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Chicago Cubs could find answers via Monday’s non-tender deadline
In an offseason likely to bring a series of changes to the roster, the Chicago Cubs may find solutions via players non-tendered by Monday night.
In the next 12 hours, we’ll learn the fate of Addison Russell – the beleaguered Cubs middle infielder who, for the second consecutive season, struggled at the plate and left plenty to be desired in other ways.
Russell, still just 25 years of age, has hardly lived up to the otherworldly hype that once surrounded him as a top prospect of the Oakland Athletics. Granted, he played an integral role in Chicago’s World Series run three years ago, but even taking that into account, he’s always been a below-average offensive player.
This year, his defense waned, as well – and the Cubs saw their second baseman serve out the remainder of his league-mandated suspension for violating MLB’s domestic abuse policies in recent years. In short, it’s been a forgettable stretch for Russell, who may soon find himself searching for a new home.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Russell will earn just north of $5 million via salary arbitration this winter. That is, unless the Cubs decide to non-tender him ahead of Monday’s deadline – thus saving valuable financial resources and turning the page at second base.
This isn’t the only way the non-tender deadline could impact the roster, though. There are several notable names who could also be non-tendered by their respective clubs worth exploring if you’re Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer.
Chicago Cubs: Is Garcia the bench piece the team is lacking?
Last week, I talked at length about Yolmer Sanchez, the infielder placed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox. He won Gold Glove honors at second base in the American League – but given his subpar performance at the plate, the Sox look likely to move on from his services.
The team also recently outrighted utlityman Leury Garcia who may simply be the odd man out on the South Side as the team’s talented prospect core continues to make its way to the big leagues in 2020.
Last season, he managed a measly .688 OPS and 84 OPS+ for Rick Renteria‘s club, hardly inspiring and definitely not worthy of a starting role on a team with postseason aspirations. But if the Cubs wanted to add someone to the mix who can play all over the diamond (Garcia appeared at no fewer than six positions last season), he could be worth a look.
The downside for Garcia? He doesn’t walk. In 618 plate appearances last season, he drew just 21 walks, which worked out to a .310 on-base percentage. The main reason I can see someone like this working on the North Side? He’s fairly affordable (projected to make just $4 million via arbitration) and he could, at least in theory, round out the roster as a 26th-man-type guy.
Again, in an ideal world, this isn’t the type of guy we’re talking about when it comes to the Cubs’ offseason plans. But if the overarching concern is payroll and the competitive balance tax, this could be the type of player we talk about far too often in the months to come.
Chicago Cubs could profit from the A’s current position
Blake Treinen is definitely one of the more intriguing names folks around the game are speculating could be cut loose at the non-tender deadline. Of course, the Oakland Athletics are already shopping the right-hander who, after a historic 2018 performance, took some big steps backward in 2019.
The 31-year-old hurler was nothing short of masterful two years ago, working 80 1/3 innings of 0.78 ERA ball for the A’s. He kept the ball in the yard (0.2 HR/9), struck out well over a batter per frame (11.2 K/9) and limited the self-inflicted damage (2.4 BB/9). All signs pointed up for a guy who’d had a solid, yet unspectacular big league career to that point.
But last year was an entirely different story altogether, as the former seventh-round pick struggled in almost every way. He allowed home runs at a pace six times higher than the year prior, saw his strikeout rate decrease and his walk rate more than double. In short, it was a very uninspiring performance for a guy one year from hitting the open market.
All that being said, he still has great stuff – and that alone will likely be enough for a team to take a chance on him. We all know how great the Cubs’ need is in the bullpen. Aside from Craig Kimbrel, there are a lot of question marks – and even Kimbrel is no guarantee given his 2019 performance.
Next. Cubs would prefer to trade Happ, Schwarber this winter?. dark
Chicago would face stiff competition for Treinen if the A’s part ways with him on Monday – but he checks a lot of the boxes the team is likely to look for in a late-inning arm to pair with Kimbrel. We’ll see how it plays out, but he’s an arm I’d love to see in the mix next spring.