3 former Chicago Cubs players we'll be glad are gone, and 2 we'll wish stayed

Feb 23, 2023; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (40) poses for a
Feb 23, 2023; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (40) poses for a / Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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The Chicago Cubs clearly have a new look this year with a lot of fresh faces on the 40-man roster. With Spring training heating up, let's look at a few guys who were on the team last year but have found different homes. Some of these guys are going to be missed by the Cubs, but you'll be glad some of the others are gone as the season goes on.

Glad he's gone: Rafael Ortega

There's a reason outfielder Rafael Ortega did not make his major league debut until he was 30 years old. The journeyman was finally able to get that promotion and secure consistent playing time only after the Cubs shipped out their stars at the 2021 deadline. Ortega has a decent glove and provides a lefty bat, but he was never a long-term option for this team and he proved that in a full season's work in 2022. In 118 games, Ortega slashed .241/.331/.689 with 7 home runs and 35 RBIs. This performance ended with the Cubs declining to give Ortega a contract and releasing him last November. He was an adequate stopgap while the wealth of Cubs outfield prospects developed, and hopefully, he finds some success after signing a minor league deal with the Yankees in January.

Wish he stayed: Wade Miley

Ok, this one is not as much of a "wish he stayed" as it is a "wish he wasn't on the Brewers." Miley was a good signing for the Cubs last offseason and he pitched very well in the games we started (3.16 ERA). Unfortunately, those games were very few and far between as several injuries limited the southpaw to just 8 starts. After his one-year deal expired, Miley went back to the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, where he will probably be a thorn in the Cubs' side as he tends to pitch well against them. They'll definitely be a game or two where Miley shoves against the Cubs and makes me wish he hadn't left.

Glad he's gone: Frank Schwindel

The Frank Schwindel experiment at 1st base was fun while it lasted, but like Ortega, this journeyman was never cut out to be a long-term option. The then 29-year-old made his debut at Wrigley Field after Anthony Rizzo was traded to the Yankees. He had some big hits down the stretch and slugged 6 home runs with 18 RBIs in August, which earned him the National League Rookie of the Month Award.

However, Schwindel made several trips to and from Triple-A Iowa in 2022 until he was designated for assignment in September. His release opened the door for the Cubs to improve at first base with the additions of Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini, along with top prospect Matt Mervis making his case for a roster spot in Spring Training. Schwindel signed with the Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Orix Buffaloes in December.

Wish he stayed: Jason Heyward

With all of this talk of Jason Heyward suddenly getting his swing back, coupled with Seiya Suzuki's injury, thinking about his release from the Cubs stings a bit. Not to mention the fact the Cubs will be paying him $22 million this year. Granted, there were multiple times during Heyward's Cubs tenure when we heard reports of him tweaking his swing mechanics and getting his timing down so this should be taken with a grain of salt. But if he actually puts it together at the plate with the Dodgers, you bet we will look at that and say, "I wish he was still on the Cubs."

Glad he's gone: Willson Contreras

Former Cubs catcher Willson Contreras had a lot of good years in Chicago, but he has decided to bash his former team multiple times following his defection to the St. Louis Cardinals. After months of speculation, and eventual expectation, that the slugging catcher would be moved at the 2022 trade deadline, he was still awkwardly on the roster for the rest of the year. This might have led to bad blood, or it might have been the reports about him not seeing eye-to-eye with manager David Ross about how to call games. Contreras has always been a hit first, catching ability second type of player as his game-calling and pitch framing skills always needed improvement. If his stubbornness to stick to a game plan was bogging down the Cubs pitching staff and causing a riff with the coaches, then St. Louis can have fun with that.

Next. 5 Cubs players that look odd in different uniforms . dark

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