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

Free Agent Frenzy Update

Right before the free agency period began, I let you guys chime in on your free agent picks. Unfortunately I can't link up to it at the moment as they haven't imported all of our archives quite yet, so you're going to have to trust me on this for now. Each free agent has signed that was on the list sans Zito, so I added up the totals so far and here are the current results: Chifan3887 64 Junior 59 WPZ 59 Jackie T 58 Z 56 TWCoffee 56 Carmenfanzone 54 Sweet Lou 54 Vorare 54 Jessica 54 IM Slacker 53 Green Lantern 52 Dallas Green 52 Aaron B 51 Bogey 51 Karl H. 49 Rob G. 46 433 43 BobbyMac 41 The E-Man 41 Real Neal 41 Bleeding Blue 39 Cubster 31 Champsummers 31 Jacos 31 Tom C 26 Nohit 23 MannyTrillo 22 There's also a fella named Ernie who entered but he had three guys at a 12 confidence level and another two at a 10 confidence level, so I didn't feel his picks should count nor was he that close anyway. Manny picked the Cubs for every free agent as a joke, so don't rag on him too much. Chifan3887 successfully chose Bonds to the Giants at 11, Lee to the Astros at 13, Lugo to the Red Sox at 12, Matsuzaka to the Red Sox at 15 and made his big push with Matthews Jr. to the Angels at 3 and being the only one to correctly guess Maddux to the Padres at 10. With only Zito left, I believe here are the possibilities. - If he signs with the Yanks, Vorare will tie with Chifan3887. - If the Padres surprise everyone, then Junior will win. - If he signs with the Rangers, WPZ wins. - If he signs with the Mets or any other team, Chifan3887 is the winner. And the winner will get a $15 gift certificate at MLB.com (although you could probably talk me into a gift certificate somewhere else baseball related) OR a $15 donation to a Cubs charity. I'll also give you a free post, preferably Cub related but at the very least baseball related.

Comments

Go Texas! I don't know what would be more exciting, $15 off my Cubs No. 33 jersey I'm going to buy for Glendon's breakout 2007 campaign or my very own "Fire Lou and Trade Alfonso" post at TCR on April 3! The bad news is, I don't think the Rangers are bidding against themselves this time.

Hate to be that guy who changes the subject, but did I miss the memo about the Diamond Jaxx switching affliations to the Mariners? I was not aware the Cubs AA affiliate was now the Tennessee Smokies, formerly D-Backs AA.

Neat, I was expecting my score to be quite a bit lower. Safe to say the Yankees won't be signing Zito, so congrats to Chifan, WPZ, or Junior. Wes: Yep, that was announced quite awhile ago. It was actually the Cubs that ditched the Jaxx; they reportedly wanted their AAers to play in front of bigger crowds and the Jaxx were in the cellar attendance-wise.

You missed my score. It's so high, it's above your top menu bar in your browser. It's so clear that it's transparent. Needless to say I'm better than you. Manny may have lost this contest, but he' s still a whinner to me. I keed! I keed!

Seeing the Cubs charity reference, I'm wondering if my fellow TCRers would be up for some sort of holiday group charity gift. It's pretty fun and amazing to see what a little chipping in by a lot of visitors to a website can do. For example, what if we all match the $15 free agent prize with our own $15 donations to one charity we all agree on? Maybe Derrek Lee's daughter's foundation? I am sure we could easily get to a $1000 group gift. Just a nutty holiday idea while I'm in a giving mood. Who's in?

News on Floyd... While playing in his native Chicago would be preferable, the Cubs' willingness to sign him may be contingent upon trading another corner outfielder There are a couple articles saying the hold up in the Floyd signing is Jones status with the team. It makes it sound like if the Cubs can't deal Jones then they don't need Floyd (which makes sense). But if they can he would likely be our RFer and Soriano would be the only person capable of playing CF at that point.

no one would sign floyd to play RF...he really is one of the worst LF'rs out there even when healthy.

Sosa begins training (injecting?) for return to majors Sosa hit the ball out of the park 15 times while training at a field in San Pedro de Macoris that is operated by the Japanese Central League's Hiroshima Carp. The 38-year-old slugger said he had received calls from teams interested in signing him but declined to reveal their names. ..."I want the chance and I believe one is going to appear. This time I will accept an offer like the one with the Nationals because I want to get back to the majors," he said. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6297760

Rob G.: Chifan3887 successfully chose Bonds to the Giants at 11, Lee to the Astros at 13, Lugo to the Red Sox at 12, Matsuzaka to the Red Sox at 15 and made his big push with Matthews Jr. to the Angels at 3 and being the only one to correctly guess Maddux to the Padres at 10. Nice! cubster: Sosa: …�?I want the chance and I believe one is going to appear. This time I will accept an offer like the one with the Nationals because I want to get back to the majors,�? he said. Sure, the Cub's should sign him. RF, $400k, Iowa Cub's.

I read somewhere recently about a possible 3-way trade that involved the Dodgers giving up Brad Penny. I seem to recall mention that L.A. would get an OF if the deal happened. How about Murton or Jones for Penny, sign Floyd for a one-year deal with incentives to play LF, and plug Penny in at #2 starter, Lilly to #3, Marquis to #4, Hill to #5 (most things I'm reading aren't optimistic about Prior, and I just don't know about Wade Miller at this point}. Honestly, I don't even know if Dodgers have need for another OF at this point, bit it was fairly recent and I definitely feel we could use another starter.

*Sosa hit the ball out of the park 15 times while training at a field in San Pedro de Macoris that is operated by the Japanese Central League’s Hiroshima Carp. The 38-year-old slugger said he had received calls from teams interested in signing him but declined to reveal their names.* He should find out where Rickey Henderson hangs out, apparently that place is very friendly to delusional ex-Major Leaguers who like to sit by the phone sweating with anticipation. *How about Murton or Jones for Penny, sign Floyd for a one-year deal with incentives to play LF* How about 'no'? What part of "Floyd is done" did you miss?

You know going through Murton's splits yesterday and today, I was shocked to see the HUGE difference in his home/away and day/night splits from last year: Home - .330/.404/.514/.918 (246 PA's) Away - .266/.328/.380/.708 (262 PA's) Day - .274/.336./402/.738 (259 PA's) Night - .321/.395/.489/.884 (249 PA's) Man, if Murton plays only night home games, he would be a HOFer.

Some Cubs winter league stats, the GOOD, BAD and the UGLY... GOOD: Casey McGehee: batting .299, 7 HR's and 35 RBI's in 59 games Les Walrond: 5-2, 3.38 ERA, 40 K's and 19 BB's in 8 starts (45.1 IP) Angel Guzman: 0-0, 3.46 ERA, 11 K's, and 2 BB's in 4 starts (13.0 IP) BAD: None UGLY: Henry Blanco: batting .208 in 47 games Ronny Cedeno: batting .232, 2 HR and 11 RBI in 32 games Buck Coats: batting .211, 3 HR and 18 RBI's Felix Pie: batting .216, 1 HR and 16 RBI's in 38 games

Congrats Chifan! And- for you SABR devotees, if you haven't read this from new Asst. GM Randy Bush, I'm curious what you think of his quote: ""To think that it's a black-or-white issue, that was really oversimplified in the book," Bush said, referring to "Moneyball," Michael Lewis' best-seller on the Oakland A's front office. "Actually, it's a combination of all the different ways you gather information. Certainly, you go by what you see, but you also have to look at a player's track record, his history, statistical analysis. …" From Chi Trib/Chicago Sports.com

Guzman has marvelous control everyplace except the majors. It's just a matter of time. I'm still a big believer.

my take on Angel Guzman... He missed so much pitching because of his shoulder surgery and it seems that he is healthy now and has gotten the innings needed to consider him mlb ready. I think the shoulder problem set him back at least 2-3 yrs. If so (healthy and now enough arm strength based on innings), his experience last year should put him in "light bulb going on mode" ala Rich Hill was upon his last return to the majors last yr (although Hill's success/failure had nothing to do with recovery from injury). The only problem with these situations are that windows of opportunities are limited, so every time you blow a chance to succeed at the mlb level it often leads to your next opportunity with another organization especially when options remaining become an issue. All I can say is Guzman's upside is what mlb dreams are made of...and nobody understands that better than a Cub fan.

http://cubs.scout.com/2/603067.html Cubs release 8 no-name pitchers from the minors. RHP's, Ryan Bicondoa, Steve Bronder, Jose Caridad, Roger Evenson, Kyle Holden, Robert Ransom and LHP's Isaac Pavlik and Jesus Yepez. Evenson and Holden were former draft picks (mid-rounds), the rest were free agent signings.

Yeah and Mark Prior is wondering if there is room for him, too, in the Griffey's plastic bubble.

Can we please stop posting old news that has been posted on here before? Thanks!!!! (just joking as I don't care but some people constantly post that so I just figured I would save them the time)

what old news are you talking about manny? but thanks for the cheap shot....

Mannytrillo, regarding your surprise at MM's home/away splits, I guess The Towel picked the wrong twelve games at Wrigley to watch Matt Murton. Somehow he got the impression that (.330/.404/.514/.918 (246 PA’s) = mediocre. Or maybe he just couldn't see. I haven't been to a game at Wrigley recently. Do some of the field boxes have obstructed views?

Rob, AZ Phil posted that information yesterday morning on the other thread.

Hey, are the archives gone now? Are we only able to access threads from late NOV and on?

Rob G.- What "cheap shot"? You and others have been posting that a lot lately, right? And been pretty fervent about it to at times, right?

cheap shot because it was directed towards me and maybe a few others without actually mentioning us by name cause your gutless. As for posting it a lot lately, it was mostly during the Winter Meetings live blogging that I was "fervent" about it for reasons that I already stated. I've backed off of it since then and it's really only annoying when the news is posted 2-3 times within 20-30 comments of each other or so old that we've obviously all moved on. anyway, go internet!

Rob G.: "cheap shot because it was directed towards me and maybe a few others without actually mentioning us by name cause your gutless." HA HA Gutless? Whatever DUDE... I didn't remember exactly everyone who did it, so I wasn't going to call out people without being sure. Not a big deal, but obviously to you it is, sorry then. Yes, go internet, where anyone can act like a tough guy.

Griffey does live in a bubble, but the card said Moops! Moops! -sigh- Yes, I admit it. He broke his hand attacking me after he lost at Trivial Pursuit.

what's with the imposter posters lately? Please knock it off. Talk about gutless.

By the way, I don't know how many of you have ESPN Insider, but I thought it was funny how Rob Neyer mentions the Cubs in both 2 of the best bargain signings (DeRosa and A-Ram) as well as 2 of the worst bargain signings (Soriano and Marquis). Although he also seems to think the Cubs will eventually realize DeRosa isn't an everyday starter. "Mark DeRosa got exactly the same money as Catalanotto, $13 million for three seasons, and it's easy to think of them as similar players. They're not, though. While Catalanotto once was a versatile defender, he hasn't played more than five games in the infield since 2002. DeRosa isn't the hitter that Catalanotto is, but he brings a great deal of versatility to the table, able to play just about anywhere but center field and behind the plate. He's not really good enough to play every day -- the Cubs have him slotted at second base -- but once they figure that out, he'll be one of the better utility men in the majors." -Rob Neyer

The TCR semi-meaningless stat of the day The list of leaders in balls hit over 380 feet last season 1. G.Atkins – 64 2. D.Ortiz – 61 3. R.Howard – 60 T4. Pujols – 57 T4. Sexson – 57

I do miss Rob Neyer articles, damn you ESPN and your Insider access.

I know--I've had Insider for about 3 years but I'm letting my subscription expire (sometime around January 3, I think) because it's just too damn expensive for not enough real content. I used to like it because they would compile a list of all the headlines from every newspaper for the teams that you selected, which was nice as I'd be able to read articles about the Cubs from New York, San Francisco, Florida, etc., papers as well as Chicago. But that feature has long been eliminated. For the last 8 months I've used it only for reading Rob Neyer....

Yes, go internet, where anyone can act like a tough guy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- hey don't forget about me!

Hey does anyone here subscribe to Baseball Prospectus? If so, I was wondering if there was anything Cub-related worth metioning in this article: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5774 It's about rating baserunners in 2006 (best and worst). The Brewers blog here at MVN did a little blurb about it, though they were focused on Bill Hall and how he was the 9th worst baserunner of 2006, mostly due to SB's. Chone Figgins, by the way, was ranked as the best baserunner in MLB according to them.

Why would anyone get so upset if someone posted something that had been posted before? Why would anyone take the time to respond to someone who posted something a 2nd time? Does he have time to waste? Why would said person respond in a assholish sort of way as to provoke further responses, which, when you think about it, any time someone is saying something was posted before is being an asshole and most people add something to make it quite clear they're being a prick about it. So why waste all this time and comments forcing others to read about something that was posted twice? Now we've had to read 2 dozen retarded comments about the same thing when we could have just read the two. I don't get people who talk on the internet on these things. They make little sense to me and little sense to the rest of the world. I apologize for wasting your time having to read this, but you can skip over it if you wish and responding to it will only make someone else waste their time even further.

Hellfrozeover, I just mentioned that article in the new post, TCR Friday Notes, but no mention of any Cubs. Good article though. Lester, linking to the same article twice isn't a big deal and I'm not sure how angry people really get, more just annoyed. When people keep mentioning Schmidt getting an offer for 3/44 about 20 times in the same thread, than yeah it gets real annoying. More than anything though, if you want your comments read, I think it's just a courtesy to read other people's comments as well as see if news has already been posted. Yes, stuff will get missed and there's no reason to get angry when it happens once in awhile. But when it becomes an epidemic, like it was for awhile, it just needed to be pointed out that people should pay attention to what's going on. Anyway, no big deal and sorry for wasting more time with this response. :) It would be nice if there was any Cubs news.

HFO...no cubs mentioned (except for Barrett mentioned at the lowest percentiles with Jermaine Dye and Bernie Williams). Note even a Juan Pierre listing. Top baserunner in 2006 for Total Baserunning was Chone Figgins, the worst was Benjie Molina.

Post #47 is not me. It is pretty lame to impersonate someones name and post under it, thinking your cute and funny.

Oh yeah I forgot.....trace post #47's IP address to some of the other posters on this site and you probably got a match. It is good to expose name impersonators and run them off this site forever.

one of the lovely new tools I have is a more robust IP search, so yeah it's been done. They've been warned privately (strike one), I haven't come up with strike two yet but it'll be something similar to your idea in #53 Mike, strike three is banishment.

someone give the google ads a whack, it seems out of order. They have an add for an "albert pujols" clock rght now on the left. Talk about the wrong audience.

Thanks Mike and Rob G re imposters. I have to admit I "retaliated" against an imposter poster, as I felt violated there. But if you are saying there is something in place regarding this, I will not stoop to this behavior in the future. I just didn't know what to do...

POINTS for ZITO? Rob - where did I have ZITO going? How many points is he worth? Thanks.

click on the link in the post with the google spreadsheet, everyone's picks are there.

Could you check that score again? You have me down as picking Lilly for the Cubs with a 4 but not scoring it I don't remember who I picked to be honest ( except that I was sure Maddux would stay with the Dodgers before the Colletti/Boras blowout) but if I did pick Lilly I get to move up a few spots. Not like I am going to win but always fun to beat the "experts"

Why not call out those imposters?? I don't think much more besides exposing them would a deterrent, except maybe banishment, which will most likely never happen. I have been an advocate of registering your handle for a long time. Does this new format give that capability?

I gave them a private warning, next one will be more public and the third will be banning their IP address (of course that's pretty easy to get around). As for registering your handle, I'm not sure it can handle it quite yet.

thanks for the catch Jessica, as you noticed I highlighted all the correct picks, but I missed your Lilly pick which is why I didn't count it. It should be fixed now.

I usually suck at these things so it is nice to be slightly above average.

test

hell, it does it without the brackets...seems to be a problem reforming the comments section in permalink in realtime. there's some lag rebuilding it.

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.