Cubs: 3 obvious changes the team has to make to be a contender

Right now, everything’s coming up aces for the Chicago Cubs. The team has scored nearly 10 runs per game over the last week, is very much in the hunt for the NL Central and is seeing key players return to form offensively.

That being said, there are still some things that’ll have to change if this team wants to contend over the course of 162 games. This division looks like it could come right down to the wire yet again in 2021, and every game counts. That means the Cubs have some changes that need to be made – and they need to be made sooner rather than later.

Cubs: Stop wasting a roster spot on Eric Sogard

The first – and most obvious change this team needs to make is burning a spot on the 26-man roster with Eric Sogard. There is absolutely no reason Nico Hoerner shouldn’t be getting those reps that have gone to the longtime veteran early on this year.

David Bote is finally getting rolling offensively and can pair with Hoerner to handle the everyday duties at second base. Given the team’s wildly up-and-down offense, Hoerner can bring some much needed bat-to-ball skills to the mix when he’s in the lineup. Not to mention, when he’s paired up with Javier Baez up the middle, the Cubs have one of the best defensive tandems in all of baseball.

As for Sogard, he’s a soon-to-be 35-year-old who’s in the sunset years of his career. If this organization truly is focused on building the next winner on the North Side, then roll with Bote and Hoerner at second and send Sogard to South Bend. It’s time to stop wasting at-bats.