Another spot on the Cubs Opening Day roster has been filled. It was announced Friday that Garrett Cooper made the team following a season in which he split time in Miami and San Diego. Cooper inked a Minor League deal with the club at the end of February after not getting a solid market in free agency. Fellow veteran Dominic Smith opted out of his c ontract with Chicago early on Friday. This strongly indicated that a place on manager Craig Counsell’s bench belonged to the Torrance, CA native.
Cooper’s Role
With a crowded infield, Cooper won’t be an everyday guy when the season begins on Thursday. However, he’ll offer a right-handed hitting option at first base that the team otherwise would not have. The organization first attempted a platoon of Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer last year, which did not go well. It isn’t guaranteed that Cooper will platoon with Michael Busch/Cody Bellinger, but his ability to crush lefties will earn him at-bats on occasion.
Cooper can get on base at a high rate against southpaws. Power isn’t foreign to the 33-year-old, either. He followed up his All-Star season with 17 homers in 2023. His OPS+ was also just above the league average at 102.
Cooper has a pair of homers to his name in 10 games and 26 at-bats in Spring Training this year this year. He has an OPS of .833, slugging .500 and getting on base at a .333 clip. His .231 batting average isn’t super promising, but the Cubs don’t need Cooper to be perfect all the time, and that shows in their decision to put him on the opening-day roster.
How Does He Stick?
With Patrick Wisdom starting the year on the IL, Cooper needs to do everything in his power to impact the club. With the depth of his position on the roster, getting these chances will be tough. If he can be proficient in what the organization already knows he can be, there should be no issue 2024.
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