Head-Scratching Cubs Signing Officially a Free Agent

Who knows, maybe things work out differently if the Chicago Cubs had actually given left-handed slugger Edwin Ríos some real playing time to begin the 2023 regular season, but after one year in the organization Ríos is back on the free agent market.

The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal worth $1 million as the Cubs were starting up spring training back in February. The former Los Angeles Dodger made it onto the Cubs Opening Day roster, but was then stuck on the bench through the first five weeks of the season. Ríos only had 25 plate appearances from March 30 through May 2, before the Cubs optioned him down to Triple-A.

Ríos was called back up a few weeks later, but for whatever reason the team stashed him away on the bench and he only got 9 plate appearances in his second stint in the majors that ended on June 4, when he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left-groin strain. The corner infielder was called up one more time, but only for a few days later in June before he returned to the minor leagues.

On July 30, the Cubs out-righted Ríos off their 40-man roster and his season came to an end in the middle of August, when he went on the injured list. Overall in 2023 at Triple-A, Ríos slashed .263/.364/.454, with 6 home runs in 42 games for the Iowa Cubs.

Because Ríos was out-righted off the Cubs' 40-man roster, he had the option to elect free agency instead of staying in the organization and he officially has.

Not really sure what the plan was when the Cubs signed Ríos and if they ever considered him a real option, but it didn't look like it. For a team that desperately needed any power threat they could get, Ríos wasn't used despite having a solid track record of home run numbers during his previous time in the majors with the Dodgers.

In 2021, Ríos slashed .078/.217/.137, with one home run in 60 plate appearances. However, here are his numbers in the other three seasons in the majors.

2019: .277/.393/.617, 4 home runs in 56 plate appearances
2020: .250/.301/.645, 8 home runs in 83 plate appearances
2022: .244/.293/.500, 7 home runs in 92 plate appearances

That's 19 home runs in 231 plate appearances. Yes, is a flawed hitter that has major swing and miss issues, but just think about all those at-bats given to Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini that went to waste while Ríos was buried on the bench. The Cubs never gave Ríos a fair chance to prove his value.

Ríos ended his stint with the Cubs receiving a total of 34 plate appearances. He went 2-for-28, with a home run, 16 strikeouts and 5 walks, appearing in 18 games and starting only 9 times.