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

Brian Giles Hates the Cubs

Since the last time I used "Hates the Cubs" in a headline it got a bunch of extra hits from the interwebs, I thought I'd try it again (never underestimate how much the Cubs are despised by the rest of the world). The good folks at Chicago Cubs Online did a pretty thorough rundown of Bruce Levine's radio show yesterday and it's chocked full of information. I covered the rumors in this comment but there's the little tidbit where the Cubs had a deal in place for Brian Giles before last year's trade deadline and he turned it down.

In theory, the Cubs would have been spared the last 2 months of Kosuke Fukudome suck and all that playoff controversy fun. As we also know, Giles turned down a chance to go to the Boston Red Sox on a waiver wire deal after July 31st. So I think it's safe to assume that Brian Giles is mildly retarded. Alright, just kidding around, but for the life of me I can't think of a good reason why a player wouldn't want to play for a contender for 2-3 months. I mean, Giles had a team option for 2009 that certainly wasn't guaranteed to be picked up, so it's not like he was counting on returning to the Padres for 2009. The Padres have since picked it up, but that was no give-in in July or August. If he was worried about 2009, he could have made the Cubs or Red Sox guarantee the 2009 option or gone the other way and made them guarantee the $3M buyout so he could find whatever job he wanted this offseason. Instead, he chose to stick with one of the worst teams in the league.

Odd. Maybe Giles just doesn't like the tanning salons in Chicago or Boston

It did save the Cubs locker room from all kinds of naked shenanigans and ass-grabbing though.  (Giles shows up around 5:20 and be sure to check out the stoned or drunk (or both) Sean Burroughs right before that)


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Comments

the pull of living in SD can't be underestimated...and giles seems to love SD. it's probably more about controlling his destiny in 09 more than what he might be doing the last 2 months of 08. whatever the reason is, he's had multiple opportunities to go to obvious WS contenders and it's always a blunt "no thanks." the guy is a great gamble at his option price, and with the 3m buyout it was almost a sure thing that where ever he ended up he'd be picked up another season.

Giles has already been to the playoffs and been in pennant races. What were the Cubs and Sox offering that he hasn't already experienced? A chance at the WS? A 12.5% or a little better chance, shrug, he knows that making the playoffs doesn't guarantee a WS appearance. Good to see the Cubs are kicking the tires on Bradley.

i regret clicking play on that video. "We (him and Jason Kendall) got our tips frosted, then we went for a couple of rounds in the tanning bed." -Brian Giles Chad, are you there?

I know his is from a previous post, and I hate to seem like I'm defending Brian Giles in anyway, but he wasn't a AAAA player by any means, or just a platoon guy. He got stuck behind an OF of Manny Ramirez-Kenny Lofton-Albert Belle. The tribe also had Jeromy Burnitz waiting for a shot to play after the Mets dealt him. Giles is still a d-bag.....

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Belle left Cleveland after 1996, Giles left Cleveland after 1998, so he certainly was blocked for some of that time by Belle, Lofton and Ramirez.

if you look at his minor league numbers, you can see he had a nice AAA season in 1994, yet had to repeat it in 1995 and another half season in 1996, very likely because of Albert Belle.

He finally got a shot with the Indians in '97 (after Belle left), but split time with David Justice, played some CF and RF as well (Grissom and Manny were the regulars). He finally got the bulk of playing time in LF in 1998 before being traded for Ricardo Rincon (whoops).

I think we all know the reason why Giles won't leave if you just ask yourself... in your heart of hearts, you know... He'd miss the gay sex with Chris Young. (Of course, I use the term 'gay sex' loosely, considering Chris Young's vagina and all...)

Brian Giles was born in El Cajon, California which is a sub-burb of San Diego. Which kind of explains why he doesn't want to leave SD.

I'm amazed that people get angry when a player uses his NTC. That's the fucking point of getting one. It's no one's business why he uses it, imo, it's his right. Family, west coast, gay sex, lame tans, whatever. Not everyone lives their life based around the possibility of a championship...so good thing he didn't come over. The Cubs lost and looked ridiculous. Clearly, he made the right choice.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Yea... i am aware that starters make more than relievers. I am also aware that if Jason Marquis had been moved to the bullpen last year, he still would have made same amount of money. I am also aware that even if he had been moved to the bullpen, he still could get starter money when he becomes a free agent. But other than that, you may have a point. And drywalling? Huh?

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

So, if the Cubs put Marquis in the bullpen for 2008-2009 he would make the same money in 2010 had he had 65 league average starts over the same period? Seriously, how can you not understand that? " I am also aware that even if he had been moved to the bullpen, he still could get starter money when he becomes a free agent." Yeah... give ONE, that it's just ONE, example in the history of major league baseball where this has been true. 130 years of baseball - go to it. You realize, just because you say something, that doens't make it true... haha, what am I saying? Of course you don't realize that!

its cool to see so many Geo Soto's in one place. ---------------------- That's the first thing I thought as well. The second was, "Where's Waldo?"

Edinson Volquez, who wasn't a rookie after throwing 70 innings for the Rangers from 2005-07, was given three second-place votes. ------------------- Votto got the one first place vote that didn't go to Geo. Seems like Cincy is a bit backwater. I hear Vada Pinson also got a 3rd place vote although that was probably from Marty Brenneman who thought he got to vote too.

[ ]

In reply to by Andrew

Onley just said that on ESPN, to paraphrase...If the A's in on contention in 09, then cheers. If not they'll get a "C.C. like package" for him in July, and if they can't work a deal, they'll get at least 2 compensation picks. Also he said Houston Street and Gonzalez (some minor league OF from the Harren trade) were part of the package

I couldn't watch it while teaching the youth of the nation (they block youtube) but i'm glad i caught it now. 1. Burroughs is for sure hammered and stoned (just listen to how happy he was about the in and out burger) 2. Giles was hammered too, always funny to see professional athletes just shit faced. 3. I'd bang Giles' mom.

3. I'd bang Giles' mom I hope you are kidding. Just go to your local bowling alley to find a similar piece of white trash. She'll be outside smoking.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

the phrase is generally thought to come from the turbulent time around the 1850s where poor whites who didn't own property were arguing for their right to vote. they finally got that right. this was soon followed/countered by states creating literacy tests in order for people to vote since most poor people (whites included) were disproportionately illiterate. though this concept was "born" in the north (Mass.) it was adopted in southern reconstruction states decades later as a way to limit the voting rights of blacks. "racism"...it's more about class than race, but there's a lot of people throughout history who's main purpose is to make others believe it's about race instead of class. woo...fun with being sidetracked.

One more reasons not to like Californians - they make burritos at a tailgate party. They probably boo when they realize it's not a proper 'futbol' game.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

knock it off Neal....

you're not special, you're not smarter and you're not important...I let it go for this long, but I'm tired of you insulting everyone around here. 

If you don't like the site or the people around here, there's a million other sites. If you do, start behaving like a civil human being.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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...