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Chicago Cubs could find their answer at second base in free agency
After getting virtually no production from second base this season, the Chicago Cubs have plenty of options to consider in free agency this offseason.
One of the bigger questions for the Chicago Cubs heading into Spring Training is whether or not Nico Hoerner will begin the 2020 campaign in the majors as an everyday player. The kid showed promise as a 22-year-old rookie late this year, but he still has a lot of growing to do. With Ben Zobrist possibly retiring and Addison Russell likely being non-tendered, it would be wise for the Cubs to pursue some veteran second baseman.
Some of the Cubs’ most pressing needs are going to be tough to fill and may require some creativity. That being said, the free agent market has some intriguing names at the second base position. There is not exactly a collection of youthful guys, but plenty of names who still have some gas left in the tank.
Given the payroll restrictions we saw last winter and the team’s laundry list of needs this winter, it’s worth noting that some of the options available will not necessarily break the bank. What kind of names could potentially fit the Cubs? Lets take a look.
Chicago Cubs: His NLDS grand slam is just his latest performance
One of the most sought-after second basemen Howie Kendrick would be an excellent addition to the Cubs lineup. This season in 121 games with the Nationals he slashed .344/.395/.572 with 17 homers, 142 OPS+, .966 OPS, 146 wRC+ (career-high) and accumulated 2.9 fWAR.
Kendrick is 36, but shows no signs of slowing down. He is a career .294/.337/.431 hitter in 1,596 career regular season games. The question is what other teams offer him and if Kendrick would want a more defined role than a role on the Cubs, a situation in which Hoerner will be part of the equation sooner or later. Despite the very good season it is hard to imagine him costing a ton of money but he will probably make more than a number of other free agent second basemen next year.
There is no doubt Kendrick would improve this lineup in many ways. A veteran of his caliber can add so much to this team. If Theo Epstein wants to go out and bring in an impact bat that is affordable, Kendrick is a good option regardless of what position he plays.
Chicago Cubs: A versatile option defensively
Many baseball fans know the Boston Red Sox are going to clear some money. With that in mind, will they re-sign Brock Holt? Even if he is not an overly-pricey name, he could very well be moving on. If they let him walk he could be an interesting fit for the Cubs. While not a power hitter at all, Holt slashed .297/.369/.402 in 87 games last season. He is a career .271/.340/.374 hitter and was an All-Star in 2015.
Here is a guy that would be the definition of veteran depth. He can play all over the place and is not an everyday player. He has averaged playing in roughly 98 games a season going back to 2014. You are not going to get run production from him but getting on base can help set up the big boppers.
Holt could have a very Ben Zobrist-like role on the team. The most he has made in a season is $3,575,000 (in 2019) and is not going to cost a ton. He may not be a guy who will fix all the Cubs issues, but he could certainly fill the potential role of utility infielder/outfielder depth that can hit decently.
Chicago Cubs: Let’s bring in a Cubs killer to shore things up
Last season Scooter Gennett played in only 42 games between the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. The veteran had injury issues which caused him to miss most of the first half of the season. It was coming off an All-Star season which he hit .310/.357/.490 with 23 homers, 125 wRC+ and 4.5 fWAR.
2018 was not the only successful season for Gennett. He is a career .286/.327/.449 hitter and 10.3 fWAR in 793 games. He is a very solid hitter which has good home run pop for a smaller second baseman.
Question is if he can rebound after his injury-shortened season. Also, despite the solid home run numbers in in 2017 and 2018 the ball does not jump off his bat like the numbers always show. He had the privilege of playing in a hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark the past several years.
Gennett will probably come pretty cheap and could be given the chance to be a veteran presence on the team that can offer him a shot at the postseason for the first time in his career.
Chicago Cubs: A once familiar NL Central foe, the veteran lefty is still a solid bat
He may not be overly exciting, but Neil Walker can still put up decent offensive numbers. Last year with Miami the 34-year old veteran hit .261/.344/.395 in 115 games. Walker is a career .267/.339/.427 hitter with 149 homers, 111 wRC+ and 21.8 fWAR player in 1,288 games.
The switch-hitting infielder is not a guy who would likely play 140+ games in a Cubs uniform at this point and could easily share the second base duties with others. One thing the Cubs really lacked last season was reliable depth that could hit, Walker can at least hit.
Walker’s defense is nothing at all to write home about and is probably best his past days. Looking at it, his fit with the team right now is kind of “meh”.
However he could potentially play a role similar to what Daniel Descalso was supposed to play last year. Say the Cubs move on from Descalso and still want a veteran second base/bench utility guy, Walker might be considered.
Chicago Cubs: Veteran still got on base and hit for power this year
After spending a number of years in Minnesota Brian Dozier has bounced around a bit. Last season he spent with the Nationals and put up his sixth-consecutive 20+ home run season. He hit .238/.340/.430 with 20 homers, .771 OPS and 50 RBI in 135 games.
The 32-year-old Dozier still got on base at an above-average rate and hit for respectable power, especially for a second baseman. Since 2014 Dozier has slashed .246/.333/.457 with 168 homers and 187 doubles.
Is he a good fit for the Cubs? He kind of seems like a guy the team would add near the trade deadline in a playoff race to add pop in the lineup. His defense is nothing to write home about and the Cubs would love to really improve their defense after last year. That is not the say Chicago could not pursue him in free agency, he’s just likely not their first choice.
Has Tyler Chatwood earned a spot in the rotation next year?. dark. Next
Depth is such an important thing to have on this team, and solid veterans can provide it. While most of these guys are not the saviors of the team, they can add some sort of value to the team. Theo is going to want to build up infield depth with uncertainties in some of the positions.