4 players who could play center field for the Cubs in 2024

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There is major work for the Chicago Cubs front office to do this winter, not the least of which is solidifying a long-term solution for the center field position.

1. Cody Bellinger

Whether we like it or not, Cody Bellinger's future is incredibly uncertain and there is a serious possibility that he signs with a different team this offseason. But if he comes back, center field is obviously a position he will see significant time at.

At 28-years-old, Bellinger proved that he can still play excellent defense in center in 2023. He has great speed, a solid arm, and good route-running instincts. Not to mention his bat was arguably the driving force of the team's offense throughout the year. Clearly bringing him back is a priority but everyone needs to prepare to see Bellinger walk in free agency this winter.

2. Pete Crow-Armstrong

The clear candidate to receive the full-time center field duties is rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong. As the 12th-best prospect in the league according to MLB.com, there are very high hopes for Crow-Armstrong's future. It's easy to see why when you take his defense into account as the 21-year-old flashes platinum-glove-level defense in his brief major league stint.

Crow-Armstrong's glove alone demands a lot of playing time as his superb defense could help cover the shortcomings of Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki in the corners. The rookie is also a significant stolen base threat and he has already swiped 71 bags in just two full seasons in the minor leagues. Combined with Nico Hoerner, who stole 43 bases this year, Crow-Armstrong could give the lineup speed it hasn't seen in years.

The major shortcoming of Crow-Armstrong's game is certainly his bat, which was heavily criticized for being inadequate to handle big-league pitching. I think it's a bit unfair to jump to that conclusion since the guy compiled just 14 at-bats this year. I think this small taste of major league pitching could be useful for Crow-Armstrong's development and give him an idea of what to expect going into next year.

3. Mike Tauchman

Mike Tauchman seemingly came out of nowhere to give the Cubs a shot in the arm. As a native of Palatine Illinois, Tauchman making his way to the team he grew up watching is certainly a fun story and he was a decent contributor this year with 8 home runs and 48 driven in.

But I think the Cubs should be weary to give Tauchman much more leash. At 32 years old, his defense in center field is not the best and he has never been good enough to play a full season's worth of games in the past. Tauchman is set to hit arbitration this offseason and the projections have him earning $2 million. With talent like Crow-Armstrong reaching the big-league level, I think the team should thank Tauchman for his services and release him into the wild to find his next suitor.

4. Alexander Canario

Alexander Canario rehabbed his way back from a scary injury late last year, where he fractured his ankle and dislocated his shoulder in the same play. There were worries that Canario would not be able to return to his 2022 form, where he cranked 37 home runs and drove in 97 runs.

But Canario looked great upon his return, and he was the first guy called up when the rosters expanded in September. Similar to Crow-Armstrong, Manager David Ross used Canario sparingly to say the least, and he was only able to compile 17 at-bats.

But Canario did flash a bit of power and he looked comfortable facing big-league pitching. Hopefully, he can carve out a spot next year because Canario's kind of power is what the Cubs need in their lineup.

5. Kevin Kiermaier

Keep in mind, this is the nightmare scenario where the Cubs are unable to re-sign Cody Bellinger and they bring in a veteran outfielder as depth for the rookies. And by depth, I mean Ross will play them every day despite how bad they look until the front office designates them for assignment.

There is a wealth of center fielders who fall into this bucket and are hitting free agency in addition to Kevin Kiermaier; including Harrison Bader, Michael Taylor, Tony Kemp, Kevin Pillar, Jake Marisnick etc. I could see the Cubs bringing in any one of these guys as a band-aid free agency signing.

Do I want this to happen? No. But given the situation and the colossal demand for Cody Bellinger, I'd prepare yourself to see this kind of signing by the Cubs.

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5 players who could play center field for the Cubs in 2024