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

Brewers Beat Cubs and Suddenly, Ron Santo Seems Quite Articulate

Things have gotten so bad with the Cubs that Ron Santo's heavy sighs and plaintive wails and exclamations of "C'mon!" and "No!" actually capture precisely the way I now feel while listening to or watching the action.

Tuesday night the Cubs fell to a season-worst 15 games under .500, losing their seventh in a row, 4-3, to the Brewers. (Lest we forget, the Brewers had lost five in a row before this series began.)

Thomas Diamond, the starting and losing pitcher for the Cubs, was making his first Major League start and wound up tying Mark Prior's franchise record for strikeouts by a pitcher making his Cub debut with 10. Diamond also managed to keep the Cub bullpen on the sidelines until the 7th inning, throwing 122 pitches in the process, which was the highest pitch count by a player making his first MLB appearance since 2001.

The Cub offense provided the usual mix of flat-out failure—1-for-11 with RISP—and comic ineptitude. The game essentially ended right after Starlin Castro drove in Mike Fontenot with the Cubs' third run in the final inning. Castro slipped while trying to stretch his single into a double and was thrown out in a rundown between first and second. Derrek Lee then fanned for the final out. 

Aside from dropping seven games in a row, the Cubs have now gone 49 innings without even having a lead.

Comments

I haven't been paying that close attention, but wasn't Wellman saying Diamond had been on a pretty strict pitch count his last few outings? so wtf if that's true?

"Carlos Zambrano will return to the Chicago Cubs' starting rotation on Monday against the San Francisco Giants, manager Lou Piniella said on Wednesday." ... "I've been in this game for nine years," Zambrano said. "For seven years, I've been doing a good job and the last few years unfortuiantely I haven't. But it's not [too] late. It's not [too] late. We still have two months to go to try to finish over .500." http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5437025

Ohh geez dude he has a goal of wanting to help the team win more games. What would you like him to say to be more Politically Correct for you? He kinda did that when he yelled out Lee. The team is playing like horseshit and we haven't got a shot in hell of doing anything? So i am just gonna play half-ass baseball because no one gives a fuck anymore? For a 140 million they should sack up and try and play for some fucking pride. But with sleepy Lee, and dopey Ramirez the Cubs will be stuck in "I don't give a fuck" mode for awhile. Remember we tried to add a little fire to the clubhouse in adding Bradley because our two-current team leaders are about as boring and lifeless as the baseball they currently play. I am just saying the old blood of the Clubhouse is the shrug your shoulders type of guys who say, "Ohh well we will get them tomorrow," as they hop in their limo.

For some positive news... - Soto is a damn good hitter, with a higher OBP and SLUG than any qualifying catcher, though Soto doesn't qualify. With unqualified folks, he has a higher OPS than everyone but Posey. - Castro and Colvin are looking more and more legit every day. - The Cubs just scored some runs. By the way... do people still really think that the Cubs are not better off with Castro at SS rather than Theriot?

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

I don't remember seeing the comment about Castro either but maybe some clown jumped to conclusions when he struggled in June. I remember early on it seemed like he wasn't hitting anything at all to left field, outs or not, and now, after his own adjustment maybe, he is. I dunno about everyone else but I like this kid a lot. I'm even positive right now about DeWitt, who, if he was just coming up from the minors, I'd say is can't miss just based on what little I've seen. Nice swing, good instincts in the field. He's 24 and appeared in just a little more than a season's worth of MLB games, and of course was a first rounder. So I'm really interested to see how he does from here on out.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Ryan Howard played just 88 games in 2005 and won, Raul Mondesi played 112, Bob Hamelin 101 games - so it happens. Castro will probably end up at around 110 games played. Posey will be behind that in games so I doubt he gets much consideration. Jay, Johnson, and Walker won't have even close to enough. Venters, as a middle reliever, probably won't get much consideration either. I can't see Niese getting any more than a stray one or two votes. Leake will get a few back-end votes because of his W-L, but he hasn't really impressed that much. Strasburg will get some votes just because of this dominance, but with only 9 starts, many voters will shy away and he won't likely get many first place votes. But he will get a couple just because voters are stupid like that. Haywerd figures to finish with a low average, but 15-20 homers, and 75-80 runs and RBI. Colvin's average will be about the same, and he will have more HR (20-25?), but probably 15 fewer runs and RBI. Sanchez will have similar runs and RBI to Heyward, and a much higher average, but fewer homers than either Heyward or Colvin. When compared to those three, Castro will have the highest average and will get credit for defense, but falls well short on HR, RBI, and Runs, and doesn't have any stolen bases to make up for it. Garcia will finish with 12-15 wins and a solid ERA and I think gets a lot of consideration. In two months a lot can happen, but I see something like: 1. Heyward 2. Garcia 3. Sanchez 4. Strasburg 5. Colvin 6. Castro Others with a few votes - Posey, Leake, etc. mainly from the writers who cover those teams.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's complicated. from the article: "The F.C.C., meanwhile, favors a level playing field, but it cannot impose one as long as its authority over broadband is in legal doubt. It has proposed a solution that would reclassify broadband Internet service under the Communications Act from its current designation as an “information service,” a lightly regulated designation, to a “telecommunications service,” a category that, like telephone service, is subject to stricter regulation."

I know this is nothing new, but man there were so many drunken, loud idiots (rooting for both teams) at the game yesterday. Was hoping for a nice, relaxing day at the park and it turned into quite the opposite. I can't even believe they kept serving the guy behind me.

Did not see the game, only the box score, where he looked as good as I would expect from someone just getting called up again and knowing this may be a chance to impress for next year (i.e. not great control, quality start and lots of Ks due to good stuff and adrenalin). Did he look as good as the line? Or are there things that are not seen in the box score (like lots of hard hit balls right at people that were outs or most of the hits being bloopers that fell in the right spot, for example). Thank you for any insight.

castro's hitting well, but...well...there's june vs. july...he's going to swing. he's also trying to turn everything that's a marginal double into a double...i guess his youth comes in handy there because he's not been snagged being stupid on the basepaths too much. the major thing that bothers me is 17 of his 21 walks are in the 8 slot (96 of 277ab). he's going to put pretty much everything in play unless there's a pitcher hitting behind him it seems. so far having dlee behind him is working out, but he's picked up "only" 2 walks in 116ab. ...and yeah, i should use PAs, not ABs, but we can get the gist of it.

rick sanchez (CNN) has spent the last 3 minutes ranting about how no one gives a flying f**k about arod and his 600HR...good commentary, sharp and to the point. he put MLB (the whole organization) #1 on his piece "The List You Don't Want to Be On." he blamed MLB pretty sharply for allowing a game so closely tied to numbers to enter a lost era that effects the numbers.

So it would be about yesterday when Lou and Jim had a talk with D.Lee and told him you are only going to start at first about half the games left because we want to look at options for first for 2011. Would they be forward thinking to let someone besides Nady or Lee play first. Maybe they learned from not playing Theriot at second in the spring.

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.