8% K-rate - 12% walk-rate) in 17 games (58 PA) and is tied for second in SB with Mitchell,
8. 3B Wladimir Galindo is hitting 300/345/400 (25% K-rate) in 55 PA and is tied for the team-lead in doubles with Mastrobuoni; 
9. 3B-2B-SS Vimael Machin is hitting 324/600/432 (5% K-rate - 30% walk-rate) in 16 games (40 PA), and
10. SS-2B-3B Andruw Monasterio is hitting 333/367/400 (14% K-rate) in 15 games (49 PA).  


Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 2-6 (K, 4-3, P-6, 2B, 2B, 3-U, R, RBI)
2. Aramis Ademan, SS: 1-5 (4-3, L-9, 1B, K, FC+E1, R)
3. Roberto Caro, RF: 1-5 (1B, 4-3, K, K, F-7)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 3-4 (1B, BB, 1B, HR, 6-3, 3 R, RBI)
5. Isaac Paredes, 3B: 3-5 (L-6, 1B, 2B, E-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI)
6a. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 2-2 (1B, 3B, BB, 3 R, 2 RBI)
6b. Jhonny Pereda, C: 1-2 (6-4 FC, 2B, R, RBI)
7. Vimael Machin, 2B: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, L-7, BB, RBI)
8. Kwang-Min Kwon, DH #1: 0-5 (F-9, K, E-4, F-9, 5-4 FC, R)
9. Ruben Reyes, LF: 0-4 (1-3 SH, 5-4 FC, 4-3, E-1, 3-U, 2 R, RBI, SB)
10. Yeiler Peguero, DH #2: 2-5 (4-3, 1B, F-8, 4-3, 2B, 3 RBI, CS)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Jose Paulino: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 2/1 GO/AO, 59 pitches (44 strikes) 
2. M. T. Minacci: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 39 pitches (25 strikes) 
3. Mark Malave: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 
4. Pedro Araujo: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (17 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
LF Ruben Reyes: E-7 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach 2nd base safely) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Marcus Mastrobuoni: 1 PB 

ATTENDANCE: 10 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

Comments

So, the Mesa Cubs should be solid this summer in the AZL Rookie League? And, I like the, "But did you know" lead in there. Something a little different. I can tell really like this group of hitters in AZ right now. What pitchers out there, other than Cease, should we be excited about? Thanks as always for the info.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

CHILDERS: RHSP Dylan Cease and LHSP Bryan Hudson are probably the top two SP prospects in the organization right now. 

LHSP Jose Paulino has electric stuff (91-94 MPH fastball with sinking action and a mid-80's slider), but he also has trouble commanding it.  

RHP Jose Albertos (2015 IFA - Mexico - $1.5M bonus) just turned 17 in November, and his fastball already sits at 95-96. He also throws a curve and a change-up, and is fairly advanced for a kid his age.   

As far as relievers are concerned, RHP Tommy Nance throws 94-96 with a plus-curve, RHP Daniel Lewis throws 95-97 with a hard-slider, and Pedro Araujo is a rubber-armed strike-throwing machine with both his fastball, curve, and change-up (he threw 18 pitches - 17 strikes yesterday) .

Nance pitched at U. of Santa Clara (he was their Friday night starter) but went undrafted after his senior season, sat out a year, and then pitched for Windy City (Frontier League) last season. He's a real find. He's a big dude (6'6 240+), reminds me of somebody like Brad Penny.

Lewis was in the U. S, military and was discovered by a Cubs scout pitching at Pensacola  JC in Florida. He's 25, but has a "young arm" (he's only been pitching for two years). The younger pitchers really look up to him. He's a natural leader. 

FWIW, Paulino, Lewis, and Araujo were the last three cuts from the South Bend roster at the end of Minor League Camp, and so they would probably be the first to get moved-up if slots on the SB-Cubs pitching staff become available (except so far there haven't been any...).  

Phil, what's your thoughts on which position players are going to Eugene and who is staying in AZL?

[ ]

In reply to by azbobbop

AZBOBBOP: Most of 2016 draft picks will get assigned to either Eugene or AZL Cubs, but the Opening Day Eugune roster will probably be almost 100% from the Extended Spring Training squad roster (pending the arrival of draft picks).

I think I can probably tell you which pitchers and players at EXST are in contention for roster slots at Eugene and which are in contention for slots with the AZL Cubs - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - (listed alphabetically):  

* bats or throws left 
# bats both

EUGENE 

STARTING PITCHERS: 7
Jesus Castillo
Dylan Cease
* Bryan Hudson  
Erling Moreno
* Jose Paulino
* Manny Rondon
Pedro Silverio

BULLPEN: 12 
Pedro Araujo
Jared Cheek
Enrique de los Rios
Scott Frazier
* Yapson Gomez
John Michael Knighton 
Daniel Lewis 
Mark Malave 
M. T. Minacci 
Tommy Nance
* Tyler Peitzmeier
Alexander Santana

CATCHERS
: 5
Marcus Mastrobuoni 
* Alberto Mineo
Tyler Payne
Tyler Pearson 
Jhonny Pereda

INFIELDERS: 7
Wladimir Galindo 
* Vimael Machin
Andruw Monasterio
Jose Paniagua
Isaac Paredes 
# Yeiler Peguero
* Chris Pieters

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Alex Bautista
# Roberto Caro 
Michael Foster
# Robert Garcia
* Ricardo Marcano
Kevonte Mitchell 
* D. J. Wilson

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

AZL CUBS 

PITCHERS: 18
Jose Albertos
Luis Aquino 
Javier Assad 
Jordan Brink (REHAB - post-2015 right shoulder surgery)
Jesus Camargo (REHAB - ???)
Oscar de la Cruz (REHAB - elbow)
Andin Diaz (REHAB - ???)
Wander Feliz (ex-OF)
Fancisco Garay (ex-INF)
Hector Garcia
Tanner Griggs (RESTRICTED LIST - ACTIVE AT EXST)
Luis Hernandez (REHAB - ???)
Jose Leidenz
Gabriel Lima (REHAB - ???)
Junior Marte
* Pablo Ochoa 
* Eugenio Palma 
Andry Rondon

CATCHERS
:  4 
Miguel Amaya 
Eric Gonzalez
Gustavo Polanco
Kevin Zamudio 

INFIELDERS: 9
* Aramis Ademan 
Jhonny Bethencourt
Joey Martarano (PRESENTLY NACTIVE - attending college at Boise State)
Rafael Mejia
Christopher Morel (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY AT THIS TIME - arm lacertaion)
Rafael Narea
# Yonathan Perlaza 
# Edgar Rondon 
Ho-Young Son (LIMITED ACTIVITY ONLY AT THIS TIME - ???)

OUTFIELDERS: 7
* Luis Ayala
Jose Gonzalez
* Kwang-Min Kwon
Yohan Matos (ex-C)
* Ruben Reyes
* Abraham Rodriguez
* Jonathan Sierra

Dominican Summer League (DSL) Opening Day is Saturday June 4th, so probably about 8-10 pitchers and position players presently at EXST in Mesa will be sent to the Cubs Dominican Academy (probably sometime this week) and be assigned to either DSL Cubs #1 or DSL Cubs #2.  

PHIL: It seems as if Paniagua has always played 1B with the Cubs. At 6'2 and 180#, what is his frame like? String bean? Have you seen him bulk up? Where do you project him? Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: Jose Paniagua isn't a string-bean, but I wouldn't say he necessarily bulked-up during the 2015-16 off-season  either, He led the DSL Cubs in HR and doubles in 2014, and he showed XBH power when he arrived in Mesa last year, leading the AZL Cubs in HR, doubles, and RBI in 2015. It's just that he has taken his HR power to a new level this year.

Paniagua displayed plus-HR power in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training games in March, and that got him a slot on the South Bend Opening Day roster. But he was sent to EXST after only six MWL games.  

He played 1B-LF-RF at EXST last year, but was moved to full-time 1B this year. And his defense has really improved. He has made several nice picks of bad throws at 1st base, and the infielders feel confident when he's playing 1st base because they know he can save them an error.  

I think it's reasonable to believe that Paniagua is a prospect of some value. He has the XBH power and defensive acumen to stay at 1B, and he should be able to play some corner OF going-forward, too.

The one negative (the elephant in the room) is that he doesn't take walks. He didn't take any walks (that's ZERO walks) in 56 PA at EXST last year, he took only nine walks in 171 PA with the AZL Cubs last summer, and he has drawn just two walks in 45 PA at EXST this year. His 11% K-rate at EXST this year is pretty good for a HR hitter, but it was 29% at EXST and 23% at AZL Cubs last year, so he still has some work to do in that area.  

Any scuttlebutt on where Neil Ramirez gets traded? He seems better than some of the relievers on competitive teams. He ought to bring more than the waiver fee. My guess? Toronto.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

given that he seems to only be throwing low 90s these days rather than the 93-96mph he used to throw, along with his wildness issues this year, he may end up passing through. i dunno if something is wrong with him physically or his past shoulder issues has rendered him what he currently is, but he's been throwing a lot of sliders he can't control well and his fastball isn't as sharp. even when his slider wasn't working in a game he was still throwing a lot of them. hopefully, he'll slip back into the minors and at least find his control/command even if his fastball velocity doesn't return back to the mid-90s. with a fb/slider/curve combo there's still something to be hopeful for even with lowered velocity. that said, as far as his trade value...i dunno where to handicap that given the above concerns vs the fact he's still cheap with decent upside if he can get control/command of his pitches.

Great report, Phil! This organization has so many hitters to be excited about.

BRADSBEARD: If all three are assigned to Eugene, the Cubs can play Galindo, Paredes, and Paniagua at the same time by moving Paredes between SS-3B-DH, Galindo between 3B-1B-DH, and Paniagua between 1B-LF-DH. 

The Cubs like to have their players (including their minor leaguers) learn to play more than one position even if they eventually are projected to settle at one spot, and I suspect that will be reflected at Eugene, with just about everybody who will be assigned there able to play at least two positions. 

For example, Andruw Monasterio has played three positions (SS-2B-3B) at EXST, Yeiler Peguero plays both SS & 2B interchangeably, Kevonte Mitchell plays all three OF positions, and most all of the catchers at EXST have logged games at 1B. 

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:02 pm (view)

    The deadline for trading players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and players who were outrighted to the minors after signing a 2023 MLB contract was August 1st, but trades involving players on a minor league reserve list are prohibited beginning at 12 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the 2023 MLB regular season (Sunday 9/24) through the last day of the MLB regular season (including a day on which a regular season game is played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).   
     

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:58 pm (view)

    jdrnym: 

    As you know, the abbreviation "DFA" stands for "Designated for Assignment." 

    There are three types of assignments: 

    1. Trade Assignment (when a player is traded from one MLB club to another)
    2. Outright Assignment (when a player is sent to the club's minor league Domestic Reserve List after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured).
    3. Optional Assignment (when a player is optioned to the minors, subject to being recalled at a later time). 

    So when a player is Designated for Assignment, the player can either be traded, outrighted to the minors, or optioned to the minors. 

    Normally a player is not Designated for Assignment and then optioned to the minors, because the club could just option the player to the minors immediately without a DFA.

    Back in the day It was not that unusual for a player to be Designated for Assignment so that Optional Assignment Waivers could be secured (Optional Assignment Waivers were required before certain players could be optioned to the minors, and just like the old Trade Assignment Waivers, Optional Assignment Waivers were revocable if a player was claimed). Optional Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2016 and Trade Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2021, so all revocable waivers have been eliminated. What's left are Outright Assignment Waivers and Outright Release Waivers, and both are irrevocable once requested.  

    With the new five option limit whereby a player can (with a couple of exceptions) be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a given season before Outright Assignment Waivers must be secured (and it - IS - Outright Assignment Waivers that must be secured, even though it is for the purpose of an Optional Assignment), it now might be necessary for a club to DFA a player to clear a spot on the MLB 26-man roster (MLB 28-man roster in September) for another player and to allow for the two days (actually 47 hours) required to run a player through waivers. After the two day Waiver Claiming Period concludes (and presuming the player isn't claimed), the player can be returned to the MLB 40-man roster and optioned to the minors (even after being Designated for Assignment). But for that to happen, the player can - NOT - be replaced on the MLB 40-man roster by another player after being Designated for Assignment.  

    However, in the case of Jordan Luplow, he had - NOT - been optioned to the minors five times in the 2023 season prior to be optioned to AAA St. Paul on 9/18, so the Twins did not need to DFA Luplow in order to secure Outright Assignment Waivers so that he could be optioned to the minors a sixth time. But because he was Designated for Assignment and not replaced on the 40 by another player after the DFA, the Twins could option him to the minors (and return him to the 40) even after he was Designated for Assignment, because an Optional Assignment is one of the three types of assignments.

    So Luplow was Designated for Assignment even though he didn't need to be, and then the Twins returned him to their MLB 40-man roster and optioned him to the minors a couple of days later (which they can do, since Luplow wasn't replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment). What the Twins did (DFA Luplow and then option him to the minors a couple of days later) was within the rules. It's just very odd and doesn't make a lot of sense. 

    So I will offer the most logical reason I can think of to explain why the Twins did this:  

    The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they intended to reinstate Chris Paddack from the 60-day IL, but then Carlos Correa suddenly needed to go on the 10-day IL and so they decided they wanted to keep Luplow on the 40-man roster (and on Optional Assignment to AAA) and didn't want to risk losing him off waivers or by him electing free-agency after being outrighted. Luplow has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career), so he would had the right to elect free-agency after he was outrighted. There was also the possibility that he would have been claimed of waivers, and obviously the Twins felt they might need his RH bat after losing Correa and with Royce Lewis having left a game with a hamstring injury that led to an IL assignment. 

    Also, if Luplow was outrighted instead of being optioned, he would no longer be automatically eligible to play in the post-season (except as a possible injury replacement).

    Not only did Carlos Correa go on the IL, Royce Lewis went on the IL, too, two days after Correa went on the IL and two days after Luplow was optioned to AAA, so the Twins did in fact end up needing Luplow after all, and recalled him just a couple of days after he was optioned to replace Lewis on the MLB 28-man roster. 

    So that all I've got. That is the only thing that makes sense. The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they had intended to replace him on the 40 with another player (probably Paddack) and hoped that they would be able to run him through waivers and that he wouldn't get claimed and that he would accept an Outright Assignment, but then they suddenly changed their minds because of the injury to Correa and the possibility that Lewis might also have to go on the IL (which did, in fact, happen the next day).

    So the Twins were able to return Luplow to the 40 because he hadn't been replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment, then they optioned him to St. Paul, and then they recalled him after Royce Lewis was placed on the 10-day IL (the minimum 10-day optional assignment being waived because Luplow replaced a player (Royce Lewis) who was placed on an MLB IL. 

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:00 pm (view)

    CIN out here blowing a 9-0 lead they built through 3 innings.  9-9 tie in the 7th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:05 pm (view)

    boxburger 10d IL, k.thompson back up.  it's his right forearm (again).

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)

    merryweather got out of it, but he loaded the bases with 1 out.  of course ross got cuas up in the pen...thankfully he didn't need to come in.

    looks like cuas gets the 9th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:46 pm (view)

    4ip 2h 0bb 6k, 49 pitches.  no idea why they're giving the pen the last 2 innings when he's out there dealing like this and only threw 49 pitches.  he was supposed to pitch tomorrow and he's fresh.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    ...and assad is now a pen arm, evidently...odd move given recent success.  i guess wicks starts tomorrow?

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:16 pm (view)

    ARZ, MIA, and CIN all lose.  nice.

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:54 pm (view)

    stroman is now the saturday starter...okay, then.

  • jdrnym 09/22/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    Phil,

    Jordan Luplow was DFA'd by the Twins on Monday and was ultimately optioned and then recalled today. I didn't think that was possible since optional waivers were eliminated years ago. How did that work for the Twins?