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

White Sox @ Cubs: Ranaudo vs Hammel (Game 100)

Bah.CHW (50-50): RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-0, 17.18)
CHC (59-40): RHP Jason Hammel (9-5, 3.35)
First pitch: 7:05pmCST

Hammel and his potato chips won in Milwaukee on Friday (5 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB). The White Sox are 23-77 (.299) against him. Cabrera is 5-16 with 2 HR.

Jacob Turner, who evidently pitched for the Cubs for a half season when nobody was watching, was scheduled to start for the Sox but has been moved to the bullpen.

Instead, we get Ranaudo, who’s been called up from AAA. Acquired from the Rangers in May, the 26y/o New Jersey native is 5-4 with a 6.33 ERA in 9 starts and 13 career appearances with Texas and also Boston over the last couple of years. Zobrist, the only Cub to have faced him, is 1-7.

Edward Scissorhands (14-3, 3.18) versus Lackey (7-7, 3.79) at 7:05pmCST to end the “Classic.”

Go Cubs!

Comments

Apparently the Yankees had the choice of either Gleyber Torres or Eloy Jimenez in the Chapman deal, and they chose Torres. 

link 

Some perspective (mostly for my own benefit): Dan Straily beat MadBum 2-1 today as the Reds took 2 of 3 in SF. Giants are 2-9 since the break and their lead over LA is down to 2.5 games. So, yeah...baseball. It'll drive ya nuts.

Here are the ERAs for the last five starting pitchers: 3.40 3.64 4.28 4.68 9.45 At what point does the manager note it's not the "other pitcher"? And why does he start Montero in the middle of a downturn?

bryant's back! no-doubt HR towering to CF...tie game.

Familia blows his first save of the season -- gives up 2 in 9th to the Cards. Not much going our way these days.

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaez! cubs take a 2 run lead in the 7th. sweet.

Javy! Javy! Javy! How sweet was that - Cranked it! 393 happy feet

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

You don't think he's improved? He looks completely different out there than he did when he first came up. The last I checked his K rate was in the low 20% range - 22-23 or so. When he came up it was 40%+. To me, what is scary about him if I'm the other guy is that he IS learning the strike zone. This guy could easily be the MVP someday.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

He certainly looks better, no doubt, and is a different player than what we saw when he first came up. Full credit to him for changing his approach and saving his career. But he has zero walks in 35AB since the break, and 10 in 251 AB all year. He does seem to be able to hit some pitches out of the zone, but, a guy with his pop should be drawing more walks. However, it's easy to forget he is still only 23, and probably trying to make an impact to prove he should be an everyday player.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I think Javy is learning--but he's learning to make contact, not learning to lay off pitches out of the zone. A quick glance at his plate discipline numbers on Fangraphs shows that his contact rate is up, especially his contact rate out of the zone, but his swing rate is up too, especially his swing rate out of the zone. My impression is that his somewhat cut down swing makes him more able to make contact, but it hasn't yet allowed him to lay off of bad pitches. If he could just get his walk rate up to say 6% (for comp, Aramis Ramirez walked at a 7% rate for his career, Soriano was at 5.9%), he could be a pretty valuable #5-6 hitter. And if sometime he hit 35-40 homeruns, yeah, he might be in MVP conversations.

11 hits off Wainwright tonight. Everything going right for the Cards right now. Motherfucking motherfuckers.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

The usual suspects, Molina and Wong. Gyorko drew a walk with two outs, none on. I recall us (particularly Szczur and Bryant) swinging at everything Familia threw. I think the Cards' secret--although it's not exactly a secret--is that they play microscopically. From the start of the game, they argue every ball-and-strike call they don't like. They hire managers with the harshest glare--or is it "glower"?--in the business, like Matheny and LaRussa. Molina will embark soon on an illustrious career as a manager, hopefully in the AL. He sets up outside, frames the ball perfectly, and the ump is not supposed to notice that the catcher asked for a pitch several inches outside. By the end of the game, if you're the opposing pitcher, you better throw it "fat," or they won't swing, and you won't get the call. Fat pitches lead to "clutch" hits.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

...and Familia with back-to-back blown saves. Blows a one-run lead vs. Rockies today, gets his 2nd consecutive loss. I am OK with the Mets missing the playoffs and suffering crushing losses at home --- just want them to beat St. Louis. He played with fire twice agains the Cubs -- unfortunately, the Cubs couldn't stop swinging.

Got to admit it - it was comforting seeing Rondon come out for the eighth after just taking a two run lead ... And put the hammer down with a 7 pitch inning. Good stuff

Sure is fun to watch them score finally. To think they were no-hit until the 7th...

If Jason Hammel doesn't get a potato chip sponsorship deal, somebody messed up. Attaboy, Jason!

So, playing .500 for the rest of the year puts them at 91 wins. You would think there is enough talent to do a little better than that, right?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Amazing how much lower the production gets when Bryant runs into a mini-cold streak. He doesn't stay cold for long. If just one of Zobrist or, gulp, Heyward, gets hot, they oughta have one more really nice winning streak in them. Having a closer that you have absolute confidence in can't hurt. Did anyone notice all the guys, especially Arrieta, standing on the dugout steps studying every pitch Chapman threw? In an 8-1 game. Of course, part of it was that they were still jacked from the late HRs. I never really paid a lot of attention to his delivery, but man, that's a work of art, how his entire body stretches from end of the mound to the other seamlessly as he is firing that thing. Every pitch I was thinking to myself, "I really hope he's not an asshole. I really hope he's not an asshole."

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I have basically written off Heyward for this year -- if you are working on major swing changes in late July, you are going to struggle. Hopefully, he can be more productive at the plate next year. It will be interesting to see what they do with him if the Cardinals keep winning and close the gap. Heyward is dead last in the NL in slugging and in the bottom 5 in OPS -- yet still has a positive WAR. Hunh. They certainly have the talent to play over .500 for the next 62 games, but, in a "through the looking glass" scenario -- my biggest concern is their top 3 starters. Hendricks and Hammel seem to be in good shape and able to give a competitive start on a regular basis. Hopefully, the extended bullpen can make Lackey a 6-inning pitcher -- his ERA just keeps going up. With fewer pitches per start, he should be able to pitch like a decent #3. But, a team needs an ace or two to carry it through the rough times -- Jake and Lester seem like big question marks right now. No doubt they can be good -- but can they win 2-1 games against other top pitchers?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Regarding Heyward-- He'll play regardless of what he does, just like Soriano played for seven years before they finally ditched him. What can they do? All I can think of is they can keep hiring and firing hitting coaches until they find one who can get him to stop hitting balls with the handle of the bat. (All those broken bats added to his paycheck is just a bit much.)

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Lester has given up one run or fewer in 11 starts this year. So I'd answer yes. Three of his last four starts were duds, yes. Not worried about him at all. Arrieta is concerning, to be sure. I look it at as, what he was doing was historic, so the regression was bound to happen. He showed in his start against the Mets that he's still capable, and I'd bet on him regaining his form.

AZ PHIL- You have kept a close watch of the Rule 5 Draft eligible Cubs and who you think'll make the cut, one guy I think gets overlooked is John Andreoli. You could say he is a relative clone to Matt Szczur, but he has more power (11 HR) and speed (30sb), a year younger, and would now have 3 options vs Szczur 0. Opinions?

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.