Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs Sign German, Send Five to Minor League Camp

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

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. 

 

Tags
Cubs Roster Moves
Richie Robnett
Corey Koskie
Esteban German

Comments

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 03:10 pm

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.

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

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

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

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!

Submitted by artskoe on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 03:04 pm

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.

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 03:06 pm

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 Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 03:46 pm

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 Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 03:06 pm

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

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

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