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

Sori and Barney Wash Sox in Defeat

Darwin Barney singled and scored in the 2nd inning and sliced a two-out two-run triple into the RF corner to cap a four-run 5th, while Alfonso Soriano slugged a solo HR in the 4th and singled and scored in the 5th, leading the Cubs to an 8-7 victory over the crosstown-rival White Sox before a capacity crowd at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny and warm Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.

box score

Matt Garza got the start for the Cubs and threw three shutout innings, before the Sox began to chip away at the ex-Ray for a run in the 4th (BB, 1B, GIDP, 1B) and two more in the 5th (Omar Vizquel two-run HR over the RF fence). Garza benefitted from two neat DPs turned by the Cub infield (Castro-Barney-Pena both times), one in the 3rd and one in the 4th, or the day might not have turned out so well.

As it is, Garza worked five innings (88 pitches - 57 strikes), allowing the three runs (all earned) on eight hits and two walks, with four strikeouts and a 5/6 GO/FO. It wasn't exactly what I would call a stellar performance, but at least it was better than his previous Cactus League outings, and he did get his pitch count up to near regular season levels.

Braden Looper followed Garza to the hill, working the 6th and 7th innings (35 pitches - 22 strikes). He allowed a run in the 6th (two singles and a double), but threw a shutout 7th with a walk the only blemish. Looper did not show a strikeout pitch today, but he did get some timely infield pop ups to get out of further trouble in both innings (2/4 GO/FO). Whether his performance today (coupled with his previous sometimes extremely mediocre Cactus League outings) will be enough to get him the last slot in the bullpen (long relief) remains to be seen, but if I had to guess, I would say probably not. I mean, why pay Looper a million bucks (plus incentives) when Casey Coleman (for example) can do the same job for MLB minimum wage?   

I would have mentioned James Russell in the same sentence with Casey Coleman (see previous paragraph), except Russell probably pitched himself to Des Moines with his one inning of work today. Russell surrendered back-to-back home runs to Donny Lucy and Alexi Ramirez (and neither one was a "cheapy," either) on consecutive pitches to open the top of the 8th, cutting what had been a comfortable 8-4 Cub lead to 8-6.  

Carlos Marmol pitched the 9th and made things interesting, but not because of walks or hit batsmen. Marmol did throw an unusually high-percentage of strikes, but he also allowed a lead-off single to Paul Konerko on a 3-2 pitch and a two-out RBI double into the LF corner to Donny Lucy (who had a nice day), before finally getting the final out on a called third strike he somehow got past Alexi Ramirez.

Meanwhile, the Cubs offense made major inroads against Sox starter (and one-time Met #1 draft pick and BA Top 100 Prospect) RHP Philip Humber, scoring twice in the 1st, once in the 2nd, once in the 4th, and then four more times in the 5th, to take an 8-3 lead. 

Kosuke Fukudome drew a walk (something he does best) leading-off the bottom of the 1st, and Starlin Castro laced a double to left center to move Fukudome to 3rd. Marlon Byrd hit a more-than-adequate sacrifice fly to plate Kosuke, and then Aramis Ramirez pulled a shattered bat double into the left-field corner to score Castro with the second run of the inning.  

Darwin Barney led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a ground single through the box and into CF, and then Koyie Hill drew his first of two walks (if you can't hit your way on, might as well find another way). Matt Garza then faked a bunt and tried the ol' "butcher boy" slug-bunt play, and it really worked, too, as he chopped the ball almost over the 2nd baseman's head for a hit, save for a leaping grab and throw to 1st by Omar Vizquel to nab Garza. But the play did move Barney and Hill up a base a piece, and Fukudome cashed-in the scoring opportunity, scoring Barney with a another Cub SF.  

After the Sox had scored in the top of the 4th to cut the Cub lead to 3-1, Alfonso Soriano got the run right back, clubbing a towering solo HR over the right-centerfield fence (just to the right of the CF "Green Monster" Batter's Eye) leading off the bottom of the 4th.

The Cubs seemingly put the game away in the bottom of the 5th against Humber and ex-Cub LHRP Will Ohman. Castro drew a one-out walk, advanced to 2nd on a Humber WP, and scored on a Marlon Byrd line-drive RBI single to RF. Aramis Ramirez walked, and then after Will Ohman came into the game and struck out Carlos Pena swinging (Pena's third strikeout of the game, the first two being called third strikes), Soriano grounded a single to left to score Byrd, and Barney tripled into the RF corner to plate Ramirez and Soriano, and close the Cubs scoring for the day.  

The Cubs announced several roster cuts before today's game, optioning OF Fernando Perez to AAA Iowa, and sending INF Matt Camp, Scott Moore, Augie Ojeda, and Bobby Scales to minor league camp (where all four will be assigned to the Iowa squad). Perez had a poor Spring, and Reed Johnson simply outplayed the ex-Ray in just about all phases of the game (Perez is clearly a lot faster than Johnson), although Johnson himself just started to catch fire at the plate in recent days. Whether the Cubs will commit to R. Johnson as their 5th OF or continue to scour the eBis waiver wire for other alternatives remains to be seen.

I was somewhat surprised that the Cubs opted to keep Blake DeWitt on the Opening Day 25-man roster, when Bobby Scales and Scott Moore clearly outhit DeWitt throughout Spring Training. None of the three play 2B very well (Scales is actually probably the best of the three), and DeWitt does have one minor league option left, so it's not like the Cubs would have risked losing him off waivers if they had tried to send him down. And if DeWitt were to spend at least 100 days on optional assignment to the minors in 2011 he would not be eligible for salary arbitration post-2011, which would likely save the Cubs about $1M in 2012 payroll.    

 

Comments

The report of Hill drawing not one but two walks induces flashbacks to little league when all your pitcher had to do was fan the mandatorily substituted bench dreg by tossing three ordinary strikes past his useless bat & the game would be over. But no, he couldn't do it & the lineup turned over & there went the old ballgame...

And if DeWitt were to spends at least 100 days on optional assignment to the minors in 2011 he would not be eligible for salary arbitration post-2011, which would likely save the Cubs about $1M in 2012 payroll. --------------- This seems like a Hendry decision to not piss the guy off. It reminds me of when he trotted out Nady to first everyday so he could reach his incentives.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

My take is this - while I think DeWitt should be in AAA, working on a power swing and dabbling at 2nd and 3rd ... I wonder if the Cubs feel that, if DeWitt gets back to what he was last year, if Blake isn't a better top of the order option (and I still don't think he is, just saying I wonder if the Cubs feel that way) than what they have on hand right now, and as such, may be willing to give him some time this spring.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Here's another reason the Cubs may have decided to keep DeWitt around, The Maddux Factor....
Cubs GM Jim Hendry gave Maddux some credit for the decision to acquire the Dodgers infielder in the Ted Lilly/Ryan Theriot deal. "We've certainly liked [DeWitt] for years," Hendry said. "He's a tough kid. He's 24 years old, so his better days are way ahead of him. … He has a chance to be a complete player. He has to be better offensively. Greg spoke highly of him, when Greg pitched for the Dodgers, and in my discussions with Greg about him a few weeks back."

After the Sox had scored in the top of the 4th to cut the Cub lead to 3-1, Alfonso Soriano got the run right back, clubbing a towering solo HR over the right-centerfield fence (just to the right of the CF "Green Monster" Batter's Eye) leading off the bottom of the 4th. --------- Reading this makes me wonder how many of Soriano's homers come leading off an inning. Then it makes me wonder how many are solo. I'm sure this has been discussed before but I can't recall

How many pitchers are going to make this team that don't belong in the majors? "Manager Mike Quade officially named Randy Wells as his fourth starter on Friday, while also confirming that James Russell and Jeff Samardzija have made the staff. That leaves one opening on the 12-man staff for either Carlos Silva, Braden Looper, Casey Coleman or Marcos Mateo." http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/cbsports-wells-officially-n… Wells is fine, but Russell, Shark, and the 4 guys competing for the final spot? C'mon Hendry. Also, Paul Sullivan doesn't know Seattle is eating $5.5 million of Silva's contract this year... "Silva will either be a starter, reliever or be released, with the Cubs obligated to pay all but the major league minimum from his $11.5 million salary in 2011."

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

The frustrating thing is that it's just so damned random... "Spring training stats count, unless they don't. The only place we do apply that criteria, though is starting pitchers who are really relief pitchers, bench guys and and anyone who makes less than $12 million a year. Besides that we have a very systematic system involving a handful of blades of grass and chicken shit bingo to determine the roster."

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I have always thought relying on spring training stats to make roster decisions is ridiculous, especially when you're cutting a player with a track record of major league success, because he had a poor spring. Case in point, between Silva, Russell, Coleman, Mateo, Shark, Looper, as much as everyone will hate to hear this, Silva deserves a spot over all of those guys. He had success last year. The Cubs are on the hook for $8 million to him ($6 mil this year and $2 mil buyout for next year). Why not let him open the season and see how he does? If he sucks, cut him then, but it's not like any of the young guys in that group are going to do anything of substance in the majors. They're all fringe players at best. It's not like keeping Silva means Cashner goes to AAA. Put Cashner in the rotation and Silva as the long man. If/when a starter gets hurt, Silva can move into the rotation (or maybe he's sucked so bad he's gone by then). Koyie Hill on the other hand has never had what I would call big league success. So going by the numbers, and how he looks this spring, one could come to a strong conclusion that his skills have eroded and he's done. Maybe he 'heats up' once the season starts and hits a whopping .200 ish. But I can understand if they want Castillo to play everyday in the minors for a season or half a season before sitting on the bench here. Any update on Max Ramirez and his wrist?

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I agree on Silva, at least at the start of ST last year he stunk as well, then got it going, for the most part. But if it is a competition, how is Samardizja named ahead of Silva who did well last year or Mateo who has been good? Why did Wells have to pitch for a spot in the rotation, when DeWitt hasn't been given a roster spot regardless of how well he plays? How does Barney play himself into a starting position, when Moore can't make the team? If you pick out one guy, you can sort of make a case, but Hill, Russell Wideout Side and DeWitt have not showed they deserve to be on a MLB roster and none of them have a proven MLB track record to fall back on. As far as I can tell, Russell is making the team based primarily on his 2010 Spring Training stats. He had a 6.65 second half ERA last year and has a 9 ERA this spring.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Quade became manager on Aug. 23. From that date till the end of the season, Russell pitched fourteen times, and had one bad outing (against the Mets on 9/5 when he gave up 5 runs). In the other thirteen appearances, covering 10.1 innings, he gave up 1 ER on 8 hits, with 1 BB and 9 Ks. Russell has good control, especially for a young lefty, and that's what separated him from Maine. Quade mentioned Maine's command on the day he sent him down. For Quade, Russell often pitched to one hitter and proved to be an effective loogy. They don't do that in ST.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

30 days in September, so four times is once every seven and half days... but that's still not "often", that's occasionally. Plus Quade was there the whole season, he should have been watching Russell. Over the same time period Maine had a 1.63 ERA, only giving up a single run in two games, with a 5/11 BB/K ratio and no HR's (Russell gave up two). Then he out pitched Russell, who I like, but has sucked, this spring, despite not having his 2nd best pitch... and still he goes down. There is undoubtedly some reason, but like I said, from the outside looking in, these decisions are just unfathomable.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

1) While ST is a great opportunity for unsung players to showcase their talent, the rules are not that whoever puts up the best numbers gets the job. For one thing, ballplayers are streaky, and a cold March could mean a hot April-May. 2) Quade mentioned that Maine had pitched better for him last season, and indicated that he should have come to spring training ready to throw strikes. Throwing strikes is never a problem for Russell. 3) I made a general observation, and when challenged, produced four separate instances in one month. You weren't satisfied. I can live with that. I'm a pretty happy camper right now, and don't find the recent Quade-Hendry personnel decisions stupid or unfathomable.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

That's a funny idea, that Koyie Hill is on the team for his hitting. I'm assuming it's a fantasy-ball mindset, although I don't know first hand. If you're wondering why Castillo is having trouble beating out Hill, watch his reaction to Marmol's slider in the dirt in the Sox' last at bat (Ramirez) with the tying run on second in the ninth yesterday. Watch how quickly he drops down, whether he gets his glove on the ball, where the ball ends up. Marmol's throwing a slider in the dirt is not unusual, and when it happens, it doesn't matter if the catcher can hit.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Hill came in specifically to catch Marmol four times between 9/11 and 9/20 the year before. Rightly or wrongly, Piniella thought it made a difference which of the two players was catching Marmol--at least in September '09, when the Cubs still had hope of catching the Cards. I've said several times that I don't think Hill's role is as important under Quade as it was when Piniella and Rothschild were running the show. Back then, Hill represented order amidst chaos. There's not going to be chaos now. Hill may be expendable. I like him, but I won't cry when he's gone.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

That leaves one opening on the 12-man staff for either Carlos Silva, Braden Looper, Casey Coleman or Marcos Mateo." Did I miss when the Cubs said that Cashner would be on the big league roster? I have only seen Joel Sherman talk about "another club exec" saying Cashner would be the 5th starter. But if for some reason he isn't the 5th starter, is he automatically on the roster? Or does he go to AAA and start down there?

Keith Law was asked today, on the ESPN Baseball Today podcast, about red flags he looks for in spring training games for pitchers. He talked about down velocity and general loss of stuff, the example he gave was seeing Jay Jackson this spring, adding that he looked hurt.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Please open up the part of the article about Matt Szczur's having to be placed on the 40 man roster after this season, or be exposed in the Rule 5 draft. This is because, the Cubs decided to release him, and then "re-sign" him to a new deal to give him a bigger signing bonus for forgoing the NFL combine. This move means that he'll have to be put on the 40 man roster after this season, or they could lose him. Oh, and this will be his first full season of baseball. Stupid move.

1 opening remaining in Transmission's annual "Rod Beck's America" fantasy baseball league. It's Head to Head with fairly deep rosters and 12x12 stat categories (mix of ratio and the usual counting stats). The returning members are pretty much all current or former TCR readers/members. It's competitive, but it's a pretty casual league with only two 'rules'. 1) don't be a jerk 2) if you do sign up, you need to be at least semi-active (we'd prefer if you can check in at least once per week) but you DO need to check in at least once per month or we'll shoot you a polite email asking you to please check into your roster to make DL adjustments or whatnot. The live draft is this Sunday at 1 PM EST, it's free, and hosted on Yahoo. If you can't make the live draft you can pre-rank your selections. Just go to the Yahoo fantasy baseball homepage (you'll need to register if you don't have an acct), and click the "join custom league" tab and enter the following info League id is - 132209 Password is - samfuld

Jeff Baker pulled after 3 innings for cautionary reasons, tight hamstring. FREE Bobby Scales! UPDATE: DeWitt turns into Godzilla and hits a high hr to RF.

Bronson Arroyo needs to clean his bong, fungal infection in his lungs, according to Len and Bob. The Crazy Chicago Bears Good Luck continues to help the Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I know, Steve Stone had valley fever and one of our pitchers did a few years back, I'm forgetting his name. I know it's bad stuff. But I can imagine Arroyo with a bong, and I doubt it's very clean. lol. But really, think about the weird injuries that keep happening to NL Central pitchers... Greinke, basketball injury Arroyo, bong injury Cueto, injured petting a kitten Wainright, run over by a drunk Tony Larussa

Shark has let his hair grow, now he looks like an English Springer Spaniel as he runs in from the bullpen. Just another reason not to like him. ---- He looks like a clown, I would cut him just for the hair.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.