Cubs: Veteran Jason Kipnis could be Cubs 2020 David Ross

The Chicago Cubs signed a minor league deal with veteran, former All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis. Did the Cubs hire a 2020 version of David Ross?

At some point in almost everyone’s life, there is a dream, notion, an imagination of yourself playing for your favorite professional team. Kids that grew up in Chicago wanted to play for the Chicago Bears or the Chicago Cubs since they could throw a ball.

Second baseman Jason Kipnis was one of those Chicago kids.

Kipnis wanted to play ball baseball for Chicago since being a Spartan at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, just 20 miles north of Wrigley Field.  Drafted in 2008 by the San Diego Padres and in 2009 picked up by the Cleveland Indians, Kipnis has been with Cleveland for the past nine years, including 2016, when he played against the Cubs in the World Series.

Since his World Series performance, the numbers had fallen a bit for the 32-year-old but not as drastically as last year when Kipnis recorded a .245 BA and a .304 OBP in 121 games with 17 home runs before suffering a wrist injury last September which caused his stats to end as his season did. Kipnis will still need a physical to close the deal, but Kipnis could be a viable option since the Cubs utility player Daniel Descalso hasn’t worked out the way the Cubs envisioned.

Besides lending a veteran glove to second base for the Cubs, Kipnis is another left-handed option for the Cubs struggling lineup. One thing Chicago Cubs fans know about Kipnis from watching him battle from the other dugout all these years; is that Kipnis is a hitter. You almost get that Chicago Cub first baseman Anthony Rizzo feeling when Kipnis is up to bat; that he’s going to make something happen.

The most valuable contributions will come in time from Kipnis. As the season progresses and he gets to interact with Rossy’s regular stallions, Kipnis’ insight as a former Indian from the other side of the 2016 Cubs World Series championship will surely help make the current stable even better.

Heck, even Ross might benefit from that insight since he was in the stable under Joe Maddon.

The best thing about the whole move is that Kipnis is energized to come home to Chicago and finish his career right in his childhood backyard. Could Kipnis excitement, combined with his veteran voice in the dugout, strike a familiar enough tone that players might feel as comfortable as they did with the young David Ross or even for utility player Ben Zobrist?

Chicago Cubs: The Dirtbag comes home to the Northside

The way Kipnis still feels about the game of baseball can be summed up in his Indians nickname, the ‘Dirtbag,’ which was given to him when he moved from the outfield to second base and began diving for every ball in his zone. He proudly accepted the nickname as there wasn’t a game that went by that Kipnis wasn’t giving it his all on the field and finishing with a dirt-soiled uniform after going for loose balls.

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Kipnis has a baseball-boy soul, similar to former Cub Ben Zobrist. Zobrist and Ross are older than Kipnis and have a few more seasons under their belts, but that’s also the reason the team is feeling good about Kipnis and unfortunately, not picking up the Zobrist contract.  Kipnis still has some time left in his career and adds the excitement of getting to come home, and this could be an excellent season for the newest Chicago Cub.

Kipnis is four or five years younger than Zobrist and so enters the team on similar footing of Zobrist in 2016. While Zobrist arrived in 2016, going into his 11th season, Kipnis will arrive to the Cubs in his 10th season; if he gets called to action.

In 2016, when Zobrist arrived at the Friendly Confines, he put up 18 home runs and 76 RBIs in 147 games. Kipnis will come back home to Chicago with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs in 121 games under his belt from last season with the Indians before getting injured.

Fans will recall that Zobrist’s numbers declined after that 2016 season and never returned. If Kipnis is in the same glide path of father time, then this one-year, $1 million minor-league deal, could be the last chance for Kipnis to make a difference anywhere, before he hangs up his cleats.

Chicago Cubs: Was Kipnis a good deal or another lousy deal?

Overall, the Cubs made a good move with Kipnis. They were looking for a capable second baseman, left-handed batter, and someone capable of helping in the outfield as well. Add to the mix that the free-agent price was right where the Cubs wanted it in a minor-league deal.

Kipnis is as excited to be coming home to Chicago as an outfielder, and former Cub Nicholas Castellanos was about playing last season. Can you imagine the charge Kipnis can give to the Cubs this season if he stays healthy?

All season we’ve seen names like the Colorado Rockies Nolan Arenado or the former Washington National Anthony Rendon or Boston Red Sox free-agent Brock Holt thrown around as possible comers for the 2020 Cubs team but none of those ideas fleshed out. With Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant’s fate yet undetermined, Kipnis could also be a valuable pawn to drive or stop negotiations or trades.

When fans stepped back and considered Arenado or Holt was coming to Chicago, they quickly saw it was liking putting square pegs in round holes. The Cubs front office has done some excellent work here hiring Kipnis, who fits the mold of this team perfectly and so could become the 2020 Ross or Zobrist-type mentor the team needs for a lift.

It’s been 12 years since Kipnis was drafted and left Chicago.

Well, kid, you finally made it back. Welcome home, ‘Dirtbag’.