Chicago Cubs: Analyzing key veteran depth on the roster

The Chicago Cubs are going to need veterans to step up in big ways this year.

Lets face it, the Chicago Cubs have not made a lot of additions this offseason in terms of veteran players. However they have added some veterans that are capable of being either regular contributors or fill a role when needed. Even if the names are not necessarily big or flashy.

Anything can happen in a 60-game season, and with the uncertainty of COVID-19, smaller veteran depth guys might asked to step into a bigger role at any given time. Right now the Cubs are all present and healthy but things can unfortunately change. Injuries also play a big factor especially when the season is so short. There is already concern with Anthony Rizzo’s back and Jose Quintana’s thumb.

The Cubs were running on a frustratingly tight budget this past offseason and they had to improve the veteran depth on the team with little to spend. Last season the supporting cast around the core was pretty weak which was a big reason the 2019 variation of the club missed the postseason altogether. Is the veteran depth better this year? Here is a look at some additions they have made and what roles they could play.

Chicago Cubs will carry three catchers to open the season

Catcher Josh Phegley was another player brought in on a minor league deal this offseason. Phegley, 32,  is right now the third option at catcher behind Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini. The veteran has caught 2,812 innings in his career, mostly with the Oakland Athletics, and has a career .227/.269/.383 slash at the plate.

Right now there is a chance Phegley could make the initial roster, which could depend on the health of Anthony Rizzo. If Rizzo’s back is still an issue and he misses the start of the season, then Caratini is next in line to play first base. This scenario would require Phegley to be the backup catcher behind Contreras.

It seems less than likely the Cubs carry three catchers on the Opening Day roster (if Rizzo, Contreras and Caratini are all healthy) but Phegley will be called upon if needed. Top Cubs prospect Miguel Amaya is very young and developing with no MLB experience to date and P.J. Higgins is also inexperienced.

Seems more likely than not Phegley will get some playing time sometime this season, even if not for very long. We have seen how the Cubs have valued veteran backup catchers over the years, including their new skipper.

Chicago Cubs: Souza is ready to put his injuries in the past

The “big move” of the offseason was signing free agent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to a one-year deal. Souza missed all of 2019 due to an ACL, LCL and PCL injury in 2018 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has not played in 100+ games since 2017.

Souza is a career .233/.323/.417 hitter with a .740 OPS, 103 wRC+ and 5.6 fWAR in 471 games. He hit a career-high 30 home runs in 2017 with the Rays with a 121 wRC+. He has played virtually all of his time in the field in right outside 12 career games in center and left. Coming off injury and wanting a potential power bat in the lineup, he is likely going to see plenty of DH time while Jason Heyward plays right field.

Will Souza Jr. only serve as the DH? Not all the time. Kyle Schwarber will likely see some time at DH, as well as Rizzo to rest his back. Being a righty, Souza can be put into the lineup purely based on the pitcher matchup. If Heyward gets a start in center on occasion, then Souza can slide into right if Ross wants his bat in the lineup the same day.

If Souza is in good shape and swinging well, the Cubs potentially have another solid power producer that can draw some walks.

Chicago Cubs: A veteran reliever could be huge down the stretch

Cubs fans remember very well what righty reliever Jeremy Jeffress did for the rival Milwaukee Brewers for several years. In 2018 he pitched to a 1.29 ERA, 2.78 FIP and 0.991 WHIP in 76.2 innings. Jeffress, 32, is a career 3.16 ERA pitcher in 392 games. The Cubs brought him in on a one-year, $850,000 deal back in February.

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Jeffress struggled in 2019 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.4 WHIP in 52 innings. Despite struggling last year, Jeffress has a good enough track record to give the Cubs hope he can rebound in 2020. If he is pitching well he can be relied on to pitch in late-inning situations. He and Rowan Wick are likely two of the primary candidates for the setup man position.

There is plenty of justified concern about the bullpen. On paper the potential is high, but the struggles of last year do not exactly have all fans giving the pen the benefit of the doubt. Craig Kimbrel is slated as the Cubs closer and his short tenure as a Cub so far has not been good. If he continues to struggle and Jeffress pitches well, one could wonder if he ends up making his way to the closer spot. Jeffress has 44 career saves in 61 opportunities.

Should 2018 Jeffress be expected? No. However it seems fair to think he can be solid/good for the team. Cubs are going to need solid from him at the very least as the bullpen cannot mess around this year.

Most of these guys will likely be short-term solutions. The Cubs have not signed anyone to a big multi-year deal in a while. However that does not mean they will not be important. Depth is key to contending even if the names are not overly flashy.