Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
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

Giants Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Power Display at Cubs Expense

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/05/2023 - 05:54 pm

Chicago native Donovan McIntyre belted a grand slam to put the Giants up 4-2 in the 2nd inning and Eliam Sandoval, Javier Castillo, and Estanlin Cassiani cracked solo home runs later in the game to provide a cushion, as the Giants used the long ball to defeat the Cubs 11-6 in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played Friday morning at the San Francisco Giants Papago Park Complex in Phoenix, AZ.  

Wally Soto slugged a two-run HR and Ed Howard, Anderson Suriel, and Christopher Paciolla laced RBI doubles for the Cubs in a losing cause.  

The game was called after seven innings of play. 

Three pitchers called up from the Cubs Dominican Academy last week (Wilme Mora, Luis A. Reyes, and Yenrri Rojas) made their U. S. game debuts in the game, throwing one inning each. Mora allowed two solo home runs, but struck out two (both swinging), and Reyes and Rojas each tossed a 1-2-3 inning. 

Although he did allow a HR and (as usual) had difficulty throwing strikes, Cubs RHRP Eduarniel Nunez (on Tennessee 7-day IL) came out smokin', with his FB clocking in at 100 MPH.     

Prior to the EXST game at Papago Park, RHP JP Wheat threw a bullpen side session back in Mesa, and RHP Luis Devers, LHP Drew Gray, RHP Kenyi Perez, and RHP Mathew Peters threw "live" BP at Sloan Park.  

When the Cubs play the Giants in Extended Spring Training, Nick Lovullo (son of Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo) is the Cubs manager and Jacob Heyward (brother of Jason Heyward) is the Giants manager. Yesterday Torey Lovullo attended the Cubs - D'backs EXST game at Salt River Fields (the MLB Diamondbacks had an off day at home), and it was not the first time Torey has been at a game managed by his son this year.   

In EXST Cubs roster news, C Ronnier Quintrero (2019 IFA Venezuela - $2.9M signing bonus) has been released. At the time of his release R. Quintero was hitting 294/368/294 with no XBH and 2/5 BB/K (11% walk rate and 26% K-rate) in nine Cactus League EXST games (19 PA), and he was tied for second on the team in RBI with Jefferson Rojas with five (both trailing only Anderson Suriel, who has seven). He also threw out one of six baserunners who tried to steal against him (17%) and committed one passed ball.     

THE RONNIER QUINTERO SAGA: 

After not playing in 2019 (the year he signed) and 2020 (the minor league season was canceled due to CoViD), Quintero arrived in the U. S. at post-2020 AZ Instructs and it was clear from the gitgo that he was not in shape to play in games, so he was used as a bullpen catcher (only) at all of the Cubs AZIL games that year. He also did not hit in any games. He could put on a show in BP (albeit hitting against a coach or a machine) and there was no questioning his arm strength, but his receiving skills were poor and he had a lot of difficulty hitting "live" pitching.

Quintero did play in the AZL (now ACL) in 2021 and 2022, hitting a combined 174/287/272 with two HR, one double, and one triple in 39 games (108 PA). He also committed six errors and six passed balls in just 29 games played as a catcher over the course of those two seasons.   

Quintero also participated in Extended Spring Training in both 2021 (played in only two games due to illness) and 2022, and in AZ Instructs post-2021 (just 20 games combined between 2021 EXST, 2021 AZIL, and 2022 EXST): 

2021 EXST: 200/333/200 - 6 PA (two games) - 1-5 - 0 BB  and 1 K (17%K-rate) - 1 HBP - DEFENSE:  0-1 CS and 1 PB 
2021 AZIL:  211/348/211 - 23 PA (eight games) - 4-19 - no XBH - 4 RBI, 1 RUN, 3 BB (13% walk-rate), 9 K (39% K-rate) - DEFENSE: 2-13 CS (15%), 1 PB, 2 E 
2022 EXST: 000/154/000 - 13 PA (10 games) - 0-11 - 2 BB (15% walk-rate) and 5 K (38% K-rate) - 1 GIDP - DEFENSE: 1-3 CS, 2 E (both throwing) 

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

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1. James Triantos, DH #1: 0-1 (HBP, BB, F-7, 2 R) 
2a. Ed Howard, DH #2: 1-1 (2B, BB, 2 R, RBI)
2b. Brayan Altuve, PH-CF: 0-1 (4-3)
3a. Christopher Paciolla, SS: 1-2 (P-4, 2B, RBI)
3b. Jefferson Rojas, PH-SS: 0-1 (P-3)
4. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 2-3 (2B, 6-3, 2B, R, RBI)
5a. Jairo Diaz, C: 0-2 (F-7, K) 
5b. Wally Soto, C: 1-1 (HR, R, 2 RBI)
6. Alexis Hernandez, 2B: 1-2 (1-3, BB, 1B) 
7. Geury Lubo, 3B: 0-3 (F-7, 5-4-3 DP, 5-4-3 DP)
8. Raino Coran, RF: 0-3 (F-8, K, K) 
9. Ismael Mena, CF-DH: 0-2 (L-6, K)
10. Christian Olivo, LF: 0-1 (BB, F-9, CS)

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Gleiber Morales: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 41 pitches (21 strikes) 
2. Max Bain: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 39 pitches (17 strikes) 
3. Eduarniel Nunez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/AO, 30 pitches (15 strikes) 
4. Wilme Mora: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 1/0 GO/AO, 29 pitches (19 strikes) 
5. Luis A. Reyes: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 12 pitches (8 strikes) 
6. Yenrri Rojas: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 9 pitches (6 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. SS Christopher Paciolla: E-6 (dropped pop fly allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely & two unearned runs to score)
2. 1B Anderson Suriel: E-3 (fielding miscue allowed batter to reach base safely)   

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70's 

ATTENDANCE: 12 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service  

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen" 

Tags
Cubs Extended Spring Training

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:22 am

James Triantos is running the bases at full speed like he never had a knee injury. He has been stealing bases, taking the extra base, and generally running wild on the bases, so I don't know how much longer he will be at EXST. He looks to be 100%, and should be moving up to South Bend very soon.

BTW, if Triantos was open to the idea, I think he would make an excellent catcher conversion candidate. It would require a year or two of hard work (including post-2023 AZ Instructs and 2024 EXST) to get acclimated to the position, but it would probably be worth it in the long run. 

[ ]

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:47 am

Besides you feeling he has the intangibles and work ethic to convert to catching successfully, would your thoughts that he should convert have any influence from him potentially either being blocked or having stiff competition in the infield, or that he has limitations as an infield defender? 

[ ]

Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:50 pm

Not Phil, but… I think the book on JT’s fielding is good hands & solid arm. Fringy range & a step below avg speed, but good overall athleticism. 
 

Seems like fielding isn’t a liability, but not going to be strong enough to push anyone off 2B/3B. If the bat plays, he’ll be in the DH rotation - a C/DH who can also play INF in a pinch is way more valuable to a roster than a DH who can pass as an INF. 
 

But I defer to Phil. 

[ ]

Submitted by First.Pitch.120 on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:13 pm

Yep. That’s my thinking. 

And personally, I like having utility players w/ some C experience b/c I feel like it really opens up in-game options.  Especially if it’s an organizational/strategic decision to go defense/receiving first at the C position. Allows for that late inning PH for C if the situation arises. 

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:39 am

AZ Phil,

Do you think it's better for Morel to start 6 games per week in AAA or start 3 to 4 games per week in Chicago?

Ross said he doesn't have a spot right now in Chicago. He could platoon with Happ and Bellinger in LF and CF. Bellinger could go to 1B and Mervis to DH. He could spell Wisdom at 3B. Nico at 2B. Or give Dansby a rare break and Nico goes to SS.

I still think Morel looks best at SS but that's not happening so I'll move on from that belief.

What are your thoughts?

[ ]

Submitted by bradsbeard on Sat, 05/06/2023 - 05:42 pm

I think all of that sounds better come June or July when guys start to need more regular days off to get through the summer months. Until then, Morel can refine his game more with every day time and work on the finer points of defense at all of those positions you’d hope for him to handle. I think CF especially they want to give him lots of reps before bringing him back up. 

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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