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

When Winning Is A Bad Thing

Gee, you get tied up for a full day and the comments explode and forget to put Matt Garza and James Shields in your fantasy starting lineup.

(kicks dirt)

Anyway, the Cubs have managed a 4-game winning streak, in close proximity to a 3-game winning streak (wth a 5-game losing streak in between) and it's about the most enraging thing that could happen besides Hendry sleeping through the trade deadlne. If Q-Ball goes on another second half run, Hendry and him are gonna be validated that it was just the injuries and the pieces are in place to be a good team. Not to mention screwing up their draft spot for next year.

(heavy sigh)

That being said, nice to see the Pirates falling back to Earth a little. Neat story and all, but the offense is bad (of course so is the Giants), but I don't really believe in their pitching talent much, unlike the aforementioned Giants. That being said, they're seemingly on their way back to respectability and can start considering diving back into free agency in the upcoming offseasons.

Also nice to see the Brewers leading the division because that's what I predicted and I get extra points on my blogging rewards card for possibly picking the right door numbered one through six.

Let's look at some post ASB numbers to fill space...

  • Byrd 324/360/577 3 HR/6 RBI/10 R
  • Soto 295/358/459 2 HR/9 RBI/6 R
  • Castro 321/349/436 2 HR/8 RBI/10 R/2 of 6 SB
  • Ramirez 221/236/515 5 HR/16 RBI/9 R
  • Pena 200/347/333  1 HR/4 RBI/5 R
  • Barney 231/265/338 0 HR/3 RBI/6 R/1 of 2 SB
  • Soriano 154/154/415 5/11/5

I don't know what it all means except for the love of Santo, someone put Soriano out to pasture.

On to the pitching...

  • Garza 2.41 ERA/33.2 IP/30 K/9 BB/2 HR
  • Grabow 2.45 ERA/7.1 IP
  • Marshall 2.70 ERA/10 IP
  • Wells 4.13 ERA 17 K/ 8 BB/4 HR
  • Dempster 4.70 ERA 27 K/5 BB/1 HR
  • Zambrano 5.01 ERA 17 K/10 BB/ 4 HR
  • Samardzija  5.40 ERA 8 K/5 BB/0 HR
  • Marmol 9.72 ERA 12 K/9 BB/0 HR
  • Wood 10.80 ERA 4 K/4 BB/1 HR

Wherever that magical pasture is that makes million dollar contracts go away, may Zambrano find his way there as well.

Be nice in the comments.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

you better be laid back when all you got is a single island. HI is a chain of islands, but there's no ferry. If you want to island hop you either got to have a boat and places to dock or take a plane. besides, when it's 80s-low 90s year-round (with record highs being in the mid-90s, never hitting 100+) it's hard to be too pissy.

We were 8-16 against the Bucs the last two seasons before this series, so I'm thoroughly enjoying the sweep so far. When their pitcher started crying last night, I laughed, but I hear that a lot of women Cub fans started rooting for the Pirates!

speaking of Chirinos, 2/2 with 2 RBI's as a pinch hitter today including the game tying hit in the bottom of the 11th and GW hit in the bottom of the 12th.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"about 6 inches each time from being groundballs back to the pitcher." Sorry to be finicky, but I think you're referring to something that I'm just starting to get used to: on the highlights, they show the same play several times from different camera angles and I think from different broadcasting crews. It was only the first hit that went near the pitcher. The second was to the third-base side of short--also not a great hit, and the shortstop could have gotten a glove on it, but either way it was good enough with the winning run on third.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

" "Todd did a very nice job. It was a big commitment," said Ricketts. "He had to take off a week of his life, grow a beard and stay away from the park a month before the filming. He took one for the team. I still walk around the park every home game and someone will say, 'I loved you on Undercover Boss.' I'm, like, it wasn't me." OH. MY. GOODNESS. This man is lauding his brother for fucking off, growing a beard and going on a stupid tv show, as 'a big commitment.' Now, maybe he was laughing a little when he said this...? Because I'm pretty sure reality has, again, left the building.

3 rbi double given up to the pitcher with 2 outs giving up the lead...there's that cubbery we know and love.

Officially added to the list of signed draft picks: ROUND 26 (789): Michael Jensen, RHP (Hartnell JC) R/R, 6'1, 185, 20 years old COMMENT: JC sophomore... Pre-season JUCO All-American... Went 6-3 with a 2.00 ERA for the Panthers in 2011... Will transfer to USC if he does not sign with Cubs...

It figures, now that the trade deadline has mostly passed, and all the vets who were rumored to be going are all still here, they relax and start winning. Hendry and Quade will be saying how this proves all along the team is ready to contend in 2012.

Cubs-ASU partnership proposed at Riverview. Riverview Park is located two miles east of Packard Stadium in the City of Mesa (but right near the Mesa/Tempe border), and Packard is located on the far N/E corner of the ASU campus, just east of Sun Devil Stadium. The City of Tempe has developed a shopping, restaurant, and theatre complex called "Tempe Marketplace" on Rio Salado Parkway halfway between Packard Stadium & Riverview Park, and the City of Mesa has devloped a shopping, restaurant & theatre complex (with a hotel) a mile east of Tempe Marketplace at Dobson Road & 8th Street (Rio Salado Parkway) across the street from Riverview Park, so the area's businesses are desperate to attract crowds to the area for more than just Cubs Spring Training.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

"ASU would practice and play rent-free in the stadium" in this economy...and, unfortunately, in AZ where taxation, revenue, and services offered are all in decline...this is almost too good of a deal to pass up. a modern ballpark with no grounds upkeep costs or employees for maintenance. i don't know how much they make on concessions or how the selling of ASU gear at the park will be handled, but it still looks like a nice offer from the outside looking in.

This was the Cubs first four-game sweep in Pittsburgh since June 1959. Here are the box scores from those games (Roberto Clemente was injured and did not play in the series)... 1. Tony Taylor had four hits and Ernie Banks knocked-in three runs with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly, as the Cubs pounded out 17 hits en route to a 10-5 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field (Friday June, 5, 1959 box score) 2. An Ernie Banks RBI triple and a Moose Moryn two-run HR keyed a six-run Cub 1st inning and Moe Drabowsky tossed a complete game to even his record at 4-4, as the Cubs coasted to an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field (Saturday June 6, 1959 box score) 3. Tony Taylor had three more hits (giving him nine hits in the first three games of the series), Bobby Thomson clubbed a two-run HR, and John Buzhardt threw 7.2 IP of four-hit ball, leading the Cubs to a 4-2 win over the Pirates in Game #1 of a Sunday doubleheader at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh (Sunday June 7, 1959 - Game #1 box score) 4. In what was to be the last start of his big league career, 39-year old ex-Pirate Elmer Singleton and two relievers combined to throw a three-hit shutout in Game #2 of the doubleheader as the Cubs blanked the Pirates 1-0, moving past the Bucs into 3rd place in the National League, while improving their season record to 28-25 (Sunday June 7, 1959 - Game #2 box score) This was the Cubs high-water mark for the 1959 season, as they ended up finishing in 6th place with a 74-80 record (there were eight teams in each league and no divisions back then), 12 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves, who finished in a dead-heat tie for 1st place. (Dodgers then won a best two-out-of-three playoff over the Braves, and defeated the White Sox four games to two in the World Series). Ernie Banks hit 304/374/596 with 45 HR & 143 RBI for the Cubs in 1959, and won his second consecutive N. L. MVP Award.

Nick Struck is settling in at Iowa. Last night: 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts. Struck is 21, drafted in 2009. Iowa was his second promotion this season.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

some guys near the league leaders in ERA that I could find Eric Jokisch 107.2 IP/30 BB/90 K/2.93 ERA/1.17 WHIP (Peoria) Austin Kirk 118 IP/27 BB/101 K/3.43 ERA/1.02 WHIP (Peoria) Raley 109 IP/40 BB/59 K/13 HR/4.29 ERA/1.59 WHIP (AA) Rusin 99.1 IP/20 BB/65 K/7 HR/3.81 ERA/1.248 WHIP (AA and AAA) McNutt, Hayden Pawelek, Jackson have had rough years...

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

"What's his strengths?" I'm a box-score scout, Jacos, so I can only describe Struck as a 5-11, 185 lb. righthander. I do keep a ranking of Cub pitchers based on strikeouts and (fewest) hits allowed. Current Cub starters (and sometime starters) with more strikeouts than hits allowed are Kurcz, Loosen, Searle, Greathouse, Kirk, Whitenack and Rosscup. Antigua, Liria and Jokisch are close. Struck does not fare well in this ranking. On the other hand, strikeouts and hits allowed are not everything, and Struck is at Iowa at age 21, as Rob says, and he's doing well and helping solidify the starting rotation. Three of his last four outings were quality starts.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Jacos This is from toonster on another cubs site: Athletic kid, hearing that he's hitting mid-90's more this season. That said, he goes to his 2-seamer/sinker quite a bit (better pitch than reaching back and ripping with the high heat), so his average fastball velo is typically more low 90's. Solid control. Has to improve the secondary pitches, but have heard a couple times this year that the pitches, which were inconsistent last year, look sharper this year and are at least average pitches with the chance to be better (and the curve is probably above average). and I'm a lot more bullish on Struck than that. Fastball is supposedly topping out in the mid-90's (slight increase from last year numbers that I had), and have heard that his secondary stuff, change and slider, are both looking solid.

Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet Brett Jackson for the week .462/.576/.962 (12-for-26), 4 HR, 1 2B, 6 RBIs, 9 R, 7 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-1 SB Jackson was sidelined by a broken finger in May with Double-A Tennessee. It took a little time, but he has gotten back on track and hit his stride after moving up to Triple-A Iowa in mid-July. The Cubs' 2009 first-round pick owns a .293/.400/.573 line in 75 Triple-A at-bats after hitting .256/.373/.443 in the Southern League. One thing that never suffered was Jackson's eye at the plate, and he has drawn 59 walks in 88 games between the two levels. Jackson led off two games with home runs this week, and he had four multi-hit games. And the Not So Hot Sheet: • D.J. Lemahieu, 3b/2b, Cubs. Lemahieu struggled during a short callup to the majors, batting .216/.216/.243 in 37 at-bats as an injury fill-in for Darwin Barney. He had been doing well since going down to Triple-A Iowa at the end of June, but the 23-year-old was perfectly imperfect this week, posting a .000/.000/.000 line after going 0-for-19 with four strikeouts. Just for good measure, he did reach base on a fielder's choice in last Saturday's game but was promptly thrown out trying to steal second. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2011/…

Who needs Brett Jackson when we have the Mighty Midget patrolling CF? Nice to see someone run their ass off after a ball (and make it look almost routine). I still doubt Campana can hit enough to be more than a end-of-bench type player, but who knows. It's more fun than watching guys like Mike Restovich and Kal Daniels.

chapman just threw a ball through the net behind home plate...wow for missing that badly and wow for putting a ball through the net. he's been showing off a slider in the 88-92 range...unreal.

AZ Phil- How would you compare Wes Darvill and Marco Hernandez? Who is the better prospect? Darvill is struggling at Boise and Hernandez is tearing up the AZL. Would it benefit the two to switch? I've never seen either in person but based off the stats, Hernandez looks like he needs to be challenged. Thanks as always

[ ]

In reply to by W Flag

Submitted by W Flag on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 4:10pm. AZ Phil- How would you compare Wes Darvill and Marco Hernandez? Who is the better prospect? Darvill is struggling at Boise and Hernandez is tearing up the AZL. Would it benefit the two to switch? I've never seen either in person but based off the stats, Hernandez looks like he needs to be challenged. Thanks as always ========================================= W FLAG: Both Wes Darvill and Marco Hernandez have just passable arms, so both probably are better-suited to play 2B, although there is no reason to move either of them at this time. Darvill is smoother and more-consistent defensively of the two. Darvill is one of the most-patient hitters in the organization, and he has a good eye, too. He still struggles as a hitter and he has no power, despite having a frame that would make you think he has the potential to develop a power stroke even if he doesn't hit for average. Darvill is also a good base-runner and base-stealer (he is a long-strider), and is a sure-handed defender with good ball-handling skills. If he continues down the present course without developing XBH power, he would probably project as a LH version of Nate Samson. Marco Hernandez learned to switch-hit at AZ Instructs last fall, and he is good hitter. He drives the ball with occasional HR power when batting left-handed, but is more of a slap-hitter right-handed. He also is a good bunter. He has adequate range to play SS, but his arm strength & accuracy are an issue. That's why he probably projects long-term as a 2B. He runs OK (average speed for a middle-infielder), but he is not a burner by any means. It's possible that Marco Hernandez could get moved-up to Boise before the end of the 2011 season, but I don't think Darvill would get moved-down. A more-likely scenario is that things will remain pretty much as they are right now through the end of the regular season, and then Darvill and M. Hernandez will attend AZ Instructs at Fitch Park in September-October to work on improving their game. Then Darvill, M. Hernandez, and Arismemdy Alcantara (despite the high error total, he has the best arm, range, and speed of the three) will battle for the starting SS job at Daytona next March, with the other two ending up at Peoria, one as the starting SS, and the other as the #1 back-up middle-infielder. If I had to bet on which one would be where, I would say Alcantara will start the 2012 season as the #1 SS at Daytona, Hernandez will be the #1 SS at Peoria, and Darvill will be the back-up SS-2B at Peoria.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Arizona Phil - Assuming Lake's not picked up in the Rule V draft, will he split time at SS in Tenn next season with Logan Watkins? I've been impressed with Watkins after starting the season off so slow offensively, he's really picked it up. Does Watkins have enough arm/athleticism to stay at short? Moving to 2B, Zeke DeVoss wasn't in Arizona very long for you to get see him much, but how does DeVoss compare to Eric Patterson when he was in the Cubs system? Also, thanks for the recap of the last 4 game sweep of the bucs in the 'burg ... that Ernie Banks line of 304/374/596 with 45 HR & 143 RBI is crazy good.

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

Submitted by Eric S on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 9:22pm. Arizona Phil - Assuming Lake's not picked up in the Rule V draft, will he split time at SS in Tenn next season with Logan Watkins? I've been impressed with Watkins after starting the season off so slow offensively, he's really picked it up. Does Watkins have enough arm/athleticism to stay at short? Moving to 2B, Zeke DeVoss wasn't in Arizona very long for you to get see him much, but how does DeVoss compare to Eric Patterson when he was in the Cubs system? ====================================== ERIC S: A Zeke DeVoss comp to Eric Patterson is a good one. I do believe both Junior Lake and Logan Watkins will begin the 2012 season at Tennessee, and I think both will probably be moved around quite a bit, Lake at SS-3B-CF, and Watkins at 2B-SS-LF-CF. And I suspect Matt Cerda will play 3B-2B. Whenever possible the Cubs like to have a player move around to different positions in the minors to help develop the player's versatility, in case the player arrives in MLB as a bench guy (as most do). Watkins has the athleticism to play SS, 2B, LF, and CF, but his natural arm angle & release point probably fits best at 2B. And so if he ever becomes an everyday player in the big leagues, it will probably be at 2B. He reminds me a bit of Mickey Morandini.

hehe amusing tweet @The_Heckler Mike Quade: Manager of the year when it don't matter 2 years in a row! and this from Muskat #Cubs Campana says All-Star Game might want to add sprint competition. Here's the field: Campy, Nyjer Morgan, Bourn, Gomez & LA's Gordon

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.