Four more outfield options for Cubs |
Believe it or not, not only is the outfield one of the strong suits on this Cubs roster, but it could be one of the deepest and most productive outfields in the National League. Even without Cody Bellinger, who wound up being traded to New York, the Cubs still have three/four guys capable of putting up big numbers this season.
That starts with the newly acquired Kyle Tucker, who will take over for Bellinger. If he stays healthy, you're looking at one of the 10 best hitters in the game, capable of mashing 35 homers and driving in well over 100 runs. He is the superstar addition this lineup has been waiting for, so having him in the lineup will be massive. The three-time gold glove winner, Ian Happ, will be patrolling the other corner outfield spot, while future gold glove winner Pete Crow-Armstrong will lock down the center. Happ was very quietly the Cubs' most consistent hitter last season, and despite his slow start at the plate, he wound up leading the team in homers and RBIs. PCA endured a tale of two halves where the first half of his season was a struggle. Once the all-star break hit, Crow-Armstrong went on an incredible run and was even one of the best hitters in baseball for some time. Given his speed and base-stealing ability, the Cubs would love for him to be near the top of their lineup but look for him to remain at the bottom for now. Although he is considered the designated hitter, Seiya Suzuki is still an outfield option should someone go down with an injury. Although his defense hasn't been what the fans expected, he has been arguably their best overall hitter the past two seasons and is looking to produce his best offensive season yet. With Suzuki as the designated hitter and Mike Tauchman no longer with the team (White Sox), the Cubs currently don't have that fourth outfield option as a guy who can fill any of the three positions. Sure, the Cubs do have Alexander Canario, Kevin Alcantara, and Owen Caissie as in-house options, but what is the point of calling either of them up if they aren't going to get consistent bats? That does nothing for them or this team, so expect most, if not all, of them to begin the season in AAA. As this team tries to piece together its roster and looks for a potential fourth outfield option, some options are available that the Cubs should consider heading into 2025.
Another name discussed earlier this offseason is right-handed hitting Mark Canha. The 35-year-old can fill one of the corner outfield spots and play first base while being used as a DH. In other words, he is another veteran utility bat the Cubs would love to have and should strongly consider. Across 125 games a season ago, Canha hit .242/.344/.346, 27 XBH (7 HR), 42 RBI. That included a .288 average with the Giants after being traded from the Tigers, as he proved he can still produce when needed. He is not expected to land a deal for more than one year, but he is the perfect financial option for the Cubs.Mark Canha
Michael A. Taylor
When you are talking about a player loaded with potential but never able to reach that potential, Taylor comes to mind. The right-handed hitting center fielder has bounced around the league most of his career and has shown the ability to be a starter or a bench player.
Following a career-high season in 2023, during which he hit 21 homers, Taylor was a non-factor at the plate a season ago despite playing more than 110 games. His .193/.253/.290, 15 XBH (5 HR), and 21 RBI aren't ideal for any team, but he remains an elite defender whose 12 defensive runs saved ranked second behind Jarren Duran. Adding him will be solely based on what he can do with the glove, which wgivingbs another defensive weapon to deploy.
Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham comes to mind when discussing outfielders who can play all three positions. The now 36-year-old has played for nearly 10 teams across his career but has been beloved by every organization he has been a part of.
Known as a gamer, Pham is at that point in his career where he knows he is no longer a starter and will be a fourth outfielder. However, after hitting .254 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 2024, having that type of production is all you can ask for from a bench player. Seeing him in a Cubs uniform may look strange, but he is one of those players who will hold this team accountable, which isn't something you can say they had last season.
Harrison Bader
The least likely of these options is also the most intriguing option with Harrison Bader. Another former St. Louis Cardinal, the now 30-year-old Bader, has slowly turned himself into more of an everyday player but is still considered a fourth-outfielder type of player. That wasn't the case last season as he landed a one-year, 10.5 million dollar deal and went on to prove he still has what it takes to be a good player in this league.
Not only did he play in a career-high 143 games, but his slash line was 236/.284/.373, 31 XBH (12 HR), 51 RBI. Throw in 17 steals and above-average defense, and Bader showed every aspect of his game a season ago. Given what he showed a season ago, Bader has what it takes to be an everyday player for a rebuilding or fringe team while also being a great fourth outfielder for a contending team.
