Hey, imagine if the Cubs had just decided to sign Jeimer Candelario in the offseason instead of wasting close to $15 million on Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini. But you know what, the Cubs are hot, they're cooking, so let's stick to the positives. Candelario has been amazing since the trade deadline and it truly is insane how much of an upgrade he's been over Mancini.

It has only been six games, but Candelario has already surpassed Mancini's contributions from his final month with the Cubs.

Jeimer Candelario Since Trade Deadline
6 Games, 21 At-Bats, 25 Plate Appearances
12-for-21, 1 HR, 4 Doubles, 3 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB

The switch-hitting corner infielder has reached base in five of his first six games with the Cubs, which includes getting on base at least two times in those five games. In all, that's 16 times on base in six games.

During the month of July, Mancini played in 17 games and had 50 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter went 10-for-26, with three walks. He had a pair of doubles, drove in four runs and scored six runs. So, in half the plate appearances, Candelario has been on base three more times than Mancini was in the entire month of July.

Overall in 2023, Mancini was worth -0.8 fWAR in 79 games with the Cubs. Candelario is up to 0.7 fWAR in six games with the Cubs.

Cubs Getting Help From Almost Everyone

The Cubs defeated the Braves 6-4 on Sunday to clinch their sixth consecutive series win that also capped off a 5-2 home stand. In a blink of an eye, the Cubs have gone from 8.5 games back of first place to 1.5 games back heading into Monday night's series opener against the New York Mets.

While the bullpen has been tremendous as of late, there's no doubt that the offense has been carrying the team since the All-Star break, but it's also great to see just how many different players have been contributing to the team's success.

After getting swept by the Los Angeles Angels in early June, the Cubs have gone 32-18 in their last 50 games. During this nearly two-month stretch, the Cubs have averaged 6.2 runs per game. It's no surprise that Cody Bellinger has been leading the way, after winning NL Player of the Month in July, and you saw how great Candelario has been the past week, but look all these guys producing positive results

You got the stars showing up in Bellinger, the every-day guys getting hot like Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ and Christopher Morel, while the other role players like Mike Tauchman and Nick Madrigal have all been a key to this run by the Cubs. I've been all over the use of Tucker Barnhart and still wish Miguel Amaya was used more often, but even Barnhart has been decent since June.

If you look at those 12 players, you'll notice that Nico Hoerner is barely above league average, but it's been fine because you still have the rest of the lineup contributing.

I wish Seiya Suzuki was doing better, but he's been brutal and right now he's been demoted to a platoon role in right field, with Tauchman now starting there against right-handed pitching. It sucks for Suzuki, but right now the Cubs are trying to win and Tauchman against righties is the obvious choice.