The Chicago Cubs could be on the verge of being viewed as a playoff contender. They still need add more offense to the lineup and that's why they're pursuing left-handed batter Michael Conforto and right-handed batter Trey Mancini. Hopefully, that means the Cubs are trying to sign both and not either/or. Anyway, the big move of the offseason is obviously the Dansby Swanson signing and that is going to have a trickle down effect n the roster.
Swanson is going to join Nico Hoerner to form one of the best defensive middle infields in baseball and that also means second baseman Nick Madrigal is now looking at a bench role with the Cubs in 2023. Well, that is if he's on the team next season.
Now, the Cubs do not have to trade Madrigal, as they can choose to have him on the bench, or have him at Triple-A, playing every day so he doesn't lose his timing and rhythm at the plate. But the point remains, the Cubs are committing to Swanson and Hoerner up the middle and that leaves Madrigal open to trade speculation.
The Madrigal trade rumors have already started as ESPN's Jesse Rogers brought him up Tuesday morning.
Here's what Rogers said on ESPN 1000. Via Bleacher Nation.
“The glaring hole behind the plate is a tough one to answer, because they have missed out on some guys …. I’m not sure. There’s no great answer behind the plate to pair with Yan Gomes, that certainly is going to be something they have to deal with in future years more than this one. UNLESS they make a trade.
You have to think this: Nick Madrigal might be available, and the Blue Jays kinda are on the record that they have more catchers than they can play. So who knows. Maybe there’s a trade to be had …. And now that (the Cubs) have signed up (Dansby) Swanson, they kind of have an extra infielder in Nick Madrigal. Could he be part of a package that brings you back a catcher? That’s something I’m looking for. Otherwise, it’s really working their way down the free agent list.”
A few things. First, the connection to the Blue Jays makes sense, as Toronto has three catchers a team can pick from in trade talks and the Cubs need to improve at the position heading into 2023. However, as many have pointed out, the Blue Jays already have a bunch of second base options that have a similar profile to Madrigal. So, that fit doesn't really make sense.
But again, Madrigal's name is most likely being tossed around in front offices around the league after the Swanson signing by the Cubs.
It sucks for Madrigal because he was the fourth overall pick in 2018, hit .340 during his rookie season, but he keeps getting injured and in his first year with the Cubs in 2022, he was bad. Even when Madrigal came back from a stint on the injured list and time in Triple-A, the numbers improved but were still below average.
Fangraphs wrote about young players who do not hit the ball hard and if that skill can get better as they mature in MLB. Madrigal falls into that category of guys who just don't hit the ball hard and guess what, the data shows it's not going to get better. It's as simple as, relying on a lot of weak contact involves a lot of luck and that luck tends to even out in the wrong direction for hitters like Madrigal.
I wanted Madrigal to work out with the Cubs, but the constant injuries and hitting profile just isn't something I think will pan out in the long term. I don't think the Cubs can get a lot for him in a trade, but Madrigal still has trade value as a guy who does make a lot of contact and is under team control for several more years.
Maybe the Cubs can acquire a solid bullpen arm for Madrigal.
So, how do you view Madrigal's future. Will he stay with the Cubs or does Madrigal get traded again?
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