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

Zombie: A Tool or Five?

Is there anything Carlos Zambrano can't do on a baseball field [other than keep cool]? What is he, an ace or an ass?

Dave van Dyck speculates in this morning's Chicago Tribune that if Zombie [call him Big Z if you like; I call him Zombie - it will make a good stage name when he becomes a pro wrestler] misses his Friday start in Milwaukee one of three Iowa Cubs will take his place: Randy Wells, Mitch Atkins or Jose Ascanio.

Atkins' first two starts were poor and as a result he still carries a bloated and somewhat misleading ERA of 6.99. The last three have been better.

Wells has been solid from the outset in compiling an ERA of 3.13.

Both Atkins and Wells have K/BB ratios of 3:1 and are big, imposing righthanders.

Ascanio has made five starts and sports a sparkling ERA of 1.25 but only in his last outing did he go five innings. His pitch count that night was 81, the first time he's been that high as he transitions from relief to the rotation. Of the three candidates van Dyck names, Ascanio seems the least likely from here.

This morning's Des Moines Register says Wells will start the opener of the I-Cub homestand tonight versus Nashville. The team's website tabs Atkins. A complicating factor might also be that the team's last two games over the weekend in Memphis were rained out.

Atkins' last appearance was on April 30, Wells' was April 27 and Ascanio was May 1.

There's always Samardzija...MW

Comments

The White Sox signed first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Ward hit .250/.300/.393 in 28 at-bats this spring before the Reds sent him packing. He played for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League during the month of April.

The problem with Samardzija, and apparently Ascanio, is that they aren't properly stretched out. You can't have them start knowing basically best case scenerio is they get 5 innings. I'd rather take a flier on Wells.

Mike Wellman: Dave van Dyck speculates in this morning's Chicago Tribune that if [Zambrano] misses his Friday start in Milwaukee one of three Iowa Cubs will take his place... Isn't that Heilman's job? And besides, I don't think you'll find many ball players as exciting as Zambrano. I think many of us want our Cubs to be high-energy ball players like that. I'll take the risk of him hurting a leg trying to beat out a bunt. That's effing awesome.

These type of spot starts you just have to see what happens. Chances are you aren't going to see any of them put up great numbers in their first major league starts. If no one goes on the DL, I'd say Samardzija is the choice for 4-5 innings and then Guzman and Patton after that.

Too bad for Heilman he's been an effective late inning reliever. If he had been stretched out, or stayed stretched out, he'd make plenty of sense. How long has it been since Samardzija made a start? He ought to still be at least as stretched out as Ascanio, right? I believe AZ Phil mentioned in a recent post that Randy Wells would be the most likely replacement starter at this point in the season (if anyone is called up from Iowa to start). If Phil thinks it's a good idea, I'm for it.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

Tonight's interview with the Red Stars player may have been historic: she was so uninteresting, Len dismissed her even before the second out of the half inning. As much as we hate these interviews, Kasper and Brenly must hate them more.

Santo seems quite happy with them, however, as though he is receiving company in his living room.

Loved this Santo question of Peter Cetera—"So what are your hobbies?"

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4135612&name=levine Here's the post from Levine. Of course equating Zambrano's injury to Sutcliffe is a little premature. So I'm assuming we'll get to see a couple of starts from one of the Iowa guys. I bet Z only misses 2-3 starts. As for the 'should he have bunted' question? He's just as likely to pull his hamstring on a groundout to short as a bunt. I'm just glad this happened in a game he started and not a PH appearance. Baseball is a game of risk you can't wrap the guys up in bubble wrap.

[ ]

In reply to by Jeff_Pico

I agree. He's a ballplayer, if he gets hurt running to first, you can't really fault him for that. I think it was Kruk who said something to the effect "that's why power hitters don't bunt". Saying, if you bunt for a hit, you are guaranteeing a sprint to the base as opposed to a basehit where he doesn't necessarily need to go full speed. I think it's a good point, but I'm still fine with Zambie doing what he does.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

The reason Kruk didn't bunt was because he was too fat. The reason power hitters don't bunt is because they don't want singles, they want doubles and HR's. Some power hitters who are reasonable athletes will bunt, particuarly to get rid of a shift. I remember Edmonds doing that a couple of years ago.

[ ]

In reply to by Jeff_Pico

I for one am in favor of giving Samardzija the start. He needs the innings anyway (he should be starting in Iowa). Otherwise, reports no Randy Wells seem to be positive.

[ ]

In reply to by Jeff_Pico

I agree 100%. Z isn't going to be out 4 wks. It's not an arm injury. Also agree that shit happens. Of course you be careful with these guys but if they can help the team, ie pitcher PHing, well that's what he's there to do.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

We all know the Cubs and their injury reports, so let's just hope it is 2-4 weeks and that Z gets 100% healthy and it is not something he needs to deal with the rest of the year. Even 4 weeks is not the end of the world, and with a $140MM payroll, the Cubs should be able to handle it. Unfortunately their minor league system is not very good, but with 2 off days the next 2 Mondays, we should be able to skip that spot a few times.

Did anyone ask Fergie or Mad Dog to take Z's spot in the rotation? Was anyone at the game yesterday? How was the ceremony? I missed the ceremony but saw the game.

I was at Atkins start in Memphis last Thursday. He didn't look good at all. Sam Fuld saved his bacon on several occasions. Atkins was giving up line drives in the gap all game. There was a light rain/drizzle all night to effect the hitters, and it still didn't matter. Topped out at 90 pitched mostly at 86-88.

That's cool, Dr. The only MiLB game I have seen ever was at Wrigley last summer. One of these years I want to hit Peoria, Indianapolis (I've been told its a great park), and Lansing. Re: Z Meh. As I posted the other day, I love the guy, and he "tweaked" his hammy with a perfect bunt! Sean Marshall cannot even get a fucking bunt down when he squares up, let alone a thing of beauty like Z, Until there is DH in the NL, this stuff will happen. I don't have a problem with the way it did.We knew that we'd have a starter go down at one point or another. It sucks that not only did we trade Marquis, but Hendry DFA'd the pitcher we traded for! That makes perfect sense to me...

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Indianapolis is indeed a beautiful ballpark. Best minor league park in the country and it isn't close. Great view of the Indy skyline from behind home plate. I'd wait a year or two if you plan on making a special trip down, however. They're building a new hotel across the street and there's a bunch of construction equipment and stuff behind the LF fence that really detracts from the view right now. I'll be there tonight. Hoping for an A-Rod rehab sighting so I can boo the shit out of him.

Any word on Vizcaino? I think the Cubs 10 days are up. Did he get traded, accept assignment or did the Cubs just released him?

[ ]

In reply to by Dmac

Randy Wells pitched one inning for Toronto after they selected him n the Rule 5 draft, and I think 2 innings for Chicago last year. Samardzija, of course, has some MLB relief experience. Ascanio pitched a few innings for the Cubs last year in relief. I don't think Mitch Atkins has made any MLB appearances. So, minimal.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

According to BP, his last three years in the minors translate to about what Henry Blanco did for us last year. He's actually down a little bit on his typical BABIP numbers in Iowa this year, so at least to this point those numbers look legit. Hopefully he'll perform well enough to send Gathright packing.

...and Z officially goes on the DL. no idea replacement...looking like scales, though. esp. if he's at wrigley taking grounders.

[ ]

In reply to by artskoe

I'm sure AZ Phil or Mike W could respond in more detail, but it looks like the only two starters doing much at AA are Casey Coleman and Casey Lambert. Coleman was drafted just last year and is very young; he's also just getting his first taste of AA ball. Lambert has less impressive strikeout numbers, but his WHIP is lower and he's got an ERA of 2.76 in 127.1 minor league innings. However, until this year he's mostly been used as a reliever. Lambert would be more likely to be called up to replace Cotts (or just to be a second lefty) than he would to fill a rotation spot. These guys have to be behind Wells, Ascanio, Atkins, and Caridad on the depth chart.

I always wondered how much money these minors leaguers see for a small cup of coffee, so I did a quick calculation. If Scales is with the club for four days, M/T/W/Th before being sent back down, he would get almost 10 grand, plus daily meal money. (Lg. minimum salary 400k over 6+ months is about 2,200 day for rookies). Not bad. Especially if he's only making 25-35k in the minors. Imagine how just getting called up for September can be a huge financial plus to a fringe player.

Musket says: It'll be LF Soriano, SS Theriot, RF Bradley, 1B Lee, 3B Ramirez, C Soto, CF Johnson, 2B Miles and P Dempster.

The irony of Zambrano going to the DL is that we lose our most dangerous pinch-hitter. :) That said, I look forward to seeing what Scales can do if he's called up. These are his AAA stats since 2005 (which have steadily improved each season): 1628 AB, 481 H, 94 2B, 20 3B, 50 HR, 215 BB, 398 K .295/.378/.470 (.848 OPS). To me, that's a pretty solid, consistent, AAA line over a large sample size. This shows me he has a good eye, decent power, but will strike out a lot (which might be a big problem). What I'd kind of expect is for Scales to hit better than Aaron Miles and be able to play 3B, 2B, 1B (behind Lee and Hoffpauir) and in LF and RF (he's played over 250 games in the OF in the minors). As a switch-hitter, he gives Piniella better options against LHPs than we currently have. It's possible that Scales only stays on the roster for a few days, but in the best of all possible worlds, I imagine Scales could hit near his minor league numbers (I'd gladly take anything over .330-.350/.400-.450) and play passable defense at multiple positions, allowing Miles to stick to being ONLY the back-up SS (and emergency catcher and also motel-room security) with Scales also being Fontenot's platoon partner at 2B against LHP (instead of Miles). And for the human element, I don't see ANYTHING but positive things coming from a 31-year old making his MLB debut. Certainly that has to have a motivating effect on the rest of the team. If Scales could do all these things, I see that as more valuable than Joey Gathright, who has only contributed a few innings with his glove and is 1 for 3 in SBs. GO CUBS!

ASG voting going on now, if you are into that sort of thing. I'm not eff-ing around with voting 25 times, but I voted once and Ramirez, Fukudome, and Soriano made my list. I considered writing-in Bobby Scales but decided against it. *rolls eyes*

randy wells starts Friday per Hendry on CSN, tonight. shitty ab by reed johnson w bases juiced.

Ok seriously what juice is Theriot on? :) This is amazing...

Cubs should have at least six runs. bases loaded 3x. very frustrating... oh well, still 4-2 good guys now

Question, for Iowa Mike or AZ Phil: Who is Greg Reinhard? He's from Marinette, and went to UW-Whitewater, so he's a cheesehead and borderline Yooper. He also has a very high K-rate at AAA, and a .55 ERA, after a pretty good campaign in AA last year. Prospect at all?

[ ]

In reply to by Q-Ball

Cubs got him in the trade for Jae-kuk Ryu along with OF and OF Andrew Lopez. I'm sure he was recommended by Wilken who drafted him for the Rays.

 The biggest thing was last year I kind of figured out what kind of pitcher I was going to be out of the ‘pen. Along with the slider, I started throwing a split. When I was in Tampa, they converted everyone to curveball and changeup. I think now I’ve been able to get back to a slider and split. When I first came over (in ’07), I was still trying to throw a changeup. I’m throwing a slider and then a split-finger. … I just started throwing [the split] last year. I was kind of having trouble with the changeup and when I went to Iowa, Mike Mason asked me if I’d ever thrown one, which I had, so he gave me the green light. 

Maybe 3/44, but from the bottom notes section of a Cubs.com article it says that Luis Vizcaino was released by the Cubs, so they found no takers for a trade after designating him. Interesting to see who signs him and how well or poorly he does.

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.