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 Can't Fend Off Gnats

Sobering thought...the Cubs just got beat 2 of 3 at home by the worst team in baseball the last two years. Sure, anyone can win a 3-game set, but the Cubs sure didn't look like a better team at any moment in this series. And yes, the Nats are a better team this year than year's past, but they also were missing Ryan Zimmermann for the set. All of that is just a convoluted way of saying that the tea leaves aren't really predicting a bright 2010 future at the moment for the Cubs.

The Good: The Cubs walked 4 times(Colvin, Fukudome x2 and Nady) and had 9 hits including Theriot and Fukudome getting on-base 5 times in total. Dempster had a solid 8 IP, 3 ER affair with just one walk and 6 K's. Marlon Byrd's circus catch losing the ball in the sun. I wonder how the media and crowd reacts if he doesn't make that catch as they were sure quick to jump on Bradley last year for losing the ball in the sun.

The Bad: 21 LEFT ON-BASE! 11 as a team including Marlon Byrd leaving 6 all on his own. In the 7th, Fukudome and Lee led off with singles, but then Aramis Ramirez grounded into  double play on a 3-2 pitch in on his hands promptly erasing the rally. Colvin couldn't deliver the 2-out RBI. In the 8th, Byrd singled to right which the right fielder fumbled for a gift double. Fontenot is allowed to swing away after two singles already in the game and pops up to the shorstop. Aargh!!! You know the one good time to sac bunt, is when you need one run and can get a runner to third base with less than two outs. Or just make sure you pull the ball. Tracy, Nady and Theriot couldn't pick up the run either (more on that in the moment). Dempster did give up two solo shots to Adam Kennedy and Adam Dunn with the wind howling in.

The WTF? Back to the 8th, after Byrd "doubled" and Fontenot popped up, Lou pinch-hits for Koyie Hill. Smart. He pinch-hits with Chad Tracy though. Dumb. He's already gonna have to use Geovany Soto in the top of the 9th for Hill, just use your hottest hitter. I know Chad Tracy has had an illustrious pinch-hitting career before this year in like 100 PA's or something, but let's use a little common sense. Tracy predictably strikes out, Nady walks (still could have used Soto there if you wanted to) and Theriot can't deliver the 2-out RBI.

Next Up: The hot-hitting Diamondbacks test the Cubs starting pitching for a 4-game set.

Comments

If the Cubs had won two-out-of-three from the Brewers and then two-out-of-three from the Nats, their record would be exactly the same as it is now and we would all be feeling good about the Cubs winning two series in a row. However, this doesn't feel as good, does it? It's not so much about their record or the fact that the Cubs won four of their last six games (and five of eight). Instead, we dwell on the fact that they lost two in a row to a team that is not supposed to be very good (although the Nats do have a winning record so far in 2010). I guess it's all in your perspective.

"I wonder how the media and crowd reacts if he [Byrd] doesn't make that catch as they were sure quick to jump on Bradley last year for losing the ball in the sun." I've heard similar questions asked so far this year and I just don't understand the comparison. Marlon Byrd is a different person than Milton Bradley. He came to the Cubs with a completely different attitude and background. He is a more mature, positive person than Bradley was. Byrd has the type of attitude and approach to the game that makes fans want to root for him. The opposite was obviously true of Bradley. Although much has been said about Cubs fans (particularly those in the bleachers), we/they are not all racist idiots. People boo'd Bradley because of the type of person and ball player he was. They cheer for Byrd for exactly the same reason. That leads me to believe that Cubs fans would not have reacted negatively had Byrd not caught the ball in question.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

some of us couldn't care less about bradley's attitude and never did. it wasn't a sport to jump on the guy because of how amusing his reactions are for some of us. soriano is warm and fuzzy...he takes blame (in his own special way sometimes) for things...he accepts and apologizes for mental lapses and laziness...he waves to and interacts with bleacher people and regulars... ...then he goes out there and does the same stuff day after day after month after year... good fuzzy words! i'd like to have a beer with him. meeeeeeeeeeeeh.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

@crunch - I never got the impression that fans were riding Bradley to see what kind of reaction they could get out of him. I always felt they rode him because they didn't like his abrasive personality or his disrespectful approach to the game. @Rob -- I think you are correct that the media helped to stir the pot with Bradley, but it's not like he didn't give them a ton of ammunition. He had a long and storied history of conflicts and bad behavior that pre-dated his days in Chicago. Was the press fair to Bradley? Probably not; especially guys like Sullivan. But Bradley did plenty on his own to cause fans to dislike him. The press just added to what Bradley wrought on his own.

The guys on ESPN 1000 (Afternoon Saloon) have been talking as if Starlin Castro has been called up. Did I miss something? Now they seem to be talking about the clamor to call him up to move Theriot (a .300 hitter) to second and replace another .300 hitter (Fontenot). With Lee and Aram being the hitting problems so far (both sub .200), it doesn't solve that problem, is their discussion. No guarantee Castro will hit as well as Theriot or Fontenot, either.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

"why are you listening to the afternoon salon?" It was during one of the commercial and/or news breaks duing the WGN post-game show. I thought I'd try to catch a Bruce Levine report or a replaying of Lou's testy news conference about why he didn't bunt in the 8th inning after Byrd's dooble. Besides, I think Jurko is a pretty funny guy and I could use a good laugh after a game like today. NPR just wasn't going to cut it.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

maybe it came from this article http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/889/castro-could-be-join… Chicago Cubs prospect Starlin Castro’s ascension to the major leagues could be right around the corner, according to a major-league source. The 20-year-old shortstop is being monitored on a daily basis by the Cubs organization to determine when the time will be to start his major-league career. wouldn't Theriot actually get you something in return though? I mean you might as well just release Baker or Tracy. Fontenot might get a low level minor league C prospect I'm guessing. Theriot could possibly get a major league reliever I would think, although I can't think of one team looking for a shortstop.

Weak Link Update: Gorzelanny/Silva: 48 IP, 33 H, 32 K, 10 BB, 2.06 ERA Ramirez/Lee: 29-for-163, .178 AVG, 42 K, 22 BB

Lincecum pitching a gem against Philly into the 9th, gets the first guy, then walks Victorino. Giants have a 3-run lead at this point and he's at 106 pitches with middle of order due up. They go to Wilson who gets Polanco, gives up a single to Utley, walks Howard and Werth ties it up on a double. think you have to at least give him one more hitter unless his velocity was dropping, although Wilson has been good this year.

neglected to mention Fukudome's lack of hustle in the first... Colvin popped up on the infield and Kennedy booted it and Fukudome didn't get past 2nd. Didnt' end up mattering, but he should have been on third.

Rob, I thought the exact same thing when Lou used Tracy instead of Soto. Sometimes the opposite hand matchup play goes too far.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Maybe when Lou is done here he will give a tell-all interview about the Chicago media, how much he hated them, how their constant pick-pick-pick at the whole Cubs Thing seemed to him to be a factor, however small, in the constant failure. Maybe if he does that, it'll be to the good somehow. Maybe Paul Sullivan will have an epiphany and change his ways (or at least finally stop writing about Milton Bradley). But for now, this kind of behavior is inappropriate and simply painful to watch. And by "this kind of behavior" I mean not only this postgame performance, but PH'ing Tracy instead of Soto. Both things evince a "who cares, I don't want to be here" attitude.

ROB G: Regarding the Bradley/Byrd comparison, today after the game Byrd stood up and said he just HAS to do better than a weak pop-up in a RISP situation. He was embarrassed and owned up. I have no problem with that - and Milty always blamed everyone else: the fans, umps, conditions, injuries, day games, he is "alone" - etc. Also, Byrd to this point plays hard, all the time, and just "does his job" on the field. It is a refreshing change from last year's bullshit.

the usual starting 8...what's the record for men left on base? theriot, fukudome, dlee, aram, byrd, soriano, fontenot, soto, LILLY (per Muskat)

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    For sure. This lineup isn’t exactly stacked as is, and subbing out a Cooper or even a Tauchman for Madrigal won’t do it any favors.

  • crunch (view)

    the ESPN bottom graphic taking up 1/8th of the screen sucks.

    i only use ESPN during baseball season and i'm forced to watch a baseball broadcast designed to be broadcast in sports bars and betting parlors where the news/scores of other games is as important as what you're actually tuned in to watch.

  • crunch (view)

    morel triple to start the season....yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • 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.