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Chicago Cubs: Meet the Cubs’ most valuable bat in 2019
That’s right. Not Kris Bryant. Not Javier Baez. According to STEAMER projections for next season, Anthony Rizzo is going to be the Chicago Cubs’ most important bat in 2019.
Projected for 30 homers, 32 doubles, 95 RBI and a team-leading .895 OPS, Rizzo once again will play a critical role in the Cubs’ offense. Really, the question at this point is why we, as a fanbase, take him for granted? Is it because he’s about as reliable as they come in today’s game? Is it his fairly unassuming demeanor as opposed to someone like El Mago, who steals the show on a nightly basis?
No matter the reason, you can’t look past what Rizzo brings to the table. He works counts better than anyone not named Ben Zobrist and if you think you’re going to cruise one in to get ahead in the count, the ball’s liable to wind up in the seats.
This is a guy who will pull his weight. Can he step into the leadership role the front office seems to believe lacked this season? Absolutely. Expect a big season from the cornerstone first baseman – regardless of what Epstein does or doesn’t do the rest of the offseason.