Seven options for the backup first base job for Cubs |
Following the acquisition of Kyle Tucker that sent Isaac Paredes to Houston, the Cubs turned right around and traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees to clear out some salary.
The corresponding move was the commitment to Michael Busch as their long-term first baseman, as the job will be his going forward. When you look at his overall numbers from last season, you can see why Hoyer is putting a ton of faith in Busch, as he was one of the best rookies in baseball last season. His average hovered between .250-.260 most of the season, and with 21 homers, he ranked third in Major League Baseball in homers among rookies. Those are some impressive numbers from a rookie, but given what he showed in the Dodgers Minor League system, you have to wonder if there is more in the tank as he has demonstrated the ability to be an even better hitter than he displayed last season. For him to reach that level, Busch will have to hit left-handed pitching more consistently, or he will be pushed back to a platoon role in 2025, which isn't what the Cubs need. He will be given every opportunity to hit lefties this season, but the Cubs still want to have other options behind him should he struggle out of the gates. The only problem at this point is how the Cubs handle him and who backs him up in 2025. With Paredes and Bellinger no longer on this roster and seeing Matt Mervis get traded to the Miami Marlins, the Cubs are in a position where Busch is their 1B with no secondary options. While there will be several players this spring fighting for a roster spot, the Cubs can't afford to go into 2025 without a proven backup for him, which is something the Cubs need to think about over the next few weeks strongly. When you look at the current free agent market, plenty of first-base options remain available, including Pete Alonso, who is still looking for a deal. As nice of a pickup as Alonso would be, he wouldn't sign to be a backup, so if the Cubs are looking for first base help, expect that help to come in the form of a bench player who understands their role on this team. If that is the direction the Cubs are going, several options remain available, all of which make sense in some aspect. Ty France was brought up as a possible fit last week, especially considering he is a right-handed bat known for crushing lefties. The Cubs are looking for that in a bench player, as a platoon player capable of hitting lefties consistently is an excellent fit for this roster. Despite France being a good fit, several other options remain for the Cubs, including Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Connor Joe. Given his time in Pittsburgh, Joe is someone the Cubs are very familiar with and is a guy who flashed plenty of potential. His biggest issue was that potential was very short-lived, which is why he was regulated to a bench role most of his career. In 123 games last season, Joe struggled to hit the ball as he collected 83 hits for a .228 average. Nine of those hits went for homers as he also knocked home 36. A .242 hitter for his career, Joe would be a cheap option as a short-term fill-in and give the Cubs a righty platoon with Busch. While Joe isn't the most proven hitter in the world, why not go for a proven vet, even if he is on the wrong side of 40? Justin Turner could be that guy, and he has already been linked to the Cubs going back to last offseason. Despite his age, Turner was still an everyday player last year and saw action in nearly 150 games. His .257 average was not where he is accustomed to being, but his 11 homers and 57 RBIs show there is still some pop left in that bat. At this point in his career, Turner is looking for any deal, even if it means a reserve role. At the very least, he can hit righties and lefties and fill in at 1B/3B and DH if needed. Another option that could make for the perfect lefty/righty platoon is that of Donovan Solano, who remains a free agent despite solid overall production. Solano is one of those guys who will play in the games you need him to play, as he appeared in 96 games last season. When it comes to his production, Solano managed to hit .286 with eight homers and 35 RBIs. Again, another nice fill-in option could provide the Cubs a lift. Yuli Gurriel, Ji-Man Choi, Rowdy Tellez, and Gavin Sheets are all backup first base options for the Cubs, but only Gurriel is a right-handed bat as the Cubs are looking for more versatility across the board.
