Finally, some optimism on the North Side of Chicago! Jed and team must’ve realized that the NL central is a very winnable division, so they went out and spent $7 million on power left-handed hitting Joc Pederson. There was a clear need for a left fielder after the team parted ways with Kyle Schwarber at the end of 2020. However, with the rumors circulating that the Cubs are currently looking at pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jake Arrieta, I figured they’d continue with the bargain hunting moves. And while Joc comes at a bargain price tag and might not be part of the long-term plan, it’s an encouraging signing nonetheless!
Look, it’s hard to emotionally replace Kyle Schwarber. He meant a lot to Cubs fans and what he did in 2016 will forever be one of the greatest World Series performances. He was goofy and loveable on and off the field. But for the sake of being unbiased, let’s look at Joc side by side with Schwarber in some important categories.
On top of these statistics, Joc gives you additional outfield depth since he can also play centerfield. And while I do still think Schwarbs is a solid defensive outfielder, Joc is a slight upgrade in that category.
After adding Joc, reports have come out that Tom Ricketts has increased player payroll for 2021 allowing Jed some flexibility to retool. So…looks like we’re rebuilding/retooling but simultaneously competing for the NL central that’s very winnable but not competing for a World Series with the current roster. A nice mediocre team.
Extend Javy, KB, Rizz. Sign a REAL starting pitcher. Let fans in. And let’s shorten this rebuild.
Comments