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

Sat Funnies: Darwin Barney angers "The Cubs Way" Forefathers

I read the Cubs/Astros recap on ESPN and found this quote from Darwin Barney and couldn't help but think... what BLASPHEMY!
The Forefathers must be furious!
And then "Forefathers" led to George Washington so...
Anyway, not to be taken too seriously, just hopefully making a laugh out of molehill.
Happy to see the homers (nice one, Anthony!) and of course, Go Cubs.

Comments

h.takahashi to the rockies for PTBN/cash...omfg, promote rosscup to AAA already (also a lefty...a recently-turned 25 year old one). 28.2ip 18h 12bb 44k (2.20era/1.05whip) awesome numbers, but it's hard to get excited about them because he's not been challenged much vs all those 21-23 year olds he's been feasting on. it's time to challenge his stuff.

tie game...man on 1st...0 outs...bring in s.camp... this could get interesting. success! to the bottom 7th.

Jim Callis‏@jimcallisBA #Cubs sign Scott Frazier for $267,600. Talent value in 6th rd. Pepperdine RHP, 6-7/230, 91-93 to 96, flashes plus curve. That's slot for the pick.

"Tommy Birch ‏@TommyBirch More #IowaCubs news: OF Brett Jackson placed on the DL with a right calf strain. INF Ian Stewart reinstated from the suspended list." ...des moines register writer, btw

Shawon Dunston Jr. and Kevin Encarnacion had HR's for Boise; Albert Almora hit his 2nd HR for KC; Javier Baez hit his 16th HR for Daytona; Matt Szczur had 4 hits and upped his avg. to .298

More Minor Cubbery...Clevenger setback. Jae-Hoon Ha started in Iowa (1-3, single) as BJax replacement (DL with calf strain). Stewart un-suspendered.
The Cubs also announced that catcher Steve Clevenger, whose Minor League rehab assignment was to end Saturday, was experiencing some tightness in his oblique area. Clevenger will rest, and then be re-evaluated by the Cubs’ medical staff. In 15 games, he batted .327 with five doubles, three home runs, and 11 RBIs.
http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2013/06/22/622-stewarts-back-clevenger-jackso…

TCR is dead today. I expected a bunch of posts about the Cubs putting up 14 runs, and even more about Castro going 0-for-4 with 2 errors. It's nice to win another series, even at home against a bad team.

There's talk of a roster move with a pitcher prior to tomorrow's game with the Brewers. Instead of playing musical roster DFA with Henry Rodriguez or coming down with a phantom injury for Hector Rondon, how abou just letting Shawn Camp go? Camp has no future here. Why not see if Rodriguez is fixable at the major league level. And sticking Rondon on the DL does nothing for his development. Maybe the Cubs get lucky and some team takes on the rest of Camp's salary. Or at least prorated MLB minimum.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

I would think the Cubs would option Blake Parker to AAA and have him be the closer for the I-Cubs until Kevin Gregg gets traded.

Parker and James Russell are the only two pitchers on the 25-man roster who can be optioned to the minors without having to give their permission, although Optional Assignment Waivers would have to be secured before Russell can be optioned to the minors (Optional Waivers are revocable and thus can be withdrawn if the player is claimed, so they are more-or-less a formality).

Or the Cubs could just DFA Hector Rondon and see if they can get him through Outright Waivers. He hasn't been that impressive, and so there probably wouldn't be much interest in him on the waiver wire, especially since the claiming club assumes the Rule 5 roster restrictions. If Outright Waivers could be secured, Rondon would have to be offered back to the AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (the AAA club from which he was drafted), and if the Indians were to re-claim him, he MUST be outrighted to that AAA club. (A Rule 5 player who is reclaimed by his former organization MUST be outrighted to the AAA club from which he was drafted). But Rondon can elect free-agency if he is outrighted because he has been outrighted previously in his career, so the Indians would get stuck paying $25,000 to get a player back who can walk away immediately, and I'm not sure they would risk that. (And Rondon would be able to elect free-agency immediately after the conclusion of the MLB regular season even if he were to decline to elect free-agency immediately upon being outrighted).

If Outright Waivers could be secured and the Indians decline to reclaim Rondon (because he can elect to be a free-agent if outrighted), the Cubs could option Rondon to Iowa (even though Cleveland would not be able to option Rondon to the minors, the Cubs could if the Indians decline to reclaim him). Rondon is eligible for a 4th minor league option, so the Cubs could send him to the minors without Rondon being able to elect free-agency. (BTW, just because Outright Waivers are secured does not mean the player must be outrighted to the minors, but because he is a Rule 5 player, the Cubs would have to secure Outright Waivers on Rondon before he can be offered back to his original organization, and he has to be offered back to Cleveland--and the Indians must decline to take him back--before the Cubs can option Rondon to Iowa). 

Also note that even though the Cubs would probably DFA Rondon before starting the Rule 5 return process (the process takes about five days to complete), he can be optioned to the minors as long as it happens within the ten day DFA period. A player must be traded, released, or sent to the minors (by outright OR optional asignment) within ten days afrer being Designated for Assignment. (NOTE: The Optional Assignment choice does not to apply if the club's 40-man roster was full and the designated player was replaced on the 40-man roster by another player, or during the off-season prior to the start of Spring Training).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

This DFA scenario for Rondon has some appeal. If they feel he could have a future as a starter, they could stretch him out some at Iowa. But with his past of multiple arm issues, is he better suited for the pen? If they feel the pen is the way to go, then why not just keep him in Chicago and get him more consistant use. Wins aren't overly important this season.

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.