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

Penalver Is Mightier Than the Sword

Carlos Penalver had three hits, drove-in a run, and stole a base, and Rock Shoulders and Yasiel Balaguert hammered RBI doubles, leading the Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the Athletics in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Papago Park Baseball Complex Field #1 ("Connie Mack Field") in Phoenix, AZ.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-4 (1B, F-8, P-6, 1-3 SH, F-9)
2a. Pierre LePage, 2B: 1-3 (6-4-3 DP, 1B, E-6, 2 R)
2b. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-1 (BB, E-6, R)
3. Javier Baez, DH #1: 0-5 (K, K, K, E-5, P-6)
4a. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-3 (E-5, 1B, E-6, HBP, R, RBI)
4b. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-1 (2B, RBI)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-5 (4-6 FC, 4-6-3 DP, 2B, 6-3, F-8, R, RBI)
6a. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, 4-3)
6b. Neftali Rosario, C: 0-1 (K)
7. Carlos Penalver, SS: 3-4 (5-3, 1B, 1B, 1B, RBI, SB)
8. Brian Inoa, DH #2: 1-2 (BB, HBP, 4-3, 1B)
9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-3 (3-6 DP, K, HBP, L-1 DP)
10a. Mark Malave, 3B: 1-3 (1B, P-3, 4-6 FC, R)
10b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tayler Scott: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 29 pitches (18 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 32 pitches (16 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
3. Jin-Young Kim: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 20 pitches (14 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
4. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 33 pitches (21 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
2B Danny Lockhart - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yaniel Cabezas: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 24

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

Hey Phil; has there been any moves with players being assigned from EXST in the last week or so? The line-ups and pitching rotations would appear that not all players are getting game day, Or at least not as often. The pitching Rotations are quite varied for sure.

[ ]

In reply to by Desertdog12

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 9:44pm — Desertdog12 Hey Phil; has there been any moves with players being assigned from EXST in the last week or so? The line-ups and pitching rotations would appear that not all players are getting game day, Or at least not as often. The pitching Rotations are quite varied for sure. ================================ D-DOG: LHP Sheldon McDonald was moved up to Iowa yesterday, C Anthony Giansanti (facial fracture), C Wilfredo Petit (shoulder), and OF Jeffery Baez (left wrist) went inactive over the past few days, and 2B Pierre LePage (hamstring rehab) is active and is playing in EXST games. If you look at the pitchers, they do follow a schedule, at least as far as when the starters are scheduled to pitch in a game. For example, Ian Dickson is due to start on Monday, and if the Cubs play two games on Monday, the starting pitchers would very likely be Dickson and either Starling Peralta or James Pugliese.

[ ]

In reply to by Desertdog12

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 10:43pm — Desertdog12 Re: Penalver Is Mightier Than the Sword Thanks for the update Phil - it was / is the middle relief pitchers I was referring to, you are bang on with the starters they have been throwing. Checked on the move for LHP McDonald and it appears he has been re-assigned back? Or am I not reading the transaction report right? ============================== D-DOG: Sheldon McDonald was apparently moved up to AAA Iowa while they were in Albuquerque (since Mesa is the closest Cub outpost to New Mexico), but he was returned to EXST yesterday when the I-Cubs returned home (and Ty Wright and Frank Batista were subsequently moved up to Iowa from Tennessee). If McDonald has arrived back in Arizona (and I would think he has), he probably will throw in an EXST game tomorow.

Hey Phil, It seems like Mark Malave has been holding his own down in extended, though mostly singles and walks. What are his stats like and do you think he'll stay in Mesa this summer rather than return to the DSL?

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 10:28am — Raisin101 Hey Phil, It seems like Mark Malave has been holding his own down in extended, though mostly singles and walks. What are his stats like and do you think he'll stay in Mesa this summer rather than return to the DSL? ===================================== RAISIN: Mark Malave has indeed held his own at the plate and at 3B (so far). He is hitting 273/333/273 in six games, mostly as a late-inning replacement. He has played ONLY 3B, and I have not seen him wearing catchers gear at all. I would think that he likely will play for the AZL Cubs this year, unless the Cubs decide to keep Jeimer Candelario at AZL Cubs and want to max Malave's game reps at 3B, in which case he could get sent to the DSL just for that reason. But it wouldn't be because he isn't ready for the AZL. Figuring that Gerardo Concepcion, Frank del Valle, Starling Peralta, Rob Whitenack, and Pierre LePage will move up to Peoria or Daytona before the conclusion of Extended Spring Training, if you take the EXST Cubs roster as it presently stands (players on Active List plus rehab guys likely to get assigned to Boise or AZL Cubs once they are active) and divide the squad up into two teams (Boise and AZL Cubs), right now the two rosters would probably look like this: * bats or throws left # bats both BOISE: PITCHERS: * Hunter Ackerman Ian Dickson Ramon Garcia Ryan Hartman Su-Min Jung Jin-Young Kim Pete Levitt Carlos Martinez * Sheldon McDonald Roderik Pichardo James Pugliese * Brian Smith Charles Thomas CATCHERS: Yaniel Cabezas Wilson Contreras Anthony Giansanti INFIELDERS: Gioskar Amaya Javier Baez Jair Bogaerts # Jeimer Candelario * Brian Inoa # Rock Shoulders * Dan Vogelbach OUTFIELDERS: Yasiel Balaguert Xavier Batista Dong-Yub Kim Trey Martin AZL CUBS (MESA) PITCHERS: Jose Arias Rafael Diplan Ethan Elias David Henrie Arturo Maltos-Garcia Dillon Maples Amaury Paulino Felix Pena Tayler Scott * Matt Spencer (ex-OF) Austin Urban CATCHERS: * Justin Marra * Alberto Mineo * Wilfredo Petit Neftali Rosario INFIELDERS: Luis Acosta * Trevor Gretzky * Danny Lockhart # Mark Malave Carlos Penalver OUTFIELDERS: * Delbis Arcila Jeffrey Baez * Shawon Dunston Jr # Kevin Encarnacion * Garrett Schlecht I would think some players presently at EXST will get released prior to the start of the short season leagues, and there will probably be a few additional players moved up to Mesa from the Dominican Academy, too. And then of course players who sign after being selected in the Rule 4 Draft and NDFAs who are signed after the draft will initially be assigned to AZL Cubs before either remaining in Mesa or moving up to Boise. Keep in mind that players who sign after July 1st (including players who get selected in the 2012 MLB Rule 4 Draft, players who are eligible for selection in the draft but aren't drafted, and international free-agents signed after the start of the 2012 International Signing Period) can be "Signed for Future Service," meaning that they sign a 2013 contract and thus cannot be placed on an active list in 2012, although they can participate in AZ Instructs post-2012 and can attend Minor League Camp in 2013. The following are the 29 players the Cubs "Signed for Future Service" last year (7/1 - 12/31): SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE (2012 CONTRACT): Luis Acosta, SS (DR - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) # Roney Alcala, INF Manuel Asencio, P Yasiel Balaguert, OF (CUBAN DEFECTOR - age 19) Leugim Barroso, SS (CUBAN DEFECTOR - age 26) NOTE: Barroso was released at the end of Minor League Camp * Alfredo Belizaire, P Pedro Brazoban, P # Roberto Caro, OF Ian Dickson, P Rafael Diaz, P * Shawon Dunston Jr, OF Ricardo Estevez, P (CUBAN DEFECTOR - age 27) * Frailyn Figueroa, P (DR - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) David Henrie, P Jeffrey Hernandez, P (DR - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) # Mark Malave, 3B (VZ - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) Dillon Maples, P * Ricardo Marcano, 3B (VZ - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) * Justin Marra, C Carlos Martinez, P (CUBAN DEFECTOR - age 20) Jose Morel, P (DR - 16-year old DR signed during 2011 International Signing Period) Adonis Paula, INF * Jose Paulino, P (DR - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) Jesus Pereyra, P * Christopher Pieters, P (CURACAO - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) * Carlos Ramirez, C * Carlos Rodriguez, P (VZ - 16-year old signed during 2011 International Signing Period) Shamiel Ubiera, OF Austin Urban, P NOTE: A player “SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE” means the player signed a 2012 contract after 7-1-2011 and the player was not assigned to a minor league reserve list or active roster in 2011. (Post-season Instructional League activity is exempt). Players who were ”SIGNED FOR FUTURE SERVICE” must be added to a minor league reserve list by Opening Day 2012.

Hey AZ Phil, I know he's not in Arizona right now, but I wonder if, based off of what you've seen of him at different times, you have any thoughts on Kyler Burke, how quickly he might move through the system, and what kind of ceiling and what kind of floor he has. He, McNutt and Whitenack seem like the most intriguing rotation arms the Cubs have in the minors, but we rarely hear much of anything about Burke from professional commentators. Thanks, as always! I'm enjoying checking in on Baez, Vogelbach, Candelario and the rest of the gang this season. Great to have quality prospects in two places where TCR has eyes and ears (Arizona and Iowa).

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Sun, 04/22/2012 - 7:38pm — Charlie Hey AZ Phil, I know he's not in Arizona right now, but I wonder if, based off of what you've seen of him at different times, you have any thoughts on Kyler Burke, how quickly he might move through the system, and what kind of ceiling and what kind of floor he has. He, McNutt and Whitenack seem like the most intriguing rotation arms the Cubs have in the minors, but we rarely hear much of anything about Burke from professional commentators. Thanks, as always! I'm enjoying checking in on Baez, Vogelbach, Candelario and the rest of the gang this season. Great to have quality prospects in two places where TCR has eyes and ears (Arizona and Iowa). ========================================== CHARLIE: I had Kyler Burke rated in my Cubs Top 15 Prospects post-2011. He throws a 92-94 MPH fastball, a plus-curve, and a solid change-up, and he's working on a slider. I would project him as an MLB mid-rotation starter or #1 lefty reliever (and NOT a LOOGY, either, but a Sean Marshall-type reliever who just happens to be a LHP). As I've mentioned before, Kyler Burke is eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent (6YFA) post-2012, so the Cubs need to make sure to add him to their MLB 40-man roster no later than 5 PM on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series. Otherwise, he can just walk away. Again, this is NOT the typical situation where you risk losing a prospect in the Rule 5 Draft if you don't add him to the MLB 40-man roster, but even if you don't add him to the 40 and he gets drafted, you still might get him back. Burke can be a FA. Same goes for Blake Parker, BTW.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

particularly because we really don't have any intriguing lefty starters in the ... entire system. Okay, that's a bit harsh, but with Antigua in the pen, Cruz struggling with consistency, and Del Valle in XST, that leaves guys that look like end of the rotation options at best. I'd really like to see Burke off the Wells piggyback, perhaps given the Cruz "slot", and get a bigger workload. Cruz can still get in enough innings for development as a piggyback to someone, Wells perhaps.

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.