Chicago Cubs: Who will handle second base this season?

Chicago Cubs: The ‘longer’ shots who could be in the mix

Chicago area native Jason Kipnis has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs.

The 32-year-old free agent is regressing. In each of the last three seasons, he hasn’t posted a wRC+ above 90. However, he’s an accomplished, high-character veteran guy who maybe you can platoon with Hoerner and Bote who both bat from the right side of the plate (Kipnis is a lefty).

However, the counter argument to that line of thinking is that Kipnis’ numbers against right-handed pitching aren’t great at this point of his career and in terms of wRC+ they were worse than both Bote and Hoerner last season.

Finally, Ben Zobrist is a free agent right now. Off the field matters derailed most of his 2019 season and when he did return it was tough for him to get traction.

He’s contemplated retirement, but he’s just two years removed from a 2018 where he posted a career-high .308 batting average. If the Cubs do sign him, you’d think David Ross would at least consider giving him consideration for some starts at second base.

It’s a long shot, but maybe we haven’t seen the last of Zobrist in Chicago.