Chicago Cubs: What the future holds for the Cubs core

Kyle Schwarber

Perhaps the most often talked about among the team’s tradeable assets, Kyle Schwarber looked lost at the plate for most of the season. Though he hit 30 home runs, his abysmal batting average and high strikeout totals didn’t impress much.

He’s also a defensive liability, as we saw multiple times throughout the postseason. The hard truth is if he’s not hitting the ball out of the park he’s practically useless. He’d be much better on an AL club, where he can DH and not worry about fielding.

Though he’s been at the forefront of many memorable moments over the past three years, perhaps it’s time to move on. Epstein loves Schwarber, but don’t be surprised if the team lets him go.

Javier Baez

Like Schwarber, Javier Báez likes to hit homers. Unlike Schwarber, he’s an all-world defender, routinely praised as one of the MLB’s very best.

A very exciting player, Báez certainly has holes in his swing. However, he makes up for it with highlight plays all around the diamond. His ability to play multiple positions in the infield makes him extremely valuable, even if he’s slumping at the plate. With Ben Zobrist slowing down, he may be poised to take over as the starting 2nd basemen sooner rather than later.

Everyone has a price, and Báez’s is probably very high. However he’s not untouchable, and if the team gets an offer, they can’t refuse (for a starting pitcher?) then he could certainly be headed out of town. Unless that happens though, Báez appears to be in it for the long haul.

Ian Happ

In the opinion of this writer, Ian Happ was criminally underused throughout the postseason. When you consider all the offensive struggles the team had, you’d think someone like Happ would’ve been perfect as a change-of-pace player.

That wasn’t the case. Happ stayed on the bench more often than not, but next season he looks to have a bigger role. With Jon Jay most likely leaving via free agency, the team will lean on Happ more heavily in the outfield as well as second base.

Happ had a solid showing in his first major league season but appears to be stuck in no-man’s land. He deserves more playing time, but he might end up being the odd man out. That could spell his leaving via trade.

Happ is a player that the Cubs would love to have him stick around. But the need for more starting pitching and other pieces may outweigh the benefits of having him on the team. Look for Happ’s name to be at the center of trade talks at this year’s winter meetings.

Albert Almora Jr.

With Jay leaving, Albert Almora Jr. looks poised to be the team’s starting center fielder. And that’s a good thing too since he’s a hitter that, unlike Báez, Schwarber and others, relies on contact rather than pure power.

He can defend, too. In fact, he’s one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. This combination of offense and defense is invaluable for a young player, and the Cubs understand that keeping a guy like him around will do more good than harm.

Like Báez, however, no player is untouchable. Even if Almora is traded Jason Heyward can switch to center and Happ can play right field, therefore opening up more playing time for the latter. It could very well come down to which young outfielder the team wants to keep for the future.

Cubs will make offseason moves

Don’t expect the team to settle. Their championship window is wide open and the time is now to forego developing talent. What the team can get with their major league players remains to be seen, but odds are the return for trading some of them would put them in a better position to return to the World Series.

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The disappointment of seeing these players go would be substantial for some. After all, hardcore fans view players of their favorite teams like family. However, baseball is a business, and the Cubs are in the business of winning championships. Hard decisions must be made if they want to keep winning the sport’s top prize.