Chicago Cubs could find their future first baseman in the Rule 5 Draft

A division rival may have just gifted the Chicago Cubs an answer to their current first base dilemma.

On Friday, MLB squads went through the annual due diligence of adding prospects to their active 40-man roster. As a result, a massive list of players led by the highest pedigree of talent in their respective organizations faced the potential of being left unprotected, leaving them eligible for next month’s Rule-5 draft.

The Cubs added two of their rising stars in outfielder Nelson Velazquez and catcher Ethan Hearn. Velazquez has made headlines during this year’s Arizona Fall League as one of the premier talents. Hearn has shown promise at various points in his first two seasons and did enough for the Cubs to add the 21-year-old backstop.

Following the two additions, the active roster now sits at 37, leaving wiggle room if the Cubs wish to make a selection or two next month. However, in a surprising move, the St. Louis Cardinals chose not to add first baseman Luken Baker to the active roster, and this is where things could get interesting.

Chicago Cubs Minors: Solving the quandary at first base

Baker was a second-round compensatory pick by the Cardinals in the 2018 draft. However, three seasons at TCU helped to put Baker on the map as a near first-round selection. The stocky corner infielder slashed .347/.465/.561 against some of the nation’s premier college pitching in 145 career college games.

Since joining the Cardinals organization, Baker has done nothing but mash and now finds himself in a unique situation. But, first, there is an assumed guarantee that the Cubs most certainly will not be the only team to acquire his services.

Frank Schwindel, who took over upon Anthony Rizzo’s departure, found his place by slashing and bashing his way to a .342/.389/.613 line; however, he turns 30 next summer and is not a viable long-term option. Enter Baker.

Baker has moved up the organizational ladder relatively quickly after beginning the 2018 season at rookie ball before ending his 2021 campaign at Triple-A Memphis. Over that first season, Baker hit .319 with a .846 OPS and a .460 slugging percentage. He combined this past year for a .249/.324/.530 line between Double-A and Triple-A. Baker has also managed a 120 or higher wRC+ in each of his first three seasons.

As it stands, the Cubs do not have a single first base prospect ranking in their top 30 of prospects. Baker would provide the ultimate boom for the Cubs if they have the option to draft him. Not a single player will ever be able to fill the void Rizzo left following his trade to New York. However, he may be recreatable in the aggregate, in the loosely phrased words of Billy Beane, and that comes with the talented Baker next month.