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Third base was not a strong offensive position for the Chicago Cubs in 2024.
Christopher Morel, the Cubs starting third baseman before being moved to Tampa Bay, slashed .199/.302/.373 for an OPS+ of 90. Morel's replacement, Isaac Paredes, did not fare any better, slashing .223/.325/.307 for an OPS+ of 82 across 52 games.
While the Cubs have a promising third base prospect in Matt Shaw, it may be some time before he is ready to play for the Major League club.
Here are five options for the Cubs to consider at third base for the 2025 season and beyond.
5. Brandon Drury
Although he was terrible in the 2023 season, Drury has shown flashes of power, topping 25 home runs in both 2022 and 2023. While he is not a great defender, he can fill in at a variety of infield positions, giving lineup versatility to a team. The Cubs should consider signing him on a short-term deal, giving him a chance to rebuild his value and seeing if his power numbers bounce back to their previous levels.
4. Jose Iglesias
After spending the entire 2023 season in AAA, Iglesias returned to MLB last season, slashing .337/.381/.448 with a 137 OPS+, albeit in 85 games. Iglesias will be 35 at the start of the 2025 season, so he would be an affordable, short-term solution for the Cubs as they wait for Matt Shaw to be big-league-ready.
3. Enrique Hernandez
In addition to his postseason heroics, Hernandez would bring positional versatility to the Cubs. Hernandez has logged meaningful playing time at seven positions. While third base is not his strongest position, it is not foreign territory either. His 2024 season was not much different from Morel's and Paredes', but he can fill in as a versatile utility player/bench bat who would deepen the Cubs' lineup.
2. Paul DeJong
Although he is not a third baseman by trade, DeJong logged over 300 innings at the hot corner this year and put up above-average defensive numbers. DeJong was around a league-average hitter in 2024, with an OPS+ of 97. He also projects to be affordable. According to Sports Illustrated, DeJong figures to acquire a $13.9 million contract over three years. If the Cubs are unwilling to shell out big money this offseason, DeJong remains a reasonable option.
1. Alex Bregman
Although there are indications that the Cubs may not pursue Bregman in free agency, he is by far the top third baseman on the market this year. In a year that was below average by Bregman's standards, he still slashed .260/.315/.453 for an OPS+ of 118. Bregman will not be cheap, likely seeking a contract close to $200 million over six to seven years. If the Cubs want to make a real push next season, they should consider signing Bregman.
Although the market for third basemen is somewhat thin this offseason, there are still plenty of ways for the Cubs to improve upon their weak offensive performance at the position last season. While signing Bregman would provide a major boost to the team, a player who can provide league-average offense, while holding down the spot defensively could provide a bridge to Matt Shaw when he is ready to be called up.