The Chicago Cubs are in a need of a third baseman. Aramis Ramirez is a free agent and almost certainly won’t return. Replacing Ramirez’s offense will be difficult but the team must find a defensive upgrade at the hot corner. Ramirez clubbed 26 homers and drove in 93 runs for the 2011 Cubs but he posted a negative defensive WAR for the fourth straight season. Theo Epstein spoke of improving the team’s run prevention in his introductory press conference. Their are no free agent third baseman that fit the bill for the Cubs. The team has some internal third base options in Jeff Baker, Blake DeWitt and youngsters Junior Lake and Josh Vitters. Baker and DeWitt have proven to be useful bench players but it is doubtful the Cubs look at a Baker/DeWitt third base platoon as a viable solution. Vitters and Lake don’t figure to start the year in the big leagues and, though both are excelling in the Arizona Fall League, their minor league records suggest they may n...
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