Chicago Cubs: Options aplenty next offseason outside of Bryce Harper

Chicago Cubs: Adam Jones in center field?

OK, I’ll admit. This is a long-shot, at best.

The Cubs reportedly have a three-year offer on the table for free agent Lorenzo Cain as we speak. Not only that, but they also boast two promising young talents in center in Ian Happ and Albert Almora. Adding another outfielder to the mix darn-near necessitates a trade of some kind.

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One of the big things I look at in a guy is how often he keeps himself on the field. Adam Jones is on the field – a lot. Since 2011, he’s never appeared in fewer than 137 games. And in five of those seven seasons, he’s played in at least 150 contests for Baltimore. And it’s not just that he’s in the lineup – he’s a focal point for opposing pitchers.

Nice insurance offensively

Most of the attention is focused on his teammate, Manny Machado. And for good reason. But Jones is a solid complimentary piece who could provide some more pop in the lineup for Chicago. Over the last seven seasons, the outfielder carries a .279/.318/.473 slash-line. Over the course of 162 games, he’s averaged 31 home runs and 93 runs batted in, as well.

His poor on-base showing is of particular concern to me – at least when evaluating his fit on the North Side. The Cubs need more guys who can work counts and get on base via the base-on-balls, not the opposite.

Still, he’s got pop and if you slotted him in alongside Almora or Happ in center, it could make for a lethal lineup.