Chicago Cubs: 3 more guys you should be prepared to lose this winter

The Chicago Cubs are pretty much now at an all-time low. I generally like to keep my thoughts within the realm of optimism when it comes to the team but this is just bad. Laughable,  in fact. The pitching, in particular, is so bad right now they might as well just call up anyone to see what they can do. However, that’s what happens when you let your whole team go and tear down looking to start fresh.

It’s important to keep in mind that not only have several key players left this year, but it’s also not completely over. The Cubs have quite a few free agents on the books that more than likely won’t be offered another contract based on their poor play lately. Some of them a victim or circumstance, some of them not even a free agent – but just a poor performer.

As it has been addressed, the Cubs’ quickest way to get back into the fold will be through free agency – whether that be letting guys walk or adding some much-needed talent. Basically, this year has been a train wreck of underperformance at the highest level. The Cubs honestly could have lost 120 games if this was the team all year. With that being said, let’s carry on and take a glance at three players currently on the roster that you might not see in a Cubs uniform next year.

3 More Chicago Cubs Likely to be Gone After This Year – #3: Matt Duffy

Although Matt Duffy has a career slash of .280/.338/.373, he is currently batting .258 with the Cubs. For the veteran, it’s not his performance that’s necessarily the issue (although he’s been a totally different hitter since coming back from the IL with an OPS more than 200 points lower in the second half).

Chicago boasts a ton of infield depth right now, and Duffy could be the priciest option of them all this winter, which might not jibe with the front office’s approach to rounding out a roster. Next year, the Cubs will undoubtedly go with Nick Madrigal and Nico Hoerner up the middle, and probably David Bote and/or Patrick Wisdom at the corners (barring a major free agent splash).

Though Duffy is on an expiring contract earning a base pay of $1,000,000, the best spot he should get in 2022 is a bench spot. Knowing the career he has had has been pretty solid thus far, he could probably land a sweeter deal with another club as it is, if the Cubs even offer another contract.

Duffy has always been a solid contact bat but currently only has racked up 155 ABs to this point in the season. With all the infield depth including those named above (among others), It’s to imagine a situation where Duffy is an everyday starter moving forward unless the Cubs are seriously hit with the injury bug.

The 30-year-old infielder is more of a victim of circumstances than somebody who is underperforming to the point of the team moving on by choice.

3 More Chicago Cubs Likely to be Gone After This Year – #2: Zach Davies

Zach Davies was acquired in the offseason via the highly-criticized Yu Darvish trade. For a while in 2020, Davies was actually in the running for Cy Young as he had started out with a 7-0 record which was the best in baseball at the time. That was pretty much the only optimism that could be found at the time when the Cubs let their ace go for next-to-nothing.

Davies has not at all lived up to his numbers from the season prior. Davies currently has a 6-9 record with a 5.00 ERA. His FIP also sits at 5.06 which tells you there’s really nothing unlucky going on to be giving him such a high earned run average. Though rebounding nicely in his last start against Miami, throwing six shutout innings with 7 Ks, one could only hope those would be his numbers against a team that is 17 games under .500.

Prior to that, Davies gave up back-to-back starts allowing seven earned runs in each contest, one to the Rockies and one to the White Sox. He only made it a combined six innings between the two starts. A start before that, he gave up four to Cincinnati. Davies’ price tag of $8,630,000 is quite steep when you look at the results of his outings. It is doubtful he is offered another contract, pouring more salt in the wound of the Darvish trade (which could, of course, look better down the road).