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

The Long & Winding Road

logoYesterday’s tease piece in the Sun-Times that envisioned a reunion in Chicago next year of Walt Jocketty, Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols got me connecting some dots of my own.

Years ago, before Pujols was born in fact, Jocketty and LaRussa first teamed up as the GM and skipper, respectively, of the Iowa Oaks. The year was 1979 and before that season ended LaRussa, at the mere age of 34, replaced Don Kessinger as manager of the White Sox.

I was an adrift 25 year-old quaffing beer in the stands, usually from a vantage point right behind the home dugout, courtesy of a buddy whose widowed mother was then consorting with one of the Oaks’ owners.

Bobby Molinaro was the driveshaft of that team; the player we most approved of and had most occasion to cheer. The ascendant Harold Baines was also catching eyes. LaRussa cut his managerial teeth against the likes of Jack McKeon, Jim Leyland and Lee Elia that summer, each of whom also had clubs in the American Association at the time.

Marv Foley was on that team. Years later, in 1993, he managed the Iowa Cubs to a pennant and spent some (after) hours in my pub helping me pass the time between last call and the janitor’s arrival at dawn. I still have a sleek, black fungo bat he bestowed upon me in return for my hospitalities. A couple of times I rescued it from the clutches of my two boys when they drug it into service in neighborhood sandlot games despite that they stood hardly taller than the bat.

I’d forgotten that Bobby Douglass did a cameo turn with that ’79 team. According to the archives I consulted he completed seven innings of work without fanning anyone while walking 13. Apparently the left-handed fastballs he winged in the general direction of receivers while quarterbacking for the Bears were no more accurate when aimed at someone equipped with a bat.

The last beer I had was at the same ballpark where LaRussa and Jocketty first collaborated. That was in 1994. By then they had both moved on and Pujols was 14, probably just coming into the natural hormonal supply that would fuel his unparalleled career, the commencement of which was still seven years distant.

Everyone mentioned here, with one exception, either moved on from Principal Park, nee Sec Taylor Stadium, to work in major league sports or, in the unusual case of Douglass, already had when they arrived in Des Moines.

But I, too, have come a long way.

 

Comments

GM talk http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Chicago-Cubs-GM-star-power-Billy-Bea… "They are going to try to get the biggest name they can," one player agent said. ~snip~ So, perhaps Ricketts could hire the new GM as his “president of baseball operations,” while shifting Kenney to “president of business operations.” The autonomy of reporting directly to ownership would actually be a drawing card to established GMs. If “president” is any part of the new GM's title, that means a higher salary.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2011/2612323.html Re: B. Jackson Jim Callis: Dunn whiffed in 18% of his minor league plate appearances, while Jackson is at 24%. Jackson is always going to swing and miss some, but he has solid tools across the board. Not sure how highly he's rated overall—he's one of the Cubs' best prospects, but I don't see anyone calling him a future superstar.

to undergo Tommy John Surgery according to Muskat.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 2:43pm. Justin Berg to undergo Tommy John Surgery according to Muskat. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ROB G: That means Berg will definitely get outrighted post-2011 and will become a six-year minor league FA after the conclusion of the World Series (he was already a likely outright candidate since he will be out of minor league options in 2012). Then the Cubs will re-sign him to a minor league deal, and he will spend the 2012 season rehabbing at Fitch Park.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 4:48pm. Shouldn't Berg be gone now that Hendry is? ================================= TRN: Justin Berg probably would have been gone if not for the TJS. He was likely to get outrighted post-2011 anyway, and if he was healthy he probably would have opted to leave as a 6Y minor league FA and sign a minor league deal (with an NRI to Spring Trainming) with another organization. But the Cubs almost always offer minor league deals to FA pitchers rehabbing from elbow & shoulder surgery, even if the pitcher probably has no future in the organization. And the pitcher usually accepts the offer, since nobody else is going to sign him if he is going to miss most or all of the next season.

Adduci RF, Ha CF,Lalli 1B,Ridling LF,Vitters 3B,Clevenger C,Lake SS,Mota 2B,Raley SP important note, Jarrod Parker goes for Mobile

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 5:15pm. Adduci RF, Ha CF,Lalli 1B,Ridling LF,Vitters 3B,Clevenger C,Lake SS,Mota 2B,Raley SP important note, Jarrod Parker goes for Mobile ================================= ROB G: Mobile has one of the best (if not THE best) starting rotations in minor league baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

impressive to have 28 HR's and not even 80 RBI's hitting behind Ramirez, Castro and Fukudome not that I'm surprised, but still impressive 13.1% OBI rate for him this year Ramirez - 17.3% Reed - 16.9% Soriano - 16.0% Baker - 15.3% Castro - 14.5% DeWitt - 14.2% Pena - 13.1% Barney - 13.1% Soto - 11.5 Z - 11.1% Colvin - 10.6% Fukudome - 7.4% Byrd - 7%

noticed an old news item saying he was put on DL right at the end of the season, didn't seem to elaborate on the injury. anyone know?

Adduci single, steals 2b, thrown out at 3b I presume attempting to advance on bad throw, Ha K's, Lalli doubles, Ridling walks, Vitters FO-7.

#Cubs lineup vs #Astros castro ss, barney 2b, ramy 3b, bake rf, byrd cf, pena 1b, soriano lf, soto c, garza p i think wandy is pitching.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

if canzler could only play 3rd well enough to stick there. really really really nice guy suposedly...he should be on the TB bench next year unless they "go cheap" on him. lee's gonna make prospect lists and looks good even if he's years away. the rest seem little more than bench fodder...except archer...too early to really say much about him except he took a huge step backwards in 2011.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

with the Rays, Hak-Ju Lee may see the majors by 2013, I don't think he'd seriously be considered for a job until 2014. I'm not sure of his 40-man situation. AA next year with maybe a AAA stop near the end of season AAA in 2013 and see how it goes from there. if he was with the Cubs, they'd call him up on the first hot streak next season.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 6:27pm. with the Rays, Hak-Ju Lee may see the majors by 2013, I don't think he'd seriously be considered for a job until 2014. I'm not sure of his 40-man situation. ==================================== ROB G: Hak-Ju Lee will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time post-2012 (December 2012).

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

yeah, and in the real world they wouldn't have because there's no need...same as tampa bay. i'd be surprised if TB didn't add him to the 40-man this offsesason and if they don't that says a lot about how close he really is. hell, if TB had a need there's already a kid a year older higher in the pecking order and a former 1st round pick they invested heavily in ($6m bonus). they've already rushed their SS's up through their system so quickly to the bigs looking for someone that can hit for average and/or power that there's a 21 year old in AAA and a 20 year old in AA. that settles out to some kinda normalcy in 2012, at least. neither beckham, nor lee are ready, but beckham is closer...lee should be a better glove man eventually, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Speed, contact, defense, patience (probably in the order of his ability) at a prime position, dirt cheap, and young. If he hits at AA next year, a leap to the majors isn't that unlikely. He's got the potential to be an above average top of the order hitter and an above average defensive shortstop, which made him one of the best prospects in the Cubs system last year before he followed that up with a solid 2011. He's a top 100 prospect, easily. I'm feel certain the organization will miss him (even if the front office would do the trade over again if they had the opportunity). I think the bottom line is that if the new GM can't put together a decent 25-man roster in 2012 and/or 2013, Garza was a pretty poor investment. I guess there's always the hope that they will be able to trade him in his walk year if they aren't in it, which could recoup some value. It's not like the organization has been willing to admit they've been sellers in recent years though.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

the guy will be freshly 21 and is a low-power SS. TB don't need him. he could castro up his skills, but it's doubtful. he may have started AA this year, but he didn't belong and was overmatched up until the end. it was a short stint, but it wasn't very pretty. i still don't know how garza is a horrible investment. have you seen the 2012 FA market for pitching? hell, he cost $6m this year and today got his whip below the 1.30 mark for another consecutive year...only given up 13hr in about 180ip. this is just the type of pitcher you want when you trade something like what was given up.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

I never touted Fuld as a prospect when he was with the Cubs. Not once. You may be thinking of our man Mike in DesMoines. I did say at the start of this season, when the Cubs were searching high and low for a leadoff man, that it was a strange time to trade Fuld. I thought he was better than Fukudome, for example. It happens that Fuld had the exact same number of PAs (345) with TB as Fukudome had with the Cubs. Here is a comparison: Fuld: 40 runs, 74 hits, 18 2b, 5 3b, 3 hr, 26 rbi, 20 sb, 31 bb. Fukudome: 33 runs, 80 hits, 15 2b, 2 3b, 3 hr, 13 rbi, 2 sb, 46 bb. Fukudome had more singles and more walks. Fuld had more runs, XBHs, RBI (x2) and stolen bases (x10).

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In reply to by navigator

I'd love to see evidence of that. I just don't recall the Cubs ever being high on Fuld. He got called up to the majors at 25 in Sept. of Piniella's first season. He was strictly a defensive sub (remember that catch running into the wall in right?), with 9 PAs in 14 games. He got 115 PAs in 2009 at 27, and 31 in 2010. That was it.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Never saw that, and I had forgotten about Fuld going wild in the AFL. But your claim that "[Fuld] was on Hendry's absolutely won't be traded list of 'untouchables' three years ago" is exaggerated. There's no direct quote of Hendry using the word untouchable, which would be stronger than him just saying that someone wouldn't be traded. You're basically quoting Sullivan, not Hendry. Untouchable usually means untouchable, but this sort of thing happens all the time: "It should be noted that Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted during the Winter Meetings that Garza would be in the Rays' rotation in 2011, for what that's worth." Piniella had no use for Pie or Fuld, as their PAs indicate.

odd side effect of september weather + cubs losing... ...the bleachers seem to be filled with old regulars rather than "bros" and douches.

just when i thought i was in for a great game i hear len say "and we'll talk to martin sheen about that coming up." sigh...stupid 7th guests...

After Sept 1st there should be a limit to how many pitchers a manager can use in 1 inning. With 40 man rosters some of these guys act like it's game 7 of the World Series.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Submitted by Paul Noce on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 3:15pm. After Sept 1st there should be a limit to how many pitchers a manager can use in 1 inning. With 40 man rosters some of these guys act like it's game 7 of the World Series. =========================================== PAUL N: I know this does not address your complaint about what happened in today's Cubs-Astros game (too many pitching changes), but one rule change I would like to see happen is after September 1st clubs must maintain a 25-man roster (just like pre-September 1), but clubs can add up to 15 players to a "Taxi Squad" where the players can play ONLY if a game involves two clubs where the game has no bearing on the post-season. So for example, the Cubs and Astros could have played their game today with expanded rosters (up to 40 players each), but in any game involving at least one team that has not clinched and/or been eliminated from post-season play, the two clubs must play with 25-man rosters. This would allow teams out of contention to get a look at some players up from the minors, while it also would allow teams that clinch playoff slots early to rest their regular players & pitchers when playing teams that have either been eliminated or who have also clinched a playoff slot. I also would like to see MLB Active Lists expanded to 28 players for the first 30-days of the regular season so that clubs can get a longer look at Rule 5 picks, and so that clubs can carry a couple of extra pitchers coming out of Spring Training. (This actually was an MLB rule 1957-67). And speaking of the Rule 5 Draft, I would like to see a rule change where players selected in the Rule 5 Draft can be optioned to the minors beginning with the 31st day of the MLB regular season, and a player selected in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be traded or outrighted to the minors until after the next year's Rule 5 Draft. So a club can't select a player in the Rule 5 Draft and then trade him to another MLB club (as happened with Josh Hamilton a few years ago), and a club must dedicate a slot on its 40-man roster to a Rule 5 player for at least one full year, and dedicate a slot on its 25-man roster (or 28-man roster) for the first 30 days of the MLB regular season.

Beckett returns from an ankle injury, the first batter D. Jennings bunts for a single. love it...

I'd really like to see Castro learn to settle into the box on a consistent basis. He looked anxious and uncomfortable from the get-go of that first at bat, and a series of bad swings at bad pitches followed. Not sure that's causal, but I think it's something relatively simple that his hitting coach ought to be able to emphasize--go up there, settle in, and slow things down.

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In reply to by Charlie

agreed on all counts...and i don't mind soriano at all. soriano's best days have passed, but there's still pop in the bat and he's supposedly not a bad clubhouse guy. his D is manny ramirez awful, though...if not worse. soriano doesn't get to play 1/2 his games where a short OF wall helps your shortcomings, though. i imagine re-signing r.johnson will be an instrumental safety net if they decide to go this route, though...along with the CF backup he provides. reed's been pretty awesome this year no matter who's pitching to him...wonder how much is a fluke and how much is adaptation...dunno.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.