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

Cubs Trade Craig Monroe to Twins

As most of you now know by now, the Cubs traded OF Craig Monroe to the Minnesota Twins today for a PTBNL. The Cubs also reactivated RHPs Angel Guzman (TJ elbow surgery) and Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) from the 60-day DL (MLB clubs have until November 20th to reactivate players from the 15-day and 60-day DL), bringing the Cubs MLB Reserve List (AKA "40-man roster") up to 38 players, and leaving two slots open. The Cubs have until next Tuesday to add minor league players eligible for selection in next month's Rule 5 Draft to the 40-man roster, although it's doubtful that any of the Rule 5 eligibles will be added. The two open slots on the 40 will instead likely be kept available for free-agents the Cubs might sign (or in the case of Kerry Wood, re-sign) in the next few days and weeks. The Cubs acquired Monroe from DET for LHP Clay Rapada on August 23rd in a stretch-drive trade, in a desire to add an experienced right-handed power-hitting OF to the roster, but he did not swing the bat very well and was left off the Cubs post-season roster, instead spending his days taking BP at Fitch Park in Mesa. Prior to being traded, Monroe had been Designated for Assignment by the Tigers. Monroe was one of five Cubs players eligible for salary arbitration this off-season (Neal Cotts, Mark Prior, Michael Wuertz, and newly-acquired Omar Infante being the others), but with a 2007 salary of $4.775M, the very least Monroe could have made in 2008 if he had been offered salary arbitration by the Cubs was $3.82M, and that's only if he received the maximum allowable 20% cut. And the Cubs weren't about to pay Monroe that kind of money (or possibly a lot more if Monroe won in arbitration) to be a 4th OF and RHPH. So if the Cubs hadn't traded Monroe, they almost certainly would have non-tendered him on December 12th, making him a FA, and getting nothing back for him. They might have then offered him a 2008 minor league contract for around $1M with an NRI to ST, but I doubt that Monroe would have been interested in that type of arrangement. Now at least the Cubs will get something back for Monroe (or Rapada, depending on how you look at it), even if it's just a middling minor league prospect. ===================== CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER (38) * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (21): * Neal Cotts (eligible for salary arbitration) Ryan Dempster * Scott Eyre Sean Gallagher Angel Guzman Adam Harben Kevin Hart * Rich Hill Bob Howry * Ted Lilly Carlos Marmol * Sean Marshall Jason Marquis Juan Mateo * Will Ohman Billy Petrick * Carmen Pignatiello Mark Prior (eligible for salary arbitration) Jeff Samardzija Michael Wuertz (eligible for salary arbitration) Carlos Zambrano CATCHERS (2): Henry Blanco Geovany Soto (out of minor league options) INFIELDERS (8): Ronny Cedeno (out of minor league options) Mark DeRosa * Mike Fontenot Omar Infante (eligible for salary arbitration) Derrek Lee Aramis Ramirez Ryan Theriot * Daryle Ward OUTFIELDERS (7): Jake Fox * Sam Fuld Matt Murton # Angel Pagan * Eric Patterson * Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano ======================= POTENTIAL FREE-AGENTS AFTER 2008: Henry Blanco (vesting option or else club option with buy-out for 2009) Ryan Dempster Scott Eyre Bob Howry Will Ohman Mark Prior (eligible for salary arbitration after 2007) Daryle Ward SIGNED BEYOND 2008: Mark DeRosa (through 2009) Jason Marquis (through 2009) Derrek Lee (through 2010) Ted Lilly (through 2010) Aramis Ramirez (through 2010, player option for 2011, and mutual option for 2012) Jeff Samardzija (thru 2011 + mutual options for 2012 and 2013) Carlos Zambrano (through 2012, plus vesting-player option for 2013) Alfonso Soriano (through 2014) PROJECTED ELIGIBLE FOR SALARY-ARBITRATION POST-2008: Ronny Cedeno Neal Cotts Rich Hill (projected 2+149 after 2008 - likely “Super Two”) Omar Infante Sean Marshall (projected 2+132 after 2008 – could be a “Super Two”) Matt Murton Angel Pagan (projected 2+143 after 2008 – likely “Super Two”) Michael Wuertz NOTE: Calculations based on each player spending entire 2008 season on Cubs major league 25-man active roster or MLB DL. ======================== MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS (SPRING TRAINING 2008): * Must clear Optional Assignment Waivers to be optioned to minors NO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Ronny Cedeno Geovany Soto ONE MINOR LEAGUE OPTION LEFT: * Neal Cotts Mike Fontenot * Angel Guzman Rich Hill Carlos Marmol Angel Pagan Felix Pie * Michael Wuertz TWO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Jake Fox Sean Gallagher Adam Harben * Omar Infante Sean Marshall Juan Mateo Matt Murton Eric Patterson Billy Petrick Ryan Theriot THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Sam Fuld Kevin Hart Carmen Pignatiello Jeff Samardzija

Comments

bet the PTBN is a 27 year old A-baller with 2 bum knees and terminal AIDS. at least it'd be a fair PTBN.

Geez. Why does Hendry always take the "terminal" AIDS patients? Hasn't he learned his lesson?

Johann Santana? hehehehehehehehehe I crack myself up.

'I will say, given the chance to do it over, I don't think I made the wrong decision,'' said Jones, who has one year left on the three-year, $16 million deal he signed before the 2006 season. ''I went [to Chicago] with the intent of helping the team get back to the playoffs and hopefully get back to the World Series. I helped with part of that, but with the ultimate goal, didn't finish it there.'' jones is still pretty damn classy given a couple incidences that could have made his exit a little less classy. later dude, good luck.

"[Forget] the veterans," he told the Post. "They haven't told me anything and they better not come tell me anything, either. "I don't want to hear anything else. I want to play baseball, give what I have to give on the field of play, and win. That's all I want. ... "Everyone here is a grown man," he told the newspaper. "Everyone knows what he's doing. And I'm not going to go crazy worrying about these things." ...guess who said that. guess who earned his own situation and reputation? guess how much that has to do with me and how much it has to do with him. and then check out the stupidity of doing very little about it seasons following...

Hopefully Wood comes back, but that will obviously be on his own timetable. Next thing Hendry will focus on is probably center/right field with Fukudome and Crawford as his main targets. Marquis, Eyre for JD Drew and a lot of cash wouldn't be a bad fall back plan, if the Sox are up for it. There's just not too many left-handed hitting right fielders available. If the Cubs decide to move Soriano to right or center that would open up a lot more possibilities.

We already tried Soriano in center, and he won't be back due to leg concerns. Hopefully it will go Soriano, Pie, Fukudome.

finally...someone besides the cubs linked to fukudome. A's linked via USAToday article as "expected to talk to"... It's been a very heavily cubs-driven reporting atmosphere for fuku almost the entire time he's been a FA. there was more seattle talk earlier, but that's died down a lot. anything could happen, etc etc...but at least some of the bigger $$ spending name teams are thought to be out of the running (nyy/nym/bos/lad/laa/phi). i'd be satisfied if he came over to a 3 year deal or something similar...

...found a dayn perry article from yesterday... "Already, teams like the Cubs, Giants, Nationals, Padres, Red Sox, Mariners, Rangers and White Sox have put out feelers, and Fukudome also makes sense for the Yankees and Tigers." still...the cubs seem to be stealing the headlines. rsox? nationals? wsox and giants seem like they could be legit threats...esp. the giants if they really want him.

Lou says the team needs to focus on doing better at stealing third base, apparently something his teams specialize in. We learn something new every day.

Crunch, you're killing me.... Who said that?! I don't care if it's the wrong thread, I (obviously) missed it!!

I'm not thrilled with the Kaz Matsui idea at all, we're settting ourselves up to have a bigger glut in the middle infield than a couple years ago... ...unless we need him to seal the Fuk deal.....

Never sign players with the belief it is going to draw a bigger name player. Remember all that crap we heard about Neifi or whoever being best buds with a star player? It doesnt mean jack, money, money, money is all that matters in getting players.

Interesting Lou comment about signing 6-year minor league FA's for bullpen depth. Teams may have interest in Wuertz, who is arb eligible.

November 14th, 2007 at 10:34 am crazy-ass rumor of the day… http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....their.html Arod has been negotiating on his own with the Yanks and Yanks won’t talk to Boras. Where’s that one rank on the B.S. meter? ..................................................................................... I think it could be that Arod misjudged his market value. Possibly also misjudged how much clubs truly despise Scott Boras. If the Yankees dont get back in on this. Who the hell is going to pay Arod 350 mil?

I'm ok with the Cubs looking at MLFAs for the bullpen--these days bullpen performance is so erratic that it doesn't make sense to pay a guy like J.C. Romero 3/12 because he could have a 1.75 ERA the first year of that deal and then a 5.75 the next 2 years.

well the deal in that link says it'll be 10/275 to account for the $21 million he cost the Yanks. I wouldn't be surprised if Yanks and Arod talked again, I don't buy the not talking to Boras angle.

Does anyone know if there's been any progress on Kosuke Fukudome? All of the reporters and columnists keep trying to insist we have the inside track on him, but there's been nothing concrete on the negotiations or whether the Cubs even have a realistic shot at him. Who else is rooting for us to sign him, though, if nothing else than for the opportunity to wear a Cubs shirt with the word Fukudome on the back?

Whoever pays Fukudome the money will have the best shot. If that's Slick Jimmy, then so be it. I don't know who else will be willing to offer him 3 or 4 years at 15 a year. Can Jim swing a 4/60 deal? How about a 3/44 (giggle)? On top of that, I read somewhere that his contract will have negotiated without arbitration years. He wants to be a free agent at the end of his contract. I don't remember where that was, and for the life of me, I can't find it again.

well they couldn't talk money with him until yesterday so I doubt it's progressed too far. And i read the same blurb Wes that a team would have to put in a clause that they couldn't offer arbitration at the end of the deal. I think every Japanese player but Dice-K had the same clause.

Yeah, Wes, I read that, too. There such few attractive options for this type of player. I don't think Hendry should let him go by the boards... Oh, and I think he should sign A-Rod... have I mentioned that?

A quote from today's Jim Caple article: As Bill Veeck once said, "It isn't the high price of stars that is expensive; it's the high price of mediocrity." Wow, what a defining quote for the past 20 years (since I've been a fan) of Cubs baseball.

I don’t know who else will be willing to offer him 3 or 4 years at 15 a year. Can Jim swing a 4/60 deal? How about a 3/44 (giggle)? Wow... do you really think Fukudome is worth 15 million a season? That is a lot of cash...

I don't know where the 15 mil number came from... I have not seen anything with a price tag on Fukudome... Wes?

Fuckyoudome seems wayyyyy out of line if he is asking for 15 million per year. He sure as heck isnt Ichiro. Matsui would be the most hopeful comp, and it's really up for debate that he is worth 15 mil. Fuckyoudome is comming off an elbow injury that cost him 40% of last year. Seems like one hell of a roll of the dice. Is Left-handedness really THAT important to Lou? Is Left-handedness his version of Dusty's speed and bunting ability?

15 Mil? No thanks. I thought he was going to sign for around $10M. If we have to pay Fuku $15M, why not just sign A_Jones?

I've heard 15 a year for Fukudome since April or May. I believe I originally pulled that from the Japanese expert (Mike Plugh) over at BP. I cannot find that specific article at the moment, but I did turn up an interview he did with our old friend Tim at MLBTR. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/05/mike_plugh_on_k.html He should command in the $12-15 million range over 3 or 4 years. It will be a very good buy for whichever team he chooses

It MAY be a good buy in the sense that you get into the Japanese market. However this guy aint Ichiro. The novelty has warn off in the last 7-8 years. How much Japanese exposure/revenue did Iwamura bring to TB last year? I wouldnt think it brought much.

Is anyone else concerned about trying to sign a guy for big money who might turn out to be a Japanese Matt Murton? The dude has never seen big league pitching before, and people are ready to throw $10-$15 mil a year at him? Count me among the non-believers.

Is anyone else concerned about trying to sign a guy for big money who might turn out to be a Japanese Matt Murton? I think that, offensively, Murton and Fukodome will end up being very similar players. Which is why I am amazed that someone would spend 15 million a year for that. Fukudome sounds like a clone of Brian Giles, after Giles lost his power.

Just found this quote on the Sporting News website: "Fukodome is described as a Raul Ibanez-like player with a bit less power." Ibanez made $5.5 million this year, but hey, if we can get him with less power we might as well triple that salary. Yikes.

And note... I like Matt Murton, and Brian Giles. I just don't think that either of them are worth 15 million dollars a year.

And also note - This 15 mil number that everyone seems to have adopted as the amount he is going to get, is about as artificial as they come. The question is: what would you pay for a LH, good throwing, good fielding, high OBP, doubles guy?

Regardless, it looks like we will have to either overpay for Fukudome or Crawford. Cash or prospects... pick your poison.

*Doug Dascenzo says: November 14th, 2007 at 1:48 pm Is anyone else concerned about trying to sign a guy for big money who might turn out to be a Japanese Matt Murton? The dude has never seen big league pitching before, and people are ready to throw $10-$15 mil a year at him? Count me among the non-believers* I find it simply hilarious that there's a little cadre here who have their bloomers in wads over this dude, a cadre who I would be almost certain has never seen him play an inning, by the way. And I'd bet these same people are against the Cubs even attempting to sign a known entity [A-Rod] for a mere 10 million dollars more per season. Boggles the mind.

i say FU to Fukodome. 15 mil is too much for a guy who has never hit major league pitching.

Where are we getting this $15 million figure from? And what would most deem acceptable?

And again, Chad, you have assmed that is the price tag. I would bet that the only reason it would ever get that high is if there was a bidding war.

There WILL be a bidding war, that's the thing--there's been interest already noted by a whole bunch of teams. If the Cubs were the only club who wanted him, then yeah, we'd probably sign K-Fuk for 7M/year. But attracting the interest of so many other teams is going to drive his value up...

Okay. I believe I now have a new favorite nickname for this guy! K-Fuk is a winner!!! Thanks, sheff!!!

Haha no problem...actually sounds more to me like what Federline's nickname should be. But it works for the Fuk Dome too.

Just posted on MLBtraderumors MLBTR readers know that Kosuke Fukudome already received two offers from his former team, the Chunichi Dragons. One was for one year, about $3.5MM. Another was four years, around $15.4MM. Plus, the Hanshin Tigers are expected to offer four years, $20MM (the money they received from posting Kei Igawa a year ago). This evening, Ken Rosenthal adds that the Tokyo Giants have also made an offer to Fukudome. The twins should sign him and then if he struggles at home -----> FukUDome. The PLTBN for Monroe?

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • 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.