If the Jays look to trade Randal Grichuk, will the Cubs pick up the phone?

The outfield doesn’t figure to be a position of strength for the Chicago Cubs this season. Left field looks like a revolving door right now, begging for someone to step up and take the job, Ian Happ will start in center after saving his own skin with a scorching hot finish to 2021 and, with two years left on his contract, Jason Heyward is looking to at least be a league average player in right.

Harold Ramirez, Rafael Ortega, Clint Frazier, Michael Hermosillo and Greg Deichmann will all vie for time during spring training – so there are some options depth-wise. But in much the same way the Cubs could take on bad contracts in a prospect-buying effort, they could also take on short-term pacts in hopes of shoring up the roster.

A prime candidate could be former first-rounder Randal Grichuk, who MLBTR recently looked at as a potential trade piece for the Jays. Toronto has a crowded outfield mix and could benefit from freeing up some payroll to address other areas on the roster.

The Cubs could be a perfect trade partner. The veteran isn’t likely to command much of a return at all – with the primary value to the Jays being shedding his contract. He’s coming off an 89 OPS+ 2021 season and rates out as a pretty run-of-the-mill defender, so he’s definitely not a hot commodity. Suffice to say, Ross Atkins’ phone probably isn’t ringing off the hook with calls.

Chicago is in a prime position to take on the $20+ million left on Grichuk’s deal and plug him into the outfield mix right away. They stand to lose very little by pulling the trigger on such a deal – and could even platoon Grichuk in right with Heyward to make sure the latter doesn’t take at-bats against left-handers moving forward.

At some point this season, Brennen Davis will be ready to make his big league debut. Given the lack of sure-things in the mix and the addition of the designated hitter in the National League, even with Grichuk in-tow, there are enough reps for everyone. This is a move that won’t make or break the Cubs, but could give them an affordable 20+ homer bat who puts the ball in play regularly.