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

Redemption

Carlos Zambrano got the opportunity to redeem his baseball soul thanks to the grace of Touchdown Jesus and the Cubs bullpen works this time in a 4-3 win at Cincinnati.

The Good: Z pitches quite well going 7 innings and giving up 3 runs and a home run against 9 K's, including striking out the side in his last inning. The Cubs offense doesn't strand a runner. After Ryan Theriot breaks up the perfect game to lead off the 4th, he takes second on a wild pitch that bounced in front of catcher Ryan Hanigan. Hanigan throws it away and it bounces into center field and Theriot was going to try third base (and it looked like he would have probably been nailed to me), but ran into shortstop Orlando Cabrera. No interference obstruction was called though despite the protests of Lou and Theriot. That made the count 2-0 on Fukudome and he showed bunt on the next pitch but took it for a strike. Not sure if he was just trying to dupe Harang or was seriously considering a bunt, but he then takes the ensuing curveball deep to right for the first 2 Cubs runs. He almost hit a second one out in his next at-bat. Soriano hit a hanging slider out for run number 3 and Jeff Baker with the clutch pinch-hit home run off Arthur Rhodes. Marmol's slider was biting and the Reds were flailing away for the save.

The Bad: The Cubs didn't leave anyone on-base cause they just managed one walk and 5 hits, 3 of them home runs and Lee got picked off first base. If they did plus/minus ratings like in hockey, Soriano was probably a 0, because the first run by the Reds was thanks to a linedrive with 2 out that Soriano turned the wrong way and then lept and missed by an inch that should have ended the inning. #8 hitter Ryan Hanigan then singled him home despite first base being open and Harang on-deck. Grabow did get through the 8th, but gave up a single to lefty Joey Votto and a rocket to lefty Jay Bruce that Lee made an outstanding leaping stab to rob a hit. A bit worrisome we have another Mike Remliger situation brewing.

Next Up: Tom Gorzelanny makes his 2010 debut against 2009 draftee Mike Leake making his major league debut.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

And I think Mr. Whipple's parachat comment deserves repeating:
Did you hear the good news? Jesus has risen! Well, half way...
Hope I got that right.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

That is correct. I love that image. It's the funniest thing in ages. Well done, sir.

Theriot should indeed have been given 3rd base, but not for interference. When a fielder gets in the way of a baserunner, that's obstruction. Interference is when a runner gets in the way of a fielder. Being a youth baseball commissioner means you learn nitpicky details like this.

Glad to see Dr. Zekyll came back instead of the Opening Day Mr. Zyde. Go Cubs!

It could be a worse bullpen. We don't have George Sherrill.

T. Diamond with the start at Iowa, 5 IP, 5 K, 1 ER, 1 BB J. Gray 2 scoreless innings J. Stevens faced 3 batters, gave up 2 BB's and a hit Schlitter with 2 scoreless innings as well Offensive explosion in AA with Castro going 3/5, Bibens-Dirx strikes out 6 in 5 innings giving up 2 ER. Daytona bats wake up a bit in a 7-4 win although B. Jackson is still hitless. Vitter 1/6, LeMaheiu 1/6, Burke 2/6, M. Brenly with a 3-run HR. Peoria: H. Lee 1/4 with an RBI, Watkins 1/5, pitching gets roughed up in a 6-2 loss.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

BRING UP THEM...DEMOTE EVERYONE ELSE...START COLVIN THE REST OF THE WAY OUT...DFA EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO GO DOWN...MORE DEFENSIVE PRACTICE DRILLS FOR ALL OUTFIELDERS (AT LEAST 1 MORE HOUR PER DAY)...FIRE LARRY...FIRE RUDY...FIRE LOU...BRING UP SANDBERG...PROMOTE MADDUX...LET'S WIN 100 THE REST OF THE WAY OUT. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I keep forgetting we have Thomas Diamond. Would the Cubs consider him for the bullpen if he continues to show some control at AAA, or are they looking at him exclusively as back end/rotation insurance?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

That'll only work if boozed up bleacher bums can remain reverently silent and Thomas Diamond can somehow throw his warmup pitches in extreme slow motion. Under those conditions, it will be the most affecting theme music of all time. Maybe after a loss the Cubs can play Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings over the stadium sound system, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFbNEcJp1s

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Wow, a YouTube standoff. Cubster is the Cub Reporter king of video/photo references but Charlie has just thrown down a challenge! This is excitement! Personally, after this latest Cubs performance, I'm hoping to become Comfortably Numb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRuIqN-CZpY&feature=related By the way, Charlie, thanks for the Adagio for Strings link. Heartbreakingly beautiful music. Perfect for Cubs fans (sigh).

I notice Samardjza is well rested. Thank you Lou

Theriot, Fuku, Lee, Ramirez, Byrd, Soriano, Font, Soto, Gorz vs. Stubbs, Cabrera, Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Hernandez, Gomes, Dickerson, Leake

leadoff bb, double, pitch around Lee what are the odds of scoring with the bases loaded and 0 out? 0% if you're the Cubs. Ramirez goes out of the zone and pops it up, Byrd misses 2 fastballs and fouls them off and K's on a sinker, Soriano is Soriano.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Soriano leaps for a ball in foul territory...about 3 feet from the wall and misses it. Gorz still K's Votto though.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I know it's only one inning, but the offense failing to cash in even one run in a situation like that--there is no more ideal situation than bases loaded, no outs, middle of the lineup due up--frustrates me even more than bullpen meltdowns. They'll have to win and score more than 3 or 4 runs today for me to forget that.

I am of the opinion that A-Ram is hurt. The guy does not look right yet, and did not have much of a spring. We will see, and it is early, but this guy is not the same at the plate.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

He's overswinging right now (I think) and he's missing some pitches he shouldn't miss because of that. That doesn't necessarily mean he's not hurt too, of course.

things we've learned early...defense and bullpen might not be overrated. sigh...

deserving to lose a game...

Where are we at on the Soriano departure countdown?

I am floored with the terrific beginning of the starting pitching. The scenario of bullpen blows happened last year when the starters were doing well too. And, they were BETTER! This year, so far with MAgic Rudy, and a reliever that has two losses in four appearances, it is going to be a long year. I can see why many picked the Reds 2nd. The wnidow can be closed soon unless changes are made.

I'm starting a new stat called UZR/5. Soriano is currently -66. Now I remember why I couldn't wait for baseball to end last year.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Where's big lowitski to tell us Soriano is, in fact, a good outfielder?

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

remarkably, he still has good defensive numbers over a 3-yr span from all the guys he threw out the first 2 years...actually it's heavily swayed by his first year with being just above average in 2008

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

well sure they do, but it's a 3-yr average. Using UZR/150, he's 22.4/5.2/-15.9 and Plus/Minues he's 16/5/-4. That puts him 12th over 3 year in UZR/150 for all outfielders (and 3rd for LF'ers behind Crawford and Holliday). 15th in +/- for all OF'ers and still 3rd for LF'ers behind the same two. I'm not citing them as perfection, but guys can have career years defensively like they do offensively. It's not measuring talent as much as what happened and Soriano did eliminate a lot of runners with his arm and made less errors and not as many screw-ups those first 2 years.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think what's most alarming is that the more he plays LF, the worse he seems to get at it. I know he's had leg problems and all that, but it really seems like he has a serious mental block about catching fly balls, and the more he drops the more it affects him.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If there are runners on first and second and outfielder drops fly ball and throws to third for force out, is that considered an assist?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

yes, could be an error and an assist depending on the nature of the drop. you get credit for basehits that should sometimes be errors or bloops that someone should have been caught, not sure why folks get up in arms over anomalies in defensive stats. and I'm not saying that UZR or +/- are perfect or anything, but if you use 3-yr averages (which is about 1-yr worth of hitting sample size), you start to get a decent picture with them. In Soriano's case you can clearly see the decline that matches what's happening on the field.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

not that I know of... he still got the out though, so not sure if there's any difference other than aesthetically. I'm guessing he gets some extra credit for an outfield assist over just making the play, but I don't know the mathematics behind it. fwiw, +/- is now on Fangraphs pages.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I never said that. I said that his first year as a Cub the defensive metrics showed him to be a good left fielder. I also said, very clearly, that he had gotten worse. But I notice that you conveniently left that out.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

You said one more than one occasion, usually after someone complained about his defense, that stats showed he was a good OF. I haven't followed whether you said he has gotten worse. It was an error of omission, not comission. And it was meant in jest anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Tito, I remember specific conversations, with you, about this. I said very clearly that the stats showed that he was a good lf (not OF - two different things) in his first year. And that is still true. And it is true that I have said he has gotten worse.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Be honest, Big. I've been reading your comments for a long time, and you don't say things like, "the defensive metrics showed him to be a good left fielder," for the simple reason that when you have metrics to back you up, you state the thing as a fact. How could the metrics be wrong? "He was a good fielder in '07"--that's more your style, isn't it?

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I state the fact, and then say why, showing the facts. But whatever. The stats showed Soriano to be one of the better LFers in the league for his first year as a Cub. And I still agree with the stats. He was decent, if not good, that first year. He struggled at some things, but he overall he was a decent/good LFer that first year. And Soriano has looked really, really awful since then, and the defensive metrics (last I looked) appear to be reflecting that over the last year or so.

Soriano needs transplant surgery...both legs and a new glove hand

In searching for a replay of Soriano's error today (I did not watch the game), I Googled "Soriano's Error". I received 2,890,000 results. Try it!

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

he jogged to the ball, not like he was camped under it, but he had plenty of time to get himself in position to catch it glove-arm-out on the jog...it popped into his mitt and bounced out of the webbing. he was expecting something a bit more routine judging by how he approached it. no hop, btw. =p

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Thanks. WOW - Brennaman really drives home the pathetic point even more... So, did anyone pick Gomes would outhit Byrd?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

In the strange but true category: Moving Soriano to second makes the Cubs a better defensive team. Plus it gives a lineup slot to Rollin' Colvin.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

No, I assume he'd be as bad as always, but that still saves us runs over what he's doing in left. I think he needs a sports psychologist.

I didn't see a lot of spring training, so I didn't notice this until today. But when I saw Tracy up to bat today I had to do a double take because I thought it was Aaron Miles. Yuck.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Miles always caused a case of blinding rage for me. Just the fact that he was allowed to play major league baseball annoyed me.

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.