Chicago Cubs: Four in-house players that are critical for the second half

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The Chicago Cubs may add another piece before the deadline, but there are four players already here that will play a critical role for the Cubs in the second half.

As we start to enter the ‘summer,’ some Chicago Cubs‘ fans are already talking about the trade deadline and what the Cubs will add to make a run at the Central, and potentially a World Series. Some of that may have been brought on by the signing of Craig Kimbrel, who was unsigned from last year’s class. Once the draft took place and there was no pick attached to him, the Cubs set forth the offer and got a jump on the rest of the league.

The Cubs may still look to add another reliever, although it’s getting pretty packed out in the bullpen. Someone is going to be the odd-man out when Kimbrel is activated. And if Brandon Morrow returns? Someone else is out. This is likely to leave an experienced reliever without a spot in Chicago.

But with all of this talk, I see four players already in Chicago that will play a critical role this season, all for different reasons. Even if the Cubs add a player or two at the deadline, this group will be unaffected by them–well, maybe. Nothing is guaranteed, and it’s always possible that of these four, something could change.

But I’ll roll the dice with assuming they’ll be here down the stretch. And all of them will have an impact on the Cubs.

(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Kimbrel was a need, not a want

This is the clear choice of these four, as his ability to lock down games in the ninth is why they signed him. The Cubs needed Kimbrel. There were also twenty other teams that would have liked him in their bullpen. But this team had a need.

The Cubs were without a ‘true’ closer option. Pedro Strop is a fantastic set-up man, but not a closer. Steve Cishek was, but now he’s a better late-inning guy for the seventh or eighth inning. Morrow was brought in as the closer last season, but injuries have taken a reliable option from the bullpen. But again, not a closer. Kimbrel is the definition of it.

He’s a seven-time All-Star. His career ERA is 1.91. He’s saved 333 of 367, 90.7% conversion rate. The Cubs conversion rate on saves wasn’t anywhere near 90.7 this year. This is what the Cubs needed. It also strengthens the bullpen by pushing everyone back into a role they’re more familiar with.

The downside is several of the members of this current Cubs bullpen won’t be in a few weeks. Once Kimbrel is ready to go, that’s one move. Hopefully, Morrow will return by the end of July, and that will be two. For the Cubs, this is great. Having the seventh through ninth covered by Strop, Morrow and Kimbrel–with Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr. and Brandon Kintzler in that mix? Joe Maddon will like those options.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Hoping Gonzalez find his stroke again

When the Cubs’ signed Carlos Gonzalez to a minor league deal, it didn’t seem like big news. Gonzalez had seen his production decrease in the past few years and was eventually released by the Cleveland Indians when he was hitting just .210 with them.

It wasn’t that long ago that he was considered one of the best five-tool players in the league. Others questioned if the ‘Coors Field’ effect inflated his numbers, and he wasn’t as good as most people thought.

You can’t deny what he was. He was a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner. He was third in MVP voting in 2010, winning the NL batting title that season. Where the Cubs always had Ben Zobrist to rely on to play multiple positions, this may be an indicator that Maddon will go with a more ‘standard’ approach.

Look, Gonzalez has already made a bigger impact on the Cubs in a few weeks than Mark Zagunis in the first two months. Sorry, Mark. But this is the truth. With Gonzalez, Albert Almora, Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber in the outfield? That’s a solid group.

Gonzalez might not return to his old form, and we don’t need him to. He’s a better option than Zagunis or Jim Adduci, and you never know. When Cole Hamels came over, he was reinvigorated by playing with the Cubs on a contender. After leaving the Rockies, his landing in Cleveland didn’t bring the same vibe he had in Colorado. Maybe playing with the Cubs will do the same for him as it did Hamels.

Chicago Cubs: A second chance has opened to the door for Russell

This is the one guy on the list I feel I might be going out on a limb for. Addison Russell has been playing well, but there’s always the question of his off the field situation. Are the Cubs sticking by him until he turns the corner and then they trade him? I don’t believe so. If they were going to abandon ship on Russell, they never would have tendered him a contract. Unless he makes a mistake of ridiculous proportions, he’s going to remain a Cub.

Why is he the key to the Cubs? First, Zobrist. He’s been a fantastic piece to this Cubs team over the past few years. And if he doesn’t play another game in a Cubs uniform, he’ll still be remembered for what he’s done in Chicago. But since he’s on the restricted list to deal with his divorce, there’s no timeframe for him to return.

Then, there’s Daniel Descalso. After a hot start to the season, Descalso has gone ice cold at the plate. Once Russell returned to the team, Descalso has seen his playing time limited, near non-existent. Mostly, Gonzalez and Russell will have to do the work that Zobrist did.

Is there a chance Russell’s not part of the team after the deadline? Anything is possible. But Zobrist’s absence, coupled with Descalso’s struggles, has ‘re-opened’ the door for him. It would be best for him to take advantage, but there’s no denying he’ll be an essential piece down the stretch for the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Some deserved rest for Contreras via Caratini

The last on this list is Victor Caratini. First, the knock on Caratini was he was, mainly, a ‘4-A’ player. Hit well at Triple-A, couldn’t hack it in the majors. Well, he’s finally reaching his potential at the plate. That’s great, but that’s not the entire reason he’ll be critical to the Cubs in the second half. And that reason would be?

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Rest. But not for him, but Willson Contreras. Last season, Contreras caught 460 2/3 innings behind the plate. By far the most in baseball. And his second half showed the wear and tear the regular season can have on a catcher.

After making the All-Star team, he had a dismal second half hitting just .200 with just three home runs and 20 knocked in.

Caratini was healthy last season, but Maddon was afraid to go to him because he was a ‘lost bat’ in the lineup. Even if Contreras was struggling, Maddon felt he was the better option. Now that Caratini seems to have found his way, you could see him spell Contreras more often later in the summer.

Contreras seems to have a motor that never stops. But last year, he simply ran out of gas. Caratini hasn’t slowed from his strong start and should make it easier for Maddon to sit Contreras occasionally instead of catching the bulk of the innings.

Chicago Cubs: Everyone has their role to play

There are plenty of names on this Cubs team that will be vital to their success. But I’ve singled out four of them that might not be as obvious as others (Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo.) In a difficult NL Central, there isn’t a lot of room for error. It’ll be interesting to see where the teams are at the deadline, and who will make the moves to contend and who will stand pat.

In the end, outside of the Reds, I don’t see many sellers in the division. If anything, I think the teams will stick with what they have and make a run at it with what’s in-house.

Next. Schwarber has fans 'eating crow'. dark

It’s hard to say how much money the Cubs will have left for the deadline, as they were stingy during the offseason. But the Zobrist money that was freed up gave the Cubs an opening, and they took it. Teams often have an allotment for deals, and even with Zobrist’s saved salary, it’s hard to say how much more the Cubs can do.

But Kimbrel is an excellent start.

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