Re-signing Jeimer Candelario should be a no-brainer for the Cubs on this deal

For another year, the corner infield spots were a major chink in the Chicago Cubs' armor. Despite signing a pair of veterans in Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer to help at first base while Edwin Rios was brought on to as extra depth at third, nobody managed to stick at either position. Internal options didn't fare much better as Matt Mervis received little playing time and struggled in the at-bats he got while Christopher Morel and Patrick Wisdom were both significant question marks at third.

2024 needs to be different for the team to be competitive. First and third are two obvious spots where the Cubs can upgrade by spending a little money or executing a trade. Names like Pete Alonso have been thrown around in rumors while Matt Chapman and Rhys Hoskins represent hypothetical fits. If nothing materializes, it'd be nice to have Morel learn how to man the hot corner and finally settle into a permanent position. Then there's Jeimer Candelario who sits in a complicated spot.

Candelario joined the Cubs at the trade deadline in a deal with the Nationals for Kevin Made and DJ Herz. While the reunion was fortuitous at the time, giving the team their much-needed extra bat who had hit for a 121 wRC+ in Washington, it was a short-lived celebration as Candelario began to struggle along with the rest of the team and suffered through an injury-riddled stint on the North Side. In just 157 plate appearances, he slashed .234/.318/.445, good for a 106 wRC+.

It's fair to be a little concerned about committing to Candelario on a more lucrative deal considering how it ended in Chicago. With that said, he's proven to be a solid offensive force and, as a switch hitter who can play both first and third, it's not like the Cubs couldn't use him assuming the price is right.

If Athletic writer Jim Bowden's projection is correct, then a deal with Candelario would be a no-brainer. In a larger write-up of the top 40 free agents this offseason (subscription required), he listed the Cubs as a fit to bring back the slugger on a new deal. Moreover, he projected Candelario at a very reasonable 2-year, $15 million contract.

Candelario's deal would be valuable insurance for the Cubs

The Cubs will want to be somewhat smart with how they use their payroll considering they'll be starting at a spot not far below the luxury tax. That deal, however, is one you make without a second thought considering how Candelario can help fill the team's two biggest holes. For one, it'd be insurance in case they miss out on Alonso or another corner infield target. Despite his Cubs struggles, Candelario still posted a 3.3 fWAR season and had his best power year yet (22 home runs) now that he's out of Detroit, all while playing acceptable defense at the corners.

Even if they found solutions at each, however, he'd still be immensely valuable in a flex role, flipping between first, third, and designated hitter as needed. He'd be instrumental if the Cubs wanted to trade Morel in a deal for a game-changer like Juan Soto. He could immediately occupy a similar role while not being too great a financial commitment to block the Cubs from making other big moves. However you slice it, a big league starter of that quality on $7.5 million a year is simply a deal you ink and figure out the logistics of later.

There's no guarantee that Candelario would sign for that projected deal. He has expressed a desire to stay in Chicago though and, if it's something as affordable as what Bowden proposed, the Cubs should be more than willing to pay up and keep a quality player on board.

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