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

Carrying the Pink Backback

There is a new rookie in the TCR bullpen and as a result, I've picked up my Dora the Explorer backpack and have assumed the position. Hmmm, perhaps that didn't come out right. All kidding aside, I wanted to take a minute to mention just a few things I do and do not bring to the table.

I bring.....

  • A strong distaste for Derrek Lee and maintain that he is the most overrated first baseman in all of baseball.
  • A love of the farm system, though not nearly as much as the farm crazy AZ Phil has. He's my idol. I hope to one day be able to be half the man he is.
  • A heavy heart over the loss of my favorite Cub, Kerry Wood. I can still remember the day I skipped work for no other reason than to watch him pitch in his rookie year. What game was it? None other than the 20 K game. From that point on I was in love.
  • A hatred of Bleed Cubbie Blue and all the smug attitude emitted Al. Long ago I was told not to mention this, but what the heck? True story, Al was not their first choice: I was. I turned it down.
  • A strange list of favorite Cubs over the years that includes Rey Sanchez, Frank Castillo, Steve Trachsel and Joe Girardi. For some reason I never liked the good players.

I don't bring....

  • The ability to kiss Jim Hendry's butt when he makes a poor decision. He's been given the resources and it's time to get it done.
  • The patience to wait till I'm 80 for a championship.
  • The language in my posts that caused TCR to move from MVN, but I can still be ok, right?
  • A love to go to Wrigley Field. Call me crazy, but it's gotten frustrating to spend $100 and be surrounded by way too many drunks. If the stadium was filled with sane people throughout, I could rationalize it. It's TV all the way for me, though watching a drunk in any other circumstance for free is a fun assignment.
Hopefully that will give you an idea of who I am. I'll do my best to be active in the comments, so feel free to fire off questions. I'll submit to the grill. Roast away.

 

Comments

Wow, those are some harsh words towards D. Lee. Would you have such distaste for him if he wasn't hitting third? You can't think he overrated in the field?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Big free agent signing of 91. Him Taco Bell and Danny Jackson I believe. He sucked but sorry to hear he died.

A love to go to Wrigley Field. Call me crazy, but it's gotten frustrating to spend $100 and be surrounded by way too many drunks. If the stadium was filled with sane people throughout, I could rationalize it. It's TV all the way for me, though watching a drunk in any other circumstance for free is a fun assignment. Die

But where are you on Milton Bradely vs. Bobby Abreu for RF? Or how 'bout signing Gathright and getting rid of Pie? Or whether or not Hendry eats too many donuts?

[ ]

In reply to by garsky

i still can't believe people go crazy over the baking-powder-filled and waaaaaaay over-sugared Krispie Kreame donuts. maybe it's because I "grew up" with them, but give me something with way less sugar.

[ ]

In reply to by garsky

Dinkel's Bakery on Lincoln Avenue between Racine and School -- great, great donuts, sweet rolls, longjohns, etc..

[ ]

In reply to by Timmer

Did I miss the memo? Have people moved on from cupcakes?

A strong distaste for Derrek Lee and maintain that he is the most overrated first baseman in all of baseball. You are wrong. But you already know that. :)

He's an above average player, but not a superstar. I can agree with this statement, but this statement comes across a bit different than what is implied in the statement that he is: The most overrated first baseman in all of baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

OK, how about Ryan Howard? The dude's a perennial MVP candidate for the last three years and one-time winner. He's also a very limited player beyond his ability to hit HRs in a hitter's park. Terrible defense, tons of strikeouts, inflated RBI totals because of who hits in front of him, low batting average and about as mobile as an airport hanger. Edit: To be fair, I just checked, and his home and road HR totals are pretty even for the last three years, though his avg is about 20 points lower on the road.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think it has to be Howard or Texiera by a mile over D-lee. Baseball people know D-lee is what he is he is a nice player. However, people like Theo Epstein are throwing out 8 year/160 M deals for a guy like Texiera who is only a couple of notches ahead of Dlee on my totem pole of 1b. Howard is just an Adam Dunn clone while Howard is considered a top 10 player by most accounts, while Dunn is likely to stay on the FA scrapheep until after Obama takes office.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

After Pujols, Berkman, Teixeira, and Youkilis, who is a qualitatively better first-baseman than Lee? Then again, maybe that's the point: the fifth best first-baseman in baseball doesn't really belong in a group with the first four, and Derrek Lee is about on par with any candidate you would put up for that spot.

[ ]

In reply to by AshBat

Adrian Gonzalez and Morneau are easily better and younger....

all 1b to finish ahead of Lee in WARP-1 last year...

Pujols, Berkman, Teixeira, Youklis, Gonzalez, Morneau, Pena,  Delgado...

Votto wasn't far behind and I'd definitely take him over Lee going forward, as I would with Fielder. I'm not sure if I'd take Pena over Lee, but Pena's definitely not overrated, if anything, underrated. 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If you look at there career stats they are: Dlee .282 .367 .497 Tex .290 .378 .541 Tex also has an edge because he is younger and a switch hitter but I do not think Tex is a top-tier guy at 1b. Personally I'd rather have Pujols, Gonzalez, Morneau, Cabrera and Berkman before Texiera and would rather have Howard, Fielder, Loney and Connor Jackson before Dlee for the next 2 years if I was starting a MLB team from scratch. So Texira would a "B" level guy for me and Dlee a "C" level. However, as you said in your previous post rating players is pretty subjective.

Oral evaluation? Evaluate his performance using other senses, your tastes will change. D. Lee's contributions add up, have the good taste to at least support your whim with some data. I have to ask, which Cub tastes good, but has poor performance indicators?

the best part of Frank Castillo pitching was when Harry would ask for Arne Harris to keep showing hat shots of his wife

Welcome, Joe. Looking forward to your contributions. VFTB was the first Cubs blog I discovered (this was just a couple of years ago). The links to other Cubs blogs led me to TCR--thanks!

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/12/a…

Minnesota hasn’t lost its appetite for Mark DeRosa but the Cubs would only consider moving him if they got a package of solid prospects, like outfielder Ben Rivere and pitchers Jose Mijares, Jeff Manship and Andy Swarzak. Even then, it’s hard to picture Jim Hendry pulling the trigger

and

The Cubs are rumored to have an interest in Fu-Te Ni, a left-handed pitcher who became a free agent when his Taiwan team, the Chinabank Whales, disbanded. Seattle, Minnesota, Detroit and Atlanta are listed as other possible suitors for Ni, who would have to prove himself in the minor leagues.

some B.S. about Gathright being a "skilled baserunner" as well...which is funny shit. Stealing 75% with "80" grade speed is not skilled, it's quite unskilled actually.

You guys aren't asking the right questions to welcome Joe to TCR. 1) Who's the biggest douche on TCR? (hint: rhymes with "rad") 2) How do you take your witchcraft, gay or straight? 3) BEES??! 4) What's your biggest 3/44 moment? 5) Are you still or have you ever been a member of the Johann's mom club? 6) Is Sarah Palin's retarded baby verboten as a punchline? 7) Foucault or Chomsky? 8) Will you be joining us for Parachat during games? That will be all. Your answers determine how long you'll be made to stand in the broom closet with Chad. Woo!! 10 minutes in PARADISE!!

Wasn't that the knock on Pie...fast but can't steal at a respectable (75 or over) percentage? One option no one is considering is that it could be possible that Fukudome starts out the year in the minors. He still has several option years left, being a rookie last year. If he comes out in spring training and looks as lost as he did last year, NO WAY he should make the team to start the year. If he does, it is only due to his money.

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

والسبب أنا هنا ، قالوا لي ، هو أن لعبت المباراة بطريقة معينة ، أن لعبت اللعبة الطريقة التي كان يفترض ان يلعبها. لا أعرف عن ذلك ، ولكنى أعرف أن هذا : كان لي الكثير من الاحترام لأنها لعبة بأي طريقة أخرى ، وإذا كان هناك كان هناك سبب واحد وأنا هنا اليوم ، فذلك لأن كلمة واحدة ، احترام. احب ان العب البيسبول. أنا لاعب بيسبول. لقد كانت دائما لاعب البيسبول. ما زلت لاعب بيسبول. هذا الذي أنا.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

My inept translator says: "The reason I here, said for me, he that game of the match in designating method, that game the very playful method which was assumes to plays her. Does not introduce about that, and hit introduces that raved: Was for me a lot of the respect for that she last game in any method, and if was there was there reason one and I here today, so that for that word one, respect. Liked that plays [aalbysbwl]. I is player [bysbwl]. To already was always player [aalbysbwl]. What player ended [bysbwl]. Raved who I." 'so that for that word one, respect', indeed.

Joe -- Your stuff over at VFTB was on my regular rotation. I'm glad to see you'll be posting here now. Slowly but surely, TCR is becoming the great Cubs blog aggregator.

[ ]

In reply to by Mister Whipple

░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░░▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒░░████ ░░░░▒██▒▒▒████▒▒▒████▒▒▒██▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒████░ ░██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█████████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░██░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░██████░░░██████░░░░░░░░░░

Agreed about Wrigley - have lived less than a mile away for over 15 years, and went from partial season tickets to a few games a year at this point. Too many arseholes and touristas who have no idea that they're actually there to watch a game being played - and this is in the upper grandstands, even (pardon my Snagglepuss).

Joe and all - here's a question assuming they do, which i damn well hope, when will the move for the LH bat take place

[ ]

In reply to by Seamhead

That's a great example of everything I like about Abreu as a potential Cub, other than his possible aversion to brick and ivy. The plate discipline and pitches per AB, especially, are things this team is sorely lacking. I agree that 3/48 would be too much at this point in his career, but at 2/26 or 3/33, he'd be an outstanding addition.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

The plate discipline and pitches per AB, especially, are things this team is sorely lacking. Maybe you missed last season... I mean... they were only first in the NL (and second in MLB) in OBP, and third (and fifth in MLB) in the NL in P/AB. But yea... I guess the Cubs were sorely lacking in that area.

Jon Leicester head to Japan. The Orix Buffaloes said they've picked up Jon Leicester from the Orioles.

i am surprised we have not heard any griffey for right field rumors lou likes players he has managed before gaudan and gathright and he obviously coached griffey for a few years a one year deal with incentives (games played).

Has anyone heard anything new on Bradley yet? Right after the meetings it seemed he was down to us or the Rays. I would have figured he would have made a choice by now if is only 2 teams.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

I have read that the Tex "deal or no deal" w/the Angels as the main suitor, will culminate in setting the market of sorts, for folks such as Bradley. Also, should Tex turn down the Halos, it would be anticipated that his agents would then attempt to negotiate a deal with them. Which means that barring a trade, the RF/LH bat might not get done after all is said and done.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

HJE (HireJimEssian) causes more out-loud laughter from me than any other single Cubs website. The first website I visit when I get on my computer (9 out of 10 times) is The Cub Reporter. My next stop is usually HireJimEssian.com. It's consistently funny and well worth the trip. Some time after that, I get around to checking my e-mail. Oh, and I can't recall the last time I visited the BCB website. I found it just too... vanilla. (And I LIKE vanilla!)

Bradley or Abreu. Easy Abreu always. Is D Leed overrated? Yes. We all fell in love with his super year. It will never happen again. He is on his way down. Slowly, but on his way down. We are stuck with his large contract. Which we can not move because of the NT clause. Favorite Cubs - Bill Buckner and Larry Bittner

[ ]

In reply to by Jose

Welcome, Joe! Look forward to your articles. Put me down on the Abreu column as well. If the ESPN article is accurate, then 2/28 or 3/33 might be where Abreu ends up. If Hendry can move Marquis's salary (or at least most of it), then I would pay up to 3/36 for Abreu. Then package the usual suspects and prospects for a leadoff hitter and Peavy.

Three years from now Abreu will not be with the Cubs. He has about three good years left in his body. I can live with 2/28, with an option for the third year. See how easy this GM stuff is.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Pie and Hill are out of options and of no value to the cubs. Colvin sucks. Adkins can be replaced by a lesser prospect (even though he is probably Mark Holliman 2.0) Hermida would be moving to a MUCH friendlier home ballpark. Ceda is a power arm. Bottom line is that payroll is obviously an issue. Left-handedness is a big Lou issue that I happen to finally be comming around on. Getting a guy like Hermida,Willingham or Eithier will make adding a guy like Peavy or Roberts or Sherrill more of a possiblility. Plus you can go year to year with one of the Hermida/Willingham/Eithier guys.

wow, I'm not sure how you guys do that, but that's pretty cool. And while I'm at it, I'd try and get Dunn cheap to play shitty D in RF and hit about 100 homers at Wrigley with 50 BB and about 200 Ks. We've got a lot of really good players on this team, but nobody exactly strikes fear in the heart of the opposing pitchers, ya know?

The Rockies are debating whether to sign free-agent right-hander Tim Redding or trade for Cubs righty Jason Marquis. Redding, 30, tied for the team lead with 182 innings last season, though he posted a 4.95 ERA. The Nationals non-tendered him because they did not want to pay him $3 million to $3.5 million in arbitration. Marquis, also 30, is owed $9.875 million next season, but the Cubs are willing to assume a significant portion of his salary ... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8963778/Teixeira-will-get-his-payday…

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Is the point of this just to move Marshall into the rotation? No doubt he can handle it but I'm not sure he's noticeably better than Marquis, especially if we're eating half or more of Marquis' salary. If on the other hand it's to free up a spot to acquire a 5th starter, like Johnson or Peavy (one can hope), then I'm for it. Otherwise, I don't think it's worth it. It's worth $4 or 5 million to have six capable starters on the roster.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

No, I think the point is that Marshall is just as good as Marquis and makes the ML minimum. So by moving Marquis, you can put whatever salary the Cubs move on to another team (say $5MM) towards your new RF. An important consideration if we are to believe the budget numbers that Hendry is apparently working with. I do agree that the problem with Marquis is that he is overpaid for what he offers, it's not that he sucks per se. At $5MM/year, Jason Marquis is a perfectly acceptable #5 starter on pretty much any team in baseball. I think Hendry will be able to trade him before spring training w/o too much difficulty.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Every time I hear about Johnson his salary demands go up $1 million. At this point, replacing Marquis with Johnson sounds like it's going to cost around $12 million. Although we may sign a Lieber or Miller we shouldn't expect him to do anything, just like they didn't and we shouldn't make the mistake that they'll be as good as Marquis, or even Marshall.

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022.