Chicago Cubs Rumors: Top 4 remaining bats left on the market

Top 4 remaining bats - 1. Michael Conforto

Last but not least, we come to Michael Conforto. After missing all of 2022 with a shoulder injury, Conforto's agent, Scott Boras, states his client is fully healthy and looking for a pillow contract. Again, a guy that falls entirely in line with what the Cubs are looking for in the intelligent spending department. With a career of .255/.356/.468, Conforto is hit or miss in terms of batting average but carries a career .214 ISO and a 42.1% hard-hit rate. Though he had a down 2021 before injury, Conforto mashed in 2017, 2018, and 2019 with 27, 28, and 33 HRs, respectively. In 2020, due to the pandemic, he only played in 54 games but was right on pace with those numbers again, with 9 HRs in exactly one-third of an entire season.

Line-up-wise, Conforto makes sense as a DH option to keep as much pressure off his throwing shoulder as possible. He can be deemed a candidate for a 4th outfield spot, as he has played all three positions in the past. Assuming Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki won't all play 162 games on the field, they will need someone to fill in. Match-up-wise, you can't have enough of the ability to have another lefty bat in the lineup when needed. If Matt Mervis struggles to work out early on, Bellinger can slide to first base, and Conforto finds a more recurring role in the field. Considering he is healthy, he is a much-needed lefty that can certainly add some pop to the lineup and help the Cubs get back to the playoffs.