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

Cubs Sign Jason Hammel

In the move that anyone could have predicted once the Cubs missed out on Tanaka, they have come to terms on a deal with RHP Jason Hammel.  The 31-year old hasn't had much of a career to-date between Tampa, Colorado and Baltimore (94 ERA+), but his stuff has always been heralded and he did have a very nice 2012 for the Orioles(123 ERA+).  It'll be another hopeful reclamation project for the Cubs and they did quite well with Paul Maholm and Scott Feldman, so here's hoping the streak stays alive.

It appears they'll head into 2014 with a rotation of Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood, Edwin Jackson, Hammel and most likey Jake Arrieta with Carlos Villanueva, Kyle Hendricks, Justin Grimm, Brett Marshall, Chris Rusin and Brooks Raley all in the mix as well, along with I'm sure a few other surprise guests.

Comments

40 man roster was full prior to this. Do they wait 2 weeks to make this official and put Fujikawa on the 60 day DL or bump someone now?

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

A club has up to 20 days to file a contract with the MLB office once a free-agent player signs, the player does not have to be added to the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) until the contract is actually filed, and an injured or rehabbing player can be placed on the 60-day DL after the start of Spring Training, so I would think it is a virtual lock that Kyuji Fujikawa (2013 TJS rehab) will be placed on the 60-day DL when Hammel is added to the 40-man roster. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Also, as a post-2013 Article XX-B FA who signed a major league contract after 11:59 PM on the 5th day following the conclusion of the World Series, Jason Hammel gets an automatic "no trade" right through June 15th. (Same goes for Jose Veras). He can waive this right, but if he does he can be traded for cash and/or player contracts with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000.

BTW, if an Article XX-B FA signs a minor league contract he does not receive the automatic "no trade" right through June 15th, even if the player is subsequently added to an MLB 40-man roster. This variance would apply to Jonathan Sanchez if he is added to the Cubs 40-man roster, because Sanchez was an Article XX-B FA who signed a minor league contract.

"few other surprise guests" James McDonald, formerly a Bucco starter, gets a Cub minor league deal and a spring training invite (per Bruuce Springsteen Levine)...something of a McDonald upgrade over Darnell.
McDonald will see Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Tuesday for confirmation of diagnosis of the source of his shoulder discomfort by team doctors. McDonald declined to disclose that diagnosis, characterizing it as premature. If Dr. Meister's findings differ, McDonald plans to seek a third opinion from Dr. James Andrews. Otherwise, he will turn his attention to curing the condition that has ailed him all year. from June 2013. Mystery pitching shoulder tightness...was on the Pirates DL from 4-28-13 until they DFA'd him on 9-7-13, cleared waivers and wasn't picked up until now. "I'm eager to find out just what's going on," said McDonald, who conceded that he hasn't felt right, even while he was part of the Pirates' regular rotation through April. "At the beginning, there really was no pain, it just felt different. Then when it started to hurt, I thought, 'There's something wrong. We've got to look at this.'"

EIEIO

37yo michael young retires and it's all interviews, press conferences, and coverage about the surprise after a weak ending to his career. 36yo will clark retired and not many cared after putting up .418 ob%, 21hr, 30 doubles to end his career (also the guy who destroyed the cubs in the 89 playoffs, btw). meh. increased media presence era and all that...etc...still it's kinda odd to see how much coverage m.young is getting even for a slow day in the offseason.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

looking at the roster...especially if olt breaks with the team...it doesn't seem much is left aside from minor league deals. they scored a nice coup with j.mcdonald on a minors deal even if it doesn't work out. at the very least he can take over for j.hammels when/if he's traded if grimm doesn't (or if grimm is moved to a pen role, which he excelled in at the end of season last year).

McDonald might be helpful in the bullpen. It's not like we're hoping Shaun Camp has continued success.

The Super Bowl is an important date. The minute that stupid game is over...my brain officially declares: "Baseball Up Next"

How about Nelson Cruz on a one year deal? Or would that block Sweeney, Ruggiano, Schierholtz, and Jackson?

Was looking at Jason Hammel's page and noticed that last year most of his peripherals are in line with career norms, except HR/9, and I'd guess that if he can get that back down to his career average, he could keep his ERA closer to 4.00 than to 5.00. So it seems to me the Cubs have 5 players who look for significant rebounds this year and from whom we can expect improvement over their 2013 performances, from most improvement to least: Edwin Jackson, Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Jason Hammel, Darwin Barney. But then I wondered who are the players we should expect to regress. I think that's these guys, again from most to least regression in 2014: Travis Wood, Donnie Murphy, Nate Schierholtz, Junior Lake, Ryan Sweeney. Who did I miss?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

You could definitely ask the same of Sweeney and Murphy, but I guess what I mean is that you expect their rate stats to be less impressive in 2014, if they get enough PAs. I don't know if it's just my optimism, but it seems to me there is a lot more room for rebound/progression on this 2014 roster than there is room for regression barring serious injuries of course.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

twins 28 seems extremely harsh (especially ranking worse than the cubs)...wsox at 26 seems harsh, too (i have faith in j.abreu). at worst, i'd put both closer to the middle of the pack.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

well someone is always going to surprise in either direction, but seems like a very solid methodology in ranking them.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

as long as they keep stacking up seasons of talent like this, renteria+cubs might as well put all the kids up top to get them the most ABs so they're useful when actually needed. not really...but what difference would any lineup make anyway in a year where finishing below .500 is pretty much universally expected before game 1 of the season gets played? meh. the fact it could be legitimately argued as a strategy going forward rather than a joke is kinda sad.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Even if that were the rationale, you'd be better off batting Sweeney or Lake near the top and keeping Barney at the bottom of the lineup. He's as on his way off the team as just about anyone on the roster, except for the vets on 1-year deals. I think you're right in that the Cubs lineup is going to be a total bore until Rizzo and Castro rebound and the Cubs find a 3B and a 2B out of Olt, Baez, Alcantara, and Villanueva.

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.