Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Castro Gets the Call

Submitted by Cubnut on

As virtually all of Cub Nation has probably already heard, the Cubs have summoned 20-year-old Starlin Castro to the bigs. He's in tonight's lineup in Cincinnati, hitting eighth. Ryan Theriot is moving over to second. Chad Tracy, meanwhile, has been banished to Iowa, Andrew Cashner has been promoted to Iowa from Tennessee, and Josh Vitters has been moved up to Tennessee from Daytona.

Back to the game tonight. Here's the batting order that will go up against the Reds' Homer Bailey:

Theriot 4, Fukudome 9, Lee 3, Byrd 8, Ramirez 5, Soriano 6, Soto 2, Castro 6, Silva 1.

Sullivan points out in the Tribune that Castro is the youngest Cubs rookie since 19-year-old Oscar Gamble made his debut 41 years ago. Ironically, Gamble also broke in against the Reds, in Cincinnati.

Also found this item in Sullivan's story amusing: Jim Hendry said these moves were not motivated by the Cubs getting swept in Pittsburgh. "I knew two days ago I was going to do this before Cincinnati," the Cubs GM said.

Some thoughts on the move by Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (subscription required):

The Dominican shortstop just turned 20 in March, but after a monster spring and this much offense so far in the Southern League, I think we can have some confidence that he's going to hit immediately. Certainly not .376, but he should hold his own.., as in yesterday's Scouting Notebook, a scout believed he could be a future 70 hitter, which is nearly batting title territory. Beyond the ability to hammer line drives all over the field, Castro has a good, not great approach, but he's not overly aggressive like Corey Patterson was, and it shouldn't be a problem in the big leagues.

Goldstein also cautions that Castro is not "some sort of massive tools monster." He rates Castro's speed as only average and says not to expect much in the way of longball power until Castro's frame fills out.

Tags
Ryan Theriot
Starlin Castro

Comments

Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:28 pm

Sorry, all, for the Corey Patterson reference. Before I knew it, I had typed the words and well, I'm just really sorry.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:29 pm

Just think at this rate - three more promotions and Soto can bat fourth!

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:32 pm

Goldstein also cautions that Castro is not "some sort of massive tools monster." ...yes castro is an awesome prospect, but really...we shouldnt expect more than a renteria/vizquel type performance out of the guy at his peak. he's just not built for super-stardom...at least now...probably not ever.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:34 am

We shouldn't expect it right away or anything--and I know that scouts etc. are trying to project based on what Castro has done so far in the minors and his current body--but watching Castro's swing in spring training and looking at the number of extra base hits he's able to collect in the minors, I don't think it's completely unreasonable that he could produce DeRosa+ power. He's not a big guy, but he's so comfortable putting the bat on the ball that he can take some pretty aggressive swings, and he's already using his legs well.

Submitted by Jace on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:38 pm

At this point, I am just happy to say that he makes the team better. It is not their most urgent need, but a Theriot/Castro middle infield sure seems like an upgrade over a Fonty/Theriot one.... I just wish that this did something to address the MASSIVE production void coming from their corner IFs, or to add someone reliable to the pen...

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:56 pm

the whole thing seems like a massive distraction from the season-as-is to me. it's the answer to a problem that doesn't exist and the potential upgrade quality seems to be so minor in the immediate future. we get a new toy to look at on TV, though.

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:19 pm

the very idea of bringing up an "upgrade" that we slot into the 8-hitting slot says a lot about the upgrade, imo. some believe the D upgrade at SS will be worth counting, too. i'm in the camp that believes that while theriot is pretty damn average, he's not a liability.

Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:31 pm

Also from Baseball Prospectus, Christina Kahrl uses about 600 words to say that she thinks the call-up makes sense and that she's expecting early, Edgar Renteria-like numbers from the young man--.270 to .280 average, a few homers--plus a nice defensive improvement over Theriot.

Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:37 pm

Reds lineup v. Silva: Cabrera SS, Phillips 2B, Votto 1B, Rolen 3B, Bruce RF, Gomes LF, Stubbs CF, Hernandez C, Homer Bailey P

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:02 pm

Chad Tracy has 6+033 MLB Service Time through yesterday, so he would have had to agree to accept an Optional Assignment to Iowa. And to get him to agree, the Cubs probably had to guarantee some or all of the $550K in performance incentives in his contract. Also, Starlin Castro presently gets four minor league options (as long as the 4th one is used prior to his completing five full seasons), in case the Cubs option him back to the minors at some point later this season.

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:31 pm

If Castro sticks, what role does Baker have on the team? Wish A-Ram would get himself together at the plate. Lee, too.

Submitted by navigator on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:03 pm

The Cincy TV announcers just said that the 6 RBI by Castro in his MLB debut was the greatest performance ever by a rookie in his first game. One game, one Major League record.

Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:34 pm

Other than his Cubbie disaster with The Wide-Out, the below plus the recent Cub Top 10 prospects is not at all the disaster Mike C whines about constantly. And interestingly NAVIGATOR has been silent about "Teflon Tim" recently. Go figure. "During his 27-year career, Wilken has seen a distinguished list of players signed and ushered into the big leagues, including: Derek Bell, Chris Carpenter, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Freel, Shawn Green, Roy Halladay, Steve Karsay, Billy Koch, Josh Phelps, Alex Rios, Vernon Wells and Michael Young. While with the Blue Jays, he contributed to the club's streak of seeing 11 straight first-round draft picks reach the major leagues. In addition, during his 11 years after being promoted to national crosschecker of the Blue Jays, Toronto's draft was ranked in the top five each year - producing four Rawling Gold Glove winners and two Cy Young Award winners. In 2005, 16 products of the Blue Jays organization were on the All-Star Ballot and six were selected to the All-Star Team. In addition, in 2003, the Blue Jays were named Baseball America's organization of the year."

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Submitted by MikeC on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:44 pm

Ummmm E-man sorry to bag on you but just because Wilken had a great career some where else doesn't mean the picture is all sunshine and rose petals in the Cubs system. One thing doesn't have a damn thing to do with another. If the organization isn't going to pay top dollar for the best players in the draft then your still going to get a shitty product. More importantly he is only as good as the people around him and the people in the Cubs system, are how should i put it, F'n horrible at talent evaluation. McPhail was a great GM in Minnesota, because he had great people working for him. He wasn't so much in Chicago, in fact he was a pretty shitty GM. He continues to be that same shitty GM in Baltimore but with better scouts and talent evaluation. Minnesota keeps on trucking like he never existed and McPhail never did a damn thing to help this franchise win a World Series. He took a couple can't miss prospects that carried us about as far as they could and then it flamed out every time. All you have done is thrown out Wilken's past accomplishments and concluded our farm system is better and/or fixed because of what he did in the past. In fact you didn't even mention one single accomplishment from Wilken to the Cubs, thats pretty telling.

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:50 pm

I-Cubs' listing of upcoming pitching matchups doesn't include Cashner yet [assuming he'll continue to start]...they're home for a brief 4 game set w/ OKC before hitting the road so may have to wait a while before a chance to get a look @ him...meantime, Castro: revolution? revelation? wow...

Submitted by Mike Wellman on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:32 pm

damn...cashner now slated to throw tuesday in las vegas on first game of road trip!

Recent comments

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Teheran minor league deal is done, per MLB.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Based on Phil’s sound analysis it sounds like a no brainer for Almonte to be placed on waivers as today’s roster move. We shall see.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I suspect Counsell/Hottovy will use the piggy-back extensively, with Taillon and Hendricks pitching as the "pig" (and with a very short leash) and some combo of Wicks, Brown, and Wesneski (whichever two do not start) as the "backers."  

    Keep in mind that Keegan Thompson has a minor league option available, and if Yency Almonte is not outrighted by 4/26 he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent after that date. Almonte is out of minor league options, so I am talking about him getting outrighted to the minors if he is not claimed off waivers, and if he is claimed off waivers, the Cubs save the pro-rated portion of his $1.9M salary, which helps lower the Cubs 2024 AAV.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Totally agree. The 26 man roster very rarely consists of the 13 best position players and 13 best pitchers.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Based on what Jed has done in the past, I’d say the plan is to

    -give Hendricks another few starts
    -give Taillon some runway ot get his season underway

    -Mix and match in the bullpen and see what sticks

    Jed usually doesn’t do a whole lot of waiver wire plays in-season, at least early in the season. He only reallly did that after he blew up the rosters in 21 and 22 because they needed bodies (guys like Schwindel, Fargas, etc).

    I think he’s a little handcuffed by a full 40 man in that he can’t really maneuver much with giving anyone showing ability at AAA (R Thompson/ Sanders/ Edwards etc). Brewer has the most tenuous grip there, and we will see what kind of chance he gets. Other than his spot, there isn’t a ton of 40 man wiggle room.

    I’m very curious to see what happens with Brown now that Taillon returns. Bullpen? Wicks to Iowa? 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Pro teams have to play their "big money" guys if they are healthy and not "locker room" issues.
    The Cubs wanted to deal JHey off well before they bought him out. They just didn't want to pay him to play for someone else for that long. Jed did give him 20+mil to play for LAD last yr.
    Jed might also let Kyle walk at some point this year. Similar scenario to JHey, except Jed thought Kyle was going to be good/solid in '24!!
    You'd think Smyly is in the same book as well. Same with Neris (he's a 1yr vet RP, so he's not really in this convo too much).
    That's ~35mil between those three and those three are going to get opportunities until at least late June) over younger guys even if their performance is "iffy".
    But, Jed is going to play Taillon a lot. They have to try and justify that contract and hope a veteran works out.
    So, Taillon, Imanaga, and Hendricks are locks for the rest of April and probably May.
    Assad, Brown and Wicks handle the last spots until Steele is ready.
    Now, you're question has real merit when Steele comes back. That will interesting if Brown is still good and Hendricks is still bad. But Taillon is entirely safe as long as he's healthy.

    And the bullpen moves were "money" based as well. Smyly has actually been okay. But he hasn't been clearly better than Little. Little had one bad outing. But Smyly makes 9mil. If they needed another RHRP and one of Little and Smyly had to go, it was going to Little. But that doesn't mean Smyly is one of the best 13 arms for the team. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: I think there was an issue with Luke Little coming into a game with men on base. He seems to need a "clean" inning to be dominant. So he is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AAA. Same goes for Michael Arias. He needs to come into a "clean" inning, and is a future closer and needs to be used in that role at AA. Porter Hodge is a more versatile pitcher, a better version of Keegan Thompson (multi-inning RP). But Little, Arias, and Hodge (probably in that order) are the Cubs top three RP prospects (all three are Cubs Top 15 prospects).

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    So, let’s do a little war gaming. Taillon is back for tonight’s game. He pitched two rehab games, just a few innings each, and not especially sharp. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been lights out since the Cubs gave him the big contract. In other words, as flat out bad as Hendricks has been, the chances of Taillon being the savior don’t look exactly promising.

    If Taillon is equally ineffective or perhaps even worse, what’s the next move? Winning teams can often find a way to work around a dud fifth starter - kinda. Two dud starters make things much more difficult.

    I believe the biggest reason for the recent bullpen moves was dissatisfaction with the recent blowing of big leads and the recognition that the bullpen wasn’t all it was thought to be. In other words, they are exploring alternate options and configurations. If similar juggling becomes necessary (even more so than it already is), what kind of reasonable maneuvering do we think could be explored?

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Cubdom needs to prepare themselves for Wicks to be sent to Iowa for Taillon to come up.
    Ben Brown has 4 appearances. Wicks has 4 appearances.
    Ben has 16.1 IP.  Wicks has 17 IP
    Ben was a 1.1 WHIP.  Wicks has a 1.7 WHIP. Wicks does have significantly more SOs. 
    Ben has been better, though.
    I love Wicks. I think he's a fighter and his stuff has improved.
    But, Jed isn't ditching Hendricks just yet. He should. But he won't.
    Hendricks should go to the IL and Taillon-Imanaga-Assad-Wicks-Brown should be the rotation.
    Wont' happen though.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil,
    Did you agree with the demotion of Luke Little? He'd been pretty good up until the AZ/wild pitch appearance. I know that can't jettison Smyly (just yet) so they didn't need another LHRP. Especially with Leiter effectively being a LHRP. I still thought he deserved to stay. It's not permanent. He'll be back. Lots of moves to come with Taillon, Steele and other guys coming and going.

    Also, do you see Hodge being able to "control/command" his stuff to get a chance this year?
    Is Arias better than Hodge?   Thanks

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