Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Out-Foxed

Chad Fox is landing on the DL again, apparently re-injuring his right elbow playing catch with Scott Eyre. If you play the game of six degrees of separation, Will Ohman's ghost just played a trick on Chad Fox. Or maybe it was just being overly optimistic to expect his oft injured right pitching elbow to hold up. Fox has been on the Cubs 25 man roster for a whopping 17 days. He was activated May 2nd, so in his 2nd stint with the Cubs he's made it to the DL faster than his first. In 2005 he went on the DL April 26th, and he's spared us this time as his injury that year occurred while on the mound. I have vivid memories of his pain on that cold April night in 2005:

when he threw a slider Monday night and felt the "pop," he knew it was bad.

This time the diagnosis is ulnar neuritis or inflammation of the ulnar nerve. For a 37 year old pitcher with a history of 3 surgeries on the elbow (he didn't get surgery after the 2005 event), it's not surprising that pitching, given his surgical history, will make the nerve cranky. The ulnar nerve passes behind the medial/inside of the elbow called the cubital tunnel but this area is what most people call "the crazy bone", which gets it's name because impact to that area often dings the nerve causing sharp pain and tingling. The nerve is susceptible to inflammation leading to what is called cubital tunnel syndrome where the ulnar nerve inflammation leads to pain, numbness or even weakness in the hand, starting on the inside of the elbow and radiating down the forearm into the ring and little fingers. If the symptoms don't calm down with rest and anti-inflammatory medication then there are surgical options including transposing (moving) the nerve to a location anteriorly (further in front of the elbow) where it isn't as likely to be crimped from repetitive bending. There are alot of variations on that surgery. The fact that Chad Fox has had 3 previous surgeries, including Tommy John (Ulnar Collateral Ligament reconstruction), and he opted not to have surgery with his last "event" in 2005 indicates he will pass on any procedure this time as well. Expect the nerve symptoms to calm down but always be eager to come back with repetitive activity. The timeline to recovery? Well Cubs trainer, Mark O'Neal said:

"it could take a week, it could take two weeks, it could take two months. Who knows?"

The extra righty spot in the bullpen moves on. Kevin Hart, Chad Fox and now Jose Ascanio. My guess is if Ascanio, who has been closing for the Iowa Cubs (9 saves) can throw strikes, Lou is gonna fall in love with another hard throwing option out of the bullpen. Ascanio in Iowa has pitched 21 innings, given up 14 hits with a 2.08 era. Now if those numbers could translate to the big club, trainer Mark O'Neal's most pessimistic prognosis just might be a bit too optimistic.

UPDATE [1:00PM CST]: It will indeed be Jose Ascanio getting the call-up. 

Comments

"It could take a week, it could take two weeks, it could take two months. Who knows?" I believe Rumsfeld said this about Iraq.

[ ]

In reply to by Brick

Does Fox have his own supply of oil that will pay for the whole thing so it doesn't cost the Cubs anything? (Thanks, Mr. Wolfowitz)

In all seriousness, why does Chad Fox merit his own thread? What we have here is just another failed Hendry reclamation project---- in this case one from the middle of the Dustbag Era who has pitched a total of 11.1 ineffective innings for TCC. The last time he made a significant contribution to a team was 2001 when he was 30 and the last time he was any good was 2003. We didn't get him until 2005---way past his expiration date. Chad Fox's only historical importance as a Cub, as far as I can tell, was as a talking point when the subject of Dusty Baker pushing pitchers past their physical limits came up.

"Chad Fox, I just cant quit you." - Jim Hendry.

Considering Fox's performance to date, this isn't such a bad thing for the team. It was a nice potential story, but I imagine few among us expected him to be very relevant to the '08 Cubs.

Meh. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way to the training room, Chad.

The numbered comments should work now. The numbers are based on when the comment is made, so in flat view it'll just go down sequentially. In threaded view though, if someone replies to a comment the numbering may jump to something different if the reply came after a new comment. See #1, 7 and 2 for example at the top of this page. So if you want to refer to comments by numbers, it's there now.

In order to be able to activate minor leaguers (players not on the 25-man roster as of 8/31) for the post-season (as the Cubs did with Kevin Hart and Geovany Soto last year, when Hart and Soto "replaced" Mark Prior and Angel Guzman), there needs to be a similar number of players on the DL who can be "replaced" by any minor leaguer(s) the Cubs might want to make eligible for the playoffs (if they can get in). At the very least, Chad Fox can perform this function.

EXAMPLE: Let's say Angel Guzman goes on a 30-day rehab assignment to Daytona when EXST ends on June 4th, and then is activated from the 60-day DL and is optioned to Iowa after the rehab assignment is over on July 4th. (As long as Guzman spends less than 90 days active on a regular season minor league or major league roster in 2008, his 4th minor league option will be preserved for 2009).

So then let's say the Cubs recall Guzman on September 1st, and he pitches great out of the bullpen the last month of the season and so Lou wants Gooz on the post-season roster. But because he wasn't on the 25-man roster on 8/31, the only way Guzman can be eligible for the post-season is if he replaces a player who is on the DL. That's where Chad Fox (if he doesn't come back healthy later in the season) might be useful.

I just used Guzman as an example, but it could be any Cubs minor leaguer. Last year at this time there was no reason to expect Geovany Soto or Kevin Hart would be added to the Cubs post-season playoff roster as "replacement" players, so who knows which yougster might burst on the scene this September and light it up.

It's all about keeping roster options open, even if the slots ultimately aren't needed.

So injured guys (even slugs) can have some value. In fact that was the only value Mark Prior had to the Cubs last season (as a scarecrow allowing the Cubs to activate Soto or Hart as his "replacement" in the NLDS).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

AZ-Phil, thanks! Wow, I could help out the Cubs doing THAT. And I will also work for the minimum and promise not to file for arbitration. I'll even pack my own lunch and lay off the postgame spread. Do you have Hendry's number? Seriously, do you have a scouting report on Ascanio? Other than "Throws very hard, sometimes has trouble finding plate?" I just hope he isnt' another Beltran/Novoa.

[ ]

In reply to by Q-Ball

Last September he showed a 94 MPH fastball that breaks left to right and rises and a HEAVY sinker in the mid to high 80's while beating the Nationals. [edit} Oh, and I should mention his slider that moves opposite to his fastball and sometimes breaks so much he can't control it.

Tonight's game is going to be on WGN. Woohoo!

I like that we got rid of Oh-Man! for something useful. And a 23y.o. fireballer is fine w/me.

Whew! I just sniffed around a bit in ESPN's sortable MLB Stats: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=pitching&seasonT… The Cubs are "6th" in baseball according to their wierd splits, BUT the interesting thing is the team's BAA is like .233. Now THAT is telling. Also, this is 3/44 but the offensive stats are truly impressive when compared to the rest of the NL - and all of the ML. .372 TEAM OBP?! It is going to be a very, very interesting summer.

"The Cubs are "6th" in baseball according to their wierd splits..." These are PITCHING stats. Sorry...

I guess its not really weird. Just "interesting" I guess that the .500 Cleveland club's pitching staff is ranked #1, but by era only. Looking deeper, the other stats, such as BAA, arguably more important, whould kick them down considerably.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Again... it is not a "ranking." It is just sorted by ERA, and you can sort by any stat you want. They probably automatically sort by ERA because it is the most known and understood stat.

I saw today that Dempster has the best BABIP in the league at .211. I suppose that goes a long way to explain his success. Although, in fairness to him, he's done a great job of getting the ball down. I think his GB% was near 60% last time I checked.

Most of his pitches are indeed around the knees - so far, an amazing transition this year. Hope it keeps up.

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.