It’s time for the Cubs to make major roster moves to finish the season

It is time for the Chicago Cubs to make drastic changes to their daily lineups.

The final 50 games or so for the 2022 Chicago Cubs should feature plenty of new lineups from manager David Ross. With so many questions to be answered ahead of the 2023 campaign, the Cubs need to sort some things out while they still have meaningful games to play.

Too many components of the everyday lineup are failing to contribute on a daily basis. There are also a handful of worthy candidates to make the leap to the MLB roster that are currently tearing things up in the minor leagues.

With the season already in the dumpster, there should be zero hesitation when it comes to playing for the future of this franchise and Ross has to make some adjustments for that to happen.

While the third-year skipper is far from the only problem that is handcuffing the Cubs, he has not shown much promise in his time at the helm. The final month-and-a-half of this season are crucial for his job heading into next year, a season in which the Cubs need to flip a switch and compete in the National League.

The first step in getting the roster back on track is to get rid of the waste. As harsh as it sounds, the Cubs need to just take their losses and move on from several guys to make room for the youngsters that deserve a chance to spark something – anything – in this ball club.

Who should the Cubs designate for assignment in August?

The list of potential roster moves is lengthy. Currently, Chicago is giving up an active spot on the roster for players that are either not performing well or have no business being in the team’s plans beyond this season. Therefore, they need to cut ties and make room for the guys that have a chance to make an impact moving forward.

Frank Schwindel

After bursting onto the scene last season in the wake of the Anthony Rizzo departure, Frank Schwindel has been a huge disappointment for the team in 2022. Frank “The Tank” is posting an abysmal slash line of .233/.280/.365 with just eight home runs heading into Saturday’s matchup against Miami.

His departure would open the door for a handful of other roster moves which I will get to in a bit but, at this point, there is no reason to trot Schwindel out for any more at-bats. He is a defensive liability that is struggling at the plate.

Rafael Ortega

Rafael Ortega was another late bloomer last season for the Cubs but the upside just is not there. He goes through stretches of being a solid hitter at the top of the lineup but he cannot stay consistent at the plate and is a mess on defense.

The Cubs have a couple of very exciting prospects coming up through the system in Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brennan Davis. Both of those guys will take over in the outfield when they are ready for the big stage. In the meantime, the Cubs should look to part ways with Ortega and give Nelson Velazquez a better look in center field.

Sean Newcomb

The reclamation project has not worked out and Sean Newcomb should be ready to hit the road. After a strong start to his career with the Braves, everything has gone downhill for Newcomb. The Cubs offered a fresh start for the lefty but his short time with the club has been a disaster.

Opponents are hitting .400 against Newcomb with an OPS of 1.090 in 7 1/3 innings since he arrived in Chicago. His 12.27 ERA in over five appearances is not going to cut it.

Mark Leiter Jr. 

Thinking ahead once again, Mark Leiter Jr. should not be a building block of next year’s bullpen. Designating him for assignment and opening a spot on this year’s roster for a young pitcher – whether it be Caleb Kilian, Hayden Wesneski, or someone else – is a must.

Cubs: What will a lineup look like on a daily basis?

We have already seen a major change to the lineup as Patrick Wisdom has finally started taking more reps at first base. That move will allow Christoper Morel to get more looks over at third base and likely makes Schwindel even more expendable.

Rotating Wisdom and Mervis at first base to get a glimpse of what the lineup could look like next season would be a brilliant move by Ross. Both could also serve as the DH when they are not on the field.

I would also take a look at Willson Contreras as a first baseman to see if there is a path for him to make the roster that way next season.

With Ortega out of the outfield, Canario and Velazquez can battle for the center field job with the occasional fill-in for Ian Happ in left field as well. Both of the young guys have a much better chance of making an impact in 2023 than Rafael Ortega so this should be an easy decision to make.

I would expect a platoon at second base between Zach McKinstry and Nick Madrigal. Both guys need to prove something in the final 50 games or they could be on the outside looking in next spring.

A starting rotation of Stroman, Thompson, Steele, Kilian and Wesneski with Adrian Sampson moving to the bullpen would be ideal. However, Kyle Hendricks will likely return at some point and force a change in the rotation.