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

Our Stud's Better Than Your Stud

 

A betting man would have to like the Omaha Storm Chasers to successfully defend their title in the American North Division of the Pacific Coast League this year. The stretch drive of the season may be reminiscent of Secretariat’s in the Belmont Stakes. But just who are those also-rans way up the track behind the young Royals? Why, besides the I-Cubs it’s the young Cardinals and young Brewers! I like the affiliations of not only my hometown team but also their divisional opponents.

Who cares, one might ask, how our prospects stack up against the Royals’? St. Louis and Milwaukee are more immediate battlefronts than Kansas City. So, any clogs in those pipelines?

Whereas the Cubs’ system is lacking in high-end pitching prospects, both the Cardinals and Brewers feature starting pitchers as their crème de la crème and both Shelby Miller (STL) and Wily Peralta (MIL) have had sour seasons thus far.

As pleased and relieved as the Cardinals must be about the emergence of Lance Lynn, who this time a year ago was toiling in Memphis while Chris Carpenter was still going strong in St. Louis, they might be a little chagrined about Miller’s struggles so far in the PCL. In 2011, he was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. Rick Ankiel was the last to accomplish that feat.

But  he’s recently been given a no-shake edict, meaning he’s to throw whatever pitch he’s told, and the organization’s pitching coordinator was dispatched to work directly with Miller in hopes of improving on his stat line which includes warts like a 6.00 ERA, 82 hits in 66 IP and a .306 BAA. 

In Nashville the touted Peralta has been similarly roughed up. He was originally signed by the Brewers as an outfielder in 2005 before being converted to pitcher. He had his Tommy John circumcision in 2007 so that’s out of the way. But he’s struggling at 2-8 with an ERA and other peripherals almost as stratospheric as Miller’s. Peralta’s built along the lines of Fartolo (typo intended) Colon at 6’2” and 240. 

So while the prime prospects of two of their NL Central rivals are scuffling at Triple A the Cubs are rearranging the deck chairs in their lineup to make room for their own. They may be short on topflight arms but they appear to have at least one bat riding to the rescue. Looks like he may arrive any day now.

Comments

Jacob Turner shutting out Cardinals through 4 innings. They're certainly not gonna move him if he comes out of the gate pitching well.

So do we do cartwheels when we get rid of Baker when Rizzo comes up or is it oh well nice to see you Adrian Cardenas,welcome back to Iowa.

from Thursdays milb cub activity: Note J Lake played 3B, Torreyes flashes some extra base hits and H Simpson actually had a really good outing. CHC AA Lake, Junior 3B 5 1 4 0 .318 2B (8), SB (7) CHC AAA Vitters, Josh 3B 4 1 1 1 .280 HR (11) CHC HiA Torreyes, Ronald 2B 4 2 2 1 .227 2B (10), HR (2), BB (15) CHC SS Candelario, Jeimer 3B 4 1 3 2 .357 HR (2), BB (2) CHC SS Simpson, Hayden 4 1 1 0 1 7 3.00 W (1-0)

Kevin Goldstein on Kyler Burke in the MW league all star game:
Cubs left-hander Kyler Burke was a story for becoming the first player to make the league's All-Star game as both a position player and a pitcher. The former toolsy outfielder has a 2.31 ERA as a left-handed starter for Low-A Peoria, but he was hammered on Tuesday, and retired just two of the eight batters he faced while never getting out of the upper-80s with his fastball. As a 24-year-old in Low-A, he's already a long shot, and there wasn't much in this game to provide any room for optimism.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17433

Several of the rehab guys who pitched well over the first two AZL Cubs games have been moved up LHP Zac Rosscup (!.1 IP with four strikeouts Wednesday night) and Su-Min Jung (three shutout inings of one-hit ball with three K's last night) go to Boise, and Zach Cates (3.1 IP allowing one run on four hits, a walk, and two HBP with five strikeouts Wednesday night) goes to Peoria. SM Jung's outing last night was especially noteworthy, because he was probably on the verge of getting released about a month ago (absolutely could not throw his fastball for strikes) after walking nine and hitting two batters in 1.2 IP (6.60 WHIP - 27.00 ERA - .286 OpBA) in EXST games. But he has worked hard to overcome the mental block, doing so while throwing mainly in Fitch Park "sim" games and a couple of intrasquad games over recent weeks.

Daytona's Frank Del Valle, goes 6 innings and, other than 2 HBP, is perfect with 11 k. This being the minor leagues where development is more important, he was replaced in the 7th. Other than he came from Cuba, I don't know much about Del Valle's stuff. He's had a decent season (ERA slightly above 4), but nothing approaching anywhere near his performance in this game.

AZ Phil, What's the story on Scott Weismann and Luis Liria, who look to be having very good seasons out of the pen at Daytona and Peoria, respectively? Thanks!

[ ]

In reply to by SheffieldCornelia

I'm sure AzPhil can provide a lot more info, but Weismann was a former Clemson closer whose fastball is in the low 90's and has a slider. I had high hopes for Liria entering the year. Last year, there were some reports of him topping out mid-90's (granted, sitting more low-mid 90's), with a decent-solid breaking ball (want to say slider off the top), and a usable-decent change. I was really intrigued with him as a possible starter, but they've had him in the pen, and the reports on velo this year are more 89-92, I believe, and the command issues are still there. (as a side note, that whole Latin American grouping of Cruz, Liria, Peralta, Paulino have largely been disappointing so far ... but they are still young enough, particularly Paulino. Here's hoping Arias doesn't run into problems, and Rosario somehow develops (still think he's probably a pen arm long run).

some of Kevin Goldstein's notes on minor leaguers... Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 3-for-4, HR (2), R, 2 RBI, BB. Home runs in back-to-back games and 17 total bases in seven games as a 18-year-old in college-heavy league. Junior Lake, SS/3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 4-for-5, 2B, R, K, SB. Scouts have noted big progress offensively; 17-for-41 in last ten games and .318/.370/.480 overall. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 3-for-5, 2B, R, K, SB. Hitting .303 with 10 stolen bases in June; .249/.316/.319 overall, so need to stay hot. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17451

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

He also homered to opposite field on Thursday and pulled one yesterday (not sure of Wednesday). I believe all three were hitting lefty, so it will be interesting to see if he is as consistent as a righty. The other Boise Hawks of note: Dong Yub-Kim (I am a big fan, so he is first) has been inconsistent, but has hit some hard outs (I have been watching a few games online). Looks like he is getting better, but still strikes out often. Rock Shoulders: Showing a good eye at bad pitches, but missing some good ones. 32 plate appearances, 11 K and 10 BB (next highest number of walks on the team is 3) ]...and 4 hits (with a HR and a 2b). Gioskar Amaya: Went 4 for 5 last night to raise his average to .375 (12 for 32). He may be one to watch for 2b. Shawon Dunston Jr.: Hasn't done too much yet, 5 for 24 with a double, 3K, 2 BB and a CS. Jose Arias: The opening day pitcher and he has done pretty well. 8 IP, 9 H, 2 runs (1 earned), 3K and 0 BB. Taylor Scott: Dominated in his first game, struggled some last night. Looks like he has some issues being consistent with delivery at times. 8.2 IP, 7 H, 4 runs (3 earned), 6K and 4BB. Rafael Diplan: Has come in as long reliever in three games and been dominant. 9 IP, 2 H, 0 runs, 10K and 4BB. Willengton Cruz: He is someone I've been watching since 2010, when he pitched at DSL and had a 1.90 ERA with 52 IP and only 25 H and 59 K (but with 32 BB). He struggled quite a bit at Peoria earlier this year, but was strong in his first start at Boise (5 IP, 3 H, 1 unearned run, 6 K and 2 BB).

So who gets bounced from the 25 man roster if Rizzo comes up on Monday? Does Campana or Cardenas head back to Iowa? Is Baker given his walking papers? Or will Soriano finally be traded?

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Ian Stewart is back later in the week too. So that's another spot. --- Stewart may be eligible to come off the DL around June 28th (he went on the DL Wed evening 6-13 but it might have been made official on the 14th) but I doubt he'll be ready then. He got his wrist cortisone injection, for the diagnosis of Dorsal Wrist Impingement, Monday 6-18 and they usually let that take effect for 2 weeks (July 2nd) before any serious activity will resume. I'd expect him to need a brief rehab stint to test the wrist out before he returns. At best, it makes sense to think he'll return after the All Star break. If he's not back by then, I'm pretty sure he will agree to the wrist arthroscopic surgery which probably ends his season (or a brief end of September test of his wrist).

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    LHP Blake Weiman appears to have been the last cut from the AAA Iowa roster. He is with the Tennessee group at Minor League Camp.

     

  • crunch (view)

    bruce bochy is hobbling rather badly for a guy who's had 2 hip replacements.  his gait is extremely wonky taking the lineup card to the ump.

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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.