3 Cubs roster holes and how the team should fill them
By Tim Boyle
These three solutions can help the Chicago Cubs roster fill some big holes.
The Chicago Cubs roster has some work to do. It’s in Swiss cheese mode right now full of holes. They’re far from the lone team in this position. Every team has at least three holes they’ll need to pour some concrete into before Opening Day.
The Cubs may have some of the more glaring ones around the league. They’ve lost key free agents. Other players just aren’t cut out to play every day.
How should the Cubbies go about filling in those gaps? A couple of additions can help them take the next step forward toward becoming relevant again in the National League.
1. Cubs roster hole in centerfield: Fill it with Cody Bellinger
The front office is indeed looking at Cody Bellinger as a possible solution for their center field need. If it’s not him, Christopher Morel looks like the favorite to start at the position.
Someone like free agent Brandon Nimmo will probably price himself too high to ever end up with the Cubs. They’re in the market for something else. Bellinger fits what they could use.
Before fans get too excited about adding the 2019 National League MVP, we all need to remind ourselves why he’s even available. Bellinger hasn’t been quite the same since his MVP campaign. He has struggled at the plate mightily. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who often don’t worry much about money at all, were willing to part ways by non-tendering him earlier this month.
Chicago is in a good position to take a chance on Bellinger. If he finds his swing again, the relationship can continue. If things go terribly bad, the Cubs are probably not winning the 2023 World Series anyway. He’s a short-term commitment they should be willing to make.