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 
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Marlins Make it Rain

The Cubs open a four game set versus the suddenly popular Florida Marlins who are riding a two game win streak and are first in the NL East. They are  just 3-7 over their last 10 though and are fifth in the NL in runs scored (Cubs are 9th) and 10th in runs allowed (Cubs are 8th), so maybe the Cubs bats can start waking up.

Wittenmyer tweets that Aramis Ramirez will avoid the disabled list for at least another day and the lineup for tonight will be: Soriano, Riot, Fukudome, Lee, Bradley, Fontenot, Hill, Miles and Marshall. Also, be sure to check the left sidebar under Quick Links for Wrigley Webcams to see if the game will happen or just below that for a weather update.

Comments

Blah.. Last four in the lineup don't really inspire a whole lot of confidence. Of course, neither does Lee or Bradley right now. But I do think they're both due to wake up soon...

box score widget now on the right sidebar btw...if it updates well during the game, I'll probably just replace the L and W flag with it.

Come September, unless Scales is hurt or has had a truly awful year at Iowa, they could be nice and reward him with a call up. I think we will see at least one more infielder up here at some point due to injuries or poor play. I like Fontenot, but he's had a horrible start and he also cannot play 3b. Too bad Jake Fox can't play a passable 3b (or LF/RF, etc.).

Not getting the game since it is on WCIU, so can anyone tell me details how Marmol is fucking up the game? Marshall gets screwed out of what on paper looked like a real good performance.

Off topic, but screw it -- Brad Miller with the rebound of the century.

Good to see Zambrano PHing and running the bases. We don't have enough injuries, let's push the envelope needlessly. Good Call...

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

Yes, when Zambrano pitches he should just flail blindly at the first three pitches he sees so that he never has to worry about hurting himself on the basepath. You may have not noticed this, but Zambrano's not really that good a pitcher, anyway.

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In reply to by mannytrillo

Small words for you Manny. Either he shouldn't bat to keep himself from getting hurt, or he should bat so that the Cubs can try to win some ball games without putting Ramirez on the DL. Those are the two options. You're idea has no merit, it makes no sense. Either his hitting is worth the chance that he gets injured, or it isn't. That equation must be true every day of the week, not just the days he pitches. In fact, it could be argued that as a PH his at bats have more value than his at bats as a starting pitcher.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Since the Cubs are in the NL, they have no choice but to have him hit when he pitches. They do have a choice on the days he doesn't pitch. And in my opinion it is not worth even the small chance of him getting hurt for him to PH unless it is an absolute emergency. While people love to praise Z for his hitting prowess, he might be good for a P, but his career numbers show he is just not a good choice when compared to even the Neifi-esque most hitter. It really is pretty easy to understand.

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In reply to by mannytrillo

Why look at this career numbers? What he did in 2002 has little bearing on how well he will do now. In his last 100 PAs he has an OPS of .893 For comparison, Neifi's career OPS was .692 Take Z's stats from last year and take them out to 600 PAs and he would have had 28 doubles, 28 HR, and 98 RBI. It's really pretty easy to understand.

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In reply to by WISCGRAD

HA HA HA I have to assume you are being sarcastic. But if not... First you say don't look at career numbers but then you want to look at Neifi's career numbers. Also, if Z could really get those numbers if he had 600 PA's why is he not playing everyday? Lastly, don't you think looking at 100 PA's is a little small on sample size? I mean DLee has 87 PA's this year and is batting .205. Do you think he is going to bat .205 on the year? Hendry and Lou are going too long with a short bench and keep PHing Z and adding unnecessary risk to injury to your supposed ace pitcher is not a good idea.

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In reply to by mannytrillo

Zambrano has the tools to be a great hitter. There are several reasons he's not playing everyday, the foremost of which being that he's an accomplished starting pitcher with tantalizing ability. He also is a very raw hitter who would have to return to the minors to really learn the art of hitting. Also, the only position I can imagine him playing on a regular basis is first base. He'd have to lose a lot of weight and really work on his running to be an outfielder, and even then he'd probably look a lot like Carlos Lee. Whether Z is a "better" hitter than Miles or Neifi is up for debate. He certainly strikes out a lot and I have no idea how he would do if every pitcher pitched him as if he were a #3 hitter (of course, I don't know why every pitcher doesn't pitch him like he's a threat--maybe they try to). But he's a much more exciting hitter than Neifi or Miles. It's hard not to want to see him in their as a pinch hitter. I love that he pitches in the national league. I love having at least one pitcher who can do something with the bat when so many pitchers are helpless at the plate. But then I also find it amusing that the Cubs have to pitchers with pretty good speed (Samardzija and Harden).

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In reply to by mannytrillo

You can pick virtually any 100 PA streak in Neifi's career if you want and my point would still stand, and you know it. Or, let's look at Bobby Scales' career MLB OPS? Oh wait, we can't, that's right. Your entire point about what Lee will hit this year or what Z would hit over 600 PAs is moot. The question at hand is: who will have the most success in the particular pinch-hit at-bat. That's it. I could care less if Miles would out-hit Z over 4 million at-bats. Don't care. I care who has the best chance of getting a hit in a given at-bat. Lately - meaning this last week of games - given the high level of sucktitude of Gathright and Miles, etc. and the relatively hot bat that Z is swinging, I pick Z in most scenarios, especially given the short bench that forces Lou to save guys like Hoffpauir for later in the game. If you want to disagree, feel free. The injury argument is dumb. The chances of Z getting injured hitting or running in an extra at-bat here or there are so minuscule as to make this argument ridiculous. If you want Lou and the Cubs to control or limit those types of situations for Z out of fear of injury, then there are a thousand other things the team should also control. For example, make him live within walking distance to the ballpark so he doesn't get injured in a car accident (a far likelier possibility) or hiring him someone to type for him so he doesn't strain his wrist chatting again like before, etc. These are also in the team's ability to limit, but they don't do it, so not pinch-hitting him 10-15 times a season out of this same fear is dumb.

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

1. We don't have Neifi on the bench. We have no one on the bench, so your comparison makes no sense. The options are 7 days of Bobby Scales instead of Aramis Ramirez or Zambrano, the best hitting pitcher the Cubs have ever had getting 4 extra at-bats. I know you can't do math, but at some point common sense should take over. 2. You still haven't answered the point that he's no more likely to get hurt PH'ing than he is when starting. If his pitching value is so high that you don't want to risk him getting injured (focus here, I want you to answer this question), why do you allow him to try to hit at all when he makes his starts?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

1. I understand you have a serious lack of reading comprehension, so this one time I will help tutor you for free. I said "compared to even the Neifi-esque most hitter." That does not mean Neifi himself, it means even someone who is as bad of a hitter as Neifi. And I would clearly take Bobby Scales over Z. 2. Again, I think you need to focus because you totally lack any reading comprehension skills. Please pay attention... I would allow Z to hit the days he is the starting pitching because in the National League (do you know the Cubs are in the NL?) there is a rule where the pitcher MUST bat for himself. There is no choice for the manager like there is in the American League. Can you understand that? And of course there is a greater chance of Zambrano getting injured the more he PH's. It might be very very small, but common sense (I know you lack that just as much as reading comprehension) will tell you that. I am not against him PHing in an a emergency, sometimes you just can't help it, but to use him as one of you first PH options is irresponsible in my opinion by Lou. And if you would like an example go talk to Chien-Ming Wang.

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

2. I think Neal's point about him hitting on days when he's pitching and on days that he's not is that the concern doesn't seem to be injury due to a pitch, it's injury due to a swing or running the base. Thus he wonders why you are okay with him swinging the bat on days that he pitches (rather than standing and looking at three pitches down the middle, which would eliminate the injury risk), but not on days that he doesn't pitch. Yes, he has to come to the plate on days that he pitches. But if hitting and running the bases on such injury risks, why not have him take three strikes and sit down when there isn't a sacrifice bunt situation?

Woo! Way to advance that runner, K-Fuk and D-Lee! That is what i call clutch hitting!

Why is Hill playing 3B? WTF is going on with this team? Hopefully Lee wakes up sometime this year...

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In reply to by mannytrillo

Hill was playing 3B because we already had Miles and Fontenot in the game, Gathright can't play 3B, and the bench is short....again, because the Cubs can't decide to put Ramirez on the disabled list, but rather keep playing with a short bench....again. Lee looks great? Until he gets a bat in his hands...

Fucking meltdown. This is going to be a LONG year to be a Cubs fan. Just awful. But hey, go Bulls, what a goddamn game!

I am SO glad I watched the Bulls 3 OT game instead of this shit Cub team. This years Cub version is not the same team as the one seen the last two years. They find ways to lose ala 2006, although not in as dramatic a way. They just get drubbed by the competition.

The Cubs are depressing to watch....i hope they can figure this whole thing out before the Bulls are out of the playoffs. What a Bulls game today! Go Bulls.

No offense--4 starters hitting under .200, a fifth barely above. No bullpen--every reliever with an ERA over 4.00, most with an ERA over 6.00 No bench--Hoffpauir can hit but has no position, at least until they release D Lee. Hill is OK as a backup catcher. No defense--how many errors for Theriot now? How many bases have been stolen on this team? No heart--feckless, gutless millionaires, it's 2005/2006 all over again. Hawks just tied it 3-3 in the 3rd after being down 3-0 to start the period, hell yeah....Now that's a team that never quits.

It is so cool that for whatever reason, the team never showed much better than .500 And now, they Are playing out of their skulls against the defending champs. Anything to shut up fucking Garnett for one more game!

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In reply to by Rob G.

Hate to break it to you Rob G., even without Garnett, thay have last years' Finals MVP, AND Ray Allen who still is one of the NBA's best shooter, along with an excellent point guard in Rondo. To say they are "a .500 team without Garnett" just is not accurate. Probably you may want to consider sticking to baseball, where your commentary is much more logical and reasoned.

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In reply to by The E-Man

yeah, the SuperSonics were pretty awesome when Ray Allen was their best player...my bad. (and for everyone else, I know Paul Pierce is actually their 2nd best player).

without Garnett, this is the 7th seed playing the 8th seed, nothing more. Great games, very evenly matched, but the Bulls aren't going anywhere.

you were probably excited about the Bulls team that beat the defending champion Heat two years ago as well.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I am not talking about the Sonics. That was not my argument which you are now switching around. I never mentioned "how far they will get so it doesn't matter". It is the defending champs. You cannot prove that they are "a .500 team without Garnett." The Celtics, post-Garnett, had an excellent record, as well. But you do not follow hoops much you have admitted, right? Or maybe just the Lakers, whose games come on three hours earlier there? The Bulls were a .500 team with no All Stars and no one with the Celtics pedigree, so on paper at least, most people who follow basketball - and the majority of hoops writers who picked the Celtics in 6 or less - would agree that without Garnett, the Celtics are still a better than .500 team, and should have "trounced" the upstart, inexperienced Bulls. As I said, stick to baseball, you'll be fine. lol

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In reply to by big_lowitzki

What does RYNO have to do with this? Did I miss something? In the last 26 games of the regular season, with Garnett basically on the bench, the Celtics were 18-8 My whole point of this is not that the Bulls are going anywhere this year, but there is finally some hope on the West side, and that Paxon FINALLY did something that has worked in his GM career. That, and the fact that a barely .500 team, is giving the World Champs, and a VERY GOOD TEAM without Garnett, all they can handle, and perhaps a series that will be talked about for a long time, even though it is the first round.

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In reply to by The E-Man

What does RYNO have to do with this? Did I miss something? Oops... E-man has a point, not Ryno. Celtics, with Garnett: 43-14 Celtics, without Garnett: 19-6 Paxon FINALLY did something that has worked in his GM career. You are right... the trade he made at the deadline should go down as one of the better deals made in recent years.

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In reply to by big_lowitzki

Two problems with these numbers. Strength of schedule and control. Playing in the Eastern Conference, though, it's hard to reasonably argue that the Celtics weren't the 2nd or 3rd best team even without Garnett. Playing against the west, they may have been a .500 team.

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In reply to by The E-Man

This is like trash-talking from a third-grader. No, there's no possible way I can follow the NBA or the Bulls being on the West Coast, you're right.

As I said, damn fun games...but they're playing a team without their best player in a sport where the best player makes up 20% of the lineup and the impact of a star player is even much higher than that. 

Lakers w/o Kobe - crap

Cavs w/o Lebron - crap

Heat w/o Wade - #1 pick

Celtics w/o Garnett - barely a playoff team, just like the Bulls.

But it makes for a great matchup....

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In reply to by Rob G.

Celtics w/o Garnett - barely a playoff team, just like the Bulls. Except, of course, for the fact that the Celtics, during the regular season, were much better than the Bulls, even without Garnett. And the Lakers/Cavs/Heat comparison doesn't hold up. Garnett doesn't play the same type of roll on the Celtics as Kobe, Lebron, or Wade play on their teams.

Yeah whats wrong with this team and why did I like them so much on paper leading into the season? I'm usually very optimistic but this team just isn't looking good. I'm ready for that nice little winning streak any day now. This game wasn't really the bullpens fault it was the offenses. Two solo homers? Gonna take more than that to when most games.

CUBS SUCK! CUBS SUCK! CUBS SUCK! you would of said to me two months ago that I would be wishing for baseball to be over so I could watch the Bears, and I would of told you you were nuts.

Call me crazy but if I was reading this site correctly during the off season it seems to me that the common thread was, this off season was a disaster for Hendry. A few of us, me included, had high hopes for Bradley, hoping against hope he'd play a few games, but overall it pretty much sucked. I mean, that was the consensus I got. Still, it's early, and although any team with Pujols on it has to be considered a contender I can't imagine the Deadbirds hanging on for 162. And the Cubs aren't THIS bad. I'm glad I didn't watch this game. Watching Noah steal that ball and drive down the court was one of my favorite Bulls moments.

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In reply to by Old and Blue

"Watching Noah steal that ball and drive down the court was one of my favorite Bulls moments." That was a moment of pure joy, not just for the result but also because of the growth that we've seen in Joakim after his early struggles. Wow! What a finish!

yet another night i was glad i was at a minor league game. k.hill at 3rd so reed johnson can hit for fontenot, eh? cute. marmol with 2 days in a row without control (unless the boxscore lies and his pitches were close, but not getting called). riot trying to give away the game with his D and hitting a couple singles...you go girl. miles is miles... heilman...what the hell?

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.