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

Someone Left the Cash Out in the Rain

Carlos Pena crushed a three-run HR, Starlin Castro tripled, singled, scored a run, and knocked-in another, and Geovany Soto drove-in two runs with a wind-blown double, as the Cubs took a 7-4 lead after the top of the 4th inning in Cactus League action at damp and windy Tempe Diablo Stadium, in a game that was called due to rain after 3-1/2 innings before it was an official game.  

Hoping to nail-down the 5th starter's job, Andrew Cashner got the start for the Cubs and pitched all three innings prior to the game being called. He allowed four runs (earned) on seven hits and two walks, with two strikeouts and a GIDP. He threw 67 pitches (only 38 strikes). needing 22 pitches to get through the 1st inning when the Angels scored twice, 20 pitches in a scoreless 2nd inning, and 25 pitches in another two-run Angel uprising in the 3rd. The damage could have been even worse (and the pitch count even higher), but the Angels ran themselves out of both the 1st and 2nd innings (runner thrown out trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on a two-out single in the 1st, and a strike-out & CS DP to end the 2nd).The Angels original lineup featured most of their starters (Aybar, Kendrick, Hunter, Wells, et al), but most of them left after only one AB, so Cashner actually struggled in the 2nd and 3rd innings against a minor leaguer lineup. 

Cashner had all kinds of problems throwing strikes today, and while the gusty winds and light drizzle that fell for much of the game was probably a contributing factor, it really is not all that unusual for Cash to throw a high number of pitches-per-inning. The thing about Cashner is that he throws harder when he knows he is going to pitch just one inning, and can rely more on his high-velocity four-seamer to rack up strikeouts instead of throwing a two-seamer/slider/change-up combo that might or might not result in him throwing fewer pitches, but certainly will make him more hittable. Personally, I'll take the one-inning "let-it-all-hang-out" Cashner with the 98-100 MPH unhittable gas who goes aggressively after hitters, rather than the starter Cashner who tries to mix-up his pitches and induce ground balls like a hundred other run-of-the-mill MLB pitchers.   

Given Cashner's performance today, I would say the jury is still out regarding the Cubs 5th starter. I guess it could be Cashner (although his high pitch counts will burn out a bullpen if it's not rested), or Carlos Silva or Braden Looper (despite neither pitcher looking like someone you would want on the hill starting a game every 5th day), or maybe Casey Coleman (who threw in a game at Minor League Camp last Saturday) will get the job by default.  

The Cubs got on the scoreboard in the top of the 1st inning against Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez (who made the start today, probably because of the wet conditions), as Kosuke Fukudome walked and Starlin Castro lined a single to left to start the game. After Marlon Byrd flied out to CF, Carlos Pena whacked a towering three-run HR high & far over the RF fence, with the ball last seen hopping merrily in the direction of eastbound I-10.

The Cubs scored twice more in the 2nd against RHP Kevin Jepsen when Darwin Barney reached on an E-4, and after Fukudome forced Barney at 2nd, Castro roped a triple into the left-center alley to score Fukudome, before Byrd singled to score Castro.

The Cubs finished their scoring in the 4th against RHP Rich Thompson. Fukudome blooped a single to short CF to lead-off the inning, and Pena walked with two outs, before Geovany Soto hit a sky-high wind-aided fly ball over the centefielder's head for a two-run double (although Soto was thrown-out inexplicably trying to stretch it into a triple).

Comments

"Cruz, coming off May 2010 shoulder surgery, has been impressive and seems the leading candidate not only for a job but a key role, assuming he can stay healthy and handle pitching on back-to-back and, at times, three consecutive, days, which the Rays think he can." from the yahoo sports, TB, team, report. ow. that's, juan, cruz, btw.

Sam Fuld was three for three the other day with a double and a steal, and there is some recent commentary that he may make the Rays. I was thinking that if he was put on waivers, the Cubs could use a reserve outfielder. Anything but Reed Johnson. Anything, that is, except for Fernando Perez, who can go to Iowa and work on beating out those soft grounders to short. If he was only two steps faster, he wouldn't have to hardly hit the ball at all. Apart from Fuld, the Cubs traded another outfielder to the Rays who could have beaten out R. Johnson.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 03/23/2011 - 11:17am. All of the NRI guys capable of playing outfield will go through waivers. Scott Moore Matt Camp Reed Johnson Bobby Scales and even Augie Ojeda My point was that there is about to be 100-160 guys sliding through waivers over the next week. If the Cubs aren't happy with the 5th OF spot. They can pick a replacement cheaper and easier now than at any other point of the season. ==================================== DR AARON B: NRI guys are signed to minor league contracts, so they are not placed on waivers when they are cut. What the Cubs can do is claim an OF off Outright Waivers who was on another club's 40-man roster but is out of options, or sign a player who had been on a 40-man roster with a non-guaranteed contract going into Spring Training who was released prior to Opening Day as a cost savings (as happened to Reed Johnson in 2008), or sign an NRI guy who was cut but who has an opt-out clause in his minor league contract that allows him to be a free-agent if he isn't added to his club's 25-man roster (and 40-man roster) by MLB Opening Day.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

"Finding a 5th outfielder will be the least of the Cubs issues this year." If you put it that way, then I suppose you win the poorly framed argument. But two of the Cubs' outfielders are untradeable mediocrities, and then you have Reed Johnson, who has been released by three teams now. That leaves Colvin and Byrd. The Cubs have a glaring need for a leadoff hitter, which can only be filled at this point using Reed Johnson's roster spot. Least of their issues . . .

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

You have to get around the bases well, better than, say, Fukudome. It makes no difference what position you play, although usually the speed guys play up the middle (not catcher). You have to get on base, which Fukudome does--but not necessarily better than Fuld, who runs and defends better. I just think it's strange that we keep Fuld until he's 29, and when we finally have a need for him (however temporary), we give him away for nothing, for essayist Fernando Perez. Also, the Cubs should have pulled Guyer back when they agreed to give up Archer. Tampa may have cared about Archer and Chirinos but they weren't holding out for Guyer. (They may not have been holding out for Lee, either--who knows?) It just irks me to see a re-re-retread like Reed Johnson make this team. I care more about the roster--the composition of the team, and how many young players are on it--than I do about how many games the Cubs win in 2011.

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

One way to ask a question is to propose an answer that sounds reasonable, and then ask, Is this what really happened? Aren't you curious about things that are hard to know? For example, we know that the Rays coveted Chirinos and that they wanted either Archer or McNutt in the deal. On the day before the Cubs gave in on Archer, what was the offer they had on the table? I'm guessing: Carpenter (?), Chirinos, Lee and Guyer. Still guessing: when they acceded to the Rays' demand for Archer, the Cubs could have pulled Guyer or substituted someone lesser. Instead they said, Give us Perez. The Rays countered, Okay, but give us Fuld. And thus 34-year-old Reed Johnson is on the 25-man roster.

i didn't realize this was an issue. There already have 4 OF's and trying to figure out where Colvin will get at-bats (and eventually Fukudome once he goes through his slump). Joey Gathright sure didn't get too many PA's, I wouldn't expect much from Perez or Johnson. Johnson can still hit lefties and probably a bit of a defensive upgrade to Soriano late in games. Perez is fast and I would assume be an asset defensively with that speed. Either one should work for the very limited role. With Colvin and/or Fukudome likely sitting on any given day, that's a decent bench bat that should be available. Without doing a thorough study, I would guess that most teams don't have more than one .800/high .700 OPS ready to come in a game for an at-bat. Bobby Scales could be the 5th outfielder if the Cubs are okay with Colvin or Fukudome manning a few innnings at center field once in awhile. At least he has a little pop in his bat.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

A couple of things. If the Cubs thought Perez was good defensively, that may have been another scouting lapse. He has two errors, neither of which I saw, but one was reported as a dropped fly ball. I did see him in a Sunday game against the Sox when he ran to the wall and then took his eye off the ball (Brenly's words) and missed it, apparently because he was afraid of the wall. You don't address the question of which of these five outfielders is any sort of leadoff hitter. We probably have a pretty deep disagreement about what constitutes a leadoff hitter. (I request that you resist the urge to inform me that there is no such thing.) At any rate, Fuld was a leadoff hitter according to my definition. So was Guyer, although Guyer could also hit in the middle of the order. Any real leadoff hitter on the roster could take starts away from Soriano, if not Byrd. I think the Cubs are disappointed in Perez, but that's their own fault. It was certainly a bad trade in regard to Guyer, Fuld and Perez.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

He has two errors, neither of which I saw, but one was reported as a dropped fly ball. I bet Mickey Mantle once dropped a flyball in a spring training game. I did see him in a Sunday game against the Sox when he ran to the wall and then took his eye off the ball (Brenly's words) and missed it, apparently because he was afraid of the wall. Fuld liked to crash in walls, so did Aaron Rowand. They got hurt a lot. Was it a Ho-ho kam game? If not, probably not that familiar with the White Sox park and I don't know how much outfield they take in spring training on away games. He's also coming off shoulder surgery (sort of), better chance making the team if he's not on the disabled list. You don't address the question of which of these five outfielders is any sort of leadoff hitter. Well, I'm sure the 5th outfielder isn't going to be one, not on any type of regular basis anyway. Fukudome is the best bet at the moment. At least he can get on-base, that's 3/4 of the battle. At any rate, Fuld was a leadoff hitter according to my definition. Can't leadoff from the bench.. So was Guyer, although Guyer could also hit in the middle of the order. can't leadoff from Triple A, Brett Jackson is the best leadoff option in the Cubs system. I don't know what the Cubs plan for 5th outfielder is at this point, Perez and Reed haven't hit much at this point and Matt Camp cooled off. Generally you want a guy that can play all 3 positions, but if they're basing it all off spring training offensive performance, Bobby Scales would be the choice. He's a terrible outfielder and all, but they should be covered with Fukudome, Colvin for center field if they want to pinch hit or rest Byrd. And there will be a waiver guys available in the next week to look at if they feel a need. 5th starter spot and if the offense can be in the top half of runs scored are the actual issues.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"At least he can get on-base, that's 3/4 of the battle." Depends if the battle is mainly to increase your OBP. If it's to get around the bases, a walk gets you one quarter of the way. To me, the job of a leadoff hitter--who frequently (in theory at least) comes up with the bases empty--is to score a run with as few walks and hits as necessary behind you. If you get an XBH, you've made it easier. Same with a walk or a bunt single and a steal. Fukudome can get to first, but at that point he needs more help than is ideal.

Az Phil- Has anything interesting happened at minor league camp yet? I'm just jonesing for some updates on the minor league teams and I was just wondering how the minor leaguers are looking or maybe if guys are being moved down and such. I feel like that would be a really interesting read. Thanks for all you do.

Okay, sorry, to pimp the fantasy baseball league here, but we have one last opening and I want to get things wrapped up quickly... e-mail me if you want more info. $30 entry, draft is this sunday at 5pm eastern. E-mail me at [email protected] I'll reply to you from a different e-mail address.

apparently no roster decisions being made until tomorrow Barney is in the mix for 2b starting job Silva pitches tomorrow vs A's, Z will pitch in minor league camp where the air will certainly be better for him.

Firefox 4 is fast.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Random browser question: If you have a crappy computer, does the browser make a difference for the user? I just assume everything runs slowly on the outdated machine I'm on at work.

action today... Colvin singled, 2nd on a WP, thrown out at home after a Byrd single to LF.

Those who were watching today, saw Jake Fox hit his 8th HR. The Orioles batted him NINTH.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

MARK PRIOR worked the fifth inning for the Yankees. Struck out Markakis and Wieters, then got DERREK LEE to ground out on an 0-2 pitch... 3 up/3 down 10 K's in 6.2 IP, Yanks may change their minds about sending Prior to AAA

wow, steve lyons really needed to criticize Blake DeWitt. Chopper to third base, terrible throw by Baker to 2b takes him off the bag and Lyons goes nuts about his defense and how he has to figure out how to get a throw off there to turn the double play. Mind you Eugenio Velez is the one running down first base.

Ninja about to blow the game with 1 out, Double, BB, infield single barney saves it for now by cutting off a single headed to left and keeping it in the infield

Alright, let me try this just to make sure I'm ready for the regular season... Well no doubt Ninja sucks, but it's not like the offense helped him out much.

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.