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

Appears Zambrano Contract Extension Imminent

The Daily Herald is reporting that the Cubs have called a 10:15 AM (CDT) press conference where they are expected to announce a multi-year contract extension for RHP Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano, who is eligible to be a free-agent after this season, is presently signed to a one-year contract for a $12.4M base salary, plus another $2M+ in potential incentive bonuses related to All-Star selection (didn't get that), Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, a top three finish in the Cy Young Award vote, a top three finish in the MVP, and MVP in the LDS, LCS, and WS. AZ PHIL UPDATE #1: ESPN Radio 1000 is reporting the deal will be five years for $90M. That means an average salary of $18M per year over the length of the deal. Still unknown are any player options, club options, and/or vesting options that will be built into the contract.

Comments

Foxsports.com is reporting 5 years at 91.5 mill. A lot of money but I think the Cubs had to do this.

Its about time that we did something useful to shore up the pitching staff. He may be batshit crazy, but at least we don't have to compete against him.

As I said in the previous thread, Levine reported it was 91.5 million dollars - five years, and a 6th year player option for 19.25 million.

McCarr: He may be batshit crazy, but at least we don’t have to compete against him. Exactly! BTW -- TCR & MVN, "The Comebacks" Ad borders on NSFW, and, how do I put this gently, us day posters who have day jobs could get in a lot of trouble for it.

Rich: Foxsports.com is reporting 5 years at 91.5 mill. A lot of money but I think the Cubs had to do this. Supposing this rumor is true, that works out to average about 18.3 mil/year, but knowing how Hendry does things he'll probably back load it anyways, and by the time we get to year 5, that salary will be pretty much standard. Yeah it is a lot of money, but you can't let a guy like Z walk this year. If he walks, about the only guy in the '07-'08 FA class available that could replace him is Z! Plus, he's only 26. I hope this is true. It makes me wonder if the Cub's have a prospective buyer in mind, and said buyer told them, "I don't care how much it costs the Cub's a few years down the road, you have to lock this guy in."

hopefully coangelo knew not having a dominant starter is no way to win.....see shilling/johnson.

Rynox- That's what I was thinking about the owner. If Zell falls through, the Trib will still sell the Cubs correct?

Much better to give Z that kind of money than to waste it on someone who is performing like Zito or maybe we could have just given him 3/44 as Sheffield mentioned. Either way, I'm drinking to celebrate after work tonight...as long as the Cards get swept this weekend.

If Zell falls through, the Trib will still sell the Cubs correct? Not sure that we know that.

Much better to give Z that kind of money than to waste it on someone who is performing like Zito Well... we don't really know how Z will perform, do we? Not many people expected Zito to pitch this poorly.

Well, at least we won't have another Maddux situation on our hands. It certainly is a lot of money, but by the end of the five years, I'm sure that'll be cheap for a pitcher of his stature.

Was the final offer on the table by the Cubs during Sprint Training for 5 years, $85M? Would that have included 2007 as one of the five years? As I said in a previous thread, the market is headed to $20M for actual frontline starting pitchers in the next four years. Barry Zito is foolishly promised $19M in 2012 and $20M in 2013, but that's because he is sucky Barry Zito and will be 35 in 2013. But his signing does give an indication of where the market is headed. Certainly in 2010 (when Peavy is a free agent) or 2011 (Brandon Webb), $20M will be the price for top starting pitchers. By year 6 of this contract, Z will still only be 32 and he does not have a history of injuries. So there is a good chance this will be a below-market deal in 2011-13.

dave: Loving the adblock, thanks, man! Still, tcr/mvn, if you didn't have ads like that, we wouldn't need to block them. I normally don't mind ads. :-p

Rynox — August 17, 2007 @ 8:56 am dave: Loving the adblock, thanks, man! Still, tcr/mvn, if you didn’t have ads like that, we wouldn’t need to block them. I normally don’t mind ads. :-p ====================== RYNOX: TCR has no control over the ads. And BTW, we TCR writers don't see any part of the ad revenue either. That's 100% an MVN thing.

# Arizona Phil says: August 17th, 2007 at 9:00 am Rynox — August 17, 2007 @ 8:56 am dave: Loving the adblock, thanks, man! Still, tcr/mvn, if you didn’t have ads like that, we wouldn’t need to block them. I normally don’t mind ads. :-p ====================== RYNOX: TCR has no control over the ads. And BTW, we TCR writers don’t see any part of the ad revenue either. That’s 100% an MVN thing. .............................................................................................. So where does the money in the Booze/Hooker slush fund come from?

Not many people expected Zito to pitch this poorly Quite a few people expected Zito to bomb. Maybe not to pitch as poorly as he has, but at least to pitch like a mid-rotation starter instead of an ace and be a complete albatross by year 7 of the contract

Az Phil- I agree the new owner will not have a problem with the contract and I disagree on your comment # 19 because how did you pay for that new in ground pool at your home? ;-) Any truth to the rumor that Z signed the contract with his left hand because his right shoulder was bothering him? ~ducks from rocks thrown~

ugh....WGN is killing me. whay can't they break in during one of their typical awful 1980s reruns and televise this conference?!

Deal @$91.5 Million/5 years. Hendry starts off the conference. Paraphrasing cause I can't type that fast. We're thrilled to be here today, to get this extension done with a marquee pitcher, to work through a lot of difficult circumstances with the company...the relationship Carlos has with all of us with the Cubs helped. There were bigger pots of gold out there on the streets. A young man who talked the talk and walked the walk. Carlos always assured me he wanted to stay here and win here. The dollars would have been astronomical by November. Dennis Fitzsimmons has always been in on winning and winning big here. He wanted the organization to be in the best shape moving forward. John McDonough was put in a tough spot as new president. Our goals are to win and win big. It's been a long road but not a rocky road. Barry (agent) have been together for about 12 days to get this done. Sometimes the final touches are even harder to get done. We were so close the other day that it might have weighed (on Z's) mind a bit. The Cubs will have one of the top pitchers in baseball for a long time. Thanks to John McDonough to get this done by mid august. Team "Z" next (agent Barry Praver and Zambrano)

Agent says they tried to get an extension done before spring training 2006 and there were 2 failed attempts.

We’re thrilled to be here today, to get this extension done with a Marquee pitcher I sure like these deals more than when we throw good money at back end Marquis starters.

haha... Carlos: "The only sad thing is that I have to be with [the press] for five more years."

Glad to hear about the signing and I think it's inexplicable that the Cubs waited to do this and cost themselves $10M more in the process. Apologies for the incredibly short attention span, but is anyone else wondering if this isn't the only spot in the rotation we have to improve before next year? The inconsistency of Hill, Marquis and Marshall is becoming worrisome.

is anyone else wondering if this isn’t the only spot in the rotation we have to improve before next year? Nope. The rotation will almost assuredly be the same as this year. And I am okay with that - they have been the 2nd best starting staff in the NL all year. Not much you can complain about there.

Johan Santana is going to get a huge payday. $25 million a year at least. I'm a bit worried about this contract, but we had to do it. Maybe Zambrano pitched crappily because he was in contract negotiations and he is a mental midget?

Your 2010 Chicago Cubs: Zambrano: $18.3M Soriano: $18M ARam: $15.75M Lee: $13M Lilly: $10M $75.05M committed to 20% of the roster. I'm not complaining. But it does imply a $150-175M team payroll for 2010. You have to consider that arb-eligible players like Hill, Marshall, Gallagher, Pie, Patterson, Theriot and Fontenot will be making several million a year if they are still with the team. Then again, if Cuban buys the team, none of this matters and perhaps we can add Kosuke Fukudome, OF, $20M, to that list.

"The inconsistency of Hill, Marquis and Marshall is becoming worrisome." I'd like to see us ad one more starting pitcher in the offseason, but it's far from our biggest weakness right now. We need 2 or 3 frontline relievers, a new rightfielder, a new centerfielder, and probably a new catcher unless Kendall gives us a big discount over his last contract. There's a chance Prior could be back, at a huge discount, I think Marmol should be moved to the rotation, Angel Guzman will get a long look, and Marquis, for as inconsistent as he's been, is a DECENT #5. I'd like to see either Hill or Marshall shopped to add some depth, or to fill one of our glaring weaknesses

We need 2 or 3 frontline relievers We do? Then we could have 5 or 6 frontline relievers! I am pretty sure that Dempster, Marmol, and Howry ARE frontline relievers. And Wuertz, for the most part, has been quite good.

a new rightfielder, a new centerfielder I would not be shocked at all if the Cubs don't add either. Jones is signed through next year, and the Cubs also have Pie, Murton, and Fox who can and will play cf/rf. And I would also be pretty surprised if a catcher was added. Soto will at least get a serious look. As for Kendall giving the Cubs a "discount" from his current contract? He will have to give some team a "discount" - no team in baseball will give him anywhere close to the yearly amount his current contract gives him.

it does imply a $150-175M team payroll for 2010. You have to consider that arb-eligible players like Hill, Marshall, Gallagher, Pie, Patterson, Theriot and Fontenot will be making several million a year if they are still with the team. I don't think any of those players are eligible for arbitration next year. Combined, they will probably make 3.5 or 4 million. AZP can correct me if I'm wrong.

I don’t think any of those players are eligible for arbitration next year. He said 2010, not 2008.

Color me ecstatic!!!!! Now FU Jim Hendry!!! HOw could you not get us anything at the deadline. The excuse of being unable to extend payroll next year was false.

I'm much, much, much happier giving Big Z 18+ million rather than being locked into a heafty deal with a crafty lefty in Zito or a DL riding Schmidt. Both of whom had been on many TCR readers wish lists from last offseason and most seemingly would have blocked this deal until the pending sale. Good job Hendry and long live Big Z...!!!

The excuse of being unable to extend payroll next year was false. Was that ever the major excuse, unless maybe you are talking about taking on Griffey's contract? I thought the excuse was that there was very little available, and most of what was out there wasn't very good.

Stevens — August 17, 2007 @ 10:58 am it does imply a $150-175M team payroll for 2010. You have to consider that arb-eligible players like Hill, Marshall, Gallagher, Pie, Patterson, Theriot and Fontenot will be making several million a year if they are still with the team. I don’t think any of those players are eligible for arbitration next year. Combined, they will probably make 3.5 or 4 million. AZP can correct me if I’m wrong. ========================== STEVENS: The only players presently on the Cubs 40-man roster whomwill be eligible for arbitration post-2007 are: Neal Cotts Roberto Novoa (probable "Super Two") Mark Prior Michael Wuertz And of those four, Prior and Cotts are possible 12/12/07 non-tenders, and Novoa will likely get outrighted to the minors post-'07 while he still has less than three years of MLB service (once a player reaches three years of MLB ST, he can refuse an outright adssignment to the minors... BTW, a player can refuse an optional assignment to the minors once they hit five years of MLB ST). So Wuertz is probably the only one of the four who will get offered arbitration by the Cubs when contracts are tendered on December 12th, and as a middle-reliever, I can't see him getting more than maybe $1M in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

"I thought the excuse was that there was very little available, and most of what was out there wasn’t very good." I don't believe that Hendry ever came out and said that. IIRC, it was pundits over at ChiSports.com that were saying that. And all the other 'insiders'.

Well, payroll or not, who or what was out there that would have been a significant improvement? If we're talking Griffey, then I'm sure that money was a factor in the decision. Otherwise, I can't think of anyone who was out there that would have been an upgrade, or worth giving up prospects to get.

one hitter got moved that was worth a damn, Teixeira. Cubs passed on Gagne as soon as they took a look at how Wood was doing. It seems far more likely that the asking price far exceeded the talent that was available. Rumor was a good prospect and a young bullpen arm for Dye. Thanks but no thanks. The only deal I would have liked was Griffey Jr,, but who knows what the Reds were asking. It could have been top talent and take most of his contract.

"Rumor was a good prospect and a young bullpen arm for Dye." a good prospect and michael weurtz for Dye? Done!

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.