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

Today in Cub History: Catch-all Edition

4-3-2006 Transmission (me) successfully defends his dissertation at UW. While technically he still has to deposit his dissertation in a dank basement office somewhere, this functionally makes him Dr. Trans. 4-3-1987 Traded Dennis Eckersley and Dan Rohn to the Oakland Athletics. Received Brian Guinn, Dave Wilder and Mark Leonette 4-3-1888 Sold John Clarkson to the Boston Beaneaters 4-4-1988 Sammy Sosa hits the first of his 66 home runs. It's off Marc Valdes of the Expos 4-4-1989 Mitch Williams pitches 1 and 2/3 innings, gives up three hits, two walks, and a balk. He also strikes out three, gives up no runs and earns his first save as a Cub. Cubs 5, Phillies 4 4-5-2004 Signed Glendon Rusch as a free agent 4-5-1995 Traded Derek Wallace and Geno Morones to the Kansas City Royals. Received Brian McRae 4-5-1976 Traded Don Kessinger to the St. Louis Cardinals. Received Mike Garman and a PTBNL (Bobby Hrapmann) 4-5-1892 Traded Fred Pfeffer to the Louisville Colonels. Received Jim Canavan and $1000 cash. 4-7-1991 Traded Mitch Williams to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Chuck McElroy and Bob Scanlan 4-8-1976 Purchased Randy Hundley from the San Diego Padres 4-8-1960 Traded Ron Perranoski, Johnny Goryl, Lee Handley and $25,000 cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Don Zimmer 4-9-1995 Signed Jaime Navarro as a free agent 4-9-1951 Released Johnny Vander Meer 4-11-1965 Purchased Ted Abernathy from the Cleveland Indians

Comments

I am taking a bit of R & R (but not too much, as I still need to find a job, and grade exams), and plan on working my way into blogging shape over mid-April.

Chi Cubs 4 1 .800 - Houston 5 2 .714 - Milwaukee 5 2 .714 - Cincinnati 4 2 .667 0.5 St. Louis 4 3 .571 1.0 Pittsburgh 1 7 .125 4.5 Man, does that look good or what??? Yeah it is early, but if this can't get your hopes up, what else can?

Trans. Enjoy the R&R, and lots of it. In my experience it sinks in all too quickly that there really is no closure, there is still tons of academic bullshit (job apps/grading/publications/etc.) to work through. Congrats. .

Congrats Trans! and sorry for getting off topic, but i have been thinking for a few days about the 4 and 5 spot in the rotation, and especially after Marshall's start last night...Does anyone see one of the AAA guys making the start in place of Jerome? Does Marshall get another start regardless of what Guzman and Hill are doing? I guess i am just anxious to see Guzman in a ML game...but i really did think that Marshall pitched well, and not to make excuses (too late), he was really getting a completely different strike zone than Ponson, and could have had a few more strikeouts imo (i just found out what that meant) and perhaps gotten out of the 5th on his own

Congratulations! Thanks for making me sitting here as a college sophomore working on a dual major (Math and Economics) look like a nothing loser. Damn my 4.0*! *I wish. I've toyed with the idea of Grad School, but we'll see. Re: Southside and #5 My philosophy is that pitching is all about learning by trial and error. You make your mistakes only to learn from them. How many guys go out and dominate from game one? Very, very few. If the Cubs think Sean Marshall is their guy, you gotta give him several starts if not a whole season. Look at all the good starters in the league today. Most of the aces struggled for their first 40 or so starts in the big leagues. I'd stick with Marshall for now, he only made one or two mistakes and has a nice minor league track record, albeit in limited advanced action. You hit on the nail. Baseball has been stressing that the low strike will get called his year. Marshall got a very generous outside corner, but anything at the knees he was simply not getting. For a groundball pitcher like himself, that can potentially kill him. I'd love to see Guzman up here soon, but Hill had a good start too. Don't count out Ryu either, he had a nice opener in Iowa. Personally, I would not touch Guzman until he shows he can stay healthy for at least a couple of months. We don't need him getting all geared up and tweak something, or even worse get all geared up and not tell someone if something is wrong.

Yeah, I am tired. I made a circular argument. "'d love to see Guzman up here soon" ... "Personally, I would not touch Guzman until he shows he can stay healthy for at least a couple of months." I need some sleep. Either that or start proofreading my posts.

Congrats Dr. Transmission! My car has been slipping from second gear into third gear. Can you take a look? Seriously though, that's great news. Good luck with the job hunt.

Congrats Trans. That's a day you'll never forget. It took about a year for it to sink in, but then it felt pretty good. If you can, try to get some relaxing in this summer before you start an intense job (if you're staying in academia). Watch the Cubs win at least a game or two a month! (I'm sorry - I need to temper my enthusiasm this week with some lowered expectations...)

I'll echo the congratulations. Be sure to list Cub Reporter on your list of publications. It will give your resumÈ a more rounded look.

Congratulations, Dr. Trans! I recall listening to that 4/4/89 game on the radio in my office. After the last out, I stuck my head in a co-worker's office, told him what had happened, and concluded by advising him to stock up on Maalox now. That was some year.

Ah, I remember that fateful day in '88 like it was yesterday. Clarkson was my favorite player and the Beaneaters rivalry was intense. Damn that management! No commitment to winning!

Well done Trans

Glad to hear you made it, Trans. Good work.

What do trans and Dr. Evil have in common? Neither one of them spent 7 years in evil medical school to be called mister.

One thing I should point out - I'm a Ph. D., not an M.D. So technically (and legally and morally, I guess) I'm not going to be doing any surgury, any time soon. Thanks, everyone, for your support and encouragement over the last two years. Every little bit is important, and I'm thankful for it. I, too, remember that Mitch Williams game. Absolute classic.....

Indeed, congratulatins, Trans. If it's not too personal, do you mind me asking what your doctorate is in? Just curious, don't feel that you have to reply if you'd rather not say.

MONDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS FROM DOWN ON THE FARM: BATTING (ALL LEVELS): IOWA (AAA): Felix Pie, CF: 2-5, R, 5 RBI, HR (GS), BB (IBB), WALK-OFF BASES LOADED SINGLE OFF CF FENCE. Ryan Theriot, SS: 2-5, R, K Casey McGehee, 3B: 2-5, 2B, K Michael Restovich, RF: 1-4, BB, K Brandon Sing, 1B: 0-5, 2K, 2 E Geovany Soto, C: 1-4, R, BB Jamal Strong, LF: 1-4, 2 R, K, HBP, GIDP Buck Coats, 2B: 0-3, BB, K, SH, E Mike Fontenot, PH: 1-1, R, RBI, PH-HR Jeff Deardorff, PH: 0-1, K Augie Ojeda, PH: 0-1, SH NOTE: F. Pie is tied for PCL lead in RBI, 3B, SB (3 for 3), tied for 3rd in hits, is 5th in BA, and 6th in OPS. R. Theriot is 8-19 with 5 RBI. WEST TENN (AA): Chris Walker, CF: 2-5, K, SB Eric Patterson, 2B: 0-3, RBI, K Luis Montanez, LF: 1-4 Scott Moore, 3B: 2-4 Richard Lewis, DH: 0-3, R, BB Michah Hoffpauir, 1B: 1-3, R, BB Tony Richie, C: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B Adam Greenberg, RF: 1-4, R, K Carlos Rojas, SS: 0-4, K DAYTONA (A+): Sam Fuld, CF: 0-3, R, BB, K, SB Jemel Spearman, 3B: 2-4, R, RBI, 2 2B, K Ryan Harvey, RF: 2-4 Nic Jackson, LF: 0-4, RBI, 2 K Jake Fox, DH: 0-3 Matt Craig, 1B: 0-2, R, BB, K Alan Rick, C: 1-3, RBI, 2B, PB Joe Simokaitis, SS: 0-3, K Nate Spears, 2B: 0-2, K Anderson Tavares, PH-2B: 0-1 NOTE: R. Harvey (sore knee) first game played in RF. A. Tavares is a combination RHP-utility INF PEORIA (A): Robinson Chirinos, 2B; 0-3, R, BB, HBP, K Dylan Johnston, SS: 0-4, K, SH, E Brandon Taylor, 3B: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, SF Ryan Norwood, 1B: 2-4, R, RBI, HR Alberto Garcia, DH: 0-2, BB Luis Rivera, PR-DH: 1-2, R Matt Ciaramella, RF:2-4, RBI, 2B, BB Johnny Defendis, LF: 0-5, K, SB, E, OF ASSIST Jake Muyco, C: 2-4, RBI, BB, E, (TWO OPPONENTS CS) Davy Gregg, CF 1-4, R, R, K, CS PITCHING (ALL LEVELS): IOWA (AAA): Rich Hill: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR Brandon Emanuel: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Mark Watson: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K Roberto Novoa: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, (BLOWN SAVE) David Aardsma 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R 0 BB, 4 K (W 1-0) NOTE: D. Aardsma 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, one save, so far in 2006. WEST TENN (AA): Juan Mateo: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K Federico Baez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (W 1-0) Rocky Cherry 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (SAVE 1) NOTE: J. Mateo was Rule 5 pick by STL and spent Spring Training in Jupiter (Florida, that is). R. Cherry is returning from 2005 TJ surgery. DAYTONA (A): Grant Johnson: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 4 K Carlos Vasquez: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R 91 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 3 WP, BALK NOTE: G. Johnson was Cubs 2004 1st round Rule 4 Draft pick out of Notre Dame. C. Vasquez is ex-member of 40-man roster returning from 2005 shoulder surgery, will be six-year minor league FA after 2006. PEORIA: Mitch Atkins: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K Matt Avery: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP Jesse Estrada: 2 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 0 K (BLOWN SAVE 1) Roberto Sotolongo: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE 1) NOTE: R. Sotolongo is Cuban defector making U. S. debut in 2006.

Congrats Trans, from an ABD (20 years now!). Forgive the weak tranisition, and also forgive if it's already been mentioned, but has anybody read "Fantasyland"? A good read for fellow fantasy geeks, in it, he marvels at the info available on the 'net including how there's a site where a guy analyzes every transaction. Congrats Ruz on the mention.

If I was PhD, by now I'd have a figured a work around for the dreaded double post.

Cheers Trans and good luck in the fledgling job market. Now that you've freed up some time you'll probably want to pay more attention to Rod Beck's America where I'm currently rolling you up:).

Congrats Trans - just remember to keep things in perspective. Looking forward to a contribution to this blog know that you will have some time to relax.

Thanks again, guys. Andrew - I'm a historian of science. (yes, we have our own department, for some odd reason. We're historians that deal with the development, dissemination and ramifications of knowledge about the natural world.) My specialty is the social and biological sciences and their interaction with social reform movements. I also do a bit of the history of our cultural fetish for statistics. It's not so much that I want to keep my identity a mystery, as it is that it's not helpful, perhaps even damaging, for prospective employers to think of me as a "blogger." (What's so bad about being a blogger!?!?!? sheeesssshh...)

Hey Trans congrats - now maybe you can appear in chat again. In other news - I'm pretty sure I'd have remembered if Sammy hit the first of his 66 home runs in 19 EIGHTY eight. 98 dude.

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...