Cubs Trying to Upgrade Specific Bench Role in 2025

Jed Hoyer's talked about improving at the margins and while that can be annoying to hear as a fan rather than seeing the team actively try to court Juan Soto, the reality is that yes, the team does need to improve on the margins. This front office has failed miserably in their low-end acquisitions for the bench in recent years and because of that the Cubs are once again trying to upgrade a specific bench role in 2025.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma shared some notes about the Cubs this week from the GM Meetings in San Antonio, Texas. While the team remains confident that Nico Hoerner will fully recover from his forearm surgery and isn't expected to miss much time, if at all in 2025, the Cubs do want to get better around the infield. The final note from their article included a specific need that the Cubs want to address this offseason.

Via The Athletic.

The Cubs expect a full recovery and don’t anticipate Hoerner missing substantial time next season, so they aren’t looking for an everyday second baseman, but a left-handed-hitting utility guy who could move around an infield that features Swanson, Hoerner and Isaac Paredes.

A left-handed hitting utility guy who can move around the infield? That's oddly specific and probably a sign that the Cubs are no longer going to rely on left-handed hitting utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, which is great to see. At the same time, it's not like there are several guys that fit this profile just waiting to get scooped up.

I know some fans hate the word "luck" when it comes to their favorite teams, but sometimes you need just that, get lucky with a signing or trade to improve on the fringes. The Cubs have gotten great value with lower-level moves for their bullpen for several years, but it's been quite the opposite when it comes to adding quality depth on the bench.

The Cubs acquired Mastrobuoni a few years ago from the Tampa Bay Rays, trading a prospect in return for what Chicago expected to be a solid backup on their roster. Unfortunately, Mastrobuoni has not hit nearly enough to in the majors to justify him getting a guaranteed roster spot in 2025 with the Cubs. The left-handed hitter has slashed .219/.279/.263, in 272 plate appearances during his big-league time in the last three seasons.

In 2024, Mastrobuoni played in 50 games with the Cubs and was worth -0.4 fWAR, slashing a pitiful .194/.245/.224, in 106 trips to the plate.

There's really only one good option in free agency who can be a great utility bat for the Cubs and that's veteran Jorge Polanco. The 31-year-old switch-hitter underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee following the 2024 season and will reportedly be cleared to return to baseball activity in January. He'd be a great bounce-back candidate and could come at a cheap price because of the offseason surgery.

From 2021-23, Polanco slashed .255/.333/.462, averaging 21 home runs per season with the Minnesota Twins.

However, Polanco, like almost every other free agent infielder who hits from the left side, isn't so reliable on defense, especially if he has to fill in at shortstop.

So, it is once again looking like if the Cubs are going to improve at this specific role, then they're going to have to get lucky in a trade for a guy who might be squeezed out in a 40-man roster crunch. That or sign Polanco, hope Hoerner is fully back and his arm is good enough to backup Dansby Swanson at shortstop, and we can forget about guys like Mastrobuoni, Nick Madrigal and Patrick Wisdom getting more playing time with the Cubs in 2025.