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 Sign German, Send Five to Minor League Camp

Apparently unhappy with what they've seen so far from Luis Rivas, the Cubs have signed 30-year old super-sub IF-OF Esteban German to a minor league contract, with an NRI to Spring Training. German was released by the Kansas City Royals last Friday.

In 388 MLB games (with OAK, TEX, and mostly KC), German has played 2B-3B-SS-LF-CF, and even has gone behind the plate on ocacasion. A right-handed hitter, German has hit 277/358/383 over his big league career, with 28 SB (14 CS).

German possibly has a chance to make the Cubs 25-man Opening Day roster, although it would probably require the Cubs going with an 11-man pitching staff. Otherwise he will probably end up at Iowa.

In addition, the Cubs have cut five players, optioning OF Richie Robnett (acquired from OAK in the Michael Wuertz deal) to AAA Iowa, and sending Pitchers J. R. Mathes, Brian Schlitter, and Matt Smith, and Catcher Steve Clevenger to minor league camp. None of the cuts are a surprise. Contrary to what it says in the Official Press Release, the Cubs big league camp Spring Training roster actually now stands at 54 (not 53). They didn't count Esteban German when they added up the total).

Also, veteran 3B Corey Koskie has arrived at Cubs camp, and will be given a chance to show what he can do and if he has anything left. The 35-year old Koskie was a member of Team Canada in the WBC, after missing the 2006 and 2007 seasons with Post-Concussion Syndrome.  

My guess is that Koskie will go to Iowa to start the season as insurance in case something bad happens to Aramis Ramirez, with the understanding that he can request his release every 30 days (after 30 days, after 60 days, etc). The Cubs have had that type of arrangement in the past with veteran players who agree to play at AAA. 

 

Comments

I REALLY hope another Reed Johnson-type player falls into our laps at the end of spring training... we should go after Joe Beimel and see if we can sign him for 2/$3M, to get a second lefty in the pen.

Thanks, Phil. Also-- what are you seeing in some of these ST outfielders like Robnett, Deeds, Snyder, Fuld, Dubois, Taguchi? (I don't include J. Fox in this list because it seems he's no longer considered an OF-er). I know what their stats tell me, and from what you've written about this summer's ST games (and of course we have a little bit of history on Fuld, Dubois, and Taguchi). But how do they compare to one another? Do any of them have a shot to contribute (this year, or in the future)? rock on, ROMERO

Question AZ Phil... I'm trying to keep track of the Cubs' camp numbers. I thought they were at 53 with German. Koskie isn't official yet (he still has to pass a physical, I thought). Once Koskie is official, then it goes to 54, correct? Reading over the papers and blogs, sounds like he hasn't been cleared as of yet. Just wondering...thanks!

In Tempe, Vs Angels, 2nd squad, Trammel managing. Gathright and Theriot ground out, Micah singles up the middle. Bradley K's looking on a 1-2 count.```Gaudin faces Figgins (GO to Scales at 2nd). Ibar works the count and walks on a 3-1 count. Kendrick flies out to Joey who has to chug to get it. Morales chops one to Scales toward center, tries the backhand flip but is too late to Theriot at second. But Rivera pops up to short right to end the threat. ````Doug Deeds leads off the 2nd. Angels announcers are nuts, as they say Cubs got swept in the AL playoffs last year, as happened the year before in the AL west. Deeds K's looking. Scales GO to 2nd. Taguchi fans on a 3-2 pitch from Mosley.````First batter in the Angels 2nd pops out to Deeds in right. Brandon Wood works Gaudin to 3-2 and Chad misses, ball 4. Buddy shoots one to right center, Wood to third. First and third one out. Pettit fouls a couple off then grounds to Rivas at third, "nice stop" to 2nd for one and not in time at first. Figgins singles past 2nd, one base advance. Ibar walks on 4 pitches. Rothschild to the mound. Gaudin nibbles the count on Kendrick to 2-2, 3-2 payoff is ball 4 just misses. Morales hits the 1st offering over the scoreboard for the slam. Rivera singles just off Rivas glove and Chad is done. 6 runs, 3 walks so far. Justin Berg (Matt Lawton trade) now pitching. Rivas commits an error, dropping the ball, shoulda been 3 outs. Theriot stops the bleeding with a nice throw to put out Wood. ````Mark Johnson pops to right center on 2 pitches. Rivas GO to Ibar. Rothschild get tossed by the home plate ump, apparently for arguing some of the close Gaudin pitches. Strike out ends the first time through the Cubs lineup. Sorry if there are name spelling problems for the Angels. 6-o Angels, bottom 3rd.

Marshall looked good again today, going into the 5th. The rest of the bullpen in that game also did well. Fontenot continues to hit. And in the other game Chad Fox continues to hold up, another perfect inning with a K.

Submitted by Cubbug on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 2:42pm.

Question AZ Phil... I'm trying to keep track of the Cubs' camp numbers. I thought they were at 53 with German. Koskie isn't official yet (he still has to pass a physical, I thought).

Once Koskie is official, then it goes to 54, correct? Reading over the papers and blogs, sounds like he hasn't been cleared as of yet. Just wondering...thanks!

===================================

CUB BUG: I don't know about Koskie's official status, but I included him on the roster, and so now cutting five and adding German makes 54 in big league camp.

Koskie passed his physical with Team Canada, so I would think he would be cleared to play by the Cubs medical staff, too, but you never know.

Submitted by Romero on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 1:22pm.

Thanks, Phil.

Also-- what are you seeing in some of these ST outfielders like Robnett, Deeds, Snyder, Fuld, Dubois, Taguchi? (I don't include J. Fox in this list because it seems he's no longer considered an OF-er).

I know what their stats tell me, and from what you've written about this summer's ST games (and of course we have a little bit of history on Fuld, Dubois, and Taguchi).

But how do they compare to one another? Do any of them have a shot to contribute (this year, or in the future)?

==================================================

ROMERO: Brad Snyder is football player-type "toolsy" guy with a plus-arm, plus-speed, and plus-power, but he is not a good hitter (lots & lots of swings & misses). You can see what scouts saw in him, but he is probably still as raw today as he was at Ball State, and time is running out on him (he's out of minor league options).

So Taguchi is probably in camp in case anything bad happens to Soriano or Reed Johnson before Opening Day, but otherwise he doesn't have a slot. He's an athletic defender, but has little power and he isn't much of a hitter. The Cubs might offer him the 4th OF slot at Iowa if he wants it, or otherwise he can probably get his release whenever he wants it.

Richie Robnett has plus-power, slightly above-averag speed, and he's an OK outfielder, but his arm isn't as good as I thought it would be. He's basically a young, raw Jacque Jones.

Sam Fuld is a solid player, a Gold Glove quality defender in CF witrh an outstanding arm. He is a good hitter with surprising power for a guy his size. He lost a step after the sports hernia surgery a couple of years agom, however, and so base-stealing is no longer a big part of his game. He should be the CF and lead-off hitter at Iowa in 2009, and would probably get the call if anything bad happens to Fukudome or Gathright.

I actually like Doug Deeds more than Snyder or Robnett. Deeds is an athletic defender in LF and RF with an OK arm, and he is a polished hitter with a solid line-drive stroke and occasional power. He has just average speed, though, probably not quite enough to play CF.

Jason Dubois will likely get released sometime before Opening Day, because he's essentially a 1B-DH right now, and Jake Fox probably will get that gig at Iowa. Dubois should be able to find a job in AAA with another organization, though.

 

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    For sure. This lineup isn’t exactly stacked as is, and subbing out a Cooper or even a Tauchman for Madrigal won’t do it any favors.

  • crunch (view)

    the ESPN bottom graphic taking up 1/8th of the screen sucks.

    i only use ESPN during baseball season and i'm forced to watch a baseball broadcast designed to be broadcast in sports bars and betting parlors where the news/scores of other games is as important as what you're actually tuned in to watch.

  • crunch (view)

    morel triple to start the season....yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.