Chicago Cubs: Tyler Chatwood, Mark Zagunis and more

Can the Chicago Cubs find a spot in the bullpen where Tyler Chatwood can be useful? And while Willson Contreras seems to be finding his power again, Mark Zagunis is doing the same thing.

The Chicago Cubs still owe Tyler Chatwood over $25 million over the next two years. While many say release him, that isn’t going to work. The Cubs have already stated they don’t have much money–and that wouldn’t help. But so far, Chatwood hasn’t looked too bad in his spring appearances. In fact, he’s looked like a fully-functioning pitcher. So will the Cubs be able to salvage his career and that contract and put him to good use?

Mark Zagunis has gotten that brief cup of coffee in the majors. But when I say brief? Just 12 games and 24 plate appearances in the last two years. There’s not much more he needs to prove in the minors, but there’s no place to go with the Cubs. But that’s not stopping Zagunis from mashing the ball and making the Cubs and least think about what to do with him when the spring ends.

Last season, Willson Contreras seemed to have lost his power in the second half. The pop that he showed at the beginning of the season was gone, and Contreras was a shell of himself in the second half. This spring, although in a small sample, seems to have returned. Many Cubs hitters had better seasons in the ‘pre-Davis’ years. Did the change in philosophy make that much of a difference? We’re going to find out real soon.

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These and other stories you might have missed:

‘How Chatwood can be useful in 2019’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Mark Zagunis is mashing this spring’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Cubs’ Contreras finding his power stroke’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Illustrating Yu Darvish’s different types of sliders’ – Cubs Insider

‘Vlad Jr. never ceases to amaze us’ – MLB.com

‘Steep prices are on the players, not the owners’ – Cubbies Crib

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