Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Cubs & Giants Split at Fitch

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:37 pm

The EXST Cubs and EXST Giants split a simultaneous doubleheader played at Fitch Park this morning, one game on Field #1 and one game on Field #3. Both games went seven innings.  

Unfortunately, I watched the game that was played on Field #3, and that was the one the Cubs lost 9-1. 

I don't have much information about the game played on Field #1, other than the Cubs won, Cedric Redmond threw one shutout inning, Josh Lansford Gian Guzman, and a 4th pitcher threw two effective innings each, Chris Weimer blasted a HR, Robert Bautista hit an inside-the-park HR, and Jae-Hoon Ha smacked a triple over the centerfielder's head. 

In the game played on Field #3, three of the four Cubs pitchers struggled, and the only Cubs run scored on a bases-loaded walk, while the Cubs could not score after loading the bases with one out in one inning, and with runners at 1st & 3rd and one out in another inning. 

Also, catcher John Contreras had a really bad day defensively. (Contreras was converted to catcher at Minor League Camp, and although he also still plays 3B and 1B on occasion, he's really a DH who is dangerous no matter what position he plays in the field). .

The (good) defensive play of the day on Field #3 was shortstop Dwayne Kemp's spectacular diving stop & throw from behind 2nd base, cutting down the batter 6-3. Kemp has shown he has the range and arm to play SS and 3B in addition 2B (his "natural" position), and he can play LF, too (he played there some last season), which means the Cubs could move Kemp up to Peoria if they decide to promote "supersub" IF-OF Josh Harrison to Daytona at some point in the near future.   

Here is the abridged box score from the game played on Field #3 (Cubs players only)  

SPLIT SQUAD - FIELD #3

LINEUP:
1. Hak-Ju Lee, DH:           0-4  (K, 1-2 FC, E-4, 1-6 FC)
2. Dwayne Kemp, SS:     1-4  (1B, 5-4 FC, 6-3, K)
3. Matt Cerda, 2B:            0-3  (BB, 4-3, F-8, 1-3)
4. John Contreras, C:       1-3  (5-3, 1B, F-8)
5. Sean Hoorelbeke, 1B:  1-3  (6-3, 1B, P-6)
6. Jesus Morelli, LF:         2-3  (1B, 6-4-3 GIDP, 1B + 1 R)
7. Kevin Soto, CF:            0-2  (BB, K, K)
8. George Matheus, 3B:    0-2  (BB, F-9, 3-1)
9. Sean Williams, RF:       0-1  (BB, 3-U, BB + 1 RBI)

PITCHERS:
1. Cody Hams -           2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/3 GO/FO
2. Adam Spencer -     2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 4/1 GO/FO
3. George Pineda -     0.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 3 WP, 1 BALK
4. Rogelio Carmona - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 2/2 GO/FO

  ERRORS (2):
1. 2B Matt Cerda - errant throw to 1st base, allowing runner to reach base safely, eventually leading to unearned run scoring.
2. 1B Sean Hoorelbeke - attempted pick-off throw bounced off glove and into right-field foul territory, allowing runner to advance to 3rd base.

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
John Contreras: 0-3 CS, 3 PB

Tags
Dwayne Kemp
EXST Cubs

Comments

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:25 pm

Yikes, sounds like a tough one to watch. Speaking of Harrison, what's your take. He's got that great BA, a little lucky on batted balls (only 14% LD's), and he doesn't seem like much of a base stealer, but is he a little guy that puts a charge into the ball or just someone who's got on a hot streak?

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:40 pm

I do wish Harrison took a few more walks. That said, it's not like he has bad discipline, so this is probably, like Vitters, a case of the pitching in Peoria not being challenging enough for him. He makes me think Mike Fontenot (in a positive way). Not the best athlete out there, a smaller guy, but a guy with pop in his bat and a smart baseball player (for that matter, that sounds like Dwayne Kemp as well, but I'm assuming Kemp is a bit more athletic than the other two guys, although Harrison did handle shortstop while at Cincy, IIRC). I'll be curious what AzPhil says - for me, I think his numbers are "real" in Peoria in that he's too good for the level (thus, more than just a hot streak), but in comparing him to Fontenot, I also don't think Harrison is a guy who's as good as his numbers in Peoria, if that makes sense. If the Cubs aren't planning on giving him regular time at a MI spot (and with Flaherty/Lake, that's unlikely), I'd like to see him at Daytona. First, he'd give a charge to that Daytona lineup. 2nd, he might see more IF time there.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:45 pm

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 3:28pm.
Az Phil, is Cerda still doing some catching or is he now a 2b? Thanks.

================================

HAGSAG: Some days he catches, some days he plays 2B, and some days he's a DH. I don't think the Cubs know what to do with him, but he looks like he should be a corner OF to me.

Cerda is a good hitter with excellent plate discipline, he's not afraid to hit with two strikes, he has plus bat speed, and he looks like he will develop HR power as he matures (he set a HR record in high school, but that was with an aluminum bat).

Even with his potential as a hitter, if the Cubs had projected Cerda as a corner outfielder coming out of HS, I doubt that he would have been taken anywhere in the first 15 rounds, Of course, it was Oneri Fleita's belief that Matt Cerda could be a catcher (a position he hadn't played since little league) that motivated Tim Wilken & the Cubs scouting department to draft him in the 4th round and give him a half-million bucks to give up his opportunity to play college ball at the University of San Diego. (Oneri personally worked out Cerda at catcher prior to the draft, and Oneri is considered an expert on catchers).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:00 pm

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 3:25pm.

Yikes, sounds like a tough one to watch.

Speaking of Harrison, what's your take. He's got that great BA, a little lucky on batted balls (only 14% LD's), and he doesn't seem like much of a base stealer, but is he a little guy that puts a charge into the ball or just someone who's got on a hot streak?

============================

REAL NEAL: Josh Harrison has real good bat speed and he hits the ball hard, so I think there's a bit more to his BA than luck. He has the versatility to play all over the place, but the main thing is he needs to move up to Daytona because he is too good for Peoria. The only thing keeping him at Peoria is that the Chiefs need a supersub IF-OF, so if Kemp can perform that role (and I think he can), the Cubs could move Harrison up to Daytona, where he belongs.

BTW, when Tony Campana and Josh Harrison were teammates at the U. of Cincinnati, Campana hit lead-off, and Harrison hit 3rd. Harrison was the Bearcats best all-around player when he was there. And Campana is probably the fastest player in the Cubs system right now. Campana is a maniac on the bases.

Submitted by Jace on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:11 pm

From ESPN.com, Glavine cut by Braves, is pissed off, wants to pitch... Cubs might be able to use a veteran lefty starter for added depth...

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:20 pm

I doubt Glavine would sign anywhere that he doesn't have a clear shot to the 5th starter's job. As well as Wells has pitched, along with Marshall in the background, I just don't see it. Not against it (Wells could be used as a trade asset to fill something else perhaps), but I don't see us going after him. I could see the Phillies take a run at him for depth, and I think Glavine would be intrigued about staying in the NL East. Maybe the Brewers (good mentor for Manny Parra perhaps)?

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:28 pm

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 3:58pm. Phil, one more thing. Have the Cubs had any prospective draft picks at Fitch for workouts?

===========================

HAGSAG: Probably, but they're being a lot more secretive this year than they were last year.

For instance, last year they actually played Las Vegas Chaparral HS SS Niko Vasquez in an EXST game when he was at Fitch Park for a work-out (and he hit a HR in the game, too!), and so I thought they were a lock to draft him in the 2nd round, but then they took RHP Aaron Shafer with their 2nd round pick instead, and the Cardinals drafted Vasquez in the 3rd round six picks before the Cubs could make their 3rd round pick, who turned out to be RHP Chris Carpenter .

BTW, Baseball America ranked Vasquez the #13 prospect in the Appalachian League post-2008 (he hit 317/416/462 at Johnson City), and Baseball Prospectus ranked Vasquez the Cards #11 prospect coming into this season, but he's struggling at the plate at Quad Cities (MWL) so far this year, while Shafer is on the DL at Peoria with a sore arm.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:11 pm

I didn't mention this in the post. but today's game on Field #3 featured the three Australian players at Cubs EXST (OF Sean Williams, RHP Adam Spencer, and LHP Cody Hams).

Although he has struggled this Spring, the 19-year old Hams is a really interesting story. He was a star cricket player ("bowler") in South Australia, and he had never seen a baseball game in his life--much less played in one--until a teammate of his suggested he try playing baseball.

So he paid his own way to the MLB Australian Academy at the Gold Coast, and the second baseball game he ever saw in his life was a game where he was the pitcher. And he was so impressive (in a VERY raw form) at the MLBAAP that the Cubs offered him a $150,000 bonus to sign in March 2008, and he agreed.

If you see him pitching from a distance, you would think he was Sean Marshall or Rich Hill (Hams is 6'5 200, and has a similar type delivery as Marshall and Hill). He still has a long way to go (he was a virtual "blank slate" when the Cubs signed him), but if he is able to learn the art of pitching, he could be an interesting prospect at some point in the future.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:49 pm

I think it's a fairly solid deal for both sides. I like Gorkys Hernandez enough. I'm a fan of Jeff Locke and think he has "2/3" potential. Not so big on Morton, but he's an upper level "ready" arm. I guess I'd give the Braves a slight edge for not overpaying this early in the juncture, but I think the deal makes enough sense for both sides.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:48 pm

Wasn't Hernandez one of the guys they labeled (laughably) untouchable when they were after Peavy? Are the Braves gonna play McLouth in center? That's going to make them yearn for the fat Andruw Jones.... now that I think about it, why didn't they just trade for him?

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 06:22 am

Don't think Texas is going to move Andruw right now. Gorkys, best that I can recall, was available. One package suggested that he would be going there, along with a "ready arm" like Charlie Morton and perhaps another piece or two. It was Jordan Schafer that was untouchable.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 06:17 am

Without knowing the article, I'd guess it was Tommy Hanson, Julio Teheran, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, and Jordan Schafer one ... it might've been referring to Yunel Escobar, who was featured heavily in Peavy rumors. Just guesses. Hanson and Heyward are two of the top prospects in the minors, Teheran was a big time Latin American upside arm, Freeman came off a huge year as a first baseman (although I wonder if he has plus power), and Schafer was viewed, even with the PED suspension, as a top tier talent. For comparison's sake (just my opinion, as rankings are really as much for discussion purposes as anything else) - Heyward/Hanson, entering the year, were above Vitters (both have had excellent seasons, although Vitters has closed the gap somewhat), while entering the year, guys like Schafer/Freeman would've challenged for top 3 in our system, if not ahead of Vitters, and Teheran probably would've slotted in the top 7 -10 based on upside. Maybe there was an article that said Gorkys was off limit, but I don't recall it at this moment.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 06:38 am

read the article the above sentence "Five-tool outfielder Jason Heyward and 17-year-old pitcher Julio Teheran are considered close to untouchable prospects, and pitcher Tommy Hanson and slugging first baseman Freddie Freeman might not be far behind in terms of being off limits." They specifically note the guys that are considered untouchable, and then comment on these two later. I know there were several news articles that said Tommy Hanson was untouchable, which was understandable after his electric AFL. I don't rule anything out, as winter rumors are still rumors, but check the winter news on Braves sites, from DOB's blog to other places. Most indications were that Gorkys was being shopped, with one package with him being a key element involved involved.

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 06:41 am

btw, yes, I know that was a DOB article, but it was from October, when people were just speculating. Tom Krasovic (one of the beat writers out there) http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/13/padres-notes-winter-… "As part of Jake Peavy trade talks in November, the Padres and Braves were far along on a 4-for-1 plan that included shortstop Yunel Escobar and center fielder prospect Gorkys Hernandez. The Padres wanted the Braves to include starting pitcher Charlie Morton instead of Jo-Jo Reyes and pushed hard for either pitching prospect Jeff Locke or catching prospect Tyler Flowers to be substituted for reliever Blaine Boyer. Talks regressed from there, and the Braves later traded Flowers to the White Sox. According to mlb.com, the Braves now would be unwilling to deal Escobar, described by teammate Chipper Jones as the best shortstop in the National League. Whether Peavy would consent to a trade to Atlanta also remains in question, though if the Cubs are out of the picture, it can't hurt those chances."

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Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 06:58 am

From Dave O'Brien, Braves ajc beat writer whose article you used above http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/braves/entries/2008/1… "The Braves need him. The Padres need to trade him. The Braves have offered the best package for Peavy including a very good young, affordable player in shortstop Yunel Escobar, who could turn out to be a star and will almost certainly be no less than a solid major leaguer for many years to come. They would also likely give up center-field prospect Gorkys Hernandez, who is at least two years away but who has legitimate big-time potential, according to every scout I’ve talked to and opposing managers in the low-level minors." There was this obviously wrong report from Scott Miller of cbssports http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/11665079 "Under terms of the deal discussed by the Braves and Padres, San Diego would receive shortstop Yunel Escobar, Class A outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of two starting pitchers -- Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes -- and either reliever Blaine Boyer or one of two minor-league left-handers (one of which is believed to be Jeff Locke)." From Ken Rosenthal - suggests Gorkys was not untouchable http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/8782170/Brewers%27-veterans-could-… "The Peavy Sweepstakes (cont.) The Padres again have asked the Braves to revise their proposal for right-hander Jake Peavy, requesting that the team substitute Single-A catcher Tyler Flowers for Single-A center fielder Gorkys Hernandez, according to major-league sources. Yunel Escobar's stock might have fallen in the Braves' eyes. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images) Flowers, 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, is tearing up the Arizona Fall League, and the Braves probably are unwilling to part with him in the same package as shortstop Yunel Escobar and either right-hander Charlie Morton or left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes. Frankly, they're not thrilled with trading any of those players." Buster Olney - Gorkys was a key part of the package. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3695551&campaign=rss&source… There's probably other articles, so if your still not certain, I'll try and dig through and spend a minute or two and find some more later.

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:48 pm

Sammy Sosa said Wednesday that he's ready to announce his formal retirement from baseball. "I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame," said a delusional Sosa. "I always played with love and responsibility and I assure you that I will not answer nor listen to rumors. If anything ugly comes up in the future, we will confront it immediately, but with all our strength because I will not allow anybody to tarnish what I did in the field."

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:51 pm

He sort of tarnished what he did on the field with the bat incident, but unless someone comes up with some actual evidence that he was juicing... well it's going to be hard to keep him out of the HoF.

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Submitted by crunch on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:04 pm

most likely. bonds and palmeiro are out...mcgwire took himself out of the mix by being very a very fringe candidate to begin with...they don't got sosa. he doesn't even have a credible rumor tied to him though almost all of us here, and almost every non-cubs fan overall, have our own opinion on the subject that paints sosa as a probable user of PEDs. still...unless something happens it's gonna be hard to keep him out too long if he doesn't go 1st voting.

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Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:16 pm

yeah, at some point the consensus will become "well, 50% of hitters took it, and with that benefit these were the best guys". Sort of like Shoeless Joe memory of the alleged crime will fade. It will certainly be interesting.

Submitted by iowaCub on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:32 pm

I've got a question that makes me sound like a Noob, but is the password we use to log into TCR the same one we should use to get into the parachat? And, why can't I get Mozilla to work in parachat, is it because of Java? Thanks to anyone who can help my clueless ass.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:50 pm

Was I the only one cursing fiercely when Lilly went back out for the 7th? That goose was cooked in the 6th.

Submitted by jacos on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 06:15 pm

Went to Sox game tonight against Oakland. I went down to bullpen bar before game and sat by RF fence as A's took batting practice. Wuertz was shagging and a ball came over by the fence. I said "Michael, Cubs could have used you last night." He stopped and leaned against the fence, smiled and shrugged his shoulders. I said "you wouldn't have thrown a cock high fastball to Francour." He laughed. And then I said "How's Oakland treating you?" He said "They are letting me pitch here." I said good luck and he waved and went back to shagging. The Braves for the first time since 1987 do not have Smoltz or Glavine in their organization. ~tip of the cap~

Recent comments

  • 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

  • Dolorous Jon Lester 10/03/2023 - 10:33 pm (view)

    Bote always has great spring trainings.

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