Cubs Rumors: Could Eric Sogard’s nerd power benefit the team?

Cubs Rumors: With the trade deadline looming, the Chicago Cubs are looking for various ways to improve. Eric Sogard of the Blue Jays is a surprising candidate for the team to trade for.

Hot stove season is underway, and for the Chicago Cubs, it marks a chance to patch up some of the holes they’ve shown in the first half. The team has already begun its efforts to improve by parting ways with lefty Mike Montgomery in exchange for the Royals’ Martin Maldonado.

Still, the Cubs are in pursuit of more than just a veteran backstop: someone to fill the void left in the absence of veteran Ben Zobrist is of prime importance to them. The Toronto Blue Jays may have such a player in Eric Sogard.

Sogard, now 33, is in the midst of a career year at the plate, hitting for a very solid 130 OPS+ in 279 plate appearances for the Jays. He’s getting on base and slugging at a career-best, making him a solid target for the Cubs so long as they can find him a spot to play in the field.

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Sogard has done it all for Toronto this season. He’s made starts at second, third, shortstop, right field and DH, though he’s most commonly found playing at second. His defense isn’t much to write home about; however, sporting -3 defensive runs saved at his primary position.

Second basemen for the Cubs this year have ranged from iffy to terrible with Robel Garcia being the lone exception thus far. It’s too early to determine if he’ll be a mainstay in the Cubs lineup, or if major league pitching will figure him out in due time.

If needed, the Cubs could throw Sogard in the outfield to give the carousel of second basemen some playing time. They could also potentially use him at third instead of David Bote if they plan on utilizing Kris Bryant in the outfield more often.

Likely, Sogard would spend most of his time at the second base position, sharing time primarily with Garcia, Bote, and Addison Russell. The latter of whom would likely come in as a defensive replacement. Sogard represents a straight offensive upgrade from most of the team’s second base options. So it’s possible he could receive the lion’s share of playing time barring a return from Zobrist.

However, there should be concerns over Sogard’s past, as he’s been a very on-again, off-again hitter from year to year. Given his spotty history, the Cubs would have to hope he can maintain this pace through the rest of 2019.

Overall, Sogard represents an interesting depth piece and a surprising offensive option for the Chicago Cubs, but a questionable one at that. Bruce Levine at 670 the Score pins him as a realistic option for the team given his value, but the team may have other options in mind to bolster the roster.

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