Yes, I believe the Cubs should primarily focus on pitching this offseason, but we also shouldn't ignore that the offense needs some work, although that was mainly due to players under-performing this season.
The position players the Cubs will target will most likely not be really expensive players, but will be lower-cost, yet result-producing players. Here are 5 players I think the Cubs should target to help fill some offensive needs.
1. Kyle Schwarber (LF or DH). An long-time face in Wrigley Field, eh? This depends on whether the NL adapts the DH in 2022. If they do, I think Schwarber would make a ton of sense. A little more on the expensive side, as Schwarber got paid 7M in 2021, but I think it would be worth it.
Schwarber's off year in 2020 certainly did not affect his 2021 season, as we see his numbers went back up to over his career average, hitting .266 BA, 928 OPS, with 106 hits and 32 HR.
And maybe he'd make a good leadoff hitter for the Cubs like he's been doing for the Red Sox?
2.Jorge Soler (RF) Yes, I know, another more expensive option, being paid about 8M in 2021, but I promise this will be the last expensive player we'll talk about today. Soler is another old face, playing for the Cubs 2014-16, but the lack of productivity from Heyward, and the plus of getting a good bat that has always played better in NL than AL, seems like a good fit for the Cubs.
Soler played well for the Braves, who picked him up at Trade Deadline, batting .269 with a .882 OPS, as compared to .192 with a .658 OPS with the Royals in the first half of 2021.
3. Wilmar Flores (3B). A low-cost option player that played well for the Giants this year, batting .262 with a .782 OPS, and a low 12.8% K rate. He was paid about 3M in 2021, so he's not an overly expensive player in case he doesn't end up doing well.
But, I know what you're thinking...what about Patrick Wisdom? I believe Wisdom will be a part of the team, howbeit possibly a bench role, but he needs to work on his striking out rate(!). I think the Cubs should really target a more reliable third baseman, with Wisdom playing third off and on.
4.Jose Iglesias. (SS). Ok, Nico Hoerner is going to be playing next year, but he's shown himself to be injury-prone, and how about an Iglesias-Hoerner platoon? Iglesias was paid 3M in 2021, so another low-cost player. He hit REALLY well with the Red Sox in the latter half of the season, hitting .356 with a .915 OPS.
So, maybe either Iglesias or Hoerner will cement his spot there, and the other can get a bench role, or perhaps the Cubs will have Hoerner play outfield, like he's shown he CAN play.
5. Robinson Chirinos.(C). I think the Cubs should bring back Chirinos, their only successful back-up catcher, a cheap option compared to other catchers on the FA list. Although if the Cubs trade Contreras (which I hope they don't do), I think they should target Mike Zunino, who was pretty decent this year for the Rays.
Chirinos hit .227 with .778 OPS, so not GREAT, but also not terrible like a lot of the Cubs catchers. I don't think Amaya is planned to make the big leagues in 2022, but if Chirinos is really bad, they could either possibly call-up Amaya or trade before the deadline.
The Cubs always surprise me though, so we'll see what they actually do and who they sign. These are just options I think would make sense for the Cubs. If they did make these signings, this would probably be what the Cubs lineup would look like:
- Kyle Schwarber DH
- Frank Schwindel 1B
- Jorge Soler RF
- Nick Madrigal 2B
- Rafael Ortega CF
- Willson Contreras C
- Ian Happ LF
- Nico Hoerner SS
- Pitcher
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