With or without Báez, the Cubs’ infield was going to have a unique look no matter what this season. Besides Anthony Rizzo, every other player, including Báez, can play multiple positions.
Báez has the ability to play every position on the diamond, excluding catcher and pitcher. Kris Bryant is the starting third baseman who can play every position in the outfield and first base.
Starting shortstop Addison Russell can obviously play second, as can Tommy La Stella, who plays third base as well. Russell played most of 2015 on the right side of the infield before taking over for Starlin Castro as the starting shortstop in August.
A unique player in the team’s infield is Ben Zobrist, who played nearly everywhere for Maddon during their tenure together with the Tampa Bay Rays. Zobrist will primarily play second base, but Maddon will not hesitate to move him around if necessary.
Here are the 2015 stats for this season’s infielders, with the expected starter’s positions labeled.
Infielders:
3B- Bryant: 151 games, AVG: .274, HR: 26, RBI: 99
La Stella: 33 games, AVG: .268, HR: 1, RBI: 11
1B- Rizzo: 160 games, AVG: .278, HR: 31, RBI: 101
SS- Russell: 142 games, AVG: .242, HR: 13, RBI: 54
2B- Zobrist: 126 games, AVG: .276, HR: 13, RBI: 56