CJ Cron could be an intriguing deadline target for Cubs |
While the Cubs are still in a great position to make a late-season playoff push, Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have yet to decide whether they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Coming off a 6-4 homestand to start the second half helps them become buyers, but with two games against the White Sox and four more against the Cardinals this week, the next six games will tell us all we need to know about the direction of this team.
Sure, the Cubs have some great trade chips on their team, as Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, and Cody Bellinger are the names to watch. However, Mark Leiter Jr, Yan Gomes, and Mike Tauchman are three other names that could be on the move depending on what direction they go in the next week. However, if the Cubs decide to buy at the deadline, they not only have the prospects to get something done but, with the first and third base as the most glaring needs for this team, look for the Cubs to address those positions first. One option that could emerge as a deadline target could be Colorado Rockies 1B CJ Cron. Colorado is one of the worst teams in the NL this season, and numbers are often inflated due to playing at Coors Field. Don't tell that to Kris Bryant, who has yet to do much of anything in the Rockies. If, by chance, the Cubs decide to do a little buying and selling, for that matter, Cron could be an excellent target for them as he not only fills the need at 1B but offers some much-needed power to a lineup that hasn't had much this season. When you look at this Cubs roster, they don't have a great offense, although they have been playing better lately. They have several good players at some positions, with 1B and 3B being the real exception. You could also put DH into that mix, but Patrick Wisdom, Trey Mancini, and Christopher Morel can play DH, so you will get more production from that spot. Given the rise of Tauchman this season, look for him to continue to get starts in CF against righties which moves Bellinger back to 1B. If that is the direction the Cubs want to go, Bellinger is a significant upgrade at 1B, but then the OF takes a hit. For this offense to be at its best, Bellinger needs to be in CF, and the Cubs need a legitimate everyday 1B who can not only hit but also play modest defense at 1B. Eric Hosmer was supposed to be that guy, but he was released early in the season. The Cubs have also seen Matt Mervis and Jared Young called up from AAA, but neither managed to hit the ball well. Mancini has come through with several big hits offensively, but when you are the worst defensive 1B in the game, your starts will be limited. Cron may be a bit older at 33 years old, but for a guy making 7.5 million dollars and a pure rental type of player, why not go after him to see what you can get for two months? Far from a gold glover defensively, Cron is still a much better defensive option than Mancini and can give the Cubs a much-needed Power boost in their lineup. Cron is a .255 career hitter, slightly above the MLB average in terms of batting average, but he has always been good at giving you 25-30 homers per season. Like Bellinger, Cron has been on fire in July and is hitting .319 for the month, which is perfect timing with the deadline lingering. One thing that has hurt Cron this season is bad luck, as his average and numbers are way down. However, he has the second-highest Barrel rate of his career, meaning he is making hard contact but hitting it right at people. That has to change at some point, and if it changes for a team battling for a playoff spot, good for him. This is a classic example of buying low on a guy entering his walk year in an effort to catch lightning in a bottle. For instance, Frank Schwindel during the second half of 2021. The Cubs have shown no indication that they would be willing to bring up any of their Triple-A veteran righty bats at Iowa – Nelson Velazquez, Yonathan Perlaza (switch), David Bote, or Jake Slaughter – for a boost against lefties in the second half. This makes a Cron trade even more logical, as he has historically done well against lefties. With Nick Madrigal set to return as early as Tuesday, should the Cubs add Cron, someone would have to back down to Iowa, and at this point, it is hard to figure out who. You would guess that Miles Mastrobuoni would be the odd man out, but either way, guys like Wisdom, Morel, and Madrigal could lose at-bats if Cron is brought in. This is all speculation at his point, considering how it is more likely that the Cubs are sellers as opposed to buyers. However, the longer they stay in the race, the more likely it will be that they add more pieces than subtract, and Cron is an option to consider.
