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

The Week Ahead: Week Four

No recap on last night's game; instead let's take a moment to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be seeing Greg Maddux's late-career resurgence. An ERA of 0.99 is just silly, and wonderful. Coming up this week, the Cubs start an 8-game homestand with the Marlins and the Brewers. Most of last week's irrational exuberance left when Derrek Lee did, but those who believe in team character should expect the next few weeks to show us What This Team Is Made Of. Florida Marlins Know Your Enemy: Fishstripes, Maverickball (minors) Monday: Jason Vargas vs. Carlos Zambrano Tuesday: Dontrelle Willis vs. Sean Marshall Wednesday: Scott Olsen vs. Undecided I've seen Undecided pitch some pretty good games, and some pretty bad ones. Right now the candidates for Wednesday seem to be Angel Guzman and Rich Hill, and I'm in the Guzman camp mostly because I already know what Rich Hill can do and it isn't that impressive. Guzman might be more of the same, or he might not be, but we don't know and that's more interesting. The Cubs will face three lefties in this series, which is both unusual and potentially troubling. Dusty had Todd Walker in the lineup against Mark Mulder, but I have to assume we'll see the debut of the Mike Restovich experience at some point in this series. If it has to happen, let's hope it happens when Marshall, who is more of a flyball pitcher, is on the mound. Milwaukee Brewers Know Your Enemy: Al's Ramblings, Brewers Bar Friday: Dave Bush vs. Glendon Rusch Saturday: Doug Davis vs. Greg Maddux Sunday: Chris Capuano vs. Carlos Zambrano Looks like the Cubs will miss Ben Sheets this go-around, which is good. The Brewers are an exciting young team, which means they're likely to have more weekends like this last one, where they beat the Reds 11-0 on Saturday and then lost by the same score on Sunday. At least it's always interesting. With Kerry Wood's setback last week (he cut a simulated game short of Thursday due to "pain under his right arm"), I'm resigning myself to Rusch staying in the rotation a bit longer. Wade Miller was transferred to the 60-day DL, which means he can't come back until June 1st -- I do wonder why the Cubs chose to push him to the 60 instead of Mark Prior, who is theoretically after Miller on the comeback trail?

Comments

If it has to happen, letís hope it happens when Marshall, who is more of a flyball pitcher, is on the mound.J *sigh*... is Lee's arm still broke?

I've seen Cubs lineups shut down by "undecided". Hopefully Pie is brought up so the hitting machine that refuses to walk know as Jock Jones can sit next to Dusty and talk about the evils of base on balls.

Again for what its worth, Cubs.com has Angel Guzman listed as Wednesday's probably starter. Its will also be a day game after a night game, so going up against a lefty, I'm expecting both Todd Walker and Michael Barrett will be out of the lineup, but Jones who should be platooned will certainly be in the lineup. Looks like I picked a great one for my first trip to Wrigley of 06.

I know that in making the moves last week, the Cubs needed to put someone on the 60 day DL. Is it potential good news that it was Miller and not DLee that was put there, or am I reading too much into that?

More to the point: by putting Miller and not DLee on the 60 day DL, the Cubs essentially stated that it's more likely that Lee will be ready before June 20 than it is that Miller will be ready before June 1. In other words, the Cubs feel that there is a greater than 0% chance that Lee will be back before June 20 (i.e. if there was zero chance he would be ready before June 20, he would have been the one put on the 60 day DL). This may tell us more about Miller's progress than it does about Lee's prognosis, but it's interesting. In the words of the immortal Lloyd Daubler: "So you're saying there's a chance....yes!"

I'd say the decision says much more about Miller than it does about Lee. We now know for sure now that we won't see Miller until June 1st - no hope of a Mid-May that was talked about earlier. Of course, since None of the injured pitchers has even done a rehab start and we're almost into May, this really isn't a shock. Yeah, there is a slight chance that Lee could come back before mid-may. But most likely, if and when Miller join the team, they will simply move Lee to the 60 man retroactively.

I guess another (simpler) way to look at it is that it's interesting that Lee wasn't put on the 60-day DL in the first place, regardless of Miller's condition. Like BB said, Lee could be dropped on the 60-day at any time, so it's not as though it's good news necessarily. So, we know two things: (1) At least when the 60-day DL move was made last week, it was more likely that Lee would return before June 20 than it was that Miller would be ready before June 1, and (2) The likelihood of Lee returning before June 20 has (so far) outweighed the value of an extra spot on the 40 man roster.

Curious that when a team wins 11-0 and then loses 11-0 the same day it's a sign of an 'exciting young team' yet if the Cubs did the same thing it would be 'same old Cubs.' Perception is everything. (And yes, I know the original comment was a bit of a joke).

433: Lloyd Dobler played by John Cusack in Say Anything Lloyd Christmas played by Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber

It will be interesting to see if our staff can take on a 4A sqaud...we'll find out with Florida. It'll be just as interesting to see if our verteran pitchers can exploit the holes of the Milwaukee offense. Sure they can put up good numbers, but all of them aren't polished by any means. Not seeing Sheets is a positive we need to take advantage of.

and christopher lloyd played Doc brown the inventor of the flux capacitor in back to the future

Question: Should Neifi Perez ever start a game? The reason to start him would be defense, but now we have Jerry starting most of the time. I can't believe there is a huge difference defensely. As for the offensive side, Neifi is hitting .200 w/ a .200 batting average, .240 slugging percent. Jerry is doing far better. So, the question again, why should Neifi start any games?

I know this is redundant but: "Come on Dude, Nefi saved us last season."

I think we'll see Neifi on most days that Maddux pitches, as long as he bats 8th, I'll survive.

Well Aaron we can go all day mentioning movie Lloyds but my point is that Lloyd Christmas said the quote not Lloyd Dobler.

maybe he was thinking of High Fidelity (also starring Cusack) where he asks his ex-girlfriend if there's a chance they'll get back together, and she says she doesnt know, and he says, well if you dont know there must a chance, otherwise you'd say "no," and she says i guess there's a chance and he asks what percent chance did they have, and she answers: 9% Go Cubs!

Dang. Lloyd Christmas, of course. My bad, and thanks for the correction Chad. With the Derrek Lee thing I find myself feeling sort of spacey and not doing the "little things" like keeping movie characters straight... I'M INCARCERATED LLOYD

I actually wouldn't have minded facing Ben Sheets during the Brewers series. While the numbers don't show it very well against this year's crop of Cubs hitters, the Cubs have done rather well against Sheets in the past. Check out the 3-year splits on Sheets vs. the Cubs: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6618&type=pitching… He's 2-6 with a 4.33 ERA against the Cubs since 2003 (13 starts). Only St. Louis has done better against him in that time span.

Maybe so Doug, but we beat up Roy Oswalt real good a couple of times, yet I don't mind NOT facing him when we play the Astros.

Hey is anyone in chicago looking for a manager?

He's Lloyd, He's Lloyd, He's Null and Void... For fun -- Corey vs. Jacque: Corey: 32AB,.156 BA,ZERO BB,7 K,.156 OBP, 1 HR, 4 SB JJ: 40 AB,.200 BA, 3BB, 12K, .250 OBP, 2 HR, 0 SB Actually, not so much fun, after all. Yuck.

did you guys happen to have DLee's wrist insured?

Jack Jones pimps a flyball alot better than corey did. I love the batflip from a guy with a lower average than Neifi Perez.

Uh, yeah, that'd be a lot cooler if he was at least batting in the mid-200's.

I'll cut him some slack though, because I think he'll come around. He was doing pretty well in ST.

6 of Jones' 8 hits this season have been in the last 5 games.

Bob Brenley actually had a good insight into the meaninglessness of spring training stats. Batters are seeing a different pitcher every AB, so you can't get a read on a pitcher, pitchers can't adjust to what the hitter did in their prior AB, good pitchers are working more on location vs. going after a hitter's weakness, etc. It's nothing at all like the regular season. I'm liking him more the more I hear him.

With so many lefties coming up, I can only hope that Dusty will start someone other than J. Jones in right.

so, which game are people more interested in tonight. Cubs or Bulls? I'm a much bigger Cubs than Bulls fan...but I really love watching these young, scrappy, Bulls playing their hearts out...they are a fun team to watch.

If Cub fans needed any more proof that the bullpen has been taxed, Cubs ink Kerry Ligtenberg to a minor league deal.

I agree. I would like to see restovich in right at least 2 of these fla games. If we dont see him this series, we wont see much of him

Blockhead, I disagree with you 100%. Not one player on that team that I care about or think is any good, except for Ben Gordon.

Chad, I am not blown away by many individual players either, although I think Hinrich in particular plays a great all around game. But they play well as a team...I think one of their top 10 players has more than 3 years of experience or something like that. They aren't going to make it far, they are in the 2nd or 3rd tier...but it's just fun to watch a team with no big name all-stars competeing with the Shaq's and Wade's of the league.

I hate Kirk Hinrich. I feel that there is no room for skinny white guys in the NBA. And before you go John Stockton on my I will say that he is the rare exception to the rule.

I feel that there is no room for skinny white guys in the NBA. Chad...I see that you know about as much about Basketball as you do baseball. I guess you have never heard of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Gasol, Luke Ridnour, or shoot - even Wally Szczerbiak or Brad Miller. They are all skinny white guys are really damn good.

Good point...add Nocioni (and of course Hinrich) that to the list.

Do people still watch basketball in Chicago? I find it impossible to get enthused about any team after living through the greatness of the 90's Bulls, sadly, nothing will ever touch it. Plus Dwayne Wade will crush the Bulls.....

Why aren't people talking about firing Dusty and pulling Brenly out of the broadcast booth to manage this team? I'd be all over that, and it could probably happen.

Do people still watch basketball in Chicago? The Bulls were second in the league in attendance this year (behind Detroit). 21,188/game.

Nocioni isn't "good" but he is definately "scrappy", in that he plays as hard as possible and he's really good at getting into other player's heads. Udonis Haslem, for example, was thrown out (and suspended for tonight's game) after Noce hit him pretty hard a couple times including what looked like a knee in the stomach while Haslem was diving for a ball. (And lest this be misinterpreted -- I say, well done Sir.)

433: "Why aren't people talking about firing Dusty and pulling Brenly out of the broadcast booth to manage this team?" Because at this early juncture, and considering the massive injuries the team has sustained already, it would be only pure speculation, with basically ZERO substantial value. I am not saying it couldn't never happen, but now, with the team having a record of 10-7, without Lee, Wood and Prior, it is way too early. Also, if Brenly is/was such a good maanger, why hasn't he managed anywhere now in 2 years? There were some Cubs fans clammoring for Grady Little last year at times too. Let's wait till at least the Cubs fall 10 games out of playoff contention before realistically thinking of firing manager. We are 17 games into teh season and the Cubs are doing pretty well considering. I know you hate Dusty, but come on....

"Do people still watch basketball in Chicago? I find it impossible to get enthused about any team after living through the greatness of the 90's Bulls, sadly, nothing will ever touch it." It's completely and totally different. I think that's why I'm enjoying watching these games so much. There is truly nothing like the run the Bulls had in the 90's...it's something we will all talk about with our kids and grand kids. But it's nice to see the polar opposite to that run that was lead by sports icons of our generation and see a bunch of young guys whose names are completely unknown outside fans of the sport and Chicago...and watch them take a crappy season, turn it around in the last week, and really earn their stripes through hard work. In some ways, it is similiar to the Bulls in the mid 80's...they were coming off a stretch of terrible seasons and then this young kid from NC slowly began to turn the team around.

although that double switch the other day was incompitent, and his explanation of it "I gotta do what I have to do" was even more idiotic...I think no matter what, Baker will make it through the year. If we did fall far out of the playoffs, I don't see getting rid of Baker now as solving the problem. I think when they re-upped Hendry that solidified Baker for the year. The key is next year. If the Cubs are below .500, injuries or not, I don't think Baker is back. If they do win 83-85 games...I think they will bring him back under the guise of continuity. If the Cubs win more than 85, he'll get credit for the team overachieving, and he'll get a 2 year extension without much question. As I said in the second half of last year, I'm ready to see Dusty go...but at this point, I don't see much advantage to booting him in mid season.

In other Chicago Bulls news, MARK PRIOR is scheduled to throw 40 pitches today.

OK, let me clarfy, 1. I am talking about skinny little white guards. They are good role players. There are always exceptions. Steve Nash is that exception. 2. The only good white guys in the league are NOT American. 3. Go ahead an make the best team of all the American/Non-American white guys in the league and I'll make a team of all black guys. We can play as many games as you want and at best you'll win 10% of the time. And Jacos, news flash, Larry Bird is no longer in the NBA. Nor is Pete Marovitch, Bob Cousey, George Mikan or Jerry West. Larry Bird, c'mon.

Blockhead and Manny, I tend to agree that Dusty won't be let go during this season. And to be fair about it, he probably shouldn't be. But I am still recovering from the double double switch, and his explanation for it ("I had no choice") -- I just can't get past it. I know that nobody should be defined by one mistake, but that did a lot to shake my confidence in the guy. Manny, you can call me a Dusty hater for jumping on him for his nutty moves (so, can I call you a Dusty lover?). But you have to agree that the double double switch was manager malpractice.

The Cubs have a lot to overcome if they would like to be playoff worthy, and adding to that a manager's odd/incompetent/poor moves is insult piled upon injury. Scary thing is the Astros and Reds have offensive production on a scale we won't see this season, and catching the Astros by the time we get Lee/Prior/Wood/Miller/Insert-Savior-Here back it may just be too little too late. I know people are saying we're 10-7 so don't jump to conclusions. I'd say the same thing, we're 10-7 and at 17 games in, how can you be sure we're going to tread water like this for the duration of the first half? Dusty has proven over two years his inability to manage intracacies of the game...when is enough, enough?

J. Pierre cf R. Cedeno ss T. Walker 1b A. Ramirez 3b M. Barrett c M. Murton lf J. Jones rf N. Perez 2b

433: "I know that nobody should be defined by one mistake, but that did a lot to shake my confidence in the guy." So that means, you do have confidence in him then...good. "so, can I call you a Dusty lover?" Why not, many others do. Join the fun... "But you have to agree that the double double switch was manager malpractice." As I have said in a previous post, I was not here the entire weekend as I was in Philly for a bachelor party, so I did not get to see any of the games only read the recaps on ESPN.com. So since I did not see them it is tough for me to comment on any moves, good or bad. In the recaps it was nothing more then a mention. But looking at teh play-by=play, Walker and Murton would of only goten one more Ab the rest of the game, but still, who know what would o fhappened if they were in teh game. Again, without seeing Fridays and Saturdays game, it is tough to really make judgement either way.

noofie is 3 for 3 with a double vs. vargas, btw.

"So since I did not see them it is tough for me to comment on any moves, good or bad. In the recaps it was nothing more then a mention." I think the Chicago papers had stories online with the double-switch issue in their titles. The moves definately got more than a mention in the local media, but I understand your point in saying that since you didn't see the games it's hard to understand exactly what went on. They were definately pretty hard to justify though and Dusty's attempts at doing so didn't make too much sense.

The Dude: "They were definately pretty hard to justify though and Dusty's attempts at doing so didn't make too much sense." That wouldn't surprise me, as he ahs made double switches in the past that has made me scratch my head. Hopefully he can limit them to like once a month so we can keep our sanity...

somebody tell me that was just fine hitting by cabrera and that carlos didnt just serve that shit up...

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...