Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus one player is 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 3-28-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 1 
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 1 
Caleb Kilian, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cub Pitchers Fan Sweet Sixteen A's at Fitch Park

Wladimir Galindo smacked an RBI double, singled twice, and scored a run, Chris Pieters singled twice, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, D. J. Wilson drilled an RBI triple, and RHSP Pedro Silverio hurled three innings of no run/no hit ball and combined with three relievers to strike out 16 hitters and toss a five-hitter, as the Cubs defeated the Athletics 5-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action this morning at the Lew Wolff Training Complex at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Mike Martin tripled, singled twice, and scored both of the A's runs. 

In twelve Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (43 PA), Wladimir Galindo is hittting 333/372/462 (28% K-rate and 2% walk-rate), with three three-hit games. Galindo displays a similar offensive skill-set as Jorge Soler (extremely hard contact when he hits the ball, but not many walks and a lot of strikeouts). He has also committed five errors (two throwing and three fielding) in eleven games played at 3B (he was a DH in the other game). The 19-year old Galindo was part of the touted Cubs 2013-14 IFA class that also included Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Jen-Ho Tseng, and Jeferson Mejia, and Galindo had a fine rookie season in 2014, hitting 278/356/472 for the VSL Cubs and leading the VSL in HR as a 17 year old. But then he missed most of the 2015 season with left wrist inflammation (at EXST) and then a fractured left hand (in the AZL), so the inconsistency he is showing at the plate and in the field right now is probably to be expected. 

As things stand right now, it would appear that Dylan Cease, Bryan Hudson, Jose Paulino, Pedro Silverio, and either Erling Moreno, Manny Rondon, or Jesus Castillo will form the Eugene starting rotation, and Daniel Lewis, Tommy Nance, Pedro Araujo, Tyler Peitzmeier, Jared Cheek, John Michael Knighton, and Mark Malave will be the bullpen arms, with Scott Frazier, Alexander Santana, Enrique de los Rios, M. T. Minacci, and Yapson Gomez still battling for jobs in the Emeralds pen. Again, this is only as things stand right now at this point in time, because a lot can happen between today and June 17th (Northwest League Opening Day). 

John Arguello (Cubs Den) has a game report:  

link 

And here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only): 

CUBS LINEUP:
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 1-4 (F-8, 4-3, 3B, F-7, RBI)
2. Rafael Narea, SS: 0-4 (K, K, 6-2 FC, F-8)
3. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 0-3 (F-9, BB, F-9, P-3, R)
4. Chris Pieters, 1B: 2-3 (1B, 1B, F-7, BB, 2 R, SB)
5a. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 3-3 (1B+E6, 2B, 1B, R, RBI)
5b. Jhonny Bethencourt, PR-3B: 0-1 (P-4, CS)
6. Alex Bautista, RF: 2-3 (2B, K, 1B, RBI)
7. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-3 (K, F-8, 4-6-3 DP)
8. Gustavo Polanco, C-DH: 0-3 (F-9, 6-3, L-8)
9a. Kevin Zamudio, DH #1: 0-2 (K, P-6) 
9b. Tyler Payne, PH: 0-1 (P-2)
10a. Abraham Rodriguez, DH #2: 0-1 (P-6)
10b. Jose Gonzalez, PH: 0-1 (K)
10c. Eric Gonzalez, C: 0-1 (E-7)
11. Yohan Matos, DH #3: 1-3 (F-8, 2B, P-3, R)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Pedro Silverio: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 PO, 0/2 GO/AO, 51 pitches (30 strikes) 
2. Enrique de los Rios: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 4/0 GO/AO, 26 pitches (19 strikes) 
3. John Michael Knighton: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (25 strikes) 
4. Tommy Nance: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 40 pitches (25 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Gustavo Polanco: 1-1 CS
2. Eric Gonzalez: 1 PB

ATTENDANCE: 9

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+ 

Comments

The Cubs are defintely concerned about losing catcher Tim Federowicz off waivers once Miguel Montero returns from the DL in a day or two. (Federowicz is out of minor league options). Federowicz has proven that he has recovered 100% from Spring Training 2015 knee surgery, and he has reclaimed his reputation with scouts as one the best defensive catchers in the minors. (Baseball America rated him the Red Sox best defensive catcher three years in a row prior to Federowicz getting traded to LAD).   

The Cubs consider Federowicz to be their #3 catcher (that's why he remained with the MLB club throughout Spring Training, right up until Opening Day). and they hope that they can get him through waivers, But if he is in fact claimed, the Cubs are prepared to go with Willson Contreras as their #3 catcher should Ross and/or Montero go on the DL again later this season. Contreras is considered VERY close to being MLB ready, although the Cubs would prefer to leave him at AAA until September.  

Taylor Davis is NOT seen by the Cubs as a legitimate #1 or #2 MLB catcher, although he could surface later this season in Chicago as a C-1B-3B-RH PH (functioning somewhat in the Kyle Schwarber role that allowed Maddon to PH or PR for Ross or PR for Montero in the same game without running out of catchers).

Javy Baez is the Cubs #3 catcher right now (he was a catcher in HS before he moved to 3B in his junior year and to SS in his senior year), and he actually does know enough about the position to play there in a pinch. In fact, there were draft previews in 2011 that mentioned Baez's eventual MLB position as catcher!

AA Tennessee catcher Victor Caratini has made great strides as both a receiver and as a hitter this season, but his throwing still needs work. That said, consider Caratini a virtual lock to get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster after the season (he will be first-time Rule 5 Draft eligible post-2016), and if both Ross AND Montero were to go on the DL and presuming Federowicz is gone (claimed off waivers), the Cubs would consider Caratini (not Davis) as a short-term second stop-gap at catcher (behind Contreras) if things go totally to shit.  

With Will Remillard (considered the best defensive catching prospect in the system a couple of years ago) having undergone his second TJS in 13 months, South Bend catcher P. J. Higgins is now considered the third legitimate MLB catching prospect among catchers on the four full-season Cubs affiliates, although he is still very raw and a couple years behind Caratini. Higgins played catcher a bit in college at Old Dominion, but the Cubs used him only as an infielder (2B-3B) last season after he was drafted (he was moved back to catcher at Minor League Camp), but he is projected to remain at catcher going forward. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I'm wondering if the Cubs might decide to go with 3 catchers again including Federowicz. Ross is playing well but as the weather heats up it's unlikely he plays as many innings. Montero with a cranky low back injury also may not be able to handle a starters load. Right now Clayton Richard has been unreliable and the roster/bullpen's weakest link. I'd try to get him to the minors rather than losing TF. Although that leaves the Cubs only with Travis Wood as the sole bullpen lefty, Richard has not been filling the LOOGY role well to this point and although they used him as a swingman for spots starts last year they have several who can do that now including Warren/Cahill.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

My own entry in the Cub catching derby is Brockmeyer. He is loitering in A+ where his bat belongs, but when they need a catcher at Tennessee or Iowa, they call him up. The same thing will happen at Wrigley, sooner or later. I just think that catcher is the backbone of the defense and that Brockmeyer is a very large backbone--6'5", 235, at least. It's like having Abe Lincoln back there. And yet his coaches rave about how small he gets, how low he squeezes down.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

He's just not going to get traded this season. If he does, I imagine the Cubs package would look something like three of these four: Schwarber, Soler, Almora, and Baez; plus Torres; plus a handful of live arms from the Sands, Steele, Hudson, etc., category. In other words, it's not happening in part because the price tag would be too much. There are a few teams that have the minor league pieces to make it happen without touching their major league roster. Boston, the Dodgers, and Texas come to mind. I doubt the Cubs are one of them.

Trout won't happen. Plus the Cubs aren't stupid like ARZ with Shelby Miller trade which has worked out well for the 1-4, 6.94 ERA. He gives up more runs than Arrieta, Hammel, and Lester combined

AZ Phil, has Concepcion figured this stuff out all of a sudden? Also, I am impressed with Jason Vosler. Is he a possible utility man to consider in a year or two. I know he has played all over the infield.

HAGSAG: Gerardo Concepcion was throwing his fastball 91-93 and touching 94 and was commanding both his fastball and his breaking ball at Minor League Camp (which is the last time I saw him), and if he can keep that up he will be an MLB lefty reliever. The Cubs are already paying him $1M this season because of the five-year MLB contract he signed in 2012, so there is no reason not to bring him up if the Cubs feel he can help. 

Although he is playing 3B (only) at Myrtle Beach right now, Jason Vosler is projected as a utility INF at the higher levels. As long as he keeps hitting, he will progress through the system. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    steele MRI on friday.  counsell expects an IL stint.

    no current plans for his rotation replacement.

  • hellfrozeover (view)

    I would say also in the bright side column is Busch looked pretty good overall at the plate. Alzolay…man, that hurts but most of the time he’s not giving up a homer to that guy. To me the worst was almonte hanging that pitch to Garcia. He hung another one to the next hitter too and got away with it on an 0-1. 

  • crunch (view)

    amaya blocked like 6-8 of smyly's pitches in the dirt very cleanly...not even an exaggeration, smyly threw a ton of pitches bouncing in tonight.

    neris looking like his old self was a relief (no pun), too.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    In looking for bright spots the defense was outstanding tonight. The “stars” are going to need to shine quite a bit brighter than they did tonight offensively though for this to be a successful season.

  • Eric S (view)

    Good baseball game. Hopefully Steele is pitching again in April (but I’m not counting on it). 

  • crunch (view)

    boo.

  • crunch (view)

    smyly to face the 2/3/4 hitters with a man on 2nd in extras.

    this doesn't seem like a 8 million dollar managerial decision.

  • crunch (view)

    i 100% agree with you, but i dunno how jed wants to run things.  the default is delay.  i would choose brown.

    like hellfrozeover says, could be smyly since he's technically fresh and stretched.

    anyway, on a pure talent basis....brown is the best option.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Use pitchers when you believe they're good. Don't plan their clock.

    I'm sorry. I'm simply anti-clock/contract management. Play guys when they show real MLB potential talent.

    If Brown hadn't been hurt with the Lat Strain he would've gotten the call, and not Wick.

    Give him a chance. 

    But Wesneski probably gets it

  • crunch (view)

    alzolay...bro...