Cubs MLB Roster

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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, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* 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
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* 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: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

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




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs @ Padres: Arrieta vs Friedrich (Game 125)

Submitted by CTSteve on

A Heyward HR and a Lester pickoff throw. Anything is possible!CHC (79-45): RHP Jake Arrieta (15-5, 2.75) 
SD (53-72): LHP Christian Friedrich (4-9, 4.69)
First pitch: 9:10pmCST

Arrieta has reeled off three straight wins, including an ugly one against the Brewers on Thursday (5.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 K, 7 BB). The Padres are 9-38 (.237) against him. Ramirez is 6-16.

Friedrich, an Evanston native, is coming off of three straight losses and has not won since June 23 in Cincinnati. He pitched well enough to win on Tuesday in Tampa Bay (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB) but was let down by the Padre offense. The Cubs are 4-15 (.267) against him.

The ERA king Hendricks (11-7, 2.16) versus Paul Clemens (2-2 4.82) at 2:40pmCST tomorrow to finish the series.

Go Cubs!

Tags
2016 Season Game Thread

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:36 am

that pickoff throw to baez last night was badly needed. it's not the ability to pick off someone that's important, it's the threat of the pickoff being in play. that's the difference between a 6-10ft lead and a 10-15+ft lead in lester's case. i doubt it will totally end the leads runners are taking, but runners have been getting a bit too bold recently with some insane leads...and multiple incidences of guys taking 3rd while lester stands on the mound watching...and SB attempts are creeping up (16 in the past 6 games, 16 in the 19 games before that). reigning in the silly large leads and lack of fear of anyone aside from d.ross controlling the running game should impact his game more than becoming some pickoff master...because that isn't gonna happen. earlier in the game before the pickoff he ran a guy back to 2nd from the mound without throwing, something that should have been an out if he would have thrown the ball because he had the runner leading/breaking the wrong way.

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:51 am

"[I]t's not the ability to pick off someone that's important, it's the threat of the pickoff being in play." What is actually important is preventing runs, and Lester does that just fine.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:18 am

except when the dude recently who stole 2nd then jogged to 3rd while lester held the ball looking at him ended up scoring on a sac fly. ...or KC in the playoffs last year. ...or when guys go 1st to 3rd or 2nd to home on a bloop single even though they're not billy hamilton. it's a thing that's not a positive nor does ignoring it let good or neutral things happen. letting baserunners take 15+ ft leads without checking it doesn't mean he improves in some other area. there is no sacrifice for a gain in some other part of his game...not to mention he absolutely needs a catcher who can make up for his shortcomings with little to no exception.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:39 am

if the cubs didn't score a run, he would have pitched well for a loss. this is something every other pitcher for decades does without issue. if every pitcher out there, even the best, watched multiple guys run from 2nd to 3rd while they stood on the mound there wouldn't be a cry to ignore it or claim that's not something worth paying attention to. you don't get a pass for that. it's bad baseball. beyond that, it's interesting and unique in a variety of ways...it's not even 1 thing he does badly with baserunners, it's a slew of things...and some of those things have ebb/flow of how teams react based on how he very occasionally decides to address the issue.

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:19 am

I think the real point here is that you continuing to bring it up every Lester start will get him to improve.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:37 am

that's not the real point...or i would have spoken up about it 3 SB ago on the last thread, but the first anyone heard from me was about a pickoff. but hey, let's not let that stop you from lecturing me about how i shouldn't pick on lester some more...or that i shouldn't find the clown show of what happens when he's got runners on base interesting even though he's the only guy i've ever seen do what he's doing regularly in my lifetime.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:25 am

Dear Crunch Reporter: It's a long time ago and I confess to having a dislike of Larry Rothschild, but here's the way I remember Rich Hill's demise with the Cubs. Late in 2007, a year in which he won 11 games, Hill was having trouble holding runners, and Rothschild tried to fix the problem by teaching him to slide-step. Hill at the time had a delivery with a distinctive rock-back and kick that allowed him to conceal the ball until it was tool late for the hitter to pick up the fastball. Tampering with his delivery messed him up, and he started having control issues as well as back problems. He was done as far as the Cubs were concerned, but he seems to have gotten back on track six or eight years later. The point is that it's dangerous to mess with a pitcher's delivery at the major-league level. It is what it is. You should have seen it coming, and dealt with it earlier. Lester is 14-4, he'll be strong in the playoffs, but he won't change or get better.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:33 am

at this point i dont think much will change, especially during the season, but it was nice to see him not let the 3rd guy (4th possible, since 2 were stopped in the SD game) in his few recent games waltz to 3rd while lester stood on the mound looking at the guy. SD tried it twice in the last game. one time lester jogged towards 2nd while the runner returned to 2nd...the other time he actually threw and got an out. while all of this is noteworthy to me, and worth ignoring to others, the ebb/flow of how the running game changes around lester and vise-versa is a thing that's under constant evolution and active practice. it's not something that happens 1 way, every time, for months/years, in 1 instance, and only that way. but yeah, some people would rather nothing be said. i think it's really interesting and rare/unique that other teams are obviously interpreting how to handle in different ways.

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:33 am

Is WISCGRAD still around? Here's a project for him or anyone else who would be interested... Lester's allowed 22 SBs. How many of those have scored and how many games did the Cubs lose due to them? #baseballtalk

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:40 am

it's not about SB...it never was. jake arrieta being slow to the plate isn't comparable to jon lester not throwing to any base. how the runners read off arrieta isn't anything similar to what a runner is reading off lester. maybe arrieta could use a personal catcher solely to control his running game...but i doubt it's that important.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:43 am

we already has this asinine discussion. you didn't like the answer. there's already an answer above you can apply about how a guy goes from 1st base to home on a sac fly that included him stealing 3rd while lester watched from the mound. the fact that the cubs bats, 100% independent of that situation, scored some runs invalidates it as an issue to you. i find that stupid. we will not get anywhere with this. you know we will not get anywhere with this...because we already had this asinine discussion. #circularlogic

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:57 am

if runner = on base and pitcher = j.lester then lead = large if lead = large then probability of extra base on following hit > average of mean okay, enough of that silliness... ...you can read more on the thread i copy/pasted this from the last time you decided you needed to talk to me about me.

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Submitted by Tito on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:04 am

I'm asking how much it has hurt Lester and the Cubs this year. Do you have that answer? I legitimately don't recall you answering that quesion, apart from the condescending silliness you just posted. So if you did answer specifically about the impact of Lester's issue, I'd like to re-read it. Thanks. #baseballtalk

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:17 am

shouting down my points about lester with "well, it didn't hurt" is like saying it doesn't matter if a guy starts out walking 3 guys every inning as long it's followed by a K and a double play. it's like elevating ERA and wins to a high level while ignoring what it took to get there. the individual contribution can still be good, but flawed. lester has an obvious flaw that only he can address, and until it's addressed (if addressed) he's out there doing things with runner that NO OTHER PITCHER IN THE GAME is doing. yes, this is interesting to me as much as it being pointed out is irritating to you. this doesn't happen every season/decade/century as far as i can tell. what he's doing on the mound isn't comparable to greg "i dont check runners" maddux or jake "slow delivery/SB pains" arrieta. it doesn't matter if a single run never scored. check that again. it doesn't matter if a single run never scored. nothing he does with this shortcoming sets up a situation where he takes an advantage because of what the runners are doing on the bases. lester doesn't get a special set of improved odds because he can't control a guy taking 5-10' extra lead off a base, ignores a double play or lead runner to get an underhanded throw out at first, or watches a guy take another base without attempting an out...for a start. he is still putting himself at a disadvantage and also needs a personal catcher to make up for the things he can't/won't do. he is the only guy in the game that needs this. his issue isn't a singular thing and manifests itself in the total running game.

[ ]

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:23 am

He is putting himself at a disadvanage. But how much of one relative to the rest of his game? He's not Justin Germano -- he's inarguably one of the best SPs in baseball, issue or not. It would be more of thing to discuss ad nauseum if it constantly caused him to give up runs and lose games. But it doesn't. #baseballtalk

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:36 am

he gains nothing, no advantage, no saving of resources, nothing...there is not a cost/benefit tradeoff...him letting the running game go on around him for others to control isn't gaining him an advantage elsewhere. it's putting him at a disadvantage even if it's not cashed in with a run. he puts himself at a statistical disadvantage letting runners take huge leads and he raises his pitch count by leaving outs on the bases because he can only throw to 1st underhanded after a short jog. just because he can do "4-out innings" well doesn't mean he should let them happen because he can pitch his way out of it. besides, this is gambling even if his talent lets him win more than he loses. baseball is a game of statistical margins and capitalization on marginal advantages. long story short, what he's doing has no excuse to me. it's also a weird ass clown show to watch in practice. things happen with him on the mound that no other pitcher in the game allows anyone to see happen.

Submitted by Tito on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:32 am

And out of respect for the rest of TCR, I'm done on this. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the other camp, but time to let it go. (Until the next Lester start. I kid.) #baseballtalk

Submitted by billybucks on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:16 pm

On another topic....I returned to South Bend last night for the 2nd time this season (still haven't tried either the deep-fried mac & cheese sandwich nor "The Porknado", as the drive home is over an hour and that could get ugly), and was pleasantly surprised to find D. Underwood pitching in a rehab start. He looked good -- although, to be fair, these are low-A hitters -- fastball consistently at 94-95 (if the SB scoreboard is to be believed -- several pitches were clocked in the 30s...) and with good location. 3IP, no hits, one walk, 5Ks -- the highlight was a perfectly located 97mph fastball to punch out Kirk Gibson's son Cam, who swung, feebly, after the ball was in the catcher's mitt. The son looks just like his father, including batting stance. Eloy Jiminez looks ready to move up -- a line-drive single and a rocket that hit about 15 feet up on the extremely high CF wall that is 405 feet from home. I imagine that wall (which has got to be 25 feet high and provides ivy as the hitting background) has cost him a few HRs, and may be one reason he leads the league in doubles instead of HR. Also -- Eddy Martinez looked good (two hits, a line out and a steal of third), much better than when I saw him in June. One caveat -- the West Michigan Whitecaps pitchers were all LH until the 9th, so neither hitter had to deal with any RH breaking stuff. Eloy just looks bigger, better and more athletic than anyone else on the field. If anyone is in the area -- I highly recommend a visit to Four Winds Field in South Bend. A very enjoyable night of baseball.

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Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:24 pm

four winds field is awesome. it's crazy how minor league parks have "grown up" since the 80s/90s and that park was one of the late-80s models that showed a low-capacity ballpark could look like you're at something other than a highschool baseball game.

Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:30 pm

real shame I missed this week's episode of The Crunch Reporter.

It's highly unusual.

It does matter a little.

It matters much less than you think.

 

 

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:28 pm

my gawd...that castillo-to-bryant pickoff was a thing of beauty. the knock on him in the minors being slow out of the crouch is looking less like a thing.

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Submitted by jacos on Wed, 08/24/2016 - 08:37 am

Yes!!! Thanks crunch!! It's mesmerizing

Submitted by Eric S on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 08:04 pm

Dylan Cease throwing gas tonight for the Emeralds. In first three innings, has hit 100 mph six times, averaging 98 mph

Recent comments

  • 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!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

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