Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# 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 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Baez Helps AZL Cubs Drub-Blank the Brew Crew

Javy Baez doubled, singled, walked, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, Roberrt Garcia singled twice, walked twice, stole a base, scored two runs, and drove-in another, Carlos Sepulveda knocked-in four runs with a pair of two-run singles, and RHSP Austyn Willis hurled five innings of two-hit shutout ball and combined with three relievers to toss a five-hit shutout with eleven strikeouts, as the AZL Cubs whitewashed the AZL Brewers 11-0 in Arizona League action Saturday night at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix, AZ. 

Baez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - broken left ring finger) continued his AZL Cubs rehab, serving as the DH and batting five times: 

1. Lined a double off the CF Batter's Eye on an 0-2 pitch with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the 1st inning; 

2. Fisted a broken-bat single over the shortstop's head and into the 6-7-8 triangle in short left-centerfield on a 2-1 pitch with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the 3rd inning, advanced to second base on a Michael Foster walk, and scored on a Jose Paniagua single, swiping his left hand (the one with the now-mended broken ring finger) across the plate as he slid home safely with the AZL Cubs second run of the game;

3. Drew a one-out four-pitch walk with a runner at 1st in the top of the 4th, and then went in hard at 2nd base to break-up what should have been an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP (Baez and Brewers second-baseman Daniel Leonardo exchanged a mutual "bro-pat" after the play, so apparently there were no hard feelings, even though Baez dumped Leonardo on his ass);  

4. Hit a towering pop-up that was caught by the Brewers second-baseman in short right-field on a 2-2 pitch with one out and the bases empty in the top of the 6th inning; The pop-up was hit so high that Baez was half-way between 1st & 2nd when the ball was caught. 

5. Was hit by a pitch on the upper back (between the shoulder blades) on a 3-0 pitch leading off the top of the 9th (so it would have been another four-pitch walk if he hadn't been hit by the pitch), and then he reached second base safely on an E-4 (missed catch by second-baseman) on what should have been an easy 6-4 FC... think maybe the second-baseman "heard footsteps," remembering Baez's hard-slide in the 4th?). Baez then moved up to third base on a walk, and scored on a wild pitch. He did not show any residual negative effect from the HBP as he ran the bases.    

Figuring it was his last AB of the night, the Rays and Red Sox scouts who are "birdogging" Baez left after he scored in the 9th, but as it turned out the Cubs sent 11 men to the plate in the inning and Baez's turn came up again. However, Varonex Cuevas pinch-hit for Baez, probably because Brewers pitcher Connor Baits (2015 33rd round draft pick - UCSB) had already hit two batters (including Baez leading-off the inning), walked three, and uncorked five wild pitches without retiring the side, and AZL Cubs Manager Carmelo Martinez probably didn't want to get blamed in case Baits hit Baez for a second time in the inning, maybe next time in the head. So Cuevas was sent up to hit as the "sacrificial lamb," except it so happened Baits was (finally) replaced at the same time that Cuevas was announced as the PH, so Baez could have safely squeezed-in a 6th AB after-all. (Connor Baits was the closer at UCSB this season prior to getting drafted by Milwaukee, but he has had Daniel Bard-like yips since signing. He was all over the place in the 9th inning. He could not find the strike zone, but he did find the screen behind home plate and a couple of Cubs hitters, and several of his pitches bounced halfway to home plate, or were sailed over batters heads, or even behind them a couple of times).  

A smiling and friendly Baez stood patiently on the concourse above the 1st base stands after the game and signed about a dozen autographs (everybody who asked for one), including bats, caps, baseballs, and cards. 

Word is Baez will play in one more AZL game (presumably Sunday night), and then head to Iowa. 

M. I. A. CF D. J. Wilson (Cubs 2015 4th round draft pick - Canton South HS - Canton, OH) has retuned to the AZL Cubs. While he did participate in pre-game drills (he played catch in the outfield), he was not in uniform (he was wearing a Cubs cap, t-shirt, and shorts). Then he sat on the bench during the game, but again, he was not dressed to play. The circumstances surrounding his ten-day absence remain elusive. 

Saturday night's game marked the conclusion of the "first-half" of Arizona League play. The AZL Cubs finished 14-13, 1.5 GB the AZL Angels in the AZL East.

The three "first half" division winners (AZL Angels, AZL Royals, and AZL White Sox) have qualified for the AZL post-season play-offs, with the three "second-half" division winners (TBD) also qualifying. If a team finishes first in its division in both the "first half" and the "second half," the team with the best overall record (both halves) that did not finish first in a division in either the "first half" or "second half" qualifies.

When the second half of the AZL regular season concludes on August 29th, the two teams with the best overall record (both halves) get a bye, and the other four teams play a single-elimination game (quarter-finals). The winning teams from the two quarter-final games then play a single-elimination game versus the two teams with the best overall records (semi-finals), and the two survivors play in a championship game.

There are no multi-game series in the AZL playoffs, just single-elimination games. So unlike the MLB post-season, the entire process takes three days to complete... it's just wham, bam, thank you ma'am. 

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

AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Robert Garcia, RF: 2-4 (1B, 1-3, 1B, 4-3, BB, BB, 2 R, RBI, SB)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 2-6 (L-6 DP, 4-3, 1B, 6-3, 3-U, 1B, 4 RBI)
3a. Javy Baez, DH: 2-3 (2B, 1B, BB, P-4, HBP, 2 R)
3b. Varonex Cuevas, PH: 1-1 (2B) 
4. Michael Foster, CF: 0-5 (5-3, BB, 6-4 FC, K, E-4, F-9, R, SB)
5. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 1-5 (P-3, 1B, P-6, K, K, RBI)
6. P. J. Higgins, 3B: 1-4 (3B, K, P-6, P-4, BB, 2 R)
7. Angelo Amendolare, LF: 1-2 (1B, HBP, BB, E-6, HBP, 2 R, RBI, CS)
8. Tyler Payne, C: 1-5 (2-U, 6-3, 1B, F-7, P-3)
9. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-3 (L-7, HBP, 1-5 FC, F-9, BB, 2 R)

AZL CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Austyn Willis: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 6/3 GO/FO, 61 pitches (40 strikes)
2. Luis Hernandez: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. Craig Brooks: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 15 pitches (9 strikes)
4. Ariel Ovando: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 

AZL CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

AZL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Tyler Payne: 1-2 CS 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

i agree with him...and i'll double down and say mike olt will eventually be the cubs career leader in saves after he converts to a pitcher...and milton bradley will become manager after joe leaves the job in 2055...and kyle schwarber will win a gold glove at C. seriously, though...if he ever gets consistent with his bat anywhere but his power he has the potential to be one of the best of the crew, but with what he's shown so far a lot of us would be happy with simply average skills combined with his power+D. i see him more as a greater-K/greater-power jj hardy type right now, but at least there's room for him to be something more as a ceiling.

and then went in hard at 2nd base to break-up what should have been an inning-ending 6-4-3 DP --- AZ Phil: Feet first slide I presume. Did he slide feet first into home? Still fearless, yes. But did he learn a lesson from his broken finger?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: Baez slid feet-first all three times (twice at 2nd & once at home). The slide at home was the one where a player slides toward the 3rd base bench side of the plate and drags his left hand across the plate. The slide where he took-out the Brewer second-baseman was perhaps a trifle late, but Leonardo didn't seem too upset (although he did drop a catch for a crtical E-4 the next time Baez was on 1st base and headed for 2nd). I think the head-first slide is used more when a player is trying to steal a base, and Baez has not tried to steal any bases down here (yet).  

Even though he was the DH, Baez was unusually intense (even for him) last night and he played really hard, like he was a man possessed. He sat on the bench alone during pre-game warm-ups and only came out at the very end for a couple of minutes of stretching and wind sprints. Otherwise he sat quietly on the bench alone before the game, like he was praying or meditating or putting himself into a trance. Also, his mother was at the game, sittring in the front row behind the 1st base dugout. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    the ESPN bottom graphic taking up 1/8th of the screen sucks.

    i only use ESPN during baseball season and i'm forced to watch a baseball broadcast designed to be broadcast in sports bars and betting parlors where the scores of other games/sports is as important as what you're actually tuned in to watch.

  • crunch (view)

    morel triple to start the season....yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days.