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 Pitcher

The Cubs made a move today to clear some much needed....minor league roster space? Rotoworld says the Oakland Athletics have acquired pitcher Rocky Roquet for the ever popular player to be named later.

Roquet, a 26-year old right-hander was always a favorite of Arizona Phil and was a non-roster invitee to camp this spring. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League the last two years and Scout.com had him at #18 in their 2008 prospect rankings

I'm not sure why the move was made unless the Cubs felt they were full at the minor league levels or Billy Beane really liked Roquet and promised a decent return for the Cubs on that ambiguous future player they'll eventually receive. Or the Cubs know they're going to have to bite the bullet on Chad Gaudin's salary and the deal will just end up being for cash...an unlikely but possible scenario.

UPDATE: Muskat also says the Cubs have released LHP Ed Campusano.  I believe over the last month the Cubs have cut ties with their top picks from 2003-2005 (Ryan Harvey, Grant Johnson and Mark Pawelek), plus pitchers Ryan Acosta, Campusano, Micahel Cooper, Jim Henderson, Jordan Latham, John Muller, Audy Santana, Harol Tolentino, catchers Mario Mercedes and Tony Richie, 1B Bryan Jost and SS Erick Almonte.

UPDATE #2: The Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita says the trade was simply due to a minor league roster crunch.

“He’s a great kid with a chance to pitch in the major leagues,” Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita said of Roquet.
 
“We were simply full and had to create (minor league roster) space.

Comments

Pawelek was let go on Sunday, Grant Johnson was let go last week. In other news the Cubs have signed another Korean, 18 year old outfield prospect Ok-suk Wang.

The Cubs also cut Ed Campusano. No comment? What is he, chopped liver?? or maybe I just missed it elsewhere... I know Ed had Tommy John surgery and sat out 2007 so why cut him now after being an NRI to spring training? He's got talent. But maybe Lou put him on his hate list because of the 5 walks. And I reeeeeeeeeeeeally don't understand dumping Rocky Roquet. His minor league averages speak sweetly (3.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.5 K's - 7.4 Hits - 0.5 HR's per 9 innings pitched). Can't the obviously depleted Cub organization use some of that??

And, in other news, navigator is reeeeeaaaally negative, just about all the time...

I'm glad to see that the Cubs are cutting dead wood, if young ballplayers don't have a chance in hell of making the big club we shouldn't waste time or money developing them.

The Cubs have clearly adapted the idea of a fire sale to their own philosophy. Rather than sell the declining, high-priced big leaguers for a bunch of talented and cheap minor leaguers, they are attempting to clear minor league roster payroll in the hopes of affording another star or at least someone paid like a star. $80k here, $120k there -- it adds up quickly people. Who knows, after we clear out the rest of Tennessee and Daytona's roster, we might be able to afford ... Bernie Williams? Frank Thomas? I don't know, I'm thinking big here.

A sure sign that spring training this year is ENTIRELY too long--when Cubs fans get uptight about the departure of future hall-of-famer Rocky Roquet. Nearly all of the Cubs' minor leaguers have zero big league talent. I'm struggling to identify ANY minor leaguer the Cubs have given up on over the last five years who has mattered a hill of beans. Ricky Nolasco is the only one I can think of, maybe Jerry Blevins too. Clay Rapada was cut by the Tigers today, Scott Moore didn't make it with the Orioles. Orange Guy is back in the minors. Etc... Frankly, I think the Cubs have been pretty darn good assessors of their minor league talent, or lack thereof, in recent years. No complaints on that end. I just wish they'd draft better in the first place. (Tyler Colvin rant deleted).

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

yeah...it's not that i dont think he could play OF somewhere...but expanding his OF coverage by putting him in the huge COL outfield is the main reason i find COL wanting him odd. that's a place where you can let guys score from 2nd on a single or let a guy turn a single into a double if you screw up out there.

Michael Barrett makes the Blue Jays as their backup catcher... Jae-kuk Ryu returned to the Padres after the Indians claimed him off waivers, may be an injury there and could be headed to the DL.

Roquet has a pretty good arm, but the Cubs have quite a few good prospects that are at least comparable in terms of likelihood of future success. Kevin Hart, for example, is better than Roquet. Alex Maestri, Esmalin (sp?) Caridad, Blake Parker, Marcus Mateo are other good right handed prospects. Plus Jeff Stevens (acquired from CLE in Derosa deal). If we get something decent in return, particularly an OF, LHP or a low level 1B (each of which are places where we have a dearth of prospects), perhaps it will be a good trade. I actually am more upset at cutting Pawelek and Campusano. But neither of them, nor Rocky Roquet, were people who I expected much from this coming season.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

paw's "dead arm" turned into a "where's your velocity, kid?"... ever since he *cough cough* tripped over his playstation *cough cough* he's not been the same. he's a 88-90mph fastball pitcher now and when he cranks it up he can hit the low 90s. he's not a mid+90s kid anymore.

Hmmmm...not sure why Jordan Latham was cut. He's someone I had my eye on at the lower levels. Last year combined b/w Peoria (A) and Daytona (A+): 77.1 IP, 62 H, 17 ER, 4 HR, 25 BB, 71 K 5-2, 1.98 ERA Career minor league HR/9 is 0.5, BB/9 is 3.7, K/9 is 8.6 He won't turn 23 until late September.

[ ]

In reply to by Romero

Latham's name stuck out to me, too. Not doubting Rob's source--I know he has great sources--just wanted to see it in print somewhere so I looked through all the BA transaction reports back to January and the Felix Pie deal. All of Rob's names except Latham and the very recent duo (Roquet and Campusano) are listed. It's strange, if true. Latham is too new--his first season was short-season Boise in '07.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

It's strange, if true. Latham is too new--his first season was short-season Boise in '07.

Acosta was younger and drafted a year later, so doubt that has much to do with it. I'll ask him again to make sure it wasn't a mix up.

The Cubs do not put out an official list fwiw, they think it embarrasses the players. The info that Baseball America or any source puts out about minor leaguers being released is mined from their own sources. 

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

fwiw, it wasn't a mixup although nothing official from the Cubs...who don't officially announce minor league cuts.

When minor league rosters come out, it should "prove" it, although everything Steve (aka Inside the Ivy) has tipped me on before has come out true.

Soto HR's for the second time... Maestri struck out the side....

Hey, Matt Bush is available! Who says there's no talent to be had?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

He's a Fort Wayne Tincap (Formerly Fort Wayne Wizards) alumni. He was real good at the low-A level. *rolls eyes* By the way, likely no one will really care about this but I'll put a plug in anyways. Fort Wayne is building a new ball park for our local low-A Padres affiliate. The Fort Wayne Tincaps will play at Parkview Field downtown Fort Wayne: Photos of the new facility: http://www.tincaps.com/parkviewfield/photos/ I walked around the construction site last Saturday and I was surprised how little security there was. I was able to walk around the concourse and the place is gorgeous (can a straight guy use that word?). The facilities boast of having the largest jumbotron in low and high A baseball, there will be a park in centerfield for children to play (hopefully they don't get drilled in the head by a home run to CF. SO if you are ever unlucky enough to be around Fort Wayne during the minor league season... stop in for a game.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Ryno, I am from Peoria and follow the Chiefs religiously. For the last 5 years, my father-in-law and I travel to the Midwest League All Star game. Last year it was in Midland, Michigan and the park was unbelievable! Unfortunately, it can be difficult to secure tickets, especially in a new venue. I understand that the 2010 MWL All Star game is in Fort Wayne! They usually reserve all the good seats for the season ticket holders and we have a difficult time getting anything other than general admission. Perhaps you have a source?

why Zambrano came out after 3.1 innings? He only gave up 1 ER on 2 H and 2 BB, so I doubt (though its not impossible) that he was at the pitch limit.

[ ]

In reply to by springs

he was set to just pitch a few innings...he asked if he could DH the whole game, but doesn't look like the A's allowed it or maybe the Cubs changed their mind about it. 

Check out Peavy's line today in his final tune-up for the season---5 innings, 0 runs, 0 bb, 4k's---it says 22 pitches, 22 strikes---he WILL look good in Cubbie Blue!!!

[ ]

In reply to by carmelo

Peavy was so November. This spring/summer, it's going to be the Halladay Show! Heads up, just based on talent, I'd rather have RH anyways; factor in the contracts, and it seems more than obvious. Of course, if we did end up with Peavy, we could do a heck of a lot worse.

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=10107794 Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said Tuesday that "while it's hard to imagine Mesa and the Cubs not being together," the reality is baseball is a business. Smith said it's a top priority for the city to do whatever it can to meet the Cubs' needs.

Vizcaino gives up a 2-run HR to Travis Buck in an inning of work Guzman gives up 2 H, 1K, 1 unearned run and a K (error by Kyle Reynolds) Cotts gives up 3 Runs in an inning of a work along with 5 Hits...struck out the side though as well. Maestri struck out the side in his inning, Waddell with a scoreless inning Samardzija in to close and immediately gives up a leadoff single representing the tying run, followed by a sac bunt

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Sorry Rob G. but it was a leadoff error by Hoffpauir the run scored was not earned. Must be watching Comcast sports you got wrong again.

[ ]

In reply to by jakester

i was listening on the radio, announcer didn't mention an error just that it got by Hoffpauir...so apologies to the entire Samardzija family and Cubs fans everywhere for besmirching his good name.

what did I get wrong before? 

[ ]

In reply to by jakester

Blown save for Smardypants. The no K, one unearned run inning got his ERA down to a stellar 7.63 ERA. I too don't understand why Iowa would need to make room for him on the roster. The only place that needs to make room for him is Cooperstown.

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

bo jackson was so f'n awesome... not a HOF'r...not a fringe HOF'r in waiting...and yes his media blitz was sickeningly annoying sometimes, but at least once a week he seemed to do something "wow." without even trying.

Last Arizona game tomorrow vs. Indians, probably won't see too many starters... cross-country flight to NY for Fri/Sat (could be rain)... almost cross-country flight back to Texas to play Houston Monday.....

[ ]

In reply to by CA-Phil

O'Hare Tower: "Alright Cactus League 1549. It's going to be a left. Traffic to runway 3-1." Jeff Samardzija: "Unable. Rob G. doesn't think I can do it." Tower: "OK, what do you need to land? Cactus League 1549, runway four is available if you want to make left traffic to runway four." Jeff Samardzija: "I am not sure if we can make runway. Oh, what's that over to our right? Anything in Indiana, maybe Hammond?" Tower: "OK yea, off to your right is Hammond airport. Do you want to try and go to Hammond?" Jeff Samardzija: "Yes." Tower: "Hammond, uh, O'Hare actually. Mesa departure got an emergency inbound. Hammond: "OK, go ahead." Tower: "Cactus League 1529, Over the Skyway Bridge wants to go to the airport right now." Hammond: "He wants to go to our airport check. Does he need any assistance?" Tower: "Ah, yes, he, ah, was a bird strike. Can I get him in for runway one?" Hammond: "Runway one, that's good." Tower: Cactus League 1529, turn right 2-8-0, you can land runway one at Hammond." Jeff Samardzija: "We can't do it." Tower: "OK, which runway would you like at Hammond?" Jeff Samardzija: "We're gonna be in Iowa City."

[ ]

In reply to by carlosrubi

awesome... i mean, ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒░░░▐▌░ ░░░░▒▒▒██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒██▒▒▒░░████ ░░░░▒██▒▒▒████▒▒▒████▒▒▒██▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░██░ ░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒████░ ░██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒█████████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ██░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░██░░░██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░██████░░░██████░░░░░░░░░░

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.