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

Dusty Baker—Doing It for the Kids

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dusty Baker may juggle the Red Legs' pitching rotation heading into next week's visit to Wrigley Field.

The Reds have an off-day Monday, which would normally cause them to skip fifth starter Josh Fogg's turn. But Baker is considering having Fogg take his turn Wednesay, following Aaron Harang on Tuesday, which would have the effect of giving Baker's two young, stud pitchers--Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto--an extra day's rest.

"We might try to reconfigure to do that," Baker said. "It's not going to hurt Cueto and Volquez to lighten their load early to keep them strong late. They're going to be making 10, 11 more starts minimum - more if we get to the playoffs - than they've ever thrown."

(Insert your own ironic interpretation here.)

On a related note, this headline from The Onion sports section:

Dusty Baker On Rookie Ace: 'Mwahahahahaaaaa'

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Comments

On a completely unrelated note, is it wrong for me to be amused by this? "Tampa Police arrested Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Al Reyes early this morning, saying the reliever was drunk and disruptive after falling down, picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot...the officer tased Reyes, knocking him to the bar floor. Ignoring police commands to stay down, authorities said Reyes got up and was Tased a second time." http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2008/04/reyes-slugged-t.html

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

And another Twinkie fan gives a makeshift scouting report on Mr. Deeds... "Anyway, I liked Deeds. He had a very good 2005 season at AA and then had to repeat the level. He does a little of everything without doing anything great. Hits for OK average, with decent on-base skills and some power. Plays a couple of positions (RF/1B) adequately. This is fair return for the PTBNL."

[ ]

In reply to by Little Nate Lewis

Does anybody else think the Cubs lost a lot of value in getting mediocre-to-awful players last year? Michael Barrett to SD for Rob Bowen Rob Bowen and Blevins to Oakland for Kendall Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry to Baltimore for Steve Trachsel Clay Rapada (PTBNL) to Detroit for Craig Monroe Getting Lahey back for Monroe would've been nice to offset some of that young talent we lost. Rapada and Blevins both appear to be better lefty relievers than we have in the system right now, Scott Moore would've been nice depth waiting in AAA or could've been packaged for something valuable, and Rob Bowen turned out to be a lot better than he played while in Chicago. While Bowen put up a .065/.097/.167 line for the Cubs in 31 ABs, he went on to Oakland to hit .279/.415/.442. While with the Padres he had hit .268/.371/.439. Meanwhile, Kendall hit .270/.362/.356 for the Cubs while playing comparable defense (not bad, actually). However, a combination of Bowen and Soto for in the time that Kendall was playing would've likely proved MUCH more productive than Kendall and wouldn't have required us to pay much salary or to give up Blevins. What about Monroe? He hit .204/.291/.347 in 49 ABs for the Cubs. I don't care what side of the plate you bat from, that is terrible, and it's nothing that Pie and Fuld couldn't have done while also playing significantly better defense. We gave up Clay Rapada for that? Moving on to Trachsel. In 4 total games with the Cubs, Trachsel won one game and lost three while posting an ERA of 8.31. He took Marshall's rotation spot, who had half the ERA. In fact, I'd be willing to bet Cherry could've posted an ERA under 8 in 4 starts. Meanwhile, Moore is providing left-handed pop off the bench for the Orioles and has played three infield positions. The guy doesn't have a ton of value, and neither does Cherry, but Trachsel appears to me actually have had negative value. Oh, and Trachsel and Monroe failed to make the playoff roster while Kendall was pushed into a backup role. Last season's in-season trades were not very good, and it looks to me like the reveal a GM who really undervalues his own young players. By the way, Doug Deeds is an outfielder/first baseman who will turn 26 this June. He's a lefty hitter who has never hit more than 16 homeruns and isn't much of a base stealer. Why didn't Hendry at least hold out until he knew whether the Twins will even get Lahey back?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Maybe Rapada and/or Blevins turn out to be decent LOOGY's, but overall, the guys we gave up were spare parts, at best, with the exception of Barrett, who had deteriorated here to the point he had to be dumped for anything. Moore and Cherry aren't likely to be anything special. As for adding Trachsel and Monroe, I wasn't thrilled with the moves but I understand what Hendry was trying to do, add experienced vets for the stretch drive. Sure, in hindsight Pie or Fuld could have put up Monroe's miserable numbers, but Monroe hit 28 hr and 92 rbi the year before, something Pie or Fuld will never do.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

We did win the division last year, right? Just checking...

Kendall had one great month for us and when he struggled again in Sept he got benched. Monroe for Rapada? Rapada can't even crack the Tigers awful bullpen right now.  Moore, Renshaw and Cherry for Trax? Yeah, that was dumb, but once again, no one we'll ever miss.

None of the talent we gave up was crucial or will ever be... 

I would think that Lahey was never part of the Monroe discussion or something is happening in the waiver process that we don't know about yet. I believe the deal had to be completed by Opening Day or close to it. Vaguely recall reading that...

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

When you trade away crap, you're going to get crap back. Barrett was damaged goods, and Bowen was a short term band-aid. Kendall at least was a plausable starting catcher, and if he played in Chicago last year like he is playing in Milwaukee so far this year this would be a very different conversation. And don't forget, the Cubs also got a First Round draft pick out of that deal. Monroe was a gamble to have a little extra pop off the bench during a playoff chase and have a righty who could play CF - much like the role that Reed Johnson is playing. The cost was a marginal pitching prospect. Getting anyone back in a second trade was just an extra. The Trachsel move was just kind of stupid, but more because it moved Marshall out of the rotation than because a couple of very marginal players were lost.

They're going to be making 10, 11 more starts minimum - more if we get to the playoffs - than they've ever thrown er, Dusty, Cueto made 28 starts last year, Volquez made 29 Their arms are gonna fall off!!

still 50-60% chance of showers and T-storms tonight... With an off-day Monday wouldn't hurt out starting staff much if we had to play a double-header this weekend.

I would love to contribute to the web site, but I'm old school and do not put my credit card on the internet. Is there any other way to make a donation.

So when are we planning on realizing that Marquis stinks and Leiber is a far better option as a starter...I know we have won so far this year...but our starting pitching looks like its going to be our weak link.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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).