Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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


28 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST, plus seven are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two are on the 10-DAY IL, and three are on the 15-DAY IL


Last updated 9-22-20239
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 14
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 6
Nico Hoerner
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom
* Jared Young

OUTFIELDERS: 6
* Cody Bellinger
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

OPTIONED: 7
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Ben Brown, P  
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P
Caleb Kilian, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Michael Rucker, P

10-DAY IL: 2
Jeimer Candelario, 1B
Nick Madrigal, INF

15-DAY IL: 3
Adbert Alzolay, P
Brad Boxberger, P 
Michael Fulmer, P 

60-DAY IL: 4
Nick Burdi, P
Codi Heuer, P
* Brandon Hughes, P
Ethan Roberts, P
 

Minor League Rosters

Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs @ Rockies: Series Thread (Games 145-147)

Submitted by Charlie on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 09:48 am

Despite dropping the first three games against the Diamondbacks this weekend, the Cubs pulled out a win in the final game and remain in the second NL Wild Card spot and three games back in the Central. They begin this week on the road in Colorado where they will play three games against a Rockies team aspiring to lose fewer than 100 games this season. Kris Bryant recently took batting practice but remains without a timetable for his return from a finger fracture. [Edit: He's been activated by the Rockies.] Pete Crow-Armstrong has been called up and could see duties in Denver's spacious outfield. See below for matchups.

Game 145, Monday, September 11, 7:40 pm central
CHC: LHP Jordan Wicks (3-0, 2.16 ERA)
COL: LHP Kyle Freeland (6-14, 5.09 ERA)

Game 146, Tuesday, September 12, 7:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Javier Assad (3-3, 2.83 ERA)
COL: RHP Chris Flexen (1-7, 7.36 ERA)

Game 147, Wednesday, September 13, 2:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-9, 5.27 ERA)
COL: LHP Ty Blach (2-1, 4.58 ERA)

Tags
2023 Series Thread
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Colorado Rockies

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 09:26 pm

k.bryant has come off the IL for tonight's game.  neat.  i mean, hope he goes 0-4 or his contributions mean nothing if he doesn't, but neat.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 09:32 pm

madrigal 3rd, wisdom 1st, bellinger CF, morel DH...

at this point it's safe to say the cubs only view morel as a DH and injury-replacement (not even rest replacement) 2nd.  i question whether he makes it past this off-season without being traded.

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:42 am

They have to re-sign Bellinger.
That's a must.

3B and DH are the issues. Does Candy get re-signed? Does Madrigal now own 3B? Do they go after Matt Chapman? Does Morel get a legit chance at it after winter ball and ST'24?

I think the Cubs have enough depth to cover DH in house with Morel, Perlaza, Mervis, Slaughter, ONKC, and probably Matt Shaw. So, they should be able to save some cash there.

But, how do you just give up on a 24 yr old with that kind of power and natural talent, when you need power!!!

Teach Morel 1B so he can have Wisdom's role of lF-3B-1B-DH.
Trading him has too much potential to come back to haunt us (like Schwarber).

But, I do believe they'll end up trading him sooner rather than later.

[ ]

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:57 am

I’d love to see Morel stick around and learn those positions. He’s a lot of fun to watch play.

Id give us less than 50% odds to sign Bellinger. In fact I’d be very surprised if he’s back next year. I just feel like the FO isn’t going to want to pay him as much money as teams like NYY and SF (who have both expressed interest) will.

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:58 pm

Then we're aren't going to be any good next year.
You take Bellinger away from this team and we aren't much.
When he got hot, we started moving up the standings.
And I don't know who's going to replace that production (especially from the left side).
Bellinger is basically the whole off season.
I'd like to add a SP and definitely a LHRP (Hader) but Bellinger is the off season.
Unless you get Ohtani, but Bellinger won't cost as much.

[ ]

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:19 pm

With Wicks, Assad, Wesneski, the Thompson twins, Killian, Horton, Brown, et al, would you say we really need to add an SP or we just need to stop yanking these young guys around and putting them in the bullpen or 'enhancing' their repertoire or pitches?

Also, are we now stuck with Stroman and Smyly, on top of Taillon, meaning unless we go to a six-man rotation, we only have one spot available for the aforementioned pitchers? 

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:07 pm

Smyly is surely opting into his last year for next season. So he'll be back.

Taillon is with us for a long while. Get used to that.

I can't imagine Stroman takes the 1 yr deal with Jed next year. Not if he thinks one club will give him 3+ years in a deal on the open market. I have to believe he's gone.

But I believe Jed will bring back Hendricks. I've been saying to let Kyle go the last two years. He's done better than I ever expected this year but I just don't think he beats top teams nowadays. Metrics might prove me wrong. But Jed/Ross love him. He might come cheaper as well.

So, Steele, Taillon, Hendricks are locks. Assad, Wicks, Wesneski, and/or Brown could take the last two spots or just one spot. 

Jed is flying to Japan to personally watch 25 yr old Yamamoto pitch. He's supposed to be the best SP on the market now with Ohtani having surgery. Urias would've been up there as well. Flaherty hasn't pitched well for BAL but I still like him.

All of this happening with Horton really one year away (at most).

If they don't sign Belli in the winter, then they'll have cash to go big with the SP and RP on the market. Yamamoto and Hader!

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:17 pm

The problem with Christopher Morel is that he is a LF (or possibly a 2B) on a team that already has one, so he can either DH until Happ (or Hoerner) is gone after the 2026 season, or get traded (because he would have a lot of value to a team that needs as power-hitting left-fielder or possibly a second-baseman).  

One thing Morel clearly is NOT is a Ben Zobrist type super-utility guy, because it's very unlikely that he will be able to play any defensive position other than LF or possibly 2B in the big leagues. 

Morel does have a plus-plus arm and decent speed, so playing him in LF where he can set-up deep (near the warning track) but still be able to come in for balls and also make full use of his arm is probably the best way to go (although maybe not with the Cubs). 

If the Cubs can "exchange" C. Morel for an actual third-baseman or a catcher, that might be the best bet. 

[ ]

Submitted by George Altman on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:19 pm

Not to rain on your parade, but I always inwardly chuckle when someone says 'teach him to play ___'.

 

I have RARELY seen success at teaching a player at or above the AA level how to play ____.

 

The only example I've ever seen is whoever worked with Soriano in LF when Theo got here. Maybe AZ Phil will remember who that was. He want from a minus LF (30-35 grade) to a solid 45, maybe 50.

 

It's like Billy Beane saying to Ron Washington, 'Tell him, Wash. Tell him how easy it is to pick up 1B.'

 

Ron Washington,  'It's incredibly hard.'

 

Ron was right.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 09:33 pm

PCA pinch running in the top 7th.  tauchman pinch hit for wisdom (bellinger should move over from CF to 1st) and got a single.

Submitted by azbobbop on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 09:41 pm

I wish Ross had given Fulmer at least a game or two of lower pressure work before throwing him in tonight.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:55 pm

no cubs lineup yet...probably trying to figure out how to get tauchman, masterboney, and madrigal in the lineup at the same time.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:56 pm

bottom of the 1st and PCA makes his first highlight reel catch.  damn yall.  dude routes and ranges.

Submitted by Charlie on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:52 pm

If the Cubs could make better baserunning decisions while in Colorado I'd really appreciate that. Game 2 was rough.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:56 pm

they should give the cubs a loss for tomorrow's off-day just to let them know how disappointing they were this series.

[ ]

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Thu, 09/14/2023 - 09:39 am

It was tough to watch and tough to hear from Sut, but I was proud of him for telling like it is - "These are the three worst games I've seen the Cubs play since I've worked for Marquee." I'd much rather hear that than, "Every team slumps... Moral victories... We'll get 'em tomorrow..."

Just like Crunch said, I like that Sut's got interest in each player - he's always around them, says he will ask him "that" tomorrow. He said something like, "Oh good - that'll give me a chance to meet the guy tomorrow" in reference to a question he had for a player on the other team. I can't see JD doing that! (But I can see Girardi & Elise doing it.)

To blabber on further, I like that the Cubs are cycling through broadcasters - I enjoy each of them in one way or another (not so much with Beth Mowins). I hope they continue this and I hope that each broadcaster likes it enough to stick with Marquee if others come calling.

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:26 pm

For scoreboard watchers…Bullets mostly dodged: Brewers, Phils, DBacks lose. Reds, Giants, Marlins (beat Brewers) got wins. 

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Thu, 09/14/2023 - 09:26 pm

Anecdote which may or may not be common knowledge: PCA's Mom is Ashley Crow, the Mom from the movie 'Little Big League'.......

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:02 pm (view)

    The deadline for trading players on an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) and players who were outrighted to the minors after signing a 2023 MLB contract was August 1st, but trades involving players on a minor league reserve list are prohibited beginning at 12 PM (Eastern) on the 7th day prior to the originally-scheduled conclusion of the 2023 MLB regular season (Sunday 9/24) through the last day of the MLB regular season (including a day on which a regular season game is played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season).   
     

  • Arizona Phil 09/23/2023 - 09:58 pm (view)

    jdrnym: 

    As you know, the abbreviation "DFA" stands for "Designated for Assignment." 

    There are three types of assignments: 

    1. Trade Assignment (when a player is traded from one MLB club to another)
    2. Outright Assignment (when a player is sent to the club's minor league Domestic Reserve List after Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured).
    3. Optional Assignment (when a player is optioned to the minors, subject to being recalled at a later time). 

    So when a player is Designated for Assignment, the player can either be traded, outrighted to the minors, or optioned to the minors. 

    Normally a player is not Designated for Assignment and then optioned to the minors, because the club could just option the player to the minors immediately without a DFA.

    Back in the day It was not that unusual for a player to be Designated for Assignment so that Optional Assignment Waivers could be secured (Optional Assignment Waivers were required before certain players could be optioned to the minors, and just like the old Trade Assignment Waivers, Optional Assignment Waivers were revocable if a player was claimed). Optional Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2016 and Trade Assignment Waivers were eliminated in 2021, so all revocable waivers have been eliminated. What's left are Outright Assignment Waivers and Outright Release Waivers, and both are irrevocable once requested.  

    With the new five option limit whereby a player can (with a couple of exceptions) be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a given season before Outright Assignment Waivers must be secured (and it - IS - Outright Assignment Waivers that must be secured, even though it is for the purpose of an Optional Assignment), it now might be necessary for a club to DFA a player to clear a spot on the MLB 26-man roster (MLB 28-man roster in September) for another player and to allow for the two days (actually 47 hours) required to run a player through waivers. After the two day Waiver Claiming Period concludes (and presuming the player isn't claimed), the player can be returned to the MLB 40-man roster and optioned to the minors (even after being Designated for Assignment). But for that to happen, the player can - NOT - be replaced on the MLB 40-man roster by another player after being Designated for Assignment.  

    However, in the case of Jordan Luplow, he had - NOT - been optioned to the minors five times in the 2023 season prior to be optioned to AAA St. Paul on 9/18, so the Twins did not need to DFA Luplow in order to secure Outright Assignment Waivers so that he could be optioned to the minors a sixth time. But because he was Designated for Assignment and not replaced on the 40 by another player after the DFA, the Twins could option him to the minors (and return him to the 40) even after he was Designated for Assignment, because an Optional Assignment is one of the three types of assignments.

    So Luplow was Designated for Assignment even though he didn't need to be, and then the Twins returned him to their MLB 40-man roster and optioned him to the minors a couple of days later (which they can do, since Luplow wasn't replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment). What the Twins did (DFA Luplow and then option him to the minors a couple of days later) was within the rules. It's just very odd and doesn't make a lot of sense. 

    So I will offer the most logical reason I can think of to explain why the Twins did this:  

    The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they intended to reinstate Chris Paddack from the 60-day IL, but then Carlos Correa suddenly needed to go on the 10-day IL and so they decided they wanted to keep Luplow on the 40-man roster (and on Optional Assignment to AAA) and didn't want to risk losing him off waivers or by him electing free-agency after being outrighted. Luplow has Article XX-D rights (he has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career), so he would had the right to elect free-agency after he was outrighted. There was also the possibility that he would have been claimed of waivers, and obviously the Twins felt they might need his RH bat after losing Correa and with Royce Lewis having left a game with a hamstring injury that led to an IL assignment. 

    Also, if Luplow was outrighted instead of being optioned, he would no longer be automatically eligible to play in the post-season (except as a possible injury replacement).

    Not only did Carlos Correa go on the IL, Royce Lewis went on the IL, too, two days after Correa went on the IL and two days after Luplow was optioned to AAA, so the Twins did in fact end up needing Luplow after all, and recalled him just a couple of days after he was optioned to replace Lewis on the MLB 28-man roster. 

    So that all I've got. That is the only thing that makes sense. The Twins DFA'd Luplow because they had intended to replace him on the 40 with another player (probably Paddack) and hoped that they would be able to run him through waivers and that he wouldn't get claimed and that he would accept an Outright Assignment, but then they suddenly changed their minds because of the injury to Correa and the possibility that Lewis might also have to go on the IL (which did, in fact, happen the next day).

    So the Twins were able to return Luplow to the 40 because he hadn't been replaced on the 40 by another player after he was Designated for Assignment, then they optioned him to St. Paul, and then they recalled him after Royce Lewis was placed on the 10-day IL (the minimum 10-day optional assignment being waived because Luplow replaced a player (Royce Lewis) who was placed on an MLB IL. 

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:00 pm (view)

    CIN out here blowing a 9-0 lead they built through 3 innings.  9-9 tie in the 7th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:05 pm (view)

    boxburger 10d IL, k.thompson back up.  it's his right forearm (again).

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:12 pm (view)

    merryweather got out of it, but he loaded the bases with 1 out.  of course ross got cuas up in the pen...thankfully he didn't need to come in.

    looks like cuas gets the 9th.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:46 pm (view)

    4ip 2h 0bb 6k, 49 pitches.  no idea why they're giving the pen the last 2 innings when he's out there dealing like this and only threw 49 pitches.  he was supposed to pitch tomorrow and he's fresh.

  • crunch 09/23/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    ...and assad is now a pen arm, evidently...odd move given recent success.  i guess wicks starts tomorrow?

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:16 pm (view)

    ARZ, MIA, and CIN all lose.  nice.

  • crunch 09/22/2023 - 09:54 pm (view)

    stroman is now the saturday starter...okay, then.

  • jdrnym 09/22/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)

    Phil,

    Jordan Luplow was DFA'd by the Twins on Monday and was ultimately optioned and then recalled today. I didn't think that was possible since optional waivers were eliminated years ago. How did that work for the Twins?

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