The Chicago Cubs have plenty of options at third base. But are any of them the right option?
As the Cubs head to spring training, it’s possible that Nick Madrigal could be their opening-day third baseman.
He batted .263 last season and he has an excellent defensive grade overall. But he’s a young player and if the Cubs are looking to contend this season, they may need someone with more experience — especially when you consider the other options.
Patrick Wisdom? Christopher Morel? Miles Mastrobuoni?
One can see the problem if the Cubs are looking for a playoff berth. Fortunately, there’s an option that remains on the free agent market that could shore up the position for the long term — Matt Chapman.
MLB Trade Rumors analyzed the potential destinations for Chapman and listed the Cubs as one of three teams with a “clear need” at third, along with the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays, his team from a year ago.
Chapman is a proven defender at the hot corner, where he is a four-time AL Gold Glove winner, a two-time Platinum Glove winner and has 92 defensive runs saved for his career. That would give the Cubs three Gold Glove infielders, along with shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner.
Offensively, he’s coming off a 2023 in which he slashed .240/.330/.424/755 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI while playing 140 games. That .240 batting average matched his .240 career batting average for his seven-year career.
He hasn’t matched the 36 home runs he posted with the Oakland Athletics in 2019, which was his only All-Star season and led to him finishing sixth in American League MVP voting.
He can still produce quality power numbers. He’s hit 27 home runs twice — in 2021 with Oakland and in 2022 with Toronto — along with a 24-homer season in 2018 with the Athletics. Those power numbers might go up in Wrigley Field.
But the Cubs have to sign him first.
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