5 Chicago Cubs who don’t deserve to make the 40-man roster
By Tim Boyle
4) Why Zach McKinstry doesn’t deserve a Cubs 40-man roster spot
Zach McKinstry is better fit for what the Cubs bench needs. If only they could combine his defensive versatility with Madrigal’s bat, they would have an ideal bench player. Actually, that player should probably start in the major leagues.
There’s a reason why McKinstry isn’t an MLB starter. Through 364 plate appearances he’s slashing .208/.269/.384. Despite playing all over the field, the weak bat almost makes Madrigal seem like a more worthy player to keep on the 40-man roster.
McKinstry came to town last summer via the Chris Martin deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On one hand, it’s not such a bad deal for Chicago. McKinstry is an acceptable enough 26th man on the roster. Unfortunately, he didn’t do himself too many favors by batting .206/.272/.361 for them after the trade.
With Christopher Morel on the roster and even Ian Happ to an extent, the Cubs don’t have as great a need for poor-hitting utility men. Developing a good one is difficult. The Cubs need to keep a close eye on the farm this year to see if someone surprises and becomes a more ideal fit for their bench. They’ve already won the trades for Madrigal and McKinstry. Now it’s time to win some baseball games with the best players you can get.