The Chicago Cubs are looking to compete in the Central Division this year after finishing second to the Milwaukee Brewers last season. At the same time, the team has added a couple of pieces this offseason in Shota Imanaga SP, Michael Busch 1B/3B, and Yency Almonte RP. They have not made a significant move to address the offense yet this offseason. This leaves them with a hole at First base heading into Spring Training.
In House Options
Michael Busch
Busch sits atop the current depth chart for the Cubs, was newly traded for Prospect, and was with the Dodgers before being traded to Chicago. The Dodgers have used him at Second and Third base, but scouts around the league all suggest he is best suited for first base due to his lack of quickness and arm strength. Offensively, he could be what people hoped Matt Mervis could be at first. Last year with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he slashed .323/.431/.618 with an OPS of 1.049 in 98 games. In 390 at-bats, Busch had 26 doubles, four triples, 27 home runs, and 90 RBI.
Patrick Wisdom
Wisdom has the power to be an impact player for the Cubs, but the lack of consistency with his contact leaves him more of a spot starter for the Cubs, in my opinion. His WAR rating last year was 0.7. While playing in 97 games, he had 268 at-bats, eight doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 46 RBI, and struck out 111 times. His strikeouts last year at a 41.4% rate were entirely too high to count on for a starting first baseman if the Cubs intend to contend in 2024 for me.
Matt Mervis
One of Chicago’s top prospects struggled mightly in his 1st season with a taste of the big league action. Matt saw 27 games worth of action last season with the Cubs. During those 27 games, he received 90 at-bats, had two Doubles, three Home runs, and eleven RBIs while slashing just .167/.242/.289 with an OPS of .531. While Mervis struggled with the big club, he did well with the Triple-A Iowa team last season. He played in 100 games, getting 362 at-bats, 23 Doubles, one Triple, 22 Home runs, and 78 RBIs. He slashed .282/.399/.533/ and had an OPS of .932. So, while he struggled in his first taste of Major League action, the minor league numbers show why he got his chance to prove himself with the big club. Who knows what 2024 has in store for Mervis offensively?
Realistic FA Targets
CJ Cron
Cron, the 34-year-old free agent, split time between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels last season, which was injury-riddled. Cron dealt with back issues throughout the 2023 season, seeing plenty of time on the disabled list. He is one free agent first baseman who no one seems to be talking about, which could be due to the injury history, but in the previous two seasons, 2022 and 2021, he played in 142 games, then in 150 games the following year. In both years, he had over 28 Home runs.
Rhys Hoskins
Rhys has been a target mentioned several times throughout the off-season for the Cubs. Rhys recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies but missed the 2023 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. While first base is his primary position, Rhys has played the outfield early in his career, but after his knee injury, I would guess his spot for the Cubs will solely be first and a handful of games at DH. Rhys has similar power to the previously mentioned Cron but has hit very little of an average throughout his career.
Conclusion
While I would like to see the Cubs sign CJ Cron over Rhys Hoskin due to the financial demand probably being less, I am saving more for some relief pitching help. I honestly see the Cubs being ok rolling the dice with a combination of Michael Busch/Patrick Wisdom at first to start the season. Matt Mervis could now be trade bait for a relief arm or perhaps part of a package for a young starter. I project the Cubs didn’t trade for Michael Busch to stash in the minors; expect him to be the opening-day First Baseman for the Cubs this season and years to come!!
