Chicago Cubs: 3 in-house candidates for the designated hitter role

At this point, any light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the ongoing CBA talks might as well be a train. The league and the players remain further apart than ever on almost every major issue – but at least we have some sort of legitimate news: it looks like the universal DH will be part of the next agreement.

That means the transaction frenzy we’re going to see once the lockout ends could kick up yet another notch, with teams scrambling for DH-type hitters before the season starts. That could lead to clubs overpaying for sluggers, something we know Jed Hoyer is hesitant to do. With that in mind, here are a few guys already on the roster who could see time in the designated hitter role for the Chicago Cubs in 2022.

Chicago Cubs: 3 in-house universal DH candidates: #3 – Patrick Wisdom

Last season, Patrick Wisdom burst onto the scene – showcasing big-time power and finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He broke Kris Bryant’s Cubs rookie record, hitting 28 home runs on the year, finishing the season with an .823 OPS, despite a high strikeout rate.

Wisdom is at the top of the depth chart at third base right now. But it’s not difficult to envision a scenario where the Cubs go out and add more infield depth, which could allow Wisdom to get regular at-bats as the team’s DH in 2022. His power put the league on notice last summer and giving him the opportunity to focus solely on what he can do at the plate could help him avoid a sophomore slump and build off his breakout rookie campaign.