Chicago Cubs: 5 reasonable free agents to target this offseason

1. Howie Kendrick

The Chicago Cubs paid Ben Zobrist $56 million over four years to be their jack of all trades. Aside from one momentous hit in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Zobrist’s time in Chicago was choppy and came to a sad end in 2019 after he missed most of the season while dealing with a divorce. In his four years with the Cubs, Zobrist hit .269/.362/.411 and hit only 10 home runs over his last 186 games.

It is obviously valuable for a team like the Cubs to employ a versatile veteran like Zobrist, but his career is mostly likely over. Howie Kendrick is an ideal replacement. The 36-year-old is coming off a heroic postseason and can play at least three positions. If his playing time and at-bats are managed well, Kendrick is capable of continuing to hit .300 until he decides to hang up the spikes.

Last year, Kendrick hit .344/.395/.572 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 121 games for the Washington Nationals. He needed only 370 plate appearances to challenge his career-high 18 home runs, set in a year in which he took over 200 more trips to the plate. The veteran contact hitter is clearly a fan of the new offensive environment.

Having won a World Series ring with the Nationals, the Cubs will have to convince Kendrick they are the right spot for him to continue his career and win another ring. A major selling point will be proving they can offer enough. That could be difficult, with the Nationals able to give Kendrick another 350-400 plate appearances without too much difficulty. Even if it’s a long shot, the Cubs still have to try.