Chicago Cubs: Four left-handed targets to balance the lineup

There are only a few left-handed power bats on the market after the Chicago Cubs missed on Michael Conforto, who signed with the San Francisco Giants. Conforto will receive 18.0MM in 2023, which is pretty steep for coming off of shoulder surgery and missing all of 2022. For the Cubs, paying 18.0MM at this point takes them right near the luxury tax, so the odds are if they are looking to add another bat, plus another reliever, they will have to go shopping in the 10-12MM range for a hitter.

Jed Hoyer has gone on record stating the Cubs are probably too right-handed at this juncture, which makes missing on Conforto hurt a little bit. Thankfully, at least five lefties can still produce and at least be seen as an upgrade in the lineup. Most should not equate to a high AAV and, therefore, will leave the Cubs with plenty of wiggle room financially to add another arm or be active at the trade deadline from a buyers standpoint. Let's look at five lefties still available and see who can help the Cubs this winter.

4 lefty targets - 4. Corey Dickerson

Starting with Corey Dickerson who owns a career .281/.324/.481 slash line after ten years in the big leagues. In 281 at-bats last season, Dickerson recorded a line of .267/.300/.399 and drove in 36 RBIs. Dickerson is about five years removed from having 20+ HR pop in his bat, but he only struck out in 48 of those 281 at-bats and has become a much better contact hitter and his career goes on. He is a one-time all-star and one-time Gold Glove winner in left field, which he won in 2018.

Dickerson is a hitter that will primarily only start games against RHPs. In 26 ABs against southpaws, he only recorded two hits, which means against righties; he slashed a respectable .286/.316/.427 with a 110 wRC+ this season. He can play left field if necessary, though you primarily want him in there for his bat against righties, where he can still hit for average. He, at the very least, is a solid platoon option offensively.