Cubs Free Agent Target: Josh Rojas |
To no one's surprise, the Non-Tender period meant some players would be looking for new homes. Guys like Patrick Wisdom and Nick Madrigal made a ton of sense, but losing Mike Tauchman did hurt. You also have a situation now where Miles Mastrobuoni could be your only left-handed option off the bench, which gives fans a massive headache.
Not only should Mastrobuoni not be on this team based on his production, but having him as your only left-handed bench option up to this point is a joke. There could be a reason for that, as it does open the door for guys like Owen Caissie and Matt Shaw to become a part of this team, but unless you're going to play them every day, why bother? The Cubs need those guys to play every day, and if that isn't possible right now, don't waste the time calling them up. Instead, go for players who know what their role is on the team and who are okay with being reserve/role players. When it comes to finding another left-handed bat, Josh Rojas could be an option, as he is the perfect role player for this team. At 30 years old, Rojas has been around the game since 2019 but has only spent time with two organizations (Arizona and Seattle). His most recent organization was the Seattle Mariners, which he signed with in 2023 and remained with through 2024. Looking back at this past season, Rojas was considered a role player but did see plenty of playing time as he played in 142 games this season. A big reason for that was injuries, but having a bench player who can step in and start long-term is very beneficial at any time. Over those 142 games, Rojas did his best to hold his own, but with a .225 average, it was a struggle. Hitting for average was an issue for the Mariners all season, as was total production, as he connected for eight homers and 31 RBIs in those 142 games. That is the type of production you would expect from a role player but not from someone who sees action in more than 140 games. When you look at his career, Rojas has had some solid seasons, but none of them have been over the top great to the point where you would call him an everyday guy. Rojas is a career .247 hitter who has added 34 homers, 189 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases to his name. His best overall run came during the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Diamondbacks, when he hit .264 and .269, respectively, and combined to play in 264 games. Along with the strong averages came a career-high of 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 2021, followed by nine homers and a career-high 56 RBIs in 2022. Again, those are not ideal numbers for a starting-caliber player, but if that is the production you can get from a role player, you will take it. At this point in his career, Rojas needs to figure out what matters to him most. If he wants to be an everyday player, he may have to sign with a rebuilding organization, as wins aren't as important to him. If Rojas wants a chance to win and perhaps play in the World Series, he will be subject to a bench role, as he would be looking for any role at that point. The Cubs are in the middle of both of those spectrums, as they aren't bad enough to rebuild but aren't good enough to compete. That has been an ongoing problem for years, and for whatever reason, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins haven't been able to fix it. If there were encouraging signs from the front office thus far, it would be that they aren't afraid to cut some dead weight this offseason to create more roster flexibility. What they do with that flexibility is an entirely different question, as Hoyer knows he is strapped for cash given the budget Ricketts will allow him to tackle. Regardless, Rojas isn't someone who will cost a ton of money. He can be had on a short-term deal and is the perfect bench role-player. All of those are areas the Cubs look to when signing a player, so you can see a fit being there.
