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)

    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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.