Anytime a group makes a significant transfer, one of many enjoyable issues to consider is how the lineup would possibly now look.
For the Cubs after the Kyle Tucker trade, it’s slightly trickier as a result of they nonetheless presently have Cody Bellinger, and for those who ignored actually all the pieces else in regards to the state of affairs, it’d be enjoyable to plop his identify in there. Possibly Michael Busch can play third base! Then Cody goes to first base! Everybody stays!
Setting apart the prevailing perception that Busch most likely can’t play nicely sufficient at third base to carry down that job (and he was fairly good at first base!), conserving all of those guys simply isn’t going to occur. We’ve identified for a very long time that the Cubs are going to commerce Bellinger. Maintaining him can be a profoundly inefficient use of sources, and the Cubs wish to put these {dollars} to make use of elsewhere. So it’s taking place (assuming they don’t commerce Seiya Suzuki, however even then, you’re nonetheless losing some defensive worth by having Bellinger/Tucker DH a number of the time or no matter).
That’s to say, when occupied with the doable Cubs lineup post-Tucker, we’ve to cut Bellinger out of the combination, despite the fact that he’s nonetheless on the roster.
So perhaps one of the best lineup proper now appears to be like one thing like this:
1. Ian Happ, LF
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Seiya Suzuki, DH
4. Michael Busch, 1B
5. Dansby Swanson, SS
6. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
7. Nico Hoerner, 2B
8. Miguel Amaya/Carson Kelly, C
9. Matt Shaw, 3B
That final spot could obviously be an external addition if one is made, and whoever it’s doesn’t should be the 9-hitter (that may very well be Hoerner if you would like a double lead-off man), however the level for these functions is that it’s most likely not going to be a middle-of-the-order-type bat. I don’t assume the Cubs are including anybody like that.
Taking a look at that group, I like the concept of getting these high 4 coming proper on the opposing pitcher from the soar, however then the second half of the lineup leaves a number of questions. That’s sort of the character of this group – the trio of high defenders are in there – nevertheless it’s price mentioning that each single one in every of Swanson, PCA, Hoerner, and Amaya have proven the flexibility to be above-average general bats. Are you able to count on all 4 to do it for the total season in 2025? No. Extremely unlikely. However it’s doable, and so they do have an inexpensive flooring in-built. On paper, to my eye, if everybody stayed wholesome, that appears like an above-average offense, with the potential to be nicely above-average.
Good steadiness in that group, with three lefties, a switch-hitter, and 5 righties. You’d most likely like so as to add one other utility lefty to maneuver out and in of the lineup periodically (hey, what if Gage Workman really surprises?!), and that could be one thing the Cubs goal on the bench.
Additionally? It appears to be like like a lineup that doesn’t strike out fairly often. Not that you simply search for that particularly in a given lineup – manufacturing is manufacturing – nevertheless it stands out.
Would I like to have one other plus bat in there? Completely. However, realistically, I don’t see it taking place exterior of some SIGNIFICANT surprises from right here. If the Cubs wind up buying and selling Nico Hoerner, and if Busch – somewhat than taking part in third – can play some second base? And the Cubs go get Pete Alonso or one thing loopy? OK, I imply, yeah, that’d be an enormous offensive improve within the short-term. I simply assume it’s most unlikely.
Extra realistically, the Cubs add a short-term flyer and/or lefty utility kind at third base till Shaw is prepared, and that fractionally upgrades the lineup or not less than improves match-ups.
