The Chicago Cubs, who had targeted starting and relief pitching, have made their biggest moves so far this offseason in the outfield.
In December, they traded for Houston Astros star right fielder Kyle Tucker, sending over third baseman Isaac Paredes, promising right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and highly-regarded third base prospect Cam Smith in return.
Addition and Subtraction
Then, just as the Tucker news had begun to settle, the Cubs traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees for Cody Poteet.
And, while many called the Bellinger trade a blatant salary dump, the reality was that the team no longer had room for Bellinger. The Cubs had their three outfield spots set, with a quality fourth outfielder in Seiya Suzuki relegated to the designated hitter spot, precisely because there was nowhere to put him.
Chicago Cubs Outfield, One Of The Very Best
As a matter of fact, MLB Network Analyst Tom Verducci rates the Cubs outfield as one of the very best in all of baseball.
Per Verducci:
“(Seiya) Suzuki is going to be the full-time DH, because that outfield is just one of the best in Major League Baseball,” Verducci said. “You think about what they have in that outfield. Tucker is a Gold Glover in right field. He’s not going anywhere. Ian Happ has won three Gold Gloves in left field and Pete Crow-Armstrong was in the top five in outs above average last year at a center field. He’s got a Gold Glove in his future.
That may be one of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball. I would think the Cubs now with Tucker and right field, are going to be in that elite group, top two, two or three in all of baseball.”
“That outfield is one of the best in Major League Baseball.”
Tom Verducci breaks down where the @Cubs trio of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker ranks as a defensive unit. pic.twitter.com/5a1MCtr3q4
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 20, 2025
Room For Debate
Yes, there’s room for debate when it comes to whether the Cubs outfield, with Tucker in right, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, and Ian Happ in left could’ve been better with Bellinger in it.
22-year-old Crow-Armstrong is still very much an all-glove center fielder with cross-your-fingers upside at the plate. If the team’s offense struggles, there will be plenty of “we should’ve kept Bellinger and put him in center” laments– especially if the team doesn’t re-invest the bushels of money they saved by dealing him.
Ian Happ, meanwhile, is a three-time Gold Glover, but also fairly league-average in many offensive categories. If things falter, there will be “We should’ve put Bellinger in left” cries from fandom and media.
The reality, however, is that the Cubs had decided to go with Crow-Armstrong in center and Happ in left and they weren’t turning back. The itch to ditch Bellinger’s massive salary didn’t exactly alter their decision making process, but they had already made up their minds on where they wanted to go in the outfield (and at first base, where Bellinger also could’ve played).
Ultimately, that decision to field an outfield of Tucker, PCA, and Happ should be a good one, as Verducci clearly believes.
Defensively, for sure, the Cubs outfield is elite with a Gold Glover in right, a multi-time Gold Glover in left, and a center fielder with mega-Gold Glove energy.
And if the multi-tool Tucker produces up to his usual offensive standards (and some are talking NL MVP), nobody should be lamenting about the loss of Bellinger.
All in all, right now, it’s hard to argue with the fact that the Cubs outfield is one of the very best. Actually, if a couple of things go their way this season, it could be THE best.
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