Forget about Aaron Judge or Brandon Nimmo, you can't teach speed and the Cubs just signed one of the fastest players in baseball baby!
According to Robert Murray, the Cubs are bringing in outfielder Ben DeLuzio on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training down in Arizona.
After two prominent free agent targets signed elsewhere the past few days, with starting pitcher Kodai Senga going to the New York Mets and catcher Christian Vázquez agreeing to a deal with the Minnesota Twins, the minor league signing of DeLuzio was tremendous timing by the Cubs. I mean, these types of moves happen throughout the offseason for every team, every year, but Cubs fans are pissed off right now and the last thing they want to hear is anything about a minor league contract.
But I'm going to tell you about DeLuzio anyway.
DeLuzio, 26, made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, against the Cubs coincidently. The right-handed hitter played in 22 games and was primarily used as a defensive replacement, getting only 20 at-bats after he was called up in September. But like I mentioned at the top, DeLuzio is fast!
Again, if it wasn't clear enough by now, this is simply a depth move by the Cubs. They're getting a fast guy who can provide speed on the bases and play great defense in the outfield as a bench guy if he even makes his way on to the active roster during the season.
DeLuzio was drafted in 2013, selected in the third round by the Miami Marlins with the 80th overall pick out of high school. However, DeLuzio decided not to sign with the Marlins and instead opted to go to Florida State. Then, in 2016, DeLuzio went undrafted following his junior season in college and ultimately signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent to begin his pro career.
The right-handed hitting outfielder has a career slash line of .290/.361/.412, in 462 minor league games. In 94 games at Triple-A in 2022, DeLuzio posted a .782 OPS. He's your prototypical contact hitter, with not a lot of power, but great speed.
All right fine, I know that's not the most exciting thing to read about, so why don't you click on the article below and read about how the Cubs are still in on Carlos Correa and almost every MLB reporter thinks they'll sign Dansby Swanson if it's not Correa.
And we'll have more Cubs offseason talk this Wednesday. You can watch the Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast live at around 8 p.m. CST. Subscribe to the show on YouTube.
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