Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs vs. Padres: Series Thread (Games 60-63)

The Cubs return from a demoralizing series un New York for a seven-game stretch at home. They'll spend the first four games of that stretch raking on a strong San Diego ball club. See below for matchups such as they stand.


Game 60, Monday, June 13, 7:05 pm central

CHC: LHP Justin Steele (1-5, 4.79 ERA)

SDP: RHP Yu Darvish (5-3, 3.61 ERA)


Game 61, Tuesday, June 14, 7:05 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-5, 5.22 ERA)

SDP: TBD


Game 62, Wednesday, June 15, 7:05 pm central

CHC: TBD (possibly Caleb Kilian)

SDP: TBD


Game 63, Thursday, June 16, 1:20 pm central

CHC: TBD (possibly Matt Swarmer)

SDP: TBD

Comments

You heard it here first, folks, the Cubs are going to rake against the Padres!

Probably delayed start. Chicago is under tornado watch with sirens blaring. Those interested can see and hear at Wrigley cam

7 losses in a row...14 games under .500...26 out 30 in MLB...102 games to go.

3rd largest media market in the nation...4th most valuable franchise in MLB (not counting ownership-owned real estate surrounding the park)

if you hate yourself as much as i hate myself, you can watch tonight's game free on mlb.tv

hendricks will be serving up home runs to the padres as the cubs try to get out of a 7 game losing streak.

Ruh roh, Liam Hendriks out with forearm strain. Could David Robertson's phone be ringing (or will they not go down that road again)?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

sometimes it has to get closer to deadline so competition for talent can heat up, but you gotta imagine the cubs are picking up any phone calls about moving robertson, givens, or contreras...or any of the other simoniz and infield rake level talent.

i hate contreras going, but it seems to be sure thing to happen.  it would be i.happ being traded that would concern me about 2023.

I guess Eric Stout took the bullet to keep Schwindel from wearing out his arm. Gotta save those 38 mph ephus pitches for a time when they really count!

On a positive note: the Cubs are the best scoring team in baseball thru one inning. If only they can build up some stamina. On a negative note: innings 2-9.

soriano is at wrigley today!  neat.

he's in stellar shape for a 46 year old.  he looks like he could pick up a bat and strike out 4 times without breaking a sweat.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

2012 cubs were put together to fail.  it was a hard 3 years.

i'm not at all convienced that they were trying to win in 2015 (97 wins) even though things clicked in 2015.  they picked up j.lester as a keeper (much like m.stroman now), traded for m.montero, and d.fowler was signed to 1y deal (and not traded because they were winning).

kilian's 1st pitch in the 2nd goes about 10ft over the catcher....that was something...

booth pretending like it didn't happen for some reason.  that's just...weird.

Kilian does NOT have his strikeout pitch working tonight. Zero strikeouts through four innings. Not to mention the five BBs. In his first start, he had 6 Ks in 5 IP vs. the Cards.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

he's been terrible and it's lucky he's only given up 5 runs.  command/control hasn't been there at all and if the team was more healthy/robust/rested he probably wouldn't have been out for the 3rd inning.  hell, he started the 2nd throwing like yips-era rick ankiel.

At 32 mph (per Gameday), I believe I have seen the slowest pitch ever in a major league game, courtesy of Frank Schwindel. 

On the bright side, tomorrow's pitching matchup (Swarmer v. Musgrove) is in our favor. Musgrove (7-0, 1.50 era) is due for a regression to the mean. :)

One day, Jed or someone else will have the Cubs ready to win every yr like STL, SF, LAD, etc. To compete for a playoff spot without sell-offs and rebuilds. But Theo and Jed knew that the farm system just wasn't setup for that in 2012 and now in 2022. Theo got off track trying to win a 2nd WS. And he couldn't develop the arms he drafted and signed in IFA. Hopefully Jed will be able to start the system on this systemic path of production. But another rebuild was needed. The Ricketts will need to be able to spend at least 150mil every yr to do this. STL spends no more than that. And some years we'll need 200mil. The Marquee Network will hopefully be all settled down by then. It won't ever be the YES network but whatever. Cubdom will need to be patient this summer. Frank/Wis/Ort/JHey/Simmons/Villar weren't meant to win, just hopefully be flipped for future assets at best. Future assets meaning quality draft picks and Int FA signings as well. Of course the Simmons signing seems inexplicable. But he fit the profile of the others I guess. One WS title and Cubs fans forgot about pain and embarrassment. We all grew up with that. We'll survive folks.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

hard to set up a farm system to win in the near-future when you trade almost everyone of value you're holding for a bunch of 18-21 year olds.  they shifted some very high value guys (darvish, rizzo, bryant, baez, kimbrell) and some bonus 1-year contract guys (chafin, tepera, pederson, etc)...and they did it mostly for a slew of very young guys and roster filler.

this team didn't try to set itself up to win in 2022.  so many pieces traded, and only 3 MLB-close players of value were obtained...madrigal, heuer, and kilian.

these trades were designed by Jed, but it was most likely presured and guided by ownership for the sake of money.  all that talent traded for roster filler and guys 2-4 years away from being ready.

the "bright side" seems to be that is going to be 2 seasons of intentionally tanking (2021/2022) with a return to attempting to compete in 2023.

gotta give fans a reason to show up to wrigley in 2023 besides their new multi-story gambling/betting palace that seems to be their big priority for 2022.  they seem to be way more interested in all the real estate in and around the park rather than the people (fans and players) that make that real estate worth something.

Sampson back, Stout DFA.

Idk why it was Stout. He didn't look bad. Mark Leiter Jr keeps dodging those bullets and for the life of me I don't know why

Beginning today (Thursday June 16) post-2021 Article XX-B MLB free-agents can now be traded without restriction (for the Cubs, that's Givens, Gomes, Norris, Robertson, Simmons, Smyly, Stroman, and Villar).    

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

So, Phil, Here's what I got as far as regulars who are/should be above Replacement level:

Morel,  3b or Cf

Hoerner, 2b or SS

Suzuki, Rf

Happ, Lf or DH

Contreras, C

Stroman, K. Thompson, Steele (maybe), some assorted Rookie RPs.

So, if Jed trades Contreras, Stroman, and Happ, who plays every day at those spots?

Or, this is anything but a 're-load'. If, Cubs want to 'compete' in 2023 while waiting for Armstrong, Caissie, B. Davis, Herz, Wicks, and K. Franklin, etc al -- I sign one of the 3 Shortstops, a LH OF/DH masher, a #3 SP, and at least 2 quality RPs -- and keep the guys above.

If not, then I wish the Cubs brain trust would quit pissing on my leg and tell me it's raining.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

GEORGE A: Despite what the Cubs might say about it, this is a long-term rebuild, so it doesn't really matter if the Cubs call-up the entire Iowa Cubs roster to play in Chicago after the 2022 trade deadline or in 2023-24.  

BTW, ome of the problems with a rebuild is that it doesn't always work. 

In order for the Cubs to be a playoff-caliber team 2015-20 and win the 2016 World Series, - ALL - of the following had to happen, all of which was beyond the control of Epstein / Hoyer... 

1. The Padres had to be willing to trade Anthony Rizzo for Andrew Casher (who was inherited by Epstein / Hoyer from the Hendry  regime).

2. The Reds had to be willing to trade Travis Wood for Sean Marshall (who was inherited by Epstein / Hoyer from the Hendry regime). 

NOTE: At this point in time, Epstein / Hoyer traded Tyler Colvin and D. J. LeMahieu to the Rockies for 3B Ian Stewart, which was the worst trade Epstein/ Hoyer made up until the Quintana trade in 2017. 

3. The Indians had to leave Hector Rondon available for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. 

4. The Cubs signed three of the top 2012-13 IFA (Jorge Soler, Gleyber Torres, and Eloy Jimenez), all within a twelve-month period. 

5. The Orioles had to be willing to trade Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to the Cubs for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevinger (Feldman was a sign & flip by Epstein / Hoyer, and Clevinger was inherited from the Hendry regime). 

6. The Rangers had to be willing to trade Kyle Hendricks for Ryan Dempster (inherited by Epstein/ Hoyer from the Hendry regime), and Carl Edwards and Justin Grimm for Matt Garza (also inherited from the Hendry regime).  

7. The Astros had to take RHP Mark Appel with the 1st overall pick in the 2013 draft, leaving Kris Bryant for the Cubs. 

8. The A's had to be willing to trade Addison Russell, Dan Straily, and Billy McKinney to the Cubs for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel (Samardzija was still another SP inherited by Epstein / Hoyer from the Hendry regime, and Hammel was a sign & flip who the Cubs re-signed after he became a FA again). 

9. Joe Maddon had to become available to manage the Cubs, which happened only because Rays GM Andrew Friedman got the Dodgers job.  

10. The Astros had to be willing to trade Dexter Fowler (who was in the last year of his contract) to the Cubs for Dan Straily (acquired from the A's in he Samardzija trade) and Luis Valbuena (who came to the Cubs via waiver claim). 

11. The Diamonbacks had to be wiling to trade Miguel Montero for RHSP Zack Godley (an Epstein / Hoyer draft pick who was a SP for AZ for a couple of years). 

12. Jon Lester, David Ross, Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward, John Lackey, and Jason Hammel had to be willing to sign free-agent deals with the Cubs and Dexter Fowler had to be willing to re-sign during Spring Training 2016, but only after it became apparent that the Cubs young studs (Arrieta, Rizzo, Bryant, Hendricks, Schwarber, and Russell) were the real deal.   

13. The Mariners had to be willing to trade Mike Montgomery for Paul Blackburn and Daniel Vogelbach, and while Montgomery did get the final out in Game # 7 of the 2016 World Series, it would be nice if the Cubs still had Blackburn. 

14. The Yankees had to be willing to trade Adam Warren for Starlin Castro, and then reacquire Warren plus Gleyber Torres (the Cubs # 1 prospect at the time) and Billy McKinney for three months of Aroldis Chapman. 

With the excception of the LeMahieu trade, after they took control Epstein / Hoyer did a fantastic job of being opportunistic and pouncing on the self-scouting mistakes made by other clubs, using what actually were some valuable MLB trade chips they inherited from the Hendry regime. (Epstein / Hoyer also inherited posotion players Javier Baez  D. J. LeMahieu, Willson Contreras, and Daniel Vogelbach from the Hendry regime).

And while they generally weren't particularly good at drafting players, Epstein / Hoyer did hit on their 1st round draft picks 2012-15 (Almora, Bryant, Schwarber, and Happ), something that most other MLB clubs don't do (see the Phillies for a recent example).   

But for Jed Hoyer to now depend on other clubs doing similar stupid shit that they did ten years ago requires the same kind of serendipity the Cubs benefitted from while building the 2016 championship team. And even then, the Cubs were down 3-1 in the 2016 World Series and had to win three in a row (including the last two in Cleveland) to win the World Series, and then they did not get back to World Series again. 

And the failure to develop pitching in-house post-2011 (something the Hendry regime DID do 2006-11, after Hendry's HS buddy Tim Wilken took over as scouting director) led to the trading of Gleyber Torres, Jorge Soler, Paul Blackburn, Daniel Vogelbach, Dylan Cease, Eloy Jimenez. Jeimer Candelario, and Isaac Paredes to acquire a SP (Jose Quintana) and various bullpen arms (Aroldis Chapman, Mike Montgomery, Wade Davis and Justin Wilson), not to mention a disastrous FA signing (Tyler Chatwood).    

So don't count on this rebuild to work like the other one did ten years ago. It might, or it might not. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

And for additional serendipity, the Cubs came thisclose to acquiring Randall Delgado from the Braves for Demp instead of The Professor from the Rangers. I will forever be grateful for Dempster's decision "to think about" that Braves trade, enabling the Cubs to switch gears to the Rangers. 

I'm thinking Delgado doesn't close out the Dodgers in the NLCS or start game 7 at Cleveland 

Cubs finally catch the Reds for last place. 10 game losing streak, Cubs hotter than the weather.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    i know it's still very early, but i'd like to go into the xmas-to-newyears part of the off-season with something more than...*checks list*...patrick wisdom avoids arbitration with a 1-year deal

    also, steven brault retired and was spotted at the winter meetings with a demo reel and making contacts trying to break into broadcasting (not a joke).  unless he's more optimistic than talented (we already know he can sing) he should make it one day because he seems to be very serious about it.

  • Cubster (view)

    I blame Jason Schmidt’s 3/44

  • Craig A. (view)

    Was all that stuff with the Blue Jays just to squeeze an extra $10 million/yr out of the Dodgers?  It's more than enough to cover his California income taxes!

  • crunch (view)

    unless he pitches into his late-30 that is gonna sting.  a 70m DH...ow.

    it's great to take care of 2 roster spots in 1 player, and i'm sure the team will cut into the pay with the amount of merch/etc he can sell just by being attached to the team....but yeah, i'm not mad the cubs didn't go that extreme.

  • WebAdmin (view)

    Shohei Ohtani to join Dodgers according to ESPN. 10 years for $700 m
  • Cubster (view)

    I'm getting the feeling that Todd Walker might be a Shaw comp. A valuable hit first player but limited albeit not awful on defense. Hopefully, he has more upside. Not a bad floor if Steve Garvey is his ceiling.

  • Wrigley Rat (view)

    AZ Phil - If that's the level of return, I would want NO part of that trade to Cleveland for Clase and Bieber. I have some faith that the Cubs have a strong plan for which prospects they will keep (even if they dangle them in trade talks) and which they will move, because they have plenty of solid prospects they can trade but they shouldn't be trading any of the ones they hope will be future core players. Some guys are redundant, so I hope they choose the right players to keep and the right players to move. It's always important for a team to know its own minor league players better than scouts from other teams (obviously), but I don't think that's always been the case for the Cubs and many other clubs. 

    Cubster - I watched an interview with Carter Hawkins a couple days ago where he said that although Morel hasn't gotten into any Dominican games at 1B, the Cubs did send coaches down with Morel to work on first base skills during practice. So he is developing those skills, whether the Cubs end up using him there or not will probably be dependent on a lot of factors including how those coaches think he looks at the position while training. 

  • tim815 (view)

    He could still play SS at Double-A, but Vazquez, Hoerner, and Swanson are much better defensively, arm strength or not. I'd be good leaving Shaw at SS with McGeary and Ballesteros around, but by the first of June (?), 1B might make sense in DM.

  • crunch (view)

    i have no reason to see a problem, it just seems like it's his most obvious reason to give pause on him at 1st.

    the cubs situation dictates 2nd/SS isn't an option.  his arm dictates 3rd isn't an option.  1st or CF seems to be his best path and he's only played CF in summer ball back in highschool/college...and of course PCA is a better + closer to the bigs CF.

    it's a lot safer to say he's made for 1st than it is he's made for 3rd.  even as a SS his arm is weak, and it's not like his glove is so great he needs to stay in the middle-IF.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CRUNCH: Steve Garvey (one of Shaw's comps as a hitter) was a 5'10 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Jeff Bagwell (another Shaw comp) was a 6'0 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Carlos Santana (who played 1B for Counsell in Milwaukee last season and is an above-average defensive first-baseman) is 5'11. It's not like Shaw is 5'7 or 5'8. I don't really see the problem.