Chicago Cubs: Marwin Gonzalez should be a serious consideration

Chicago Cubs: Expectations and likelihoods

To put a likelihood with a percentage on the chances of the Cubs signing Gonzalez is a difficult thing to do. However, I would say that the chances are high that they make a legitimate run at him.

Journeyman and Cubs favorite, Ben Zobrist, is 37 years old and is on the final leg of his career, on his way out the door. As Gonzalez is still just 29 years old, bringing him on will keep the team fresh as well as give them someone whom they can carry for a while. Gonzalez would also represent a relatively stable replacement for the former World Series MVP, which would make Cubs fans happy.

Gonzalez will be relatively inexpensive, and I could see the Cubs being able to bring him on for a two-year contract ranging in the $14 to $20 million range. It would certainly not break the bank for Chicago and allow, once again, for much-needed depth with the seeming departure of Murphy and suspension of Russell.

In the end, such a signing could wind up as one of the most underrated moves of the offseason, done without breaking the bank.