Chicago Cubs: Winter Meetings goals for Cubs management

Goal #3: Who bats first?

“You go, we go” is gone. Maybe. Dexter Fowler, the Chicago Cubs’ leadoff batter for the last two years, is pressing his luck and asking for big money this off-season. While his departure is not fully unexpected, it is a whammy to the line-up.

Who bats first? We know who won’t. The middle of the order is set as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber. Jason Heyward is in jeopardy of batting at the end of the order unless his swing is fixed. And Ben Zobrist‘s ability to move and score runners is too valuable to use in the top spot.

The Cubs are fortunate to have a wheel full of outfield talent, and added a high on-base option in Jon Jay. The potential lead-off hitter could come down to Jay and Albert Almora Jr, depending on who plays center field. The problem is that neither walk a ton. Even with a career on-base percentage of .352, Jay only has 204 walks. Fowler’s career low was 57 walks, while Jay’s high is 52.

If the team wants to improve offensively in 2017, setting a lead-off batter is necessary. How knows. The Cubs may convince Fowler to stay. But only if the price is right.