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

Lake Takes the Plunge at Riverview Park

Junior Lake collected five hits (four singles and a double), stole two bases, and scored two runs, Welington Castillo reached base four times on three walks and a single, and Dustin Geiger singled twice, doubled, and drove-in four runs, in Cactus League Minor League action this afternoon at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.  

The Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affliate) hammered the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers AA affiliate) 10-4 on Field #3, while the Albuquerque Isotopes (LAD AAA affiliate) edged the Iowa Cubs 4-3 on Field #6.

Lake and Castillo moved back & forth between the two fields, each working as an extra DH and taking an AB whenever the opportunity arose. Lake managed eight Plate Appearances between the two games, and Castillo had six.

Cubs #1 pitching prospect RHP C. J. Edwards got the start for Tennessee on Field #3, and he allowed one run on three hits (two singles and a double) and a walk, with five strikeouts and a 6/0 GO/FO in 3.2 IP (67 pitches).

Recently returned from the Arizona Diamondbacks (who had selected him the Major League Phase of the December 2013 Rule 5 Draft), RHRP Marcos Mateo threw a dominating 9th inning on Field #3 (two strikeouts and a broken bat 5-3 GO) to seal the victory for the Smokies. 

LHP Eric Jokisch got the start for the I-Cubs, and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits (a single and a double) and four walks in 5.2 IP (78 pitches). He also struck out seven and induced two DP grounders along the way, using his quality off-speed stuff to keep Isoptope hitters off-balance. Albuquerque plated their two runs off Jokisch on a bases-loaded walk and a two-out RBI double.  

Carlos Pimentel "piggy-backed" with Jokisch and worked 3.1 IP, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits (three singles and a triple) and two walks. He struck out four, with a 2/4 GO/FO.  

Kris Bryant went 0-3 for Tennessee, striking out (swinging) his first two times up, and then popping out to the first-baseman in foul territory in his final AB.  

Arismendy Alcantara played SS and batted 3rd for Iowa, and he struck out all three times up, first two times swinging, and last time looking. 

Though assigned to the Tennessee squad, Dan Vogelbach was the Iowa DH, and he went 0-3 in the game, grounding into a 4-6-3 DP and then striking out twice (both times swinging). 

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #3

TENNESSEE LINEUP:
X-1 Junior Lake, DH #1: 2-2 (1B, 1B, R, SB)
NOTE: Lake hit lead-off in the bottom of the 1st and 2nd innings
X-2 Welington Castillo, DH #2: 1-2 (BB, 1B, F-8, BB, 2 R)
NOTE: W. Castillo hit 2nd in the bottom of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings  
1. Zeke Devoss, CF: 1-4 (2B, K, K, 4-3, R)
2. Stephen Bruno, DH #3: 1-4 (1B, F-8, K, E-9, 2 R, RBI, SB)
3a. Kris Bryant, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, P-3)  
3b. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-1 (1B, R, RBI)
4. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 3-4 (1B, 1B, K, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI)
5. Jeudy Valdez, 2B: 0-2 (BB, 5-3, BB, F-7, R)
6. Walter Ibarra, SS: 2-4 (K, 1B, 6-3, 3B, 2 RBI, CS)
7a. Chadd Krist, C: 0-2 (K, K)
7b. Lance Rymel, C: 1-2 (2B, K, RBI)
8. Bijan Rademacher, RF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, F-8)
9. Pin-Chieh Chen, LF: 0-3 (K, F-7, K)

TENNESSEE PITCHERS:
1. C. J. Edwards: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 6/0 GO/FO, 67 pitches (46 strikes)
2. Jeff Lorick: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 30 pitches (20 strikes)
3. Tony Zych: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/0 GO/FO, 12 pitches (9 strikes)
4. Al Yevoli: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1/1 GO/FO, 36 pitches (23 strikes)
5. Marcos Mateo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 14 pitches (11 strikes)

TENNESSEE ERRORS: 1
SS Walter Ibarra - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

TENNESSEE CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Chadd Krist: 0-1 CS

FIELD #6

IOWA LINEUP:
X-1. Welington Castillo, DH #1: 0-2 (K, 6-3, BB)
NOTE: W. Castillo hit 2nd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings
X-2. Junior Lake, DH #2: 3-6 (1B, K, K, F-8, 2B, 1B, R, SB)
NOTE: Lake hit lead-off in the bottom of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings
1. Matt Szczur, LF: 1-3 (1B, F-8, P-3, CS)
2. Logan Watkins, 2B: 0-2 (K, 3-U, BB)
3. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 0-3 (K, K, K)
4. Jonathan Mota, 3B: 1-2 (6-3, 1B, BB, R, SB)
5. Rubi Silva, RF: 0-3 (4-1, K, K)
6. Dan Vogelbach, DH #3: 0-3 (4-6-3 DP, K, K)
7. John Andreoli, CF: 1-3 (K, K, 2B, R, RBI)
8. Lars Anderson, 1B: 1-3 (P-4, P-2, 1B, 2 RBI)
9a. Rafael Lopez, C: 0-1 (F-7)
9b. Luis Flores, C: 0-1 (BB, P-3) 

IOWA PITCHERS:
1. Eric Jokisch: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 2 GIDP, 7/3 GO/FO, 78 pitches (47 strikes)
2. Carlos Pimentel: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 2/4 GO/FO, 53 pitches (36 strikes)

IOWA ERRORS: 3
1. 3B Jonathon Mota - E-5 (fielding error allowede batterto reach base safely)
2. 2B Logan Watkins - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reeach base safely)
3. C Luis Flores - E-2 (overthrow on SB attempt at 2nd base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd)

IOWA CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Rafael Lopez: 0-1 CS
2. Luis Flores: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)  

ATTENDANCE: 76

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

 

 

 


 

 

Comments

veras walks dj lemahieu...stolen base...stolen base...balked home. classic cubbery. he did get 2 Ks and a groundout aside from that, though.

ArizonaPhil - you said that Mateo had the right to elect free agency if he is returned to the Cubs. Has he declined that election, or can he do it any time before the season starts?

[ ]

In reply to by DavidP

DAVID P: Because he has been outerighted previously in his career, Marcos Mateo is an Article XX-D player, meaning he has the right to elect free-agency if outrighted to the minors.

So after he was returned (outrighted) to Iowa by Arizona, Marcos Mateo had three days to either elect free-agency or accept the Outright Assignment and defer free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season. Since he was returned on 3/12, the election period has expired, and he cannot elect to be a free-agent at this time. .

If he had elected to be an Article XX-D free-agent after being outrighted, his contract would have been terminated and he would have received no termination pay. But because he accepted the Outright Assignment, he receives his 2014 salary at Iowa (presumably the MLB minimum minor league "split" salary of $80,000). He will then be able to elect free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the 2014 MLB regular season up through October 15th, UNLESS he is added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the 2014 regular season, in which case he does not have the right to elect free-agency.

Baez HR, then doesn't give way on a pop-up despite being called off by LF, down for awhile but staying in game. Looked like left wrist was hurting

Olt pinch hits with runners on corners down a run. Fouled off a couple hittable pitches but works the walk and doesn't chase any bad pitches. Nice AB.

Valaika grounds to shortstop who dives but throws away the force out and go ahead run scores.

Iglesias done for season, make it happen Theo. Hard to imagine they wouldn't be more interested in Franklin or Gregorius, but you never know.

Daniel Vogelbach breaking news now!!!

Indicating that Trevor Gretkzy is headed to Angels

Daniel Vogelbach @Flowbro3

Good luck to my boy @TrevorGretzky with the angels. Not going to be the same without u my man, gonna miss you for sure.

Hottovy sent down...44 left.

Be very interesting if Olt and Baez make team, what bench will look like? Do they dump 2 of Murphy, Valbuena, Bonifacio and go with Barney as back-up?

Castillo, Kottares, Rizzo, Baez, Castro, Olt, Lake, Sweeney, Schierholtz, Barney, Ruggiano, (2 of) Bonifacio, Murphy, Valbuena or Kalish

I don't think Baez would make team without Barney trade or Castro disabled list stint, but it sure seems possible at this point. I'd pay attention to that lineup at least.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

gretz can go play high A ball in socal (inland empire)...only reason i can think of. it sure as hell seems like a player convenience trade rather than a talent swap. m.scioscia will be lucky to still be in baseball on any level by the end of the year given his performance so far...especially factoring in his age vs competition showing.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

thanks. hope he gets enough time this spring to show he's worth giving an enhanced role at 3rd. given that 2014 is a punt year it probably doesn't matter that much, but there's a 3rd base logjam going on with the kids and it would be convenient if olt can step up and play on the MLB roster.

FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reports that the Marlins are shopping starting pitcher Jacob Turner.

The Marlins have starting pitching depth and long-term needs at second base and first base

Turner (23 years old/#22 prospect in baseball before 2012) for Alcantara/Vogelbach crossed my mind until I looked at Turner's dwindling K rates the last 2 years.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

he's gone from throwing 95-98mph to 90-93mph since being drafted. he dropped off big time in 2012, throwing a lot of stuff closer to 90 than 93. he's still a promising pitcher, but he doesn't have the buzz on his name he used to have.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

barring injury or weirdness it's a sure thing rondon will go in picks 1-3 (most likely first...btw, HOU scouts have been at some of his NCSU games). beede...kolek...nola...also top guys i wouldn't mind seeing the cubs jump on if they make it to 4th. i still don't understand the obsession some have with jeff hoffman, but it looks like his stock is dropping anyway...which beede's stock has been rising. outside of rondon, beede, kolek, and nola i'm not really stoked or knowledgeable about anyone else, though. that said, if they want at least one of them they pretty much can...dunno what their game plan is, though it seems it will probably be a pitcher with enough top pitching talent available. as an aside...seeing as he won't be draft eligable for another 2 years...NCSU has a 3rd baseman freshman named andrew knizner who's ungodly good with a bat and his power should develop with age/experience. hell of a highschool player and continuing it into college without pause.

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...