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With a record of 83-79, the Chicago Cubs were unable to qualify for the MLB playoffs this past season. The Cubs, who concluded 2022 with 74 victories, were among the major league surprises this season.
Chicago still has time to make a few moves before spring training begins next month, even though they haven’t made much of an impact in free agency yet. Marcus Stroman is an unrestricted free agent, thus the Cubs will probably need to add him to the rotation. In an effort to replace outfielder Cody Bellinger, an unrestricted free agent, Chicago will also need to acquire a new bat.
Third baseman Matt Chapman, in the opinion of Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, would be best served by settling in Chicago. With the Toronto Blue Jays, Chapman had a respectable season, hitting.240 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. The seasoned third baseman’s previous season with the Oakland Athletics in 2019 saw him slugging at least.240 (.249 with 36 home runs and 91 RBI).
The 30-year-old infielder, who earned a Gold Glove four times in his career, including this past season with the Jays, would also be an improvement defensively at the hot corner. According to Bleacher Report, Chapman is expected to sign a $156 million, six-year contract.
At third base for the Cubs right now are Christopher Morel, Patrick Wisdom, and Nick Madrigal. While Madrigal’s.263 average from the previous season was better than Chapman’s, he lacks Chapman’s power (2 HRs).
Wisdom, meantime, cut.205/.289/.500 with 46 RBI and 23 home runs in 97 games during the previous campaign. In 61 games at third base, he had 53 putouts defensively, but he also made 11 mistakes, which was his second-highest total ever.
At last, Morel gave a slug.247 last season, including a career-high 26 home runs and 70 RBI. The 24-year-old infielder, who played all over the field, recorded two putouts and one error in five games at the hot corner.
However, Chapman’s arrival before spring training might provide the Cubs an advantage over other strong clubs in the NL Central, which is vying for the division title and a postseason berth.
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