Chicago Cubs: More veteran free agent options at second

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With pocket change to work with, the Cubs can still address second base.

Going into the 2021 season, it is be safe to assume Nico Hoerner is still seen as the long-term solution for the Chicago Cubs at second base. Hoerner, 23, has played in 68 MLB games since coming up from Double-A in late 2019 to fill in with so many injuries on the roster. Last year he made the roster and played in 48 games. He hit .222/.312/.259 with a 63 wRC+ and 13 RBI.

At just 23 he has shown flashes of promise, but it can be argued that he might need some more seasoning before being a full-time big leaguer. He was not going to get any time in Double-A or Triple-A last year with no minor league season. His spring this year could determine his roster status on opening day for 2021. Regardless it could be wise to invest in some veteran options at second base to solidify, or at least have some reliable depth at the position.

There are a handful of second baseman available on the market. Most talked about include the likes of Kolton Wong, Jurickson Profar, Cesar Hernandez and of course DJ LeMahieu. While those are the top options, there are some cheaper ones that could potentially fit nicely on the Cubs in 2021. The guys listed above are likely out of their price range this year. Here are some other veteran second baseman options on the market.

(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Cubs could get some nice pop out of Jonathan Schoop

Cubs fans are probably fairly familiar with Jonathan Schoop because of his days as a Milwaukee Brewer down the stretch of 2018. Schoop was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2017 and spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, where he hit .278/.324/.475 with eight home runs in 44 games. He missed all of September last year due to a wrist injury.

Why is he a good fit?

Schoop is one of the better power hitting second baseman in baseball. In 846 career games he has hit 141 home runs and sports a career .450 slugging percentage. He has four seasons of 20+ home runs including hitting a career-high 32 in 2017. While he does not possess the walking skills (.297 career OBP) he can still hit for a decent average and be productive with his power. His fielding is pretty decent, nothing overly special, but he gets the job done.

What would he cost? If they can bring him in on a one-year he would probably cost in the ballpark of $5-7 million tops. He signed a $6.1 million deal last year with the Tigers (before being prorated). Biggest question is if he will want to sign a one year deal where he is not necessarily playing every day considering he has been a starter for most of his career. It could depend on the demand for starting second baseman this offseason.

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Cubs could buy low on someone like Brock Holt

Some fans were a bit surprised when former Red Sox All-Star infielder Brock Holt signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Brewers last offseason. He was eventually released and then signed with the Nationals in late August. Coming off that tough season, it is likely that he will come cheap and still potentially provide some value based on his overall resume.

Why is he a fit?

In addition to potentially coming cheap, his resume boasts that of a decent hitter. He is a career .268/.337/.369 hitter in 675 games. Not a power hitter, but good average and above average on-base percentage. Holt is a career 19.1 percent strikeout rate hitter, so he is not going to fan more than an average/slightly above average hitter.

He is traditionally a utility man who can play multiple positions and will not need to be a guy who starts 140+ games. Being a veteran bench/platoon/utility guy is likely going to be the role he plays in 2021.

It is worth noting that after getting canned by the Brewers last season, he hit .262/.314/.354 with the Nationals in 70 plate appearances.

(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Cubs: This two-time All-Star struggled at the dish this season

Last season was tough for Dee Strange-Gordon. With the Mariners he hit a career-low .200 in 33 games in a utility role in Seattle.

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Strange-Gordon, 32, has an overall good resume. He is a two-time All-Star who had the most hits in the majors in 2015 (205) and is the active leader in stolen bases (333). In 2015 he also won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Overall he is a career .286/.319/.360 hitter with a 14.9 percent strikeout rate.

Why is he a good fit?

While not an on-base machine, he gets his hits and puts the ball in play. The 14.9 percent strikeout rate is an indication of his ability to not miss the ball as much as the average player, which is typically around 20% per FanGraphs.

His 2020 season might have been rough but from 2014-2019 he hit a cumulative .294/.324/.373 in 788 games. Lets face it, a lot of solid/good players struggled in 2020 and it is not like Strange-Gordon is old. There is plenty reason to believe he has something left in the tank.

After the rough season he could come at good value. Spotrac has his value listed at around $2.1 million AAV going into 2021. If the Cubs want to add more contact hitters to their lineup with some speed, then Strange-Gordon could potentially be a good fit if he is willing to play certain roles.

(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Cubs: A reunion with the veteran Jason Kipnis might keep the position stable.

Last season Jason Kipnis came in on a minor league deal and ended up being a nice addition to the team. His veteran leadership was much appreciated by teammates and was a solid bat for much of the season.

Why is he a good fit?

Despite the .237 average, he posted a .341 OBP, .744 OPS and 102 wRC+ in 44 games last year. Like most of his career, he was very reliable at second base with the glove.

It would make sense that Kipnis would want to try to find a place where he can start, and that is not a guarantee with the Cubs. There is a decent number second baseman on the market with just so many teams looking for starting positions, so a reunion is not exactly impossible. Even if not incredibly likely. It is doubtful that he will command much money even after a decently solid year at the plate.

Bringing back a familiar face who showed decent production last year would be nice. Could the hometown opportunity convince him to return of the Cubs desired to bring him back? One can wonder.

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Second base will be an interesting position for the Cubs moving forward. Hoerner’s development is still a work in progress and you can never have enough infield depth.

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