Michael Busch (Orlando Ramirez/USA Today SPORTS)
Many things are puzzling about the Chicago Cubs. One of the biggest wonderments about the team is their seeming reluctance to address serious needs via free agency or trades. Another is their hesitancy to use assets within the organization more liberally.
Jed Hoyer has addressed how the Cubs have traded prospects for immediate help in the past and gotten burned. I suspect his biggest case in point is when the Cubs traded Dylan Cease for Eloy Jimenez. Yes, that was a bad trade. But I didn’t realize it would scar Jed Hoyer for life.
Jed, I refer you to the Bears and Ryan Poles
Chicago Bears‘ GM, Ryan Poles, made a terrible trade not that long ago, sending a high second-round pick to the Steelers for Chase Claypool. The trade was a disaster, and Poles was thoroughly roasted for it. But what did Poles do? Go into the GM protection program? Preach caution to a fan base that hasn’t seen a championship since 1985? No, he took another big swing. And hit a home run.
Poles once again traded a second-round pick. This time for Montez Sweat. The result was acquiring the defensive end the Bears so desperately needed.
Fans would far rather see a team try and fail than see a team petrified to make a move.
Use the farm, Jed
Just as Luke Skywalker was urged to use the force, Jed Hoyer needs to use the farm if he’s afraid to make a trade. The Cubs really don’t know what they have down on the farm because they are blocked by guys who don’t help the big team.
Cubs’ fans, raise your hands if you are sick of seeing Nick Madrigal, Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom taking up space on the Cubs’ 26-man roster. Ok, looks like that’s pretty much all of you.
Anybody else starting to wonder if the Cubs overplayed Christopher Morel at third base card? Once again, that’s most of you.
Michael Busch is arguably the second-best bat on the Cubs current roster. Both his OBP and OPS are second on the team. He’s not great in the field. He has trouble picking throws as a first baseman. But he played more second base with the Dodgers. He has also played third base. Why not let him try third base.? Morel has been terrible there and his offense is down. Maybe because he’s worried about his defense.
Though it might be heresy, maybe Busch should play second base with Horner playing a utility role.
Wisdom had a nice run early in 2023, but enough of this stroll down Memory Lane. Bring up an outfielder from the farm and give him some at bats in the field, or at DH.
And let PCA play
I don’t know if Pete Crow-Armstrong can play or not. But unless he gets an opportunity, the Cubs won’t know either. Last season Matt Mervis was the project at first base. Only they hedged their bets by signing Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini. Both Mancini and Hosmer proved to be busts. But beyond that, they left the Cubs in the dark as to whether Mervis was the guy. He’s not.
By the way, the Cubs are still paying Mancini $7 million not to play for them this season. That must be some of that “intelligent spending” Jed keeps talking about.
Likewise, Crow-Armstrong may not be the guy, but it would be nice to find out now. Especially considering the fact that Jed Hoyer seems reluctant to actually get meaningful help. PCA does bring speed and defense to the lineup, so at least there’s that.
This team is in desperate need of a wakeup call, but Jed Hoyer seems inclined to let them sleep in.
