Chicago Cubs: Top five players who won’t be around next season

The Chicago Cubs are battling for a postseason berth, but the future is already written for some of the players. Who might be gone next season?

The Chicago Cubs are battling every day to secure their place in the postseason. Injuries to Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, second baseman Addison Russell and pitcher Craig Kimbrel have forced the Northsiders to go deep into the roster and bring up shortstop Nico Hoerner and others to shore up the holes in offense and defense.

The truth is, the writing is on the wall for some these Cubs players, and although we love them, many will be gone next season. Of course, there’s still time for any of these players to break out and make an impression on Cubs management, but at this moment, these players are all likely candidates. Let’s take a look at the top five Chicago Cubs players that will most likely not be around next season.

Cole Hamels – LHP

Since coming off his injury, Cole Hamels has not been very good. In previous articles, I have pointed to the fact that we probably have gotten the most out of Hamels. But Cubs manager Joe Maddon is trying to squeeze every last throw out of the aging pitcher. The zip in Hamel’s ball that was so impressive coming out of last season has turned into an edge painter that produces walks and hits.

Hamels has played in double the games than he did last year and has faced 260 more batters this season. However,  the more he faces, the worse his record gets as shown by his 2.36 ERA last year and his 3.95 right now.

There is a reason that the back office folks were indicating he could move on right after he came off his injury and are considering a Philly reunion next season.

The Cubs paid Hamels $20 million for his work this year but next year Hamels is an Unrestricted Free Agent and will most likely move on.

Chicago Cubs let the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player go UFA

Ben Zobrist return to the Cubs hasn’t been the party everyone was expecting. With just 26 games into the season, Zobrist was put on the restricted list on May 6 to take care of family matters. His return, while hailed by Cubs fans across the universe, hasn’t produced the kind of numbers the Cubs were hoping to see from veteran utility man. While there is still a couple of weeks left in the season, I wouldn’t put it past Zobrist to make some spectacular plays or even save a game or two with some good offensive hitting.

However, the 38-year-old looks a little tired in his return and so will most likely be looking at the end of his four-year, $56 million contract which expires this season. Zobrist may have to step up his game if he wants to catch on with another team in free agency in 2020.

Nicholas Castellanos almost made this list as well as he will be an Unrestricted Free Agent next season. Castellanos hit 11 home runs and finished the month of August with a 1.098 OPS. He lights up the Cubs offense consistently and unlike anyone who subbed in previously like: Daniel Descalso, Daniel Murphy and Tony Kemp, Castellanos is pretty consistent.

Considering the Tigers were going to pay Castellanos $9.95 million for three years and we’re paying outfielder Jason Heyward an eight-year $184 million contract, I’m convinced the Cubs are going to shuffle the outfield and add Castellanos next season to the roster.

Chicago Cubs: What infielder will likely be gone next season?

Addison Russell – INF

If there is one Cubs player that has been controversial over the past two seasons, it’s Addison Russell. Fans abandoned the young player on news that MLB was punishing him for domestic violence. Russell had denied any part of the controversy until MLB concluded its investigation and Russell confessed his violent behavior.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

Of course, if Russell were to become an untouchable product, the Cubs would lose millions in what they had invested in the young shortstop. When Russell returns, he is slowly brought back into the lineup; past the boo-birds in his earliest appearances back on the Cubs roster.

Then one day, as the Cubs management knew would happen, Russell hits a home run and then another, and now he has been redeemed. Not only are his sins forgiven, but he raises his value, which was not even possible at the beginning of the season with all the negative publicity surrounding him.

Russell was recently hit in the face with a pitch which caused the Cubs to put him on the IL and call up rookie sensation Nico Hoerner.  Hoerner shows up with a strong arm and even better bat, making Cubs management think real hard about whether they should start to consider Russell’s contribution since his return.

We know that Russell’s play and offense haven’t been great and 2020 brings his first year of arbitration with the Cubs. Last year, Russell was given a $3.4 million deal for the 2019 season. While that is super-cheap for an infielder and one as talented as Russell, the Cubs are ready to move on to another candidate with less harmful exposure. Expect Russell to be traded either before or after arbitration next season.