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Yesterday was a day. Even though I knew this would be an important day for the Chicago Cubs roster, and organizational change decisions could be made, I hadn’t really looked ahead to project what things would look like. today. As in, the Cubs were going to make some big decisions, and the roster would be very different then. It’s strange.
With that in mind, and before I let myself get into the fandom / emotional side of the various decisions, I wanted to reset the Cubs roster and depth chart after yesterday’s moves (signing, waiver request, and no calls for offers), and before the Cubs are currently attacking the offseason.
Starting throwers
1. Yu Darvish
2. Kyle Hendricks
3. ???
4. Adbert Alzolay
5. Alec Mills
Depth: Cory Abbott, Brailyn Marquez, Tyson Miller, Colin Rea, Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson
You can’t count on the Cubs to add a “third starter” this offseason, even though it looks like the slot machine that’s open right now. You can rely on the Cubs to target certain starting pitchers. They’ll likely target low buy rebuild types, maybe even just Minor League / Spring Training invite types. The market is terrible this year for foolproof starting pitchers, and many have already signed and have been paid surprisingly well. But the market is very rich in interesting types, and many of them will eventually have to accept very small guarantees or minor league trades. That could end up including the Cubs’ three outgoing starting pitchers (Jon Lester, Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood), which doesn’t mean the Cubs would necessarily be looking to reunite. I’m just talking about the level.
Suffice it to say, barring a surprise trade, I expect the Cubs to enter 2021 * really * hoping that Alzolay and Mills are legit, one of their low-cost signings pops , AND some of their depth on the 40-man roster steps. to the top. It is not a great situation.
Rescue
Craig kimbrel
Jason adam
Dan Winkler
Kyle ryan
Dillon maples
James norwood
Manny Rodriguez
Robert Stock
Duane Underwood, Jr.
Rowan wick
Brad Wieck
It’s already a purse, and the Cubs will continue to add low-cost, specifically targeted guys to it that we couldn’t necessarily realistically predict just yet. Their launch infrastructure has earned my trust over the past couple of years with what they want to do with these types of additions (the first of which was Robert Stock’s waiver request yesterday).
Note that some of the deep starters up there in the first section could emerge as relief options this coming season.
Ideally, the Cubs would add at least some relief that’s close to certainty, but they’re just not going to commit significant sums here this offseason. I’m sure and certain.
Sensors
Holder: Willson Contreras
Alternate: Victor Caratini
Barring a trade or an off-season injury, it’ll be guys again, and that’s good. The Cubs have one of the best capturing tandems in the game, and they also have some interesting depth in PJ Higgins and Taylor Gushue. Miguel Amaya is on the 40-man, but we can’t assume he’s ready to be the third receiver if necessary. It’s possible that the Cubs might add a veteran on a minor league contract, as they usually do, but it’s also possible that they just roll with Higgins and Gushue by splitting the time at AAA as a “third receiver.”
At least there’s one part of the Cubs roster that you don’t really have any questions about right now.
Infield
First goal: Anthony Rizzo
Second base: ???
Shortstop: Javy Báez
Third base: Kris Bryant
Reserves: David Bote, Max Schrock, Ildemaro Vargas
Three of those points are obvious, and I know you’re wondering why I put a question mark on second base instead of Nico Hoerner. It could be Hoerner in second on opening day. But I’m not locking him up there after his time in the big league in 2019 and 2020 really, really confirmed to me that he still needs a lot of work on his approach to plate – pitchers had a day on. the ground to do so lay the ball gently on the ground. The glove is obviously big league-ready, but he has so little professional experience, and the Cubs have had SO LITTLE success developing big-league-level bats, that my presumption at this point is that ‘he has to start at AAA (you know, where he’s never played a game).
As for reserves, adding Schrock and retaining Vargas tells you that the Cubs wanted to have high contact types to see if they could unlock a few more. There was a time when Schrock and Vargas were considered upside down guys; It would be nice if the Cubs could finally surprisingly clear one of these guys.
Outfield
Left field: ???
Center field: Ian Happ
Right Field: Jason Heyward
Reserves: Michael Hermosillo (minor league deal), ???, ???
Oh my. Lulz. This, uh, needs some work. Following the non-offers of Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora, and given the dearth of top outside talent in the system, the Cubs are currently at a place where it is possible that new minor league signing Michael Hermosillo will be. the starting center-back (with Happ moving to the left) if the season started today. And, hey, I like the signing, but come on. It can’t be your plan for the big league roster as the season approaches.
The Cubs would have the option of putting Kris Bryant on the left and David Bote on the third if they want to go that route, but it’s more likely that they’ll look for an outfielder in free will or trade. Yesterday’s moves around baseball put some interesting outside players into the free agent market – David Dahl, Nomar Mazara, Eddie Rosario, among others – so the Cubs could find options for their limited dollars (no, they do. will not be on George Springer).
Could they find the perfect in shape? Say, a center-back with a high contact neutral bat on the right side? Probably not. And, of course, when you start to compromise in another way, it’s going to be really hard for me not to say, “You should just keep Schwarber, damn it!” But we’ll see what the Cubs have in mind when we get there.
Also, the depth. The Cubs don’t have a credible fourth outfielder yet, let alone a fifth or sixth. I love Ian Happ and Jason Heyward so that’s good. But if not, yikes.
For now, the optimist in you can say, “Wow, the Cubs sure have a lot of Opportunities available in the outer field. “
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