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 Pitching Rotation Down The Stretch

A quick look at how the rotation might shake out the rest of the season.

August 20th vs. Reds - Ted Lilly 
August 21st vs. Reds - Carlos Zambrano
August 22nd vs. Nationals - Jason Marquis
August 23rd vs. Nationals - Ryan Dempster
August 24th vs. Nationals - Rich Harden
August 25th @ Pirates - Ted Lilly
August 26th @ Pirates - Carlos Zambrano
August 27th @ Pirates - Jason Marquis
August 28th vs. Phillies - Ryan Dempster
August 29th vs. Phillies - Rich Harden
August 30th vs. Phillies - Ted Lilly
August 31st vs. Phillies - Carlos Zambrano
Septemeber 1st vs. Astros - Jason Marquis
September 2nd vs. Astros - Ryan Dempster
September 3rd vs. Astros - Rich Harden
September 4th - Off Day
September 5th @ Reds - Ted Lilly
September 6th @ Reds - Carlos Zambrano
September 7th @ Reds - Jason Marquis
September 8th - Off Day
September 9th @ Cardinals- Ryan Dempster
September 10th @ Cardinals- Rich Harden
September 11th @ Cardinals- Ted Lilly
September 12th @ Astros- Carlos Zambrano
September 13th @ Astros- Jason Marquis
September 14th @ Astros- Ryan Dempster
September 15th - Off Day
September 16th vs. Brewers - Rich Harden
September 17th vs. Brewers - Ted Lilly
September 18th vs. Brewers- Carlos Zambrano
September 19th vs. Cardinals - Jason Marquis
September 20th vs. Cardinals - Ryan Dempster
September 21th vs. Cardinals - Rich Harden
September 22nd @ Mets - Ted Lilly
September 23rd @ Mets - Carlos Zambrano
September 24th @ Mets - Jason Marquis
September 25th @ Mets - Ryan Dempster
September 26th @ Brewers - Rich Harden
September 27th @ Brewers - Ted Lilly
September 28th @ Brewers - Carlos Zambrano

That is of course assuming no rainouts or injuries or Lou shuffling the rotation. He can always throw Sean Marshall a spot start in there to move things around. You have to admit it does work out quite nicely for us if the last series ends up meaning anything. Even the series at home versus the Brewers gets us two of our big three and they'd miss Marquis. If it does shake down just like that, it means eight more starts for Lilly and Zambrano and seven more for the rest. Their games started totals if that happens:

Lilly -34
Dempster - 33
Zambrano - 32
Marquis - 29
Harden - 14 (as a Cub), 27 total

The Cubs magic number is 28 for a playoff spot and 31 for the division. 

EDIT: Messed up the Mets and Brewers series at the end there and thought it was a 4-game set versus the Brewers, as opposed to a 4-game set versus the Mets. It should be fixed now and it would set up the Cubs to have Harden, Lilly and Zambrano against the Brewers in both series in September. 

Comments

woo...hairston, who was rushed back before he was ready to be a 4th OF that wasn't even able to play the OF much, is back on the DL. CIN back to 3 OF'rs on the roster unless they make another move. duncan's handling of the roster personnel, especially post-griff, has been atrocious. not that it matters besides the quality of the team they march on the field at this point, though...dont see a playoff in their future.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Who is Duncan and why is he handling Cincinnati's roster personnel affairs?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I assume you mean Jocketty...

speaking of Griffey Jr...if you had Game 14 as a White Sox for his first extra base hit, you were correct.

Entered the game hitting .207/291/207 as Pale Hose. Is having a nice day today though. 

It's always something with H(GH)airston. He had a miraculous recovery from a "broken thumb" earlier this year. Only two weeks on the DL. Wow, who needs PED's if you heal that fast?! Now it's supposed to be a chronic hamstring problem. Early last week Dusty said he was thinking about putting Jerry on the DL,--he didn't. Then Tuesday he said Hairston wasn't quite ready to play centerfield yet even though he wanted to. Two days later he was his starting shortstop. Makes you think that Hairston was managing Dusty, not the other way around.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

hairston's issue he cleared up this year was his back that's limited him for years. if hairston wasn't so needed...actually, an OF'r needed...he would probably be properly healed and playing by now. injuries to the reds OF and trades netted no OF player returns for the reds that are mlb-ready. this is a team that's gone about 2 months without a game-ready 4th OF'r. the minors OF prospects...which the reds were once flush with...are now pretty bare. i dunno if jocketty is more interested in gutting the team and bringing up the gems to showcase or actually fielding a team. going into the season they had a relatively solid as hell team (on paper). how they've responded to injuries has been worse than their already shakey defense.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

 this is a team that's gone about 2 months without a game-ready 4th OF'r

Dude...Corey Patterson...oh, you said game-ready.

 

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In reply to by Rob G.

patterson's been a starter because of all this. i wasn't gonna go into that, but well...yeah. he fell into the doghouse long ago. he played most of april...a little less of may...then fell into spot start/bench duty until the injuries and trades-without-replacements showed. on a healthy/stocked team he'd probably still be working his way toward 175-200abs rather than passing 250abs with not much of an end in sight.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

maybe by last 2 months you meant last 3 weeks.

 http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/2008_lu.shtml

He had 3 starts in July before they moved Griffey. But since , he has started in CF most of the time with Bruce moving to RF. Freel and Hopper have been hurt. Don't know about their minor league system. I'm guessing they were hoping Hairston was going to be back and didn't want to make a move. Can't see any good reason to spend an extra $100K on someone anyway if your in the Reds position. They certainly should call up someone if there is someone to call up.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

We have 4 OF at IOWA that would upgrade the Cincy OF. Pie, Torres, DuBois, and Kroger. ANY of them would be starting over Patterson or the other guy (not Jay Bruce). 5 if you count Hoffpauir.

9/25 @ Mets (not Brewers) I expect Lou will change things up at some point, if for no other reason than just to change things up. But, it does look good for the last 2 weeks. Astros getting killed by Walks today against MIL

According to ESPN.com, divisional series behin on Wed. 10/1....and according to other things I have read, the best team in the NL gets to choose the "A" or "B" schedule for the first round. If I remember correctly, I believe meaning the Cubs could start on Thu 10/2 Either way, even if Harden is needed on Friday 9/26, he could still start game 1 on regular rest.

http://cubs.scout.com/2/781216.html According to a news release posted on the Boise Hawks’ official website Sunday, Pawelek has been shut down for the remainder of the season. The release suggests – though does not state outright – that Pawelek may have been "shut down" because of passport issues after he did not accompany the team to Vancouver for a recent five-game series. When reached by phone, Pawelek denied that anything was amiss with his arm, or anything else pertaining to a physical nature. He declined to comment on why he was shut down. But one team source told InsideTheIvy.com that the Cubs were furious with Pawelek over the passport issue, and that they told him to “just go home.” The Cubs did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. Goes on to say that is the player responsibility to secure a passport although they are reminded weeks and/or months in advance.

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In reply to by Rob G.

haha... at the very least his agent...the guy he gives 5-10%+ of his f'n paycheck to...should have gotten his ass to take care of that. guess a september callup is out of the question =p may not be that bad of a thing for him to miss his last 2 starts anyway. not a great way to part ways for the season, though.

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In reply to by crunch

Actually, he misses 0 starts because he isn't a starter. Wasn't a starter this year, wasn't a starter last year. In his second and third years in shortseason ball. And he hasn't even been a good reliever in shortseason ball. There are other "attitude" questions surrounding him [and rumblings of more that haven't made it to the media], I think this was basically a case of the Cubs being fed up with him.

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In reply to by crunch

fwiw, credited with 2 games started this year and 12 in 2006 for Boise. A bunch in the Arizona League in 2005 as well, but those certainly don't count.

The 2 starts this year were his first 2 games with Boise and he got shelled. He ranges from 1-3 innings on most of his outings.

 

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In reply to by Rob G.

Yeah, I was refering to 2007 and 2008. He was starting in 2005 in the AZL after being drafted and while started his first full season in the system in the NWL. He put up good numbers and looked like a good prospect. Then the bottom fell out. He started two games this season and looked horrid. Then he went into that piggybacking "reliever who gets starter innings" that so many AZL/NWL guys are on and was horrid and since then, his innings have dropped. It was the same thing last year when he repeated the NWL.

Of course there is more. If Josh Vitters or Jose Ceda forgot his passport, I doubt they would tell him to go home. To tell that to a player, it's clearly the "last straw". Unless they bury the hatchet in the off season, he is probably done as a Cub. If he had a future, they would have dealt with it when they got back from Canada. Does anyone have more on the attitude issues?

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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.