5 Chicago Cubs who don’t deserve to make the 40-man roster
By Tim Boyle
3) Why Nick Madrigal doesn’t deserve a Cubs 40-man roster spot
Second baseman Nick Madrigal is getting pushed down the depth chart even after hitting well in the big leagues in 2020 and again in 2021. A surprising .289/.336/.355 slash line at the MLB level, why wouldn’t the Cubs want to keep him around?
One of the pieces the team acquired from the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox for Craig Kimbrel, Madrigal is simply too limited of a player. Yes, he can hit over .300 in limited action. Buried on the depth chart, it makes sense to keep him around.
The downsides to Madrigal are obvious. He doesn’t have power. At all professional levels he has popped only 6 home runs. A lack of versatility at the major league level thus far makes him even more limited on a team’s bench. He probably can play more than second base. Unless the Cubs would be willing to move him around more, it’s hard to see him getting a whole lot of playing time.
There are much better options for ths team to have on their bench and down in Triple-A waiting for a promotion. Madrigal can have a role on somebody’s team. The Cubs could use more.
Add in that his years of hitting over .300 at the MLB level all took place on the other side of town, it’s easy to see why the Cubbies should have an alternative plan.