Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Camp Day at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

As many of you probably know by now, Thursday is "Camp Day" at Extended Spring Training. This usually means an intrasquad game, and sometimes a pre-game "live" BP session or simulated game involving rehabbing pitchers.

And such was the case today.

The Cubs did play a five-inning intrasquad game this morning on Fitch Park Field #2 (which ended in a 3-3 tie), but prior to the game, LHP Mark Pawelek (ankle) and RHP Jim Henderson (shoulder) squared off in a two inning (30-pitches per pitcher) simulated game on Field #1.

Each pitcher threw 15 pitches per "inning," with the hitters (Bryan Jost, Kevin Soto, and Elvis Lara) remaining at the plate until they either walked, struck out, or hit a fair ball. Then after the pitcher finished his "inning," he would go sit on the bench and talk to EXST Cubs pitching coach Rick Tronerud while the other pitcher threw his 15 pitches.

Henderson (relief pitcher at AA Tennessee in 2007) looked very sharp, with good sinking action on his two-seamer and excellent boring action on his slider. How he felt afterward, I do not know. But he looked good.

Pawelek was a different story, though.

In his first inning, he could not command his hard stuff (fastball and slider) and threw ten balls and only five strikes. But in his second inning, he was at least able to throw his fastball over the plate (somewhat), and threw five balls and ten strikes. (He does not have control issues with his curve or change-up).

So just how wild is Pawelek? When left-handed hitting Bryan Jost stepped up to the plate to hit against Pawelek, Boise Pitching Coach Tom Pratt yelled to Jost: "What's the matter, big guy? You're looking kinda wobbly-kneed up there!"

And he did, too! 

One thing for sure... Nobody is comfortable hitting against Pawelek. Not when even he doesn't know where the ball is going.

As for the EXST intrasquad game, rehabbing RHP Jon Mueller (not to be confused with fellow EXST RHP John Muller) got the start for Squad "B" and worked three strong innings. Mueller was a middle-reliever for Daytona last year before he went down with an arm injury,

Then LHP Arik Hempy (2007 17th round draft pick out of the U. of South Carolina) threw a couple of innings, and while his outing was not quite as strong as Mueller's, at least he didn't seem to have any trouble getting his arm loose. His breaking ball looked pretty good.

18-year old Australian LHP Cody Hams worked just one inning, and struggled with his control. 

On offense, RF Nelson Perez (who hit the game-winning HR yesterday) had another big day, slamming an RBI double and an RBI triple, while also scoring a run.

2B Dwayne Kemp (hero of the Aruban Little League World Series team a few years ago) was also 2-3, with a triple and a run scored and an RBI single, and Leon Johnson tripled and scored and made a nice running catch in CF. 
 
Here is the abridged box score for the five inning EXST intrasquad game

LINEUPS:

SQUAD "A"
1. Dwayne Kemp, 2B: 2-3 (3B, RBI, R)
2. Alvaro Sosa, C: 1-3 (RBI, R, SB)
3. John Contreras, 3B: 1-3 (2 SB)
4. Bryan Jost, 1B: 0-2 (BB, 2 K)
5. Brandon Guyer, DH #1: 1-2
6. Elvis Lara, LF: 0-2
7. Gian Guzman, SS: 1-2
8. Kevin Soto, RF: 0-2 (2 K)
9. Leon Johnson, CF: 1-2 (3B, R)
10. Jose Guevara, DH #2: 0-1 (BB)
11. Jose Made, DH #3: 0-2 (GIDP)

SQUAD "B"
1. Jeffrey Rea, DH: 1-3 (SB)
2. Roberto Sabates, C: 0-2 (R, BB)
3. Junior Lake, SS: 1-2 (R, BB, SB)
4. Nelson Perez, RF: 2-3 (2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R)
5. Luis Bautista, 1B: 1-2 (2B, RBI)
6. Luke Sommer, LF: 1-2
7. Starlin Castro, 2B: 1-1 (SH)
8. Andres Quezada, CF: 0-1 (BB)
9. Josh Vitters, 3B: 1-2
 
PITCHERS:

SQUAD "A"
1. Johan Gonzalez - 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 0 K
2. Cody Hams - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP

SQUAD "B"
1. Jon Mueller - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2. Arik Hempy - 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP 
3. Jose Severino - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K 

ERRORS:
Vitters - 1 (bad throw to 1st)
Lake - 3 (two bad throws to 1st, one misplayed groundball)
G. Guzman - 1 (bobbled ground ball)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sabates (0-3 CS - bounced every throw)
Sosa (0-2 CS)

WEATHER: Cool with temp around 70, and VERY breezy

ATTENDANCE: 5

Tags
Extended Spring Training
Mark Pawelek
Jim Henderson

Comments

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 04:03 pm

Pawelek and Vitters seem to be having some problems. It would be nice to see either one of these guys make it to A Ball at some point this year.

Submitted by carlosrubi on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 04:44 pm

Any word about converting Pawelek into a hitter? He was a nasty batter in high school, IIRC.

[ ]

Submitted by Charlie on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:20 am

How'd I forget everybody's favorite top-to-rock-bottom-back -to-the-top story? Ankiel probably a better example actually, since I think the Orioles actually drafted Markakis as a position player to the surprise of most other teams given that Markakis had been clocked in the mid-nineties.

Submitted by Raisin101 on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 04:09 pm

As always, thanks AZ Phil. Do you think any of the guys who are debuting in the U.S. for the first time this season have a chance to go to Boise this summer? Last season, I believe Alberto Cabrera skipped the AZL season and went to Boise. Also, how do you pronounce Junior Lake's last name? Is it like the body of water?

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:17 am

Submitted by Raisin101 on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 10:09pm.

As always, thanks AZ Phil.

Do you think any of the guys who are debuting in the U.S. for the first time this season have a chance to go to Boise this summer? Last season, I believe Alberto Cabrera skipped the AZL season and went to Boise.

Also, how do you pronounce Junior Lake's last name? Is it like the body of water?

==============================

RAISIN: It's still kind of early to tell if any of the Latin players who are making their U. S. debut in 2008 will be able to skip to Boise. Maybe LHP Jeffry Antigua, SS Junior Lake, or 3B John Contreras. But right now I would say probably not. 

In fact, the ones who are struggling the most will probably be going back to the Dominican Republic next month with the DSL Cubs #1 and DSL Cubs #2 managers and coaches who are presently at EXST.

There are a few Latin players at EXST who are not making their U. S. debut who have a good shot at making the Boise roster, though, including RHP Harol Tolentino, C Carlos Perez, INF Gian Guzman, and OFs Elvis Lara and Nelson Perez.

As you may already know, the Cubs, Reds, and Twins have pulled out of the Venezuelan Summer League (VSL), although they still operate academies there. In fact, I believe there are now only eight teams left in the VSL (and no co-op teams).

The problem the Cubs and a number of other MLB clubs have right now is that they simply don't have enough Venezuelan and Central American players in their system to field a VSL team (Dominican players are not allowed to play in the VSL). So instead of operating one DSL team and one VSL co-op team (as they did in 2007), the Cubs will be operating two DSL clubs (DSL Cubs #1 and DSL Cubs #2) and no VSL team in 2008. If the Cubs can sign more Venezuelan players, then maybe they could operate a "VSL Cubs" team eventually. A co-op team is kind of awkward for everybody.

But the Cubs Venezuelan Academy at Puerto Cabella is still operating. In fact, that's where RHP Rafael Cova got into shape while he was working out his visa problem, so that once he got to Fitch Park (EXST) last week, it took him just one bullpen side-session, one simulated game, and one EXST game for him to be ready to get assigned to AA Tennessee (where he is now).

In addition to the nine Cubs minor leaguers assigned to the Cubs Venezuelan Academy (until they leave next month to play in the DSL), there is always a steady-stream of prospective players coming through the academy for try-outs, Cubs Venezuelan Academy Supervisor Hector Ortega and four other part-time Cubs scouts run the place.

As for Junior Lake, everybody calls him "Lake" (like the body of water).

Here are the Cubs players presently assigned to the various foreign academies:

* bats or throws left
# bats both

CUBS VENEZUELAN ACADEMY (at Puerto Cabello)

PITCHERS (3):
Edilmar Infante
Reinaldo Navarro
Gregorio Rodriguez

CATCHERS (2):
Jose Bracho
Carlos Romero

INFIELDERS (2):
Jose Avila
George Matheus

OUTFIELDERS (2):
Luis Andrades
* Cesar Salazar

=================================

CUBS DOMINICAN ACADEMY (at Baseball City):

PITCHERS (21):
Bienvenido Beltre
Yelson Cabrera
Julio Castillo
Miguel Corletto
Alejandro de la Cruz
Manolin DeLeon
Arturo Florentino
* Carlos Galvez
Junniol Lami
Luis Liria
Jose Montecino
Pacheco Mota
Lenny Pena
* Marcos Perez
Francoris Pineda
Gorge Pineda
Ramon Rache
Ramon Reyes
* Abner Ruiz
Tomas Sanchez
Jose Tineo

CATCHERS (3):
Miguel Gonzalez
Yamel Liria
Jose Vigay

INFIELDERS (8):
# Robert Bautista
# Ramon Bonilla
# Herasmo Magallanes
# Alexander Mejia
Carlos Morales
Juan Pena
Pedro Ramirez
Andy Soto

OUTFIELDERS (5):
Albert Hernandez
Elvin Jiminez
# Nelson Pierre
# Gregorio Robles
# Jose Valdez

============================

MLB AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL ACADEMY (June-August):
* Cody Hams, LHP (at EXST at Fitch Park until May 22)
Adam Spencer, RHP (still in HS, will make U. S. debut in 2009)

 

Submitted by Raisin101 on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:17 pm

Wow, fantastic as always, Phil. BTW, I hear you've lost Josh Vitters and Leon Johnson to Peoria and Jonathan Mota and Drew Rundle were demoted back to extended.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:14 pm

RAISIN: Yes. Drew Rundle was at the morning work-out at Fitch Park today.

I can understand Rundle getting demoted when Leon Johnson finished his rehab (because the only reason Rundle made the Peoria Opening Day roster was because Johnson got hurt), but it seems a bit odd that the Cubs would promote Josh Vitters at this time, partly because he hasn't played well at EXST (especially defensively), and partly because Peoria already has two third-basemen (Jovan Rosa and Marquez Smith) who can't play there regularly.

If the intent was to replace Jonathan Mota (a back-up middle infielder), then it probably would have made more sense to promote Jose Made (who plays 2B-SS) from EXST rather than Vitters (who plays only 3B). 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:43 pm

Josh Vitters' parents were at the EXST game at Fitch Park last Saturday, and they were saying that they had just returned from visiting their older son (Christian), who is a third-baseman for the Oakland A's Kane County team in the Midwest League. And they also were saying that in a way it was good that Josh was able to remain in Arizona, because the weather was better here than it was back in Illinois when they were there.

But when somebody asked them whether Josh was expecting to stay in Mesa for the Summer or go to Boise, they said he would be going to Peoria. And that the only reason Josh had been left at Extended Spring Training was because he had a blister problem on his hand at Minor League Camp that kept him from swinging the bat as well as he normally did.

I wrote that off as the fanciful dreams of a parent, but I guess they must have known something. Because it sure sounds like when the Cubs signed Vitters last August, that they not only promised him that he would get to Boise by the end of the 2007 season, but that he would be assigned to Peoria in 2008.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 04:16 pm

Submitted by Raisin101 on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:54pm.

You're right, I misread what I had read earlier and thought he was demoted (and was kind of confused as to why).

Good to see him up at Daytona where I felt he deserved to start the year.

=================

RAISIN: And Daytona INF Ryne Malone was either released or retired, or was sent to EXST (although he wasn't there today). My guess is he was released, but I'll let you know if he shows up at Fitch.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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