Chicago Cubs: This team doesn’t need to add another offensive piece

Chicago Cubs: Will the team stick with Russell?

Even if the Cubs didn’t add a big bat to their lineup many thought the team would get rid of Russell and then need to add another middle infielder. While that may still happen, this week the Cubs tendered Russell a contract through arbitration. Both the Epstein and Russell issued statements about his domestic violence suspension.

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Russell still has 29 games left to serve on his suspension. But the Cubs are in better position than perhaps any team in baseball to go without a starting middle infielder for a month. Javier Baez can slide over and still play Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop.

The Chicago Cubs can then cover second base with a combination of Ben Zobrist, Happ and David Bote. Chicago still boasts Jason Heyward, Schwarber, Almora and whoever doesn’t start in the infield to make up their outfield.

The majority of those starts at second base figure to go to Zobrist. Don’t forget about how great Zobrist played last year! He should have won the National League Comeback Player of the Year. So being forced to start Zobrist at second base isn’t a bad thing. He was the Cubs’ full-time starting second baseman in 2016. So he should be able to handle the majority of the playing time at the position for a month.

Acquiring Daniel Murphy at the end of last season was about getting another bat into a struggling lineup at the end of the season. It wasn’t done out of necessity to fill in for Russell’s absence.

Chicago Cubs: Team looks to rebound from poor second half

At the end of last season, the Chicago offense struggled in a way it shouldn’t have. But many of the Cubs young hitters slumped in the second half. For example, Almora had one of the top batting averages before the All-Star break. In the second half of the season he hit only .232.

Another year of experience and development should help Almora, Schwarber, Happ, Russell and Willson Contreras. Contreras appeared to be overworked last season. If the Cubs are more careful with the number of innings they allow Contreras to catch, his bat should be livelier. The club seemed to figure that out late as Victor Caratini began to get more time behind the dish and Conteras slowly showed signs of life.

Improved health will also help the Cubs offense. Schwarber played with a back issue at the end of the season. Heyward and Anthony Rizzo both spent time on the disabled list. And the biggest health issue was Bryant’s shoulder. He went on the disabled list twice and when the Chicago third baseman did play he hit with much less power and looked overmatched.

Due to money, age and the possible return of Russell, the Chicago Cubs may end up only adding pitchers to the roster this offseason. The offense doesn’t need any more players. There are multiple reasons it could be even better next year without any changes in personnel.

If they add, it would likely make the team older and more expensive. The bullpen is the part of the team that still needs the most attention – not the Cubs’ group of position players.