Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Mervis Long-Ball Helps Cubs Split at Riverview

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Matt Mervis slugged a two-run HR and drove-in another run with a FC, Reggie Preciado clubbed an RBI double and scored a run, and James Triantos drilled an RBI single and scored a run, helping the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) defeat the Tri-City Dust Devils (Hi-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels) 6-4 on Field #6, and four pitchers combined to toss a one-hitter as the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Lo-A affiliate) cruised past the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) 7-1 on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training Opening Day game action Friday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #6 was pre-planned as a seven-inning affair, and the game on Field #5 was called after six innings of play. 

South Bend CF Christian Franklin (Cubs 2021 4th round draft pick - U. of Arkansas) had to be carted off the field after he was beaned on the top of the head by a fly ball in the top of the 5th inning of the game on Field #6.  

Here are the abridged box scores from the games (Cubs players only): 
FIELD #5

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1. Ismael Mena, CF: 0-2 (4-3, BB, K, R)
2a. Pedro Ramirez, 3B-DH: 0-2 (K, 5-3)
2b. Malcom Quintero, PH: 0-1 (6-3)
3a. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 0-2 (K, 5-3) 
3b. Reivaj Garcia, SS: 0-1 (6-3)
4. Jonathan Sierra, 1B: 1-3 (E-6, K, 1B) 
5. Carlos Morfa, LF: 0-3 (F-9, 3-1, K)
6a. Moises Ballesteros, C: 0-1 (BB, 1-3)
6b. Miguel Fabrizio, C: NO AB 
7. Bryan Serra, DH-3B: 0-2 (K, F-8)
8. Peter Matt, RF: 0-2 (K, K)
9. Christian Olivo, 2B: 0-1 (L-6, BB)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS: 
1. Richard Gallardo: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 25 pitches (16 strikes) 
2. Didier Vargas: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 BALK, 0/1 GO/AO, 30 pitches (20 strikes) 
3. Adam Laskey: 0.2 IP. 2 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 29 pitches (14 strikes)
4. Angel Gonzalez: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (9 strikes) 
5. Yovanny Cabrera: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 20 pitches (8 strikes) 

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: NONE 

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:  
Miguel Fabrizio: 1-1 CS 

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

FIELD # 6 

SOUTH BEND LINEUP: 
1. Ezequiel Pagan, LF: 1-3 (4-3, 6-3, 1B) 
2a. Christian Franklin, CF: 1-2 (F-9, 1B, R)
2b. Jacob Wetzel, CF: 0-0 (HBP)
3. Owen Caissie, RF: 1-3 (4-3, 1B, K, R)
4. Luis Verdugo, 3B-SS: 0-3 (L-9, K, 1-6-3 DP)
5. James Triantos, 2B: 1-3 (5-3, 1B, 1-3, R, RBI)
6a. Reggie Preciado, SS: 1-2 (K, 2B, R, RBI)
6b. B. J. Murray, 3B: 1-1 (1B, R, SB)
7. Matt Mervis, 1B: 1-2 (BB, FC, HR, R, 3 RBI) 
8a. Ethan Hearn, C: 0-1 (K, F-8 SF, RBI)
8b. Jake Washer, C: 0-0 (BB)
9. Fabian Pertuz, DH: 0-3 (K, K, 5-4-3 DP) 

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS: 
1. Max Bain: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 3/0 GO/AO, 24 pitches (17 strikes) 
2. Joe Nahas: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1 PO, 2/2 GO/AO, 50 pitches (30 strikes)
3. Eduarniel Nunez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 20 pitches (9 strikes)
4. Bailey Reid: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 14 pitches (8 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1 
CF Christian Franklin: E-8 (missed catch allowed batter to reach 3rd base) 

ATTENDANCE: 41 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Tags
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Matt Mervis
Reggie Preciado
James Triantos
Christian Franklin

Comments

Submitted by KingKongvsGodzilla on Fri, 03/18/2022 - 03:26 pm

We're back! Thanks AZPhil! Any early thoughts on 2022 Richard Gallardo? 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:00 am

Also, four pitchers who just arrived from the Dominican Academy this week and who are destined for EXST threw "live" BP before the game on Friday.

20-year old RHP (ex-SS) Michael Arias (signed by the Cubs in January 2021 after he was released by the Blue Jays) FB velo clocked at 99, although his secondaries are raw and his command is inconsistent.  

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:20 am

correa to the twins 3/105m.

somehow n.castellanos managed to get a 5/100m deal with the phillies.  that's a lot of money for a guy that plays cruddy corner OF.  phillies gonna hit a ton of homers for a good number of years...huge power lineup locked into contracts and club control (harper, schwarber, castellanos, hoskins).

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:13 pm

missed it, but the new CBA allows helmet/uniform advertising patches.

this comment brought to you by DraftKings.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:20 pm

d.smyly signed, 1y/5.25m (+2.25m in possible incentives)

part of me wonders if it would be better to take all this money used for a slew of guys with possible upside and use it for 1 guy who has achieved that upside.

on the flip, this is a team that picked up 2 "who dis?" relievers who signed big contracts this off-season (chafin, tepera)

j.villar contract details in..."$4.5MM base with a $1.5MM buyout on a $10MM mutual option for the 2023 season. There are also $500K in incentives tied to the 2022 season."

[ ]

Submitted by bradsbeard on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 03:10 am

Not sure even AZ Phil know the answer to this, but can the Cubs release someone like Harold Ramirez, who was tendered a contract but hasn't settled on a salary figure yet? Ordinarily once they settle on a number, some portion of the salary is guaranteed right? With arb salaries still pending due to the lockout, could you see guys released and then still negotiating their salary with their prior team?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 03:29 am

BRADSBEARD: Per the new CBA, a player eligible for salary arbitration who signs a contract prior to an arbitration hearing now gets 100% of his salary even if he is released prior to MLB Opening Day (salary liability for former club is partially offset by the pro-rated MLB minimum salary if the player signs an MLB contract with another club after being released).  

If an arbitration-eligible player is released prior to Opening Day after being awarded a contract by an arbitration panel (doesn't matter if he wins or loses), that player will get only a pro-rated portion of his salary depending on when he is released (he receives 30 days pay if he is released more than 15 days prior to MLB Opening Day, or 45 days pay if he is released within 15 days of MLB Opening Day), or 100% of his salary if he is injured and unable to render service at the time of his release  

So the Cubs are probably waiting until after the arbitration hearing to release Harold Ramirez so that they only have to pay him 45 days of salary as termination pay instead of 100% of his salary (which would happen if he signs prior to the hearing). 

Of course the problem with going to a hearing is that a player who is awarded a contract by an arbitration panel cannot be released if the sole purpose of releasing the player is so that the club can save money. In order to avoid losing a potential grievance, the Cubs would have show that Ramirez was out-performed in MLB Spring Training games by the player or players who took what would have been his Opening Day roster slot.    

So it can get a bit tricky. The Cubs have to be careful to give Ramirez a legitimate chance to earn an Opening Day roster slot before they release him. 

Also, if a club releases an arbitration-eligible player after the player has requested salary arbitration but before a hearing, the salary requested by the player is considered the player's salary when determining termination pay. 

So (for example), if Ramirez is requesting $1.25M and the Cubs are offering $850K and the Cubs release Ramirez prior to the hearing, the Cubs would owe Ramirez $1.25M. If the Cubs wait until after the hearing and then release Ramirez prior to Opening Day, then they would owe him 45 days salary (based on the contract awarded by the arbitratiojn panel) as temination pay, as long as the Cubs give him a legitimate chance (usually about ten games) and can show he failed to win a job as the resuilt of his performance on the field in those Spring Training games. 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 03:21 pm

BRADSBEARD: It's not inconceivable to me that Harold Ramirez could be the Cubs primary DH on Opening Day. He reminds me a bit of Glenallen Hill.

As for 40-man roster slots that will be needed for Mychal Givens and Steven Brault, I can't see Michael Hermosillo or Sergio Alcantara making the Opening Day roster and both are out of minor league options so that's two 40-man roster slots that will very likely become available prior to Opening Day right there. 

Even if Alcantara and Hermosillo get claimed off waivers or elect free-agency after being outrighted, the Cubs still would have veteran utility infielders Ildemaro Vargas and Dixon Machado as well as RH-hitting outfielders Brennen Davis, Nelson Velazquez, and Narciso Crook at AAA.   
 
Nico Hoerner, Clint Frazier, and Nick Madrigal have minor league options available, so one or two of them could begin the season at AAA (or Madrigal could begin the season on the 10-day IL), especially if the maximum 13 pitcher limit is temporarily relaxed and the Cubs carry extra pitchers and only 12 position players on Opening Day.  

I could see the Cubs Opening Day roster looking something like this, with Hoerner or Madrigal (whichever one doesn't begin the season in MLB) added back once the maximum 13 pitcher limit is restored. 

CATCHERS
Willson Contreas 
Yan Gomes 

INFIELDERS: 
Frank Schwindel
Nick Madrigal or Nico Hoerner 
Andrelton Simmons 
Patrick Wisdom 
Jonathan Villar 

OUTFIELDERS:
Ian Happ (can also play 3B-2B-1B)
Jason Heyward 
Seiya Suzuki 
Rafael Ortega 
Harold Ramirez (primary DH) 

STARTING PITCHERS: 
Kyle Hendricks 
Marcus Stroman 
Wade Miley 
Drew Smyly 
Alec Mills  

BULLPEN: 
Rowan Wick 
Mychal Givens 
Daniel Norris
David Robertson 
Chris Martin 
Steven Brault
Robert Gsellman 
Jesse Chavez 
Justin Steele 
Keegan Thompson 

Michael Rucker, Scott Effross, Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Holder et al would compete for the 11th reliever slot (presuming rosters are expanded to 28 with no maximum pitcher limit the first month of the season). 

[ ]

Submitted by bradsbeard on Sun, 03/20/2022 - 03:23 pm

I'm personally a big fan of Hermosillo and think the he and Ortega make a great platoon combo in CF, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Hermosillo ends up running with that job full time. Question for me is if he has enough time to establish himself before Brennen is ready. But he could also pair with Happ after Brennen comes up. I'm not sure that Ramirez or Frazier are really capable OF defenders, and I think Frazier is the more likely of the two to stick as a DH. 

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Mon, 03/21/2022 - 03:04 am

Totally agree with you on every point, Bradsbeard. The other thing I would point out is in relation to where Hermosillo fits when Brennen arrives. It's likely we're sellers at the deadline this year, and Happ only has one arb year left after this year. If he's playing well you'd have to think he's on the trade block. Plus, H Ramirez hasn't been able to get to spring training yet. He's running out of time to earn a spot.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:44 pm

bote 60d DL

tommy nance on the COVID restricted list which very conviently lets him not count against the 40m roster

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:09 pm

stroman / hendricks / miley / mills - brault - smyly

i guess we're tossing the kids back to the minors since one of mills/brault/smyly should end up being a long man.

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 03/19/2022 - 03:21 pm

heyward's not been one for being out of shape, but he seems to be in exceptional shape.  even when he's come in under expectations (a lot), it's never been for not trying to be better.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Tonight’s game postponed. Split games on Saturday.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

    taillon we 100% know is pitching tonight.  who he's replacing and any additional moves are unknown as far as i can tell.

    p.wisdom was not in today's lineup in iowa (rained out) and he was removed from the game last night mid-game, but not for injury.  good bet he's with the team in the bigs, too.

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

Click HERE for the last 50 comments