Potential Cubs free agent fit just retired instead

Former Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager has retired from baseball, despite potential significant interest once the MLB lockout ends.

Seager is just 34 years old, but facing a long winter waiting for the lockout to end and then having to earn a job in spring training, the Mariners great is ready for the next phase of his life.

“Today I’m announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball. Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It’s been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life,” Seager announced through his wife’s social media account.

In 11 seasons with Seattle, Seager hit 251/.321/.442 with 242 home runs and 807 RBIs, winning a Gold Glove in the process in 2014, arguably his most complete season in the bigs.

Cubs were seen as suitors for Kyle Seager before retirement

Seager would be an ideal platoon player at third base for the Cubs, with Patrick Wisdom as the primary right-handed hitter in this situation. Brett Taylor over at Bleacher Nation viewed Seager as a fit:

"“Everything Patrick Wisdom does poorly at the plate (the coverage and the types of pitches), Seager does really well. When you talk about more advanced platoon situations, this is what you want to see – one guy who MASHES fastballs and sinkers down, paired with a guy who simply never misses on anything up in the zone. Depending on the type of pitcher you’re facing on a given day (or who gets swapped in from the bullpen), that’d be quite a pairing. It’s a very 2021 Giants way of looking at platoons.”"

At 34, Seager would not have fetched a very lucrative contract at this point in his career, making him very affordable for a Cubs franchise not looking to spend significant capitol on aging players.

Had he exceeded expectations in 2022, the Cubs could’ve dealt him at the trade deadline for a prospect. If not, then he’s playing the exact platoon role the Cubs acquired him for.