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

Windy City Classic 101

It's not only important for young Cubs players to learn the finer points of pitching, fielding, hitting, and base-running, it's also important for them to learn "Why We Fight" and which teams need to be targeted in a special way for defeat. So in what is the Arizona Instructional League version of the Windy City Classic, the Cubs defeated the White Sox 6-4 this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa. Donald Veal got the start for the Cubs, and the lefty breezed through the first inning, getting three ground outs (6-3, 4-3, and 5-3) on just seven pitches. Veal had a more-difficult second inning, though, as the White Sox loaded the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk, but Veal was able to sneak a called third strike past the last hitter to end the threat. The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, when with two outs and nobody on base, Bryan Jost and Gian Guzman singled. Jost then scored on a throwing error after Ty Wright hit what should have been a routine easy inning-ending ground out to second. After the Sox tied the score 1-1 in the top of the 4th, the Cubs came back and scored two in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI single by Cliff Andersen and an RBI double by Carlos Perez. Leon Johnson followed Perez's double with a line single to CF, but Perez was thrown out at the plate. The White Sox slammed two doubles and a single off Marcos Mateo in the top of the 6th, but thanks to a very convenient 6-3 DP in the middle of the mess, the Sox wound up scoring only one run, and the Cubs survived the inning with a 3-2 lead. The Cubs made it 4-2 in the bottom of the 6th, when Cliff Andersen came through with another two-out RBI single, following base hits by Josh Donaldson and Josh Vitters. The Cubs aded two more runs in the bottom of the 8th on back-to-back doubles by Ty Wright and Marwin Gonzalez, a walk to Donaldson, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out by Marquez Smith. The White Sox were able to score two runs in the top of the 9th off Dumas Garcia on two singles, two wild pitches, and a passed ball, but Garcia retired the final three Sox batters F-9, 1-3, and K (looking) to seal the victory. Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only): LINEUP: 1. Gian Guzman, 2B (1-4, 2 K) 2. Ty Wright, LF (1-4, R, 2B, K) 3. Marwin Gonzalez, SS (2-4, R, RBI, 2B, PO) 4A. Brandon Guyer, DH #1 (0-2, R) 4B. Josh Donaldson, DH #1 (1-1, R, BB) 5. Marquez Smith, DH #2 (0-4, RBI, 2 K) 6. Josh Vitters, 3B (2-4, 2B) 7. Cliff Andersen, RF (2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K) 8A. Carlos Perez, C (1-2, RBI, 2B) 8B. Mark Reed, C (0-2) 9. Leon Johnson, CF (1-3, 2 K) 10. Bryan Jost, 1B (1-3, R, K) PITCHING: 1. Donnie Veal - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 3/0 GB/FB (25 pitches) 2. Hernan Ramos - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2/3 GB/FB (27 pitches) 3. Mark Pawelek - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GB/FB (8 pitches) 4. Marcos Mateo - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GB/FB (33 pitches) 5. Casey Lambert - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GB/FB (8 pitches) 5. Dumas Garcia - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 1/1 GB/FB (14 pitches) NO ERRORS BY CUBS, BUT THERE WERE THREE ERRORS BY THE WHITE SOX CATCHERS DEFENSE: Mark Reed - PB (led to unearned run in 9th) ATTENDANCE: 10

Comments

Comment about Felix Pie today. He just seems more comfortable in the middle of the lineup. Did Lou get to use him anywhere this year other than 1, 2, or 7 or lower? If you're going to give the kid a chance to truly compete for a job next year, maybe hit him fifth. He hasn't earned it, but maybe showing some confidence in him will help instill some and make it easier for him to do his job. Then, after a few WEEKS (not days), if he proves he can't protect Ramirez, then drop him in the order, bench him or trade him. But as much raw talent as this kid has, he definitely needs to be allowed every chance to succeed.

dont think anyone who Ks as much as pie can protect much of anyone...at least until he gets his power stroke consistant. soriano-lite needs to at least get a little more soriano-like.

hypothetical question (and I'll try to answer it but please correct the answer if I'm wrong): what happens if on Sunday (assuming the Rockies win tonight, they are ahead 11-1 right now, in the 6th): padres lose to the brewers mets and phillies win their games rockies beat the dbacks so after 162 games there is a tie for the nl east and a 4 way tie for the wildcard, all at 89-73...(mets, phils, rockies, padres) I assume a tiebreaker game for the nl east makes the winner, champ of the east and the loser drops out of the wild card tie from losing game 163... and a tiebreaker wildcard game between the padres/rockies for the wildcard winner. Amazing if there are two tiebreaker games on monday!

oddly enough...if both the mets/phillies lose their games on sunday; and the rockies win/padres lose...there still will be two tiebreaker games. so I guess a 4 way tie for the wildcard is sort of irrelevant as far as the mets/phillies go...since any outcome they produce doesn't affect the wildcard tiebreaker scenerios, just the nl east. Still a 4 way tie for the wildcard is an interesting outcome after 162 games.

it seems that all scenerios imply the cubs play the dbacks...is there a possibility the cubs play anyone else? if so, please explain. even though the dbacks have locked up the nl west and the best nl record (hence homefield advantage while they are in the nl playoffs), their site says their opponent in the nlds hasn't yet been determined...so I assume I'm missing some scenerio where they play someone other than the cubs.

AZ Phil: After seeing Donnie Veal what do you project for him after what seemed to be a bit disappointing 2007 season?

Question-- if AZ wraps up the NL West, and AZ and the Cubs are scheduled to play in the first round, would MLB delay our series if there are a bunch of tiebreakers to be played among PHI, NYM and SD?

rockies win 11-1; should be a fun sunday...the brewers/padres game starts an hour ahead of the rockies/dbacks. I think the code of baseball honor means the dbacks can't sluffing off (unless, until the padres win). also I heard on the rockies tv broadcast something about a wilder scenerio that could happen where the rockies might have a choice of different tiebreaker games...something about one or two games....but I had no clue what they meant.

cubster, The loser of the Mets/Phillies tiebreaker would still be eligible for the wildcard tiebreaker if the Mets/Phillies were tied for the wildcard after 162 games. They don't count a loss in game 163 against them. I can't explain it, and anyone else who can is probably still drunk or hungover right now, but here's an SI rundown of the tiebreaker scenarios. http://preview.tinyurl.com/3ymxbs

O. Julius: much thanks...that explains what I heard from the Rockies TV commentators as well as answers my above question in the 4 way wildcard tie scenerio. ======= Four teams with same record In the event four teams finish with the same record, New York and Philadelphia would play the NL East tiebreaker Monday; the loser would play a three-team, two-day, wild-card tiebreaker with Colorado and San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday. In that scenario, the team with the best head-to-head record among the three teams in the wild-card tiebreaker would get the choice of having a bye on Tuesday or playing both games at home.

Why dont they just have SD and COL play a Wild Card Semi final on Mon in that Scenerio and have that winner play the loser of the NL East game on Tue?

the 4 team wildcard scenerio also explains why the dbacks aren't the only possible cub opponent... if the wild card comes out of the nl east, the cubs would play the nl east division winner...since the dbacks with the best record play the wildcard team (unless it's from their own division) but 433's question about the possibility of a thursday start to the playoff is sort of answered... if there is a tiebreaker on wednesday, the cubs couldn't start since their opponent would depend on if the wildcard was from the east or west (AZ or the NL East champ) Yikes!

the key is padres brewers game if padres win there the wild card , cubs face d-backs, if brewers win wow things are interseting

i can not believe padres are still gonna sit peavy and let tomko pitch i can see brewers jumping all over him. clinch berth on sunday , or save peavy for one game playoff. bud black your in a no win situation

also if cubs playoff start on wednesday i can see a 3 oclock game (middle game on tbs) for wednesday, thursday would be the last game a 9 ish start. of course if we face d-backs

The 3-day rest thing didn't work for Peavy already once this season I believe. Best to hold him back for a true must-win game on his full rest. A few years back the 163rd would have counted as a loss and the team would have been eliminated from awild card tiebreaker. Feeling that unjustly punished a team for tying in their division they changed the rule and rightfully so. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070927&content_id=2234241&vke… Most recent tiebreak scenarios. 4-team tie would rule. The Mets and Phillies would play in Philly on Monday to crown the East champ. • The loser would then enter a three-game mini-tournament for which the Rockies, based on head-to-head records during the regular season, would have the option of needing to win twice at home or once on the road to advance. • If the Rockies choose to stay home, their opponent would be determined by the wishes of the team with the second-best combined head-to-head record; it'd be the Phillies if they're involved, but the Padres if the Mets drop into the three-way. That team could choose to play at the Rockies on Tuesday, but it's more likely that it would opt for a single game and travel to play the winner of Tuesday's game on Wednesday. • If the Rockies opt for the one road game, Tuesday's game would feature New York at San Diego, or San Diego at Philly, with the winner hosting Colorado on Wednesday.

I just hope that things lineup and we see the crazy 4 way tie scenarios...something tells me that its just too good to be true and it will work out in the simplest fashion with the padres and the mets/phillies both wrapping things up.

Thanks AZ Phil! What are your thoughts on Vitters? I think this is the first time I've seen you list him with an XBH which is nice to see.

Thanks, AZ Phil. Four questions for you: how long does the Instructional League play? Does the schedule overlap with the Fall League? Is attendance free? And do they fry Snickers bars there like they do at the Peoria spring training games? The tie-breaker scenarios are interesting. What's a bit worrisome is that the Wild Card team may not be decided until Wednesday (if there's a four-way tie), and that directly impacts which team the Cubs will play. I'd prefer that we know who we're playing sooner rather than later...I don't much care about the others except for the fact that I don't want to be within 100 miles of the Phillies or Mets right now. Playoff Odds report still gives edge to Padres, 75% chance of Wild Card, which means we face Diamondbacks. But there is a nontrivial chance of a tie.

DC Tom — September 30, 2007 @ 8:01 am Thanks, AZ Phil. Four questions for you: how long does the Instructional League play? Does the schedule overlap with the Fall League? Is attendance free? And do they fry Snickers bars there like they do at the Peoria spring training games? ==================== DC TOM: The AZ Instructional League runs though October 13th, and the AFL begins play on October 9th, so there is a slight overlap. The Instructional League games are free, but tickets for individual AFL games cost around $5. There are no concessions available at Instructional League games, but there is one concession stand (and one restroom) open at HoHoKam Park for the Mesa Solar Sox AFL games, although (as I remember) the only stuff they sell is beer, soft drinks, popcorn, and hot dogs. I don't know what type of food is sold at Peoria, but the AFL concession operation is very limited compared to Spring Training. Also, there is a PA announcer and scorecards (with rosters) available at the AFL games, but not at Instructs.

Navin — September 30, 2007 @ 2:04 am Thanks AZ Phil! What are your thoughts on Vitters? I think this is the first time I’ve seen you list him with an XBH which is nice to see. =============================== NAVIN: When I saw Vitters play for the AZL Cubs in August, his bat speed was sluggish and he looked rusty. Now his bat speed has improved and he is starting to drive the ball. He had two line-drive hits yesterday (a single and a double) and also flied out to the warning track in LF in another one of his ABs.

cubster — September 29, 2007 @ 9:03 pm AZ Phil: After seeing Donnie Veal what do you project for him after what seemed to be a bit disappointing 2007 season? ============================= CUBSTER: Donnie Veal is a very talented young pitcher, but I believe he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a starter. The 1-2-3 seven-pitch inning he threw yesterday is the exception rather than the norm. His 18-pitch second inning is more typical. I would project Veal as a future late-inning reliever (set-up man or closer) rather than a starter, because "five-inning pitchers" aren't particular valuable in the starting rotation. Likewise for Mark Pawelek. If he makes it, I believe it will be as a reliever, not as a starter. Pitching most every day out of the bullpen would help keep Pawelek's fragile mechanics (which fluctuate wildly) under control.

Playoff excitement and everything else aside, I'm really sad today is the end of the season. I don't like winter, football, basketball, the offseason, etc. This cubbie bear would rather just go into hibernation.

AZ Phil: Carlos Zambrano throws too many pitches to be a starter, too. *rollseyes*

AZ: From your always-interesting writings, you are having us believe that the future closer/set-up guys to bona fide future starters are like 10:1 ! so - who ARE the future starters when these 4-yr. deals start to age?

433:wgn radio just confirmed that the Cubs playoff series would start on thursday if the 4 team wildcard scenerio plays out with it's conclusion on wednesday.

The E-Man — September 30, 2007 @ 10:01 am AZ: From your always-interesting writings, you are having us believe that the future closer/set-up guys to bona fide future starters are like 10:1 ! so - who ARE the future starters when these 4-yr. deals start to age? ======================== E-MAN: If the Cubs want to go strictly in-house for rotation starters (Marquis is a FA after 2009 and Lilly after 2010), I believe the five most-likely starter-candidates who are closest to being ready right now are Kevin Hart (2008), Sean Gallagher (2008), Mark Holliman (2009), Jeff Samardzija (2010), and Mitch Atkins (2010). There are a few more rotation candidates further down the pipeline, including Robert Hernandez, Chris Huseby, James Russell, Alberto Cabrera, Larry Suarez, Ryan Acosta, and Oswaldo Martinez (presuming they can stay healthy), but I doubt that any of them will surface in Chicago before 2011.

Ryno — September 30, 2007 @ 9:28 am AZ Phil: Carlos Zambrano throws too many pitches to be a starter, too. *rollseyes* ===================== RYNO: Do you actually consider Carlos Zambrano to be a typical starting pitcher? I don't. He can throw 120-130 pitches and still be effective at pitch #125. I haven't seen Veal do that. But if it gets to where Veal can throw 120-125 pitches on a regular basis with no ill effects, then Veal could indeed be an effective six or seven inning starting pitcher.

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.