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

Sorry About That

Sorry about the site hiccup yesterday, I have no idea what happened...but I took it as a sign that I needed to upgrade the site immediately. A kind reader volunteered to help me and we took advantage of the downtime by upgrading the site from Drupal 6 to Drupal 7...the upgrade before the upgrade. Now I need to make the comment and theme modifications. Hopefully by Tuesday, the actual new site will be up and running, but I'm sure there will be some hiccups along the way.

So expect the site to be up and down periodically throughout the weekend. Feel free to leave comments when it is up. Thanks for your patience and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Comments

NOTE: This is a re-post of an article I posted Wednesday.

Wed, 08/29/2012 - 6:12pm — Arizona Phil

The Arizona Fall League rosters have been announced (subject to change), and eight Cubs have been assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox.

Five MLB clubs are associated with each of the six AFL teams, and while Cubs players are always assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox (the Cubs are the Solar Sox "host team" because the Solar Sox play their home games at the Cubs Spring Training stadium at HoHoKam Park), the other four teams vary from year to year.

This year, players from the Dodgers, Astros, Tigers, and Orioles will be assigned to the Solar Sox.

Each of the five teams assigns four pitchers (at least one of whom must be capable of being a starting pitcher) and three position players (specific positions to be filled by each team are determined in a conference call beftween the five MLB clubs farm directors in mid-August).

In addition, clubs can assign additional players (regardless of position) to the AFL team's "Taxi Squad," meaning the player can only be active for games on Wednesday and Saturday (and he has to drive a cab on the other days... just kidding).

There are four types of players that MLB clubs typically assign to the AFL.

One is a player eligible for selection in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft who is "on the bubble" as far as being added to his club's 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline.

Another is a very talented young player who is being "fast-tracked" through the system.

Then there are guys who are not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft but who are under consideration for an NRI to Spring Training with the big club.

And finally there are players who were promoted to AA mid-season and who need to more time at the AA time (the AFL is equivalent to AA).

CUBS ASSIGNED TO MESA SOLAR SOX ACTIVE LIST:
Javier Baez, SS
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Zac Rosscup, LHP
Rubi Silva, IF-OF
Nick Struck, RHP
Matt Szczur, OF
Tony Zych, RHP

CUBS ASSIGNED TO MESA SOLAR SOX TAXI SQUAD:
Kevin Rhoderick, RHP

Rhee, Rosscup, and Struck would be the three AFL Cubs who are eligible for selection in the December 2012 Rule 5 Draft who will get a chance to show that they should be added to the 40-man roster.

Baez is the prospect getting fast-tracked.

Roderick and Zych are AA relievers who will have a chance to show whether they should get an NRI to Spring Training next February with the big club.

And Szczur and Silva are guys who received mid-season promotions from Hi-A (Daytona) to AA (Tennessee) and who have had their ups & downs at that level.

NOTE: This is a re-post of an article I posted after Tuesday night's AZL Cubs game:

Wed, 08/29/2012 - 12:24am — Arizona Phil

Josh Collmenter threw four innings of shutout ball with six strikeouts (3/3 GO/FO, 54 pitches - 37 strikes) and Willie Bloomquist punched an RBI single and later scored to cap a three-run 4th, as the AZL Diamondbacks built up an early 5-0 lead and then hung-on to defeat the AZL Cubs 6-4 in Arizona League action tonight at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

Collmenter (ulcers) and Bloomquist (back stiffness) are assigned to the AZL Diamondbacks while on minor league rehab assignnments from the parent club.

Garrett Schlecht had two singles, a double (line-drive into the RF corner), and a triple (line-drive into the right-center gap), and scored three runs to lead a Cub attack that fell just short, as the tying run was left-stranded in the bottom of the 9th.

RHP Dillon Maples got the start for the Cubs and labored through a 24-pitch 1st inning that saw two unearned runs score. He did not go back out to the mound in the top of the 2nd.

The D'backs two-run 1st was set-up by a two-base throwing error by Maples himself (he picked-up the ball after a bad bunt and proceeded to throw the ball past 1st baseman Ben Carhart and into RF), but in spite of the error the young right-hander was actually (twice) one strike away from escaping the inning without any damage, but he was unable to get an out on a two-out 3-2 pitch to consecutive hitters (first batter walked, second batter grounded a two-run single that took a lucky bounce off the second base bag before ending-up in short left-centerfield).

Maples once again had good success with his near-unhittable breaking ball, but he had trouble commanding his fastball and so he was constantly pitching from behind in the count throughout the inning. (In his last start on Thursday, Maples was removed from the game after walking four batters in the 2nd inning, after he had easily retired the first four batters he faced).

The D'backs plated three more runs off RHP Tony York (making his first appearance in more than two months) in the 4th to establish a five-run lead, but despite Schlecht's big night, the Cubs could just not come back quite far enough by the time out #27 was registered.

Shawon Dunston Jr was hit in the ribs by a pitch in the bottom of the 5th, and left the game after running the bases. He was last seen bent over and possibly having difficulty breathing, and he appeared to be in some considerable pain. The Cubs cannot afford to lose Dunston (who is probably the best all-around player still left in Mesa) as they head into the AZL playoffs.

With tonight's Cub loss, the AZL Athletics clinched both 1st place in the AZL East and the league's best record, insuring the A's of home-field advantage throughout the AZL playoffs (both games, and that's presuming the A's win the first one).

Meanwhile, the Cubs will be the AZL Wild Card team. and will play both of their games on the road (presuming they beat the A's on Thursday and advance to the Championship Game on Friday).

The AZL Cubs could still finish with the league's best overall record (including playoff games), but that's only if they can beat the A's at Papago Park and then win the Championship Game.

Did I see that he played yesterday? Must be okay if so

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 12:04pm — Jumbo

Dunston
Did I see that he played yesterday? Must be okay if so

===========================

JUMBO: No, Dunston did not play last night (Thursday).

He was injured in the game at HoHoKam Park on Tuesday night (left the game after being hit in the ribs with a pitch), but that story (post) got deleted and so I re-posted it here as a comment (see above) because I do not have access to the system to create a story.

The Cubs did not play on Wednesday, and Dunston did not play in last night's AZL playoff game versus the A's.

BTW, some of the AZL Cubs will probably get promoted to Boise for the NWL playoffs that start next Tuesday, and Dunston was a virtual-lock to be one of therm before he got hurt.

In a semi-final playoff game matching the AZL East winner with the AZL Wild Card team, the Athletics rolled a seven-spot in the 6th to break open what was a one-run game, and proceeded onward to a 15-3 thumping of the Cubs last night at Field #2 (AKA "Connie Mack Field") at the Papago Park Baseball Complex in Phoenix.

The Athletics and the Rangers (who defeated the Dodgers 7-3 at Camelback Ranch in the other AZL semi-final playoff game last night) will meet in the AZL Championship Game tonight at Papago Park.

Renato Nunez was the offensive hero for the A's, driving-in five runs with an RBI single, an RBI triple, and a three-run HR.

Starting pitcher Vincent Voiro threw three shutout innings with six strikeouts to lead A's pitchers.

Trevor Gretzky doubled and singled and drove-in two runs and Carlos Penalver had three hits for the Cubs.

RHP Paul Blackburn got the start for the Cubs and took the loss, going three innings (37 pitches - 27 strikes) and allowing three runs on four hits (a single, a double, a triple, and a solo HR), plus a HBP and a WP. He struck out three and did not issue an walk.

Cubs top pitching prospect RHP Juan Carlos Paniagua relieved Blackburn and worked the 4th & 5th innings (33 pitches - 17 strikes), allowing one unearned run, one hit, and two walks, with one strikeout (the first batter he faced). Paniagua struggled to throw strikes in a 25-pitch 4th (his first inning of work), throwing 15 balls and only 10 strikes.

But Paniagua was gone by the time the A's unloaded in the 6th, tagging Carlos Martinez and Ethan Elias for seven runs (combined), on five hits (including two doubles), three walks, and two WP.

The game got a bit chippy in the bottom of the 8th when Cubs RHP Jin-Young Kim hit A's catcher Philip Pohl with a pitch (the third A's batter to get plunked in the game), prompting someone on the A's bench to yell "Just because you're getting your asses whipped doesn't mean you have to throw at his head." It looked like both benches were about to clear and maybe start brawling, but cooler heads prevailed and nothing further came of it.

Since I cannot access the system to post a story, this comment will have to suffice.

[ ]

In reply to by Jace

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 1:10pm — Jace

Thanks, as always, Phil. Would you expect Juan Paniagua to get called up to Boise, now that his AZL days are over?

==================

JACE: Yes.

Bell Biv Devoe called up, Raley sent down and done for the season (innings limit). Rusin taking his spot.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Brooks Raley must be recalled no later than September 7th or he will burn a minor league option. That's because a player does not use a minor league option if he spends less than 20 days (aggregate) on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given season, and Raley will reach 20 days on 9/8.

If the Cubs do recall Raley on or before 9/7, the "ten day rule" (where a player generally must remain on a minor league roster for at least ten days if he is sent to the minors by optional or outright assignment) won't apply because the Iowa Cubs' last scheduled game is/was 9/3 (all of the I-Cubs games in New Orleans this weekend have been canceled because of the hurricane, which is why Chris Rusin was sent to AA Tennessee to get work), and a player can be recalled when his minor league club's season is over even if he has not spent 10 consecutive days on Optional Assignment prior to the recall. (The other three cirumstances where a player can be recalled without regard to the "ten day rule" is if the player is recalled to replace another player on the 25-man roster who is placed on the DL, or if a player is recalled as the "26th man" for a doubleheader, or if a player who was on a minor league roster is optioned to the minors by his new club within 24 hours after being acquiired in a trade).

The Cubs could do it as a "Recalled - Not to Report" if they don't want Raley to phyically report to the MLB club (since he has been shut-down), but he would still get paid at the major league salary rate rather than the minor league rate if he is recalled (a difference of about $65K).

So the Cubs need to decide if retaining an extra minor league option year on Raley is worth $65K (plus MLB meal money for each day the Cubs are on the road). I would think it would be, even though Raley isn't exactly a top prospect.

BTW, the Cubs would need to recall Chris Rusin no later than 9/13 (when Rusin reaches his 19th day on Optional Assignment in 2012) if they don't want to burn one of his three minor league options. However, that apparently is not going to be an issue, because Rusin is supposed to start for the Cubs in Washington next Tuesday (9/4).

Also, Miguel Socolovich cannot be recalled by the Cubs until Sunday 9/2 because he was CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS on 8/23 before the Cubs optioned him to the minors and so the "ten day rule" DOES apply to him because acquiring a player by being awarded a waiver claim is not considered the same as acquiring a player in a trade.

Likewise, the "ten day rule" also will apply to Anthony Recker (so he cannot be recalled prior to the official conclusion of the Iowa Cubs regular season on Monday), because even though he was acquired in a trade and then immediately optioned to the minors by the Cubs on 8/25, he was recalled from his Optional Assignment by Oakland and then Designated for Assignment for a period of seven days prior to being traded, which is not the same thing as being recalled for the purpose of being traded.

So, Tony Campana, Adrian Cardenas, Dave Sappelt, and Rafael Dolis can be recalled on Saturday 9/1, but Socolovich can't be recalled until Sunday 9/2, and Raley, Recker, and Rusin cannot be recalled until the day after the conclusion of the minor league regular season (which means no earlier than Tuesday 9/4).

Justin Bour (Southern League)
Dan Vogelbach & Carlos Martinez-Pumarino (Arizona League)
Gioskar Amaya (Northwest League)
links aren't auto-linking....

previously
none for Pacific or Midwest League, Matt Loosen and John Andreoli made FSL

DFA'd by Tigers. Guessing Cubs don't end up getting their 2 PTBNL's...probably just cash.

As of the beginning of today's game, Jackson's slash line is .216/.341/.473 OPS .814 OPS+ 119. Not too shabby, actually, despite all of his whiffs.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Seems way to early to judge him, but overall I have a pretty good feeling about the guy. His baseball instincts are on a completely different level than our last baseball prospect. The prospect that isn't frequently overmatched very early in his career is pretty damn rare.

Cubs top of the lineup Mather and Vitters, batting average added together equals .296.

streak buster!!! 2 wins in a row for him.

not wanting to go to San Fran

"It’s very hard to play on the West Coast, especially on that field. It’s nothing against that team, it’s more the city, because of the weather. They have a very good team. They’re in first place. But I want to go somewhere I feel comfortable. I know if I go to San Francisco, I won’t feel comfortable in the city. I’d feel comfortable with the team, but not the city.”

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Btw, Soriano, just shut up about it. Cause I'm pretty sure you're not expressing yourself well because of the language barrier. And now it's gonna be twisted into something personal against the city of SF and I'm pretty sure that's not what you mean. Sheesh.

DFA'd by Tigers. Guessing Cubs don't end up getting their 2 PTBNL's...probably just cash. --- Baker picked up by the Bravos. Round and Round he goes, where he stops, nobody knows.

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.