Hoffpauir Going To Japan

While the Chicago Cubs are looking for a new first baseman, they lost one of their first basemen that they had last year. Micah Hoffpauir has agreed on a one year deal with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

The Chicago Cubs are likely to announce the move on Friday, it is expected that the Cubs will receive some type of compensation for the move.

At 30, Hoffpauir up to this point has been a career minor leaguer for the Cubs, while having a few stints with the Major League club over the past 4 years. In 2008, Hoffpauir burst onto the scene hitting .342/.400/.534 with the Chicago Cubs in 80 plate appearances while hitting 2 home runs. That would prove the only year in which Hoffpauir shown he could produce at a Major League level. In 2009, Hoffpauir had every opportunity to displace Derrek Lee as the starting first baseman, but, he never capitalized on it since he struggled. During the 2009 season, Hoffpauir hit .239/.300/.427 with 10 home runs.  Hoffpauir was a late call up this year, and in 57 plate appearances he hit .173/.246/.231 with no home runs.

There really is no surprise about this move, as Hoffpauir did not have a future with the Cubs let alone in the MLB.