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 
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Game 67 Thread / Braves @ Cubs (3 of 3)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP Tim Hudson
SP
Carlos Zambrano
  7-4, 2.86 54 K, 23 BB, 91.1 IP
8-2, 3.01, 63 K, 29 BB, 92.2 IP
       
SS
Yunel Escobar LF
*Eric Patterson
2B
*Kelly Johnson
SS
Ryan Theriot
3B
Chipper Jones 1B
Derrek Lee
1B
#Mark Teixeira 3B
Aramis Ramirez
C
*Brian McCann RF
*Kosuke Fukudome
RF
Jeff Francoeur
C
Geovany Soto
LF
#Greg Norton
CF
*Jim Edmonds
CF
*Gregor Blanco
2B
Mark DeRosa
P
Tim Hudson P
#Carlos Zambrano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe this is what our ancestors called a pitching duel. They probably called it that in 1948 as well, which is the year they will be honoring with today's "Turn back the clock" event. Both teams will break out the 1948 uniforms in honor of WGN's 60th anniversary. I hope they had a better logo in 1948 then they do now. To keep in the 1948 spirt, the first two innings will be broadcast in black and white with similar camera angles that they used back then and minimal graphics. I believe the plan is to add more graphics and cameras as the game goes on. Len and Bob will be wearing authentic 1948 garb as well.

For the Cubs, it's day one after Soriano's latest injury. The Cubs roster juggling included sending Kevin Hart down and calling up Micah Hoffpauir and the hot-hitting Eric Patterson. As Lou did the first time, he's keeping Theriot in the number two spot in the lineup. For today at least, he's giving Eric Patterson a shot at the leadoff spot and left-field. I will be curious to see though if he keeps E-Pat out in left and DeRosa at second, or is he just playing the percentages today with a lefty-heavy lineup and Zambrano's groundball tendencies? DeRosa is proably a stronger defender at both positions than Patterson, so we very well might see Lou change this up depending on the matchup. And I'm sure we'll see Hoffpauir in left as well for a few games.

Comments

Patterson is a lefty. I'd really like to see EPatt get some PT an 2nd over the next 6 weeks. At 25 the time is really now to see if he is indeed the future at the postion.

Holy Hell!!! I go away for a few days and you let this happen? I blame RobG. Anyway, just checking in from the baltic sea. haven't made contact with that phantom Russian sub yet but Seaman Jones swears we'll catch him yet. Did stay up last night to watch the first couple of innings of the game (the ship has espn2!). At least can we still be in first when I get back. Lastly, bigger loss: Cards - Pujols 3 weeks Cubs - Soriano 6 I say Cards.

Kind of enjoying the 1948 thing. That camera angle from the upper deck down the 3B line that they use for every pitch is kind of annoying, though. Guess it's what you get when you're going for the real thing.

I have a generally random question about the organization, and maybe AZ Phil can answer this. I noticed that the Braves have a few guys who switch-hit and thus can play against both lefties and righties. This seems to be a positive thing, as they don't have to worry about platooning with these guys. The Cubs have all kinds of platoons to worry about; why is it that, given our preference for guys who are flexible (i.e. can play more than one position), why is it that we don't try to develop more switch-hitters? I know we tried to with Theriot a couple of years ago and that failed miserably. Have we just given up on the idea of developing switch-hitters, acknowledging that our developmental coaches within the organization are incapable of doing so? Or is there some kind of effort to develop switch-hitters and it's just that none have worked out? Or is it that switch-hitters normally develop themselves earlier, in Little League or high school?

The unis look awesome, and for those of us who started watching the games on WGN back in the late 60's, the camera angles don't look too different, except for the CF camera. They're also using a real typewriter in the background, which I had forgotten about.

I'm not sure I see the logic in letting Zambrano hit there either. He pops out on the first pitch and then promptly walks the lead-off hitter in the next inning and leaves the game anyway.

Anyone have any idea why Lou didn't pinch-hit for Zambrano with 2 guys on and us down a run? That doesn't seem to make any sense, especially given that he just had to yank Z after that 4-pitch walk to Teixeira. I would've pinch-hit Hoffpauir with the RHP Campillo in.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

i still dont get the edmonds hate...i dont recall him ever railing about the cubs or their fans (he may have, i dunno). the only thing ive picked up is he's a pretty boy ex-cards star. given that i live in NC and not the midwest, cards/cards-fans bother me about as much as...well...i think i've met 2 or 3. hell, the whole cubs/cards thing means about to much to me as cubs/anyone-else. i do like the fan-presence, though, at the STL/MIL games. that's a fun give/take for both sides. i get the "history" of the rivalry and all that junk...it just doesnt mean jack to me...maybe if i was old enough to remember the lou brock trade or lived in southern IL or something...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

My grandfather and father grew up in southern Illinois, closer to St. Louis than Chicago, so they were in Cards territory but were Cubs fans. I learned baseball largely from my father, playing and spectating, so the rivalry added some fun to the games--it's rarely been a mean-spirited rivalry, as Cards fans are traditionally very polite. In the 2000s, though, and particularly since 2004, the rivalry has gotten a little more spiteful. Edmonds was a big part of that 2004 team that ran away with the division, and a number of good Cardinals teams; my dislike for him stemmed from him putting up great numbers for the Cards during the years they beat the Cubs, his defense being overrated by the sports media, and that dang eyeliner and frosted tips he sports. Nothing major there, just finding reasons to dislike a guy on a rival team. Other examples include but are not limited to: I dislike Prince Fielder because he plays way too far off of first base, and I dislike Lance Berkman because he's got a dumb look on his face.

Remember when the Cubs discontinued the blue jerseys and everyone kept questioning if this would upset Zambrano? I remember reading a number of mailbags in which Carrie Mustache was dismissive of these comments saying that it wasn't a big deal to him. Now she's got this wonderful tidbit after tonights game: "The Cubs and Braves were dressed in 1948 throwback uniforms, and that may have thrown Big Z off. He prefers the alternate blue jerseys, not the all white with the striped stirrups." http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080612&content… Yup, that was probably the problem. That's why he gave up so many runs: 2.

The whole "Wood to closer, Dempster to the rotation" craziness. How's that going?

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

A harebrained idea if I ever heard one. That'll never work!!

This was a really nice win among many this season. They had 2 key early double plays and Hudson was pitching pretty well. Piniella took some risks that didn't pay off in not bunting EPat and letting Z hit for himself only to pull him one batter later, but the HBP machine Reed Johnson in there to end it at the end. I'm thinking thats some HPB karma with Wood's stuff and Soriano going down. I'll be happy to split the next 6 on the road vs the AL but this team might just pleasantly surprise me.

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.