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Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins joined 670 The Score's Inside the clubhouse on Saturday morning and one of the main takeaways was that the team appears to be expecting Miguel Amaya to take another step forward in his development.
It would seem that the Cubs are expecting a transition from veteran Yan Gomes to Amaya this season in terms of who the everyday catcher will be and that may be a similar goal that the team has for Michael Busch.
When the Cubs acquired Busch in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month, it was quickly identified that the top prospect was going to get an extended runway at being the team's first baseman during the 2024 season. Hawkins confirmed as much in his conversation on Saturday but did suggest that the Cubs operate with a platoon initially at first base, with Busch not getting starts against left-handed pitchers.
Hawkins also suggested on his 670 hit that, although Michael Busch will definitely play every day against righties, he may not start against lefties right away.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 3, 2024
If so, who starts 1B against LHP? Wisdom, perhaps? He was reverse-split last year, but traditional-split for career.
Internally, this may be how the Cubs plan to give Patrick Wisdom at-bats during the 2024 season. Despite having more success against right-handed pitchers last season, Wisdom has done well against left-handed pitchers over the course of his career. As was proven last season, Wisdom does have value as a power bat off the bench but should not be in a position to be an everyday play. A scenario where he only gets starts at first against a left-handed pitcher would be an ideal solution.
Of course, we have to bring Cody Bellinger into this discussion. Bellinger slashed .337/.388/.596 against left-handed pitching last season while compiling a wRC+ of 164. If the Cubs are planning to move forward with Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field, that would play with the scenario of Bellinger getting starts at first base against left-handed pitching.
Garrett Cooper is another free agent the Cubs may consider if they are looking for an external platoon option. Cooper hit .324 against left-handed pitching last season.