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The Chicago Cubs are looking for an even deeper impact on the infield for the 2024 season, and they are hoping it comes in the form of veteran infielder Garrett Cooper , who they just added on a minor league deal. Cooper split time last season between the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins after previously playing for the Marlins for all of 2018 to 2022.
Cooper has spent time as a corner outfielder, third baseman, first baseman, and as a designated hitter in his career. However, he has just been at first or at the DH slot since the 2021 campaign. The right-handed bat is the third minor league deal the Cubs have signed within the last couple of weeks. The club has also added veterans David Peralta and Dom Smith to contribute to the overall organizational depth in camp.
Garrett Cooper
Age: 33
6’ 5” | 235lbs
Bats/Throws: R/RwRC+ GP
2017 – 114 13
2018 – 67 14
2019 – 111 107
2020 – 131 34
2021 – 129 71
2022 – 112 119
2023 – 96 123 pic.twitter.com/JnwxKGelqf— Chief Cub (@ChiefCub) February 26, 2024
Garrett Cooper’s Potential Impact on the Cubs Roster
Where does Cooper Fit with the Club in 2024?
The 33-year-old adds to the plethora of options the Cubs have at first base for the upcoming season. Cooper joins fellow right-handed bat Patrick Wisdom, along with Matt Mervis and Michael Busch. Cody Bellinger’s presence back in the Cubs lineup could hinder some opportunities for all of their first-base options as well.
With the Cubs having Wisdom for the past few seasons, why go out and add another right-handed bat in his position? Well, Cooper has much more success against left-handed pitching than Wisdom does. Despite Wisdom having many more homers in 100 fewer career games, Cooper has a much higher contact rate and overall impact against the southpaws.
In 2023, Cooper played in 123 games compared to Wisdom’s 97. Wisdom clubbed 23 long balls to Cooper’s 16, but the former Padre had much more success across multiple categories. His batting average was 46 points higher (.251 to .205). He also had 15 more RBI than Wisdom (61 to 46). Lastly, Cooper got on base at a .304 clip compared to Wisdom’s .289 mark.
When comparing the two right-handed bats who might accompany Busch and Bellinger as a part of a platoon in 2024, it’s all about what Craig Counsell and his staff prefer more. Are they looking for more pop? If so, Wisdom is your guy. Or is it the higher contact rate and higher on-base percentage? That would favor Cooper. There isn’t a realistic world where both guys make the Opening Day roster, but one would have to believe Counsell wants to keep them both in the organization, if possible.
Cooper’s Long-Term Outlook in Chicago
With Cooper inking a minor league contract with the Cubs, he doesn’t have much of a leash here. He can be let go at any time and nobody gets hurt. However, he was an All-Star just a couple of seasons ago in 2022. Cooper didn’t just stumble upon hitting 17 homers in the show last year either. Many have said that they are stunned Cooper didn’t get a big-league deal, so this is a steal for Chicago.
Even though Wisdom has been the main right-handed option at first base for the last couple of seasons for the Cubs, this deal has meaning behind it. An agreement like this in the later stages of the free agency cycle isn’t just made for a camp invite. Cooper has a solid resumé coming over to Chicago, and it should not be a surprise if he’s an impactful factor in 2024.
More must-reads:
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Milwaukee Brewers: Nestor Cortes Gone, Standout Rookie 3B Has Emerged as Gem from Would-Be Lose-Lose Trade
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes was the centerpiece of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ return haul from trading co-closer Devin Williams to the Yankees last December. Eight months later, Cortes is a member of the Padres, logging all of two starts in Milwaukee before injuries sapped his season. Over in New York, Williams lost his closer’s job, got it back, and has had one good month en route to a 5.04 ERA. Without the other part of Milwaukee’s incoming package, then minor-league third baseman Caleb Durbin, the trade would look at this juncture like a lose-lose scenario. Thanks to Durbin, it’s been anything but for the Brewers. Caleb Durbin is Milwaukee Brewers’ diamond in the rough Durbin didn’t make the spring training cut. Instead, the Brewers went with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn as the team’s starting third baseman. Durbin went down to Triple-A Nashville. Dunn didn’t last. After he struggled through the first three weeks of the season, he and Durbin switched places and the latter hasn’t squandered his shot. Following a slow start, he’s turned up the heat at the dish while playing outstanding defense. He’s had an OPS around .800 for over two months now and has his season slashline up to .263/.344/.372. His 2.2 WAR in 86 games played is tied for 10th among all third basemen, making him one of the position’s more valuable players. The Brewers saw plenty of promise in Durbin when they traded for him, coming off a strong season with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. Even though he didn’t, he was a decent candidate to make the team out of spring. The team likely didn’t see a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, which he is. By WAR, he and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have contributed the same value to their teams, more than any other NL rookies. Cortes, on the other hand, was supposed to be a consistent cog in the rotation. Last year for the Yankees, he made 30 starts and recorded a 3.77 ERA. Instead, he’s still making his way back from injury ahead of start number three this season. In San Diego. Of course, Milwaukee did turn him into outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who will provide depth while Jackson Chourio is hurt. To dump Cortes’ salary, however, they had to attach a prospect, infielder Jorge Quintana. Neither Cortes nor Williams has been what the receiving team hoped. Both will be free agents this offseason. Only the Yankees, however, are at risk of walking away empty-handed. With years of team control remaining, the Brewers have in Durbin what looks to be their third baseman of both the present and future. The trade didn’t deliver according to expectations, but it’s hard to be too upset with the results.
Bills GM says James Cook decision was 'disappointing'
On Monday, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane responded to James Cook's decision not to practice with the team on Sunday. Cook, who had been practicing with the Bills through training camp until that point amid contract negotiations, told ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg that he made a "business" decision not to practice with his teammates. During an appearance on WGR 550, Beane said the team did not know of Cook's plan until right before practice. He was disappointed that the situation deteriorated to a point where the star running back felt the need to miss a practice. "There's been constant communication between the two sides....at the end of the day I wish we weren't here," Beane said, via WGR's Sal Capaccio. "This is my ninth season and have never had a player miss practice due too a contract, so it's disappointing for me." Beane doesn't believe Cook's negotiations will cause a distraction in the locker room unless players "let it become" a distraction. The negotiations between the Bills and Cook could continue past training camp. "We'd love to keep him, but I have to make sure it all fits under an umbrella, not in a silo... If we don't get something done now it doesn't mean we can't before (Cook) becomes a free agent," Beane said. Cook is looking for a $15 million per year deal after earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and earning the NFL rushing touchdowns co-leader (tied with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs with 16) in 2024. Beane said he isn't taking a hard line on not paying Cook because he's a running back, saying the Bills want to sign him at the "sweet spot." The Bills need the "sweet spot" to come sooner rather than later. It's common for teams to deal with sit-outs and holdouts during the preseason. What Buffalo doesn't want is a distraction during the regular season or postseason, and that could be where this is headed.
Illegal tackle causes Colts RB to suffer 'severe leg injury'
The Indianapolis Colts had a scary moment on Sunday when a running back went down during an 11-on-11 team period. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, practice had to be stopped for 10 minutes while trainers attended to running back Salvon Ahmed, who suffered a "severe leg injury" after he was brought down via an illegal tackle by safety Trey Washington. "The injury occurred when Ahmed broke a long run during an 11-on-11 period," Boyd wrote. "He was tackled from behind by undrafted rookie safety Trey Washington, but when Washington grabbed Ahmed, who kept his legs churning, Washington used a hip-drop tackle to bring Ahmed down and landed on his lower right leg. Ahmed immediately grabbed his lower right leg and screamed in agony. "Steichen said the players in the developmental periods (essentially third-stringers and players lower than them on the depth chart) were instructed to tackle during 11-on-11. However, Steichen emphasized, Washington’s hip-drop tackle was obviously the wrong way to bring Ahmed down." Steichen said the coaching staff doesn't encourage hip-drop tackles, and claimed Washington is "down in the dumps" after his tackle led to Ahmed's injury. The unfortunate incident highlights how difficult it can be for NFL defenders to make a tackle. The league made the hip-drop tackle illegal to try and curb injuries, as offensive players thought it was a dirty hit. In Washington's case, the undrafted rookie free agent from Ole Miss wasn't trying to make a dirty hit but trying to make a football move in a competitive environment to keep his job. Before the injury, Ahmed was trying to make a case for the practice squad, where he spent time on during 2024.
Reporter predicts how Commanders will handle Terry McLaurin trade request
The Washington Commanders are dealing with some unwanted drama as they look to build on last season's trip to the NFC Championship Game after star wide receiver Terry McLaurin requested a trade. ESPN's Bill Barnwell said that he felt the "most likely scenario" regarding the trade request is that the Commanders will have McLaurin in the lineup for their Week 1 game against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. On Monday morning, Commanders reporter Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic predicted that "the Commanders will keep McLaurin" despite the drama. "They can’t take away their star quarterback’s go-to receiver in a year when they’ve clearly gone all in to try to compete with the Eagles," Jhabvala wrote. "They don’t have much depth at receiver; Deebo Samuel isn’t a true No. 2 in workload, let alone a No. 1, and the only other proven receiver on the roster is Noah Brown, who is quite good but has a lengthy injury history." McLaurin emerged as the favorite target for quarterback Jayden Daniels as Daniels became the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year amid the run to the NFC title game, where Washington fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. According to ESPN stats, McLaurin ended the 2024 regular season with team highs of 117 targets, 82 receptions and 1,096 receiving yards. He was also second in the entire NFL with 13 touchdown catches. It remains to be seen if McLaurin will accept less money than DK Metcalf, who received a five-year, $150M deal after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for him in March. Metcalf will turn 28 years old in December. "The Commanders also know they have much more leverage than McLaurin in his contract dispute," Jhabvala added. "He’ll be 30 in September, which means he’ll be 31 in the first season of an extension. It also means that holding out regular-season games could be career-ending. So, a deal will get done. There’s still time." As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Washington sixth among the betting favorites at +1800 odds to win Super Bowl LX. The fact that those odds haven't shifted would seem to indicate that insiders believe the Commanders will make McLaurin happy before they face the Giants on the opening Sunday of September.
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