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

Castro Casts Seattle Boat People Adrift

Starlin Castro drilled a three-run double to cap a four-run 7th inning rally, as the Cubs defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-3 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny & warm Mesa, AZ, this afternoon  

box score

Randy Wells got the start for the Cubs, and worked 5.2 IP (91 pitches - 56 strikes), allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out eight. Overall he pitched very well, especially innings two and onward.

Wells did have a tough 26-pitch 1st inning, though, when the Mariners scored twice, as Wells walked Jack Wilson (after getting ahead 0-2) to lead-off the game, threw a Wild Pitch to move Wilson into scoring position, before surrendering an RBI single to Jack Cust to drive-in the first run of the game. Justin Smoak then doubled into the left-center power alley to score the slow-footed Cust from 1st base.

The Mariners scored their third run in the top of the 4th when Smoak ripped his second double of the game to lead off the inning, and, after Wells struck out Ryan Langerhans and retired Luis Rodriguez on a ground out, scored on an Adam Moore two-out line-drive RBI single to left.

Cub pitchers then threw one-hit shutout ball the rest of the way, retiring 16 of the last 19 Mariners. Sean Marshall threw an 11-pitch 1-2-3 7th with two strikeouts and a GO. John Grabow pitched one inning (18 pitches - 11 strikes), allowing a lead-off walk before retiring the next three hitters (K, L-7, and 5-3), and finally Marcos Mateo put the Mariners away with some 9th inning gas (K, K, 5-3) for the Save. Mateo has had an impressive Spring Training, meaning he will probably be sent to Iowa.

With ex-CLE LHP Aaron Laffey working on a 3-0 shutout, the Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the 4th when Aramis Ramirez bounced a lead-off double off the head of Seattle second-baseman Jack Wilson (the ex-Pirate was diving for the ball and it doinked him in the head, before bounding into foul territory behind 1B), advanced to 3rd on a GO, and then scored on an RBI GO by Carlos Pena.

Blake DeWiit celebrated making the Cubs Opening Day 25-man roster in style, absolutely crushing a solo HR off RHRP Tom Wilhelmsen with two outs in the bottom of the 5th far beyond the RF fence to get the Cubs within one run, and then the home team discharged their four-run rally in the bottom of the 7th to take the lead.  

Facing LHRP Cesar Jimenez, Tyler Colvin drew a one-out walk, and advanced to 3rd base when PH Josh Vitters (up from Minor League Camp) roped a double down the LF line. Blake DeWitt reached on an infield hit to load the bases, and then Starlin Castro slammed his bases-clearing three-run double into the left-center power alley to give the Cubs the lead. The Cubs scored another run in the inning on a Reed Johnson two-out PH RBI double.

The Cubs should have had even more runs in the 7th, but they suffered a baserunning brain fart with Castro on 2nd and Marlon Byrd on 1st, one out, and Johnson at bat, where Castro was picked off 2nd base when the two runners left early on what was apparently going to be either a double-steal attempt or a hit & run. Byrd was able to move up to 2nd base on the play and scored on the Johnson RBI double.

The defensive highlight of the game for the Cubs (and for me) was probably the final play of the game, when 3B Josh Vitters aggressively charged a slow chopper, and made a strong, accurate, off-balance throw to 1st base to nip Chris Gimenez by a half-step. This was a play Vitters probably does not make in 2010.

Comments

For those who didn't see, the grounder was a chopper right down the line and Vitters came in and bare-handed it and threw across his body off-balance all in one motion. It was quite an impressive play.

It absolutely was an impressive play by Vitters. I really hope he stays healthy and has a solid season this year. He looks a lot more toned physically. He has probably naturally filled out a bit and those couple of weeks at Camp Colvin helped as well. Mateo looked like he was throwing gas today and had a couple sliders with hard downward movement. Impressive performance in the last few innings today by the Cubbies. BTW, I had never seen Rebel Ridling before, he's a pretty big dude.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Of the remaining candidates battling for the final pen slots, Mateo does bring heat and a good, albeit, inconsistent, slider. I like having guys that you can call on to throw some gas, but we'll have to wait and see how things play out. Rebel - best name in baseball. The approach is alright for a big guy with a big swing, but the raw power hasn't really translated all that great in his minor league career so far. That said, our system is somewhat devoid of top power prospects, and there aren't really any guys blocking him from a prospect perspective, so he'll likely get a good shot to prove himself at Daytona this year.

Homer Bailey goes down to miss at least 2 starts with a sore shoulder.

John DeWan's stat of the week lists possible 2011 breakout players based on spring training stat of hitting .200 over career slugging percentages and using Jose Bautista of TOR as last years example.
In the study, about two-thirds of hitters who had spring slugging percentages at least 200 points higher than their career total went on to best their career average that season.
http://www.actasports.com/statoftheweek/ only Cub is Starlin Castro (but ex-Cub Jake Fox heads the list)

ROB G: Just wanted to offer my deep appreciation to you for keeping this going and allowing us all to vent, discuss, argue, agree, disagree, opine, and read the Headline Master and Cubs Guru, AZ PHIL. I know this takes up a lot of your time, so just wanted to acknowledge you for all of your efforts as we look forward to this season of "Project .500" - or .465. Thanks once again. May your fingers stay limber and speedy.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

well that was a randomly nice thing to say, think that breaks like 5 Internet commandments. Thanks to Christian for starting it...I just try to keep it operational between the awesomeness that Phil, Dr. Hecht, Mike and Tim post. Sadly as my company grows and my kids, I just don't have the time I once did, but I'll keep it going as long as possible or try to find someone worthy if I can't. Believe the 10-year anniversary is sometime this year, I have to check the date (sometime in May or July).

If the Cubs release Carlos Silva, they are on the hook for his 2011 salary less MLB minimum if he signs elsewhere. But there's a $12 million mutual option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout in Silva's contract. If the Cubs release Silva and he signs elsewhere this year, can the team who signs him have him for MLB minimum for 2012 with the Cubs on the hook for the rest of that $12 million? So lets say he's released now and signs with the Padres (for example). The Padres would owe him the $414 K (or whatever) MLB minimum for 2011 and the Cubs pay the rest of his $11.5 million for 2011 (less any $$ coming from Seattle). What happens for 2012 - can the Padres have him for MLB minimum while making the Cubs pay the bulk of the 2012 option? Or who would be responsible for the $2 million buyout for 2012 if he's not wanted back?

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Submitted by QuietMan on Sat, 03/26/2011 - 9:32am. If the Cubs release Carlos Silva, they are on the hook for his 2011 salary less MLB minimum if he signs elsewhere. But there's a $12 million mutual option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout in Silva's contract. If the Cubs release Silva and he signs elsewhere this year, can the team who signs him have him for MLB minimum for 2012 with the Cubs on the hook for the rest of that $12 million? So lets say he's released now and signs with the Padres (for example). The Padres would owe him the $414 K (or whatever) MLB minimum for 2011 and the Cubs pay the rest of his $11.5 million for 2011 (less any $$ coming from Seattle). What happens for 2012 - can the Padres have him for MLB minimum while making the Cubs pay the bulk of the 2012 option? Or who would be responsible for the $2 million buyout for 2012 if he's not wanted back? =========================================== QUIET MAN: If the Cubs release Silva, they must pay him the balance of his 2011 salary ($11.5M) within 30 days and the $2M 2012 buy-out (in a lump sum) after the conclusion of the season. The 2012 club option is no longer an option once he is released. By releasing Silva, the Cubs are automatically declining their 2012 $12M club option to bring him back and are agreeing in advance to pay him the 2012 buy-out. The Mariners don't actually pay Silva anything, they just send $5.5M to the Cubs to cover that part of Silva's 2011 salary, but the Cubs cut the $11.5M in payroll checks (paid twice a month beginning with the start of the regular season). But once he is released, the entire 2011 salary must be paid in a lump sum within 30 days. If another club signs Silva after he is released and he is placed on that club's 40-man roster, the pro-rated 2011 MLB minimum salary that club owes Silva is actually sent to the Cubs twice a month, and that offsets (to a very small extent) what the Cubs had to pay Silva to go away. As far as next season is concerned, Silva would be a totally free-agent, and having paid Silva his 2012 $2M buy-out post-2011, the Cubs would owe him nothing, but they also would not receive any money from whichever club might sign Silva for 2012.

THIS JUST... IN:CASHNER AND MATEO...SILVA OUT. (per a Muskat tweet) #Cubs tell Carlos Silva they'll try to trade him, but if not, would like him to consider Minor Leagues so he can be insurance for team #Cubs name Andrew Cashner 5th starter, Marcos Mateo to bullpen. http://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/ probably means Casey Coleman is out too but I'm not sure about it.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Who cares about Silva, seriously? From what I've heard, he's a dick in the clubhouse and in one season you never know (like his friend Z) which Carlos is going to show up on his day to start. Is Cashner a better answer as 5th starter? Who f'n knows. If everyone who follows this team (including Hendry) is honest with themselves, then they should know that: 1. This team is not likely to be playing for the World Championship this October (with or without Silva). 2. The future success of this team doesn't center around Silva, Samardzija, Hill, DeWitt or Fukudome. So Hendry can keep them on the roster or get rid of them now, by the trade deadline, or after the season. Having them on the roster NOW should say there is no prospect ready NOW to take their place. 3. I'm all for Cashner, Carpenter, Castillo, B. Jackson, and Vitters being on the 25-man if there's no more for them to learn at Iowa/Tennessee or being with the Cubs will enhance their contributions in 2012 and beyond. If Hendry or whoever really had/has a plan, then this would be part of their thought process: Decide who are the core of this team and build around them with prospects and trades, and the OCCASIONAL free agent.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Amazing. All this hypocritical stuff about "we want the best roster possible and money doesn't come into play". Then they should have released Shark. They can also find a backup catcher who can catch and hit better than Koyie Hill for .30 on the dollar (since Castillo apparently needs more time to improve his defense).

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Hendry: "We felt at this time it was better served for Casey Coleman to continue being a starter -- not that he couldn't be a 'pen guy to help down the road, if he needed to. We felt that [it] was best for his development, and for the Cubs, [for him] to keep developing as a starting pitcher."

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Rotation: Dempster, Z, Garza, Wells, Cashner Bullpen: Marmol, Wood, Marshall, Grabow, Samardzija, Mateo, Russell Starters: Soto, Pena, Baker or Barney, Castro, Ramirez, Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome or Colvin Bench: Colvin or Fukudome, Hill, DeWitt, Baker or Barney, Johnson

Hmmm. I am happy to let one of the young pitchers a chance to pitch in the Bigs. AND, I just didn't think Hendry would have the balls to do this. Levine called this today on his show. Statistically, one would have to think that there is no way in hell Silva would have replicated his performance from first-half of last year. It was an aberration. But, I suppose they could have stashed Cash in the minors and then cut Silva when he couldn't pitch anymore.

Who's Jeeovanni Sato, and what was Quade doing wandering around on the field in the middle of the inning? It's taken a bit of a while, but it looks like Quade has figured out who our best offensive player is, at least.

Imagine if Josh Hamilton had got it together with the Rays...

Which one of these seems like it doesn't belong with the others: Albert Pujols Ryan Braun Joey Votto Marlin Fucking Bryd "Sure, I cannot hit for the power or get on base like Soto can, but Quade says I get to hit third!"

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I always thought ARam made more sense as a number 3 hitter over DLee the last few years. He makes more contact than DLee did. As for this year? We're screwed. ARam probably should hit 3rd, but Soto would also be a good choice. Byrd should probably hit 2nd or 7th in most NL lineups. On our team it wouldn't be a horrible thing to have him lead off if they're so intent on Castro hitting 2nd. Something like Byrd/Castro/ARam/Soto/Colvin/Sori/CPena/Baker Flip flop Sori and Pena at will, they both make too little contact to be in the 4th spot. 5th is the highest either should hit.

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In reply to by Rob Richardson

No. Byrd is your average B-player. The fact that he looks so good on the Cubs says more about the Cubs than it does Marlon Byrd. And the Cubs farm system is bullshit, so don't expect to get this kind of talent in-house. And most teams aren't interested in trading this kind of talent or letting it go to free agency... meh. The really crappy part of all this was that Soriano was supposed to be that player with all the pizazz. He's, obviously, turned out to be a $8 million/per player with a $18 million/per contract.

'Everyone' was pissed that Silva was certain to make it as the 5th starter, because Hendry didn't have the balls to put in someone better. Now that he's been replaced, people are pissed for the opposite reason. Silva has proven himself to be a behavioral problem with his on-field pre-fucking-season blowup and with his recent statements. I'm glad the Cubs (including last year with Z) have decided they're no longer putting up with this shit. He also showed up out of shape (knowing he was competing for a spot) and sucked in ST. Of all the things Silva could have done to make the team, he's done none of them. The Cubs aren't going anywhere this year, so I'm glad some young guys get the experience as they are the future, while Silva is not. I'm sure someone will take him, but he's not helping our trade chances with his behavior.

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In reply to by The Joe

It's just the Hendry MO of not knowing how to build value and not really understanding how to construct a roster again and again. By saying "Carlos Silva is going to be in the pen", he gives the Cubs a long man, and he creates the impression that the Cubs still think he can be of value. By doing his "burn notice", he just fucks himself. The bullpen has no long man, there's plenty of guys who pitched shitty in ST on the team, and now he can't even get a team to pay $1 million of a guy's salary who was pretty solid last year. It's just like he says "How can I fuck this up the worst possible way? OK, let's do that." Unfortunately, it won't be until Casey Coleman makes his 12th start this year for the Cubs, while a motivated Silva is going Bob Tewksbury on us somewhere when Hendry will realize "Oh, I am a dumb fuck, I could have had that guy."

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.