Cubs still in the market for another utility bat |
It's hard to believe Spring Training will officially begin in just over a week as the Cubs' Catchers and Pitchers report to Mesa, Arizona. On that day, the chapter will officially turn on everything that went on last year, and a brand new season will officially begin.
Although the Cubs roster is in better shape than a season ago, this team could still use additional depth. They are short on depth in some areas. Where they find that depth remains to be seen, but this team could rely on many prospects throughout the year. If those prospects hit, you could be looking at a great season, but it will be another long season if they do not produce at their expected level. Adding as many players as possible with your available money is crucial, as several bats remain on the market. While guys like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and even JD Martinez may not be options for this team, plenty of depth and utility pieces are available, which Jed Hoyer wanted to address before the season.
One of the areas the Cubs need to figure out is what to do behind Michael Busch at first base. Heading into the season, Busch was the future at first base, but with Cody Bellinger (NYY) and Patrick Wisdom (Korea), the Cubs no longer have a backup behind him. That means he will be playing every day, including against left-handed pitchers. As nice as giving that type of confidence in him, there is the issue of what happens if he gets hurt. With no alternative plan, the Cubs may look at the first base market for a bench piece, where Ty France comes into play. France was among the better young hitters in 2021 and 2022, but his last two seasons have struggled. Coming to the Cubs would allow Chicago to use him against left-handed pitchers should Busch struggle. It would also provide some potential pop off the bench, which they didn't have last season. He is an option that was mentioned with the Cubs earlier in the offseason and may be headed in that direction again.Ty France
Jose Iglesias
There have been a lot of names linked to the Cubs in recent weeks, with Jose Iglesias being one of them. The 35-year-old veteran has been around the league for a while and is the definition of a utility bat. Not only does Iglesias offer flexibility at the plate, indicated by his .337/.381/.448, 21 XBH (4 HR), and 26 RBI across 85 games last season, but he is a defensive wizard across multiple positions.
Adding him to this team not only gives the Cubs an option at second should Nico Hoerner not be ready for opening day, but he is an insurance policy for Matt Shaw should he struggle out of the gate. Iglesias can also handle shortstop should Dansby Swanson need a breather, as he is the perfect player for this team.
Luis Urias
As things stand, Shaw's third base job is to lose, and he will be given every opportunity to run with it. However, Shaw is still a prospect with no MLB experience, so he may need to be sent down. Should that happen, the Cubs will need an alternative plan they may not have.
Urias could be that fallback plan and is coming off a rough season in 2024. Limited to just 41 games last season, Urias wasn't able to offer much production for the Seattle Mariners, which was a significant blow to their offense. Considering how he was also a considerable liability in 2023, you have to wonder if his tremendous 2022 season with the Brewers was a fluke or if something more was bothering him. If anything, he does provide outstanding defense, which this team loves to have.
Brendan Rogers
One of the more surprising remaining free agents still on the market is former Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rogers. Known for having one of the better gloves at second, Rogers has also shown the ability to be a great hitter and is coming off a season where he hit .267.
He added 13 homers and 54 RBIs in an overall productive season. Given Hoerner's current state and the uncertainty of whether he is healthy enough to play or remains a trade piece, the Cubs may target another second baseman to be used as a depth piece. Rogers could be that guy and one of the game's better bench players.
