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

A's Scratch Zych for Winning Run in 9th

Yordy Cabrera hit Tony Zych’s first pitch over the LF fence for what turned-out to be the game-winning run, as the Oakland A’s rallied from a five-run deficit to edge the Cubs 8-7 in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in warm & cloudy Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.

Ryan Dempster got the start for the Cubs and threw two innings (34 pitches – 23 strikes), allowing one run on two hits (a single and a triple), no walks and two strikeouts, and 2/2 GO/FO.

Trailing veteran RHP Bartolo Colon 1-0 going into the bottom of the 2nd, the Cubs took the lead on a Blake DeWitt two-out three-run HR over the RF fence following singles by Jeff Baker and Steve Clevenger.

DeWitt was outrighted to AAA last month after the Cubs claimed IF-OF Adrian Cardenas off waivers from Oakland, and (interestingly enough) DeWitt is battling Cardenas for what is probably one roster spot (LH hitting utility INF). Cardenas is younger and more athletic, but DeWitt is the more-experienced hitter, and he has been absolutely raking since he arrived in Mesa a couple of weeks ago. It looks as though he might have taken the outright assignment (and not getting claimed off waivers) as a personal affront, that he has chosen to address by battering opposition pitchers.

Leading 3-1, the Cubs scored three more times in the 4th against A’s RH reliever Jordan Norberto.

Jeff Baker led-off with a double into the RF corner, and Reed Johnson reached base on an error (a bobble by first-baseman Brandon Allen), moving Baker to 3rd. Steve Clevenger hit a sac fly to left-center to score Baker, and then after Blake DeWitt walked, Josh Vitters rifled an RBI double into the left-center gap to score Johnson, with DeWitt stopping at 3rd and the slow-footed Vitters barely beating the throw to 2nd. Tony Campana worked a walk to load the bases, and then Darwin Barney blooped an RBI single in front of A’s RF Josh Reddick, scoring DeWitt, and leaving the bases loaded, with the #3 and #4 hitters due up. But both Starlin Castro and Bryan LaHair fanned (swinging), as the Cubs left the bases loaded.

Meanwhile, LHP Scott Maine (battling Trever Miller, John Gaub, and Jeff Beliveau for the #2 lefty reliever gig) threw a scoreless 3rd (albeit allowing hits to two left-handed hitters), and Blake Parker and Casey Weathers (both vying for the RH middle reliever job) had clean & easy 1-2-3 innings in the 4th and 5th.

But then the A’s began to chip away at the Cubs lead, scoring four times in the 6th on three hits (two singles and a Landon Powell two-run RBI double) and two walks off NRI RHP Marco Carrillo.

A likely rotation starter or closer for Team Mexico in next year’s World Baseball Classic, the 25-year old Carrillo has spent seven seasons in the Cubs organization (2012 is his 8th year), but has yet to establish himself at the AAA Level. He was a Rule 55 Minor League Free-Agent (6YFA) post-2011, but opted to re-sign with the Cubs, getting an NRI to Spring Training as part of the deal. Should he ever make it to the big leagues (which is doubtful), he would profile as a “12th man”-type, a versatile long-reliever/spot starter. The A’s battered him pretty good today. Even the outs were hard hit balls.

With Carrillo getting knocked-out before he could retire the side, veteran RHRP (and one-time Rockies closer) Manny Corpas got the call, striking out Josh Horton to end the inning.

Corpas seemed to be throwing free & easy, but his command was off, and he was constantly changing his arm angle, going back & forth between 3/4 and sidearm. It wasn’t as deceptive as he probably hoped it would be, because Corpas got himself into trouble in the 7th, allowing hard-hit doubles to Eric Sogard and Brandon Moss, and an RBI single to A’s top position-player prospect Michael Choice.

Corpas spent last season rehabbing from post-2010 Tommy John Surgery, but he managed to score a major league contract from the Cubs this past December. He was subsequently outrighted to the minors when his roster slot was needed in January, but he got an NRI to Spring Training anyway.

Now down 7-6, the Cubs came back to tie the score at seven in the bottom of the 7th against A's RHP Fabio Castro.

With two outs, Joe Mather grounded a single to left and stole a base, and after Matt Szczur walked, veteran minor leaguer Blake Lalli (invited to big league camp as one of the extra catchers) lined an RBI single into left-center to score Mather with the tying run.

Signed in May 2006 as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) 5th year college senior out of Gardner-Webb, the 28-year old Lalli is your basic “Crash” Davis. He spent the last four seasons as a back-up C-1B at AA Tennessee, and he very well could end up there again this season. He is a career .303 hitter, but he also has below-average power and below-average speed, and he is a below-average defensive catcher, too. Eligible to be a Rule 55 Minor League free-agent (6YFA) post-2012, Lalli could be a candidate to serve as a player-coach at Tennessee in 2012, since he doesn’t really profile as a big league prospect. (The Cubs like to have one or two veteran player-coaches posted at each of their minor league affiliates each season, mentoring the younger players, learning the coaching side of the game, and being available to be activated for short periods when a position player is placed on the 7-day DL).

RHP Kevin Rhoderick (called up from Minor League Camp at Fitch Park for the day) threw a 1-2-3 8th, fanning one (swinging) and inducing a couple of routine fly outs. Rhoderick was the Cubs 9th round draft pick out of Oregon State in 2010 where he was one of the top closers in the PAC-12, and he made his official pro debut last season (he pitched “unofficially” at Instructs post-2010), finishing the 2011 campaign at AA Tennessee. He is only 5’11, and he has a violent delivery that gives one the impression that he is over-throwing, but with his plus-slider & 94-MPH fastball combo, he is an effective one-inning pitcher, and is considered a definite big league relief prospect. He will probably be the closer at Tennessee in 2012.

The other Cubs MLB relief prospect up from Minor League Camp (2011 4th round pick RHP Tony Zych) got the ball in the 9th, and gave up the aforementioned game-winning HR on his very first pitch, which actually was his first pro pitch (if you don't count his work at Instructs post-2011). The 21-year old Chicago Area-native (he attended St. Rita HS) was the closer at the U. of Louisville 2009-11, and while he throws harder (95-97 MPH) than either Kevin Rhoderick or Aaron Kurcz (the third of the Cubs RH relief prospect triumvirate), he doesn’t have the breaking ball to go with the heat (yet). Zych will likely start the 2012 as the closer at either Daytona or Peoria (TBD).

The top Cub defensive gem of the day was turned-in by SS Starlin Castro, who went deep into the hole to backhand a bouncer, and then with a Nijinsky-like leap (a la Don Kessinger), threw a rainbow right on the money to 1st to retire the batter. (Of course it helped that the batter-runner was “Two-Ton” Landon Powell, who makes Dan Vogelbach look like an anorexic).

The Cubs take on the Colorado Rockies at HoHoKam Park tomorrow afternoon. Matt Garza is supposed to get the start for the Cubs.

Comments

Thanks a bunch PHIL. You know, I have been reading your stuff for a long time. However, the Landon Powell line is one of your true gems. The vision I get from this is hysterical! Thanks for a great laugh!

Fowler, Pachecho, Cuddyer, R. Hernandez, Blake, B. Wood, Colvin, Nelson, Castillo vs. DeJesus (9), Byrd (8), DeWitt (4), Soriano (0), Stewart (5), Lake (6), Rizzo (3), W. Castillo (2), B. Jackson (7)

Sweet 16 Schedule (1) Beliveau over (12) McNutt (2) Coleman over (14) Rusin (12) Wells over (9) Samardzija (3) Maholm over(15) Sveum (9) Cardenas over (4) Lalli (3) W. Castillo over (10) Clevenger (5) Castro over (1) Mather (2) DeJesus over (3) Baker Elite 8 is set (1) Beliveau vs. (2) Coleman (3) Maholm vs. (12) Wells (3) W. Castillo vs. (9) A. Cardenas (2) DeJesus vs. (5) Castro

DeJesus walked, but got thrown out stealing to leadoff bottom of 1st HBP against Blake, double off the center field wall for Brandon Wood, RBI groundout by Colvin, short fly to LF that didn't score the run from third, opposite field single by Wilken Castillo scores the 2nd run

another scoreless inning for Coleman leadoff BB for B. Jackson, 4-6-3 DP by DeJesus, Byrd K's

J. Russell gives up a HR to Fowler, then b-2-b sharply hit singles, 6-4-3 DP by R. Hernandez, C. Blake grounds out DeWitt single, Soriano HR, Ian Stewart BB, Lake doubles, Rizzo RBI groundout, Castillo RBI, Jackson K's, Sappelt flies out off Zach Putnam

Chris Rusin in gives up at triple to Colvin who ends up scoring Infield single by Adduci, I think Cardenas hit into a DP, Vitters walks & steals 2B, E. Gonzalez K's 9-4 and I'm done for the day.

#Cubs Sveum on B-Jackson: "He's either going to make the team and play everyday or he's going to Triple-A." (Looks at roster) AAA it is.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

maybe theocorp+byrd can make CLE interested...i wouldn't mind seeing BJax in AAA most of the year given the experimental/reclamation projects going on in with the cubs, though. i dunno anyone else semi-competitive/competitive who needs a guy who could handle CF. CLE has m.brantley, too.

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.