Chicago Cubs: Fans know Steven Souza Jr. is no Nicholas Castellanos

Chicago Cubs: Can Souza rebound to his 2017 form?

This could end up being a cheap, productive deal for the Cubs if Souza can overcome his injuries and return to his 2017 numbers. Per Fangraphs, Souza compiled 6.2 WAR with the Rays over three seasons, 3.8 coming during his 30-home run, .239/.351/.459 2017 campaign.

That certainly is asking a lot of a player coming off such a complex injury. Chances are more likely that this will wind up being yet another blunder on the part of Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein.

Maybe Souza can ride the pine next to another one of Epstein’s misfires, hobbled hurler Brandon Morrow. Of course, Chicago inked Morrow ahead of the 2018 season to fill the void left in the ninth inning following Wade Davis’ departure. After a stellar stretch to open the season, Morrow hit the IL – and has not thrown a big league pitch since.

The deal might wind up looking somewhat decent on paper and ownership is happy because the Cubs saved a lot of money but the fans know more this time around: you get what you pay for. The fanbase has been talking the entire offseason about the team’s penny-pinching  and are well aware that cutting costs is the Cubs’ primary concern.

However, most are not fooled by Chicago’s bluster that they finally made a big, offseason move. The one move Chicago fans across the nation wanted all offseason was bringing Castellanos back to the club.  Do the Cubs believe fans are foolish enough to think Souza is a better deal than Castellanos? Not a chance.

In just a short stint with the Cubs last season, Castellanos hit  .321 with a 1.002 OPS. It would actually take a healthy, batting Souza and perhaps outfielder, Ian Happ’s batting results combined just to come near Castellanos numbers. So why not take the player that is proven, healthy and has the right numbers to help the team? Fans are not fooled and know that Souza is no Castellanos and the only reason we are even talking about Souza is because of his price tag.

Chicago Cubs: Cost-cutting could prove very costly this season

So the Cubs show their cards to Castellanos and basically say, ‘we’re after someone cheap.’ Forty-eight hours later, the slugging outfielder signed a contract with the division rival Cincinnati Reds that will keep the ultra-hot coffin-lid slammer returning to the Friendly Confines as a member of the opposition, undoubtedly ready to unload against the Cubs. Great! Now we have to battle against the guy that almost broke the record for doubles last season!

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Genius!

The four-year, $64-million deal given to Castellanos with the Reds was not beyond the Cubs reach had they made some moves throughout the season to set-up that payout. In the end, Castellanos was not after some $250+ million Jason Heyward payday, but actually a modest sum considering what he brings to the table. The current deal gives Castellanos $16 million a year which the Cubs could have offered as well, maybe offering a two or three-year deal at the same price.

The toothpaste is now out of the tube so to speak as the Cubs wait for Souza’s physical results. Castellanos has a pair of opt-out clauses in his deal, coming after the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Could he be giving the Cubs yet another chance to see the light and come around?  You know how it goes; spring training was alright and then the season starts and the Cubs are hot and cold. Then because of that terrible start, everyone is ahead of us in the division and finally Epstein will start to panic.

That’s probably what it will take for management to see the light.  In the meantime, Castellanos is getting fitted for another “C” logo baseball cap; this time in Cincinnati.