Chicago Cubs: Addison Russell situation has big-time roster implications

Chicago Cubs: Relying on Zobrist & Bote behind Baez at short?

If the Cubs are seriously considering carrying pinch runner Terrance Gore on the postseason roster, carrying Freeman, as well, would put two position players on the Cubs bench who aren’t much of a threat as batters.

If Chicago doesn’t carry Freeman on the postseason roster, the closest thing they will have to a backup shortstop would either be David Bote or Ben Zobrist. Bote played has played two games, totaling 10 innings at shortstop in the Major Leagues this year. In Triple-A, he has played shortstop in 15 games, spanning 117 innings.

Zobrist used to play a fair amount of shortstop. He has started 196 games at short in his career.

However, he hasn’t played shortstop at all this year. In 2017, he played just 11 innings at shortstop. So resorting to Zobrist at shortstop  in the playoffs isn’t ideal – especially alongside a sub-par defensive guy like Murphy.