Chicago Cubs: Top three reasons Cubs should pass on Nolan Arenado

Chicago Cubs: Reason #1 – Team already has good leadership

Just like Tina Turner sang, “We don’t need another –  hero” in the 1980s, the Cubs are full of leadership with remnants of the 2016 World Series champs still on the team – and now more seasoned and knowledgeable on how to get there again. We don’t need another hero to lead the team, we need a team player who can pull his weight on the field and at bat and won’t challenge the leadership of the team – just join the team.

Look at what outfielder Nicholas Castellanos brought to the team last season and you’ll have the perfect example of what the Chicago needs at third base and on the bat.

While I’m not here to add to the plethora of Castellanos-fawning articles out there on why he should be a Cub, I don’t understand why the Cubs just don’t bring him back at third base as their solution. Castellanos played third base in Detroit for four seasons in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Castellanos’ fielding percentage was .955 for those four seasons compared to Bryant’s .951 for the past five seasons. It is a sensible solution at third base with a known hitter that brings energy to the team. The Cubs should seriously consider Castellanos at third; moving Bryant to clear payroll and replenish the system.

Arenado needs a team that has no leadership and needs his experience and energy; the kind of team that’s in need of a Rizzo of their own. The Cubs have leadership in new manager David Ross and veterans like Heyward, Jon Lester and Daniel Descalso. With Rizzo serving as leader and captain of the Cubs, there is no room in the clubhouse for a challenge to his authority which Arenado would clearly be.

I don’t dislike Arenado, in fact I think he’s a pretty great player as a five-time All-Star, seven-time Gold Glove and four-time Silver Slugger recipient and will undoubtedly make a good addition to a club looking to take that next step. But that team is not the Chicago Cubs.