(Audacy) The Cubs have plenty of versatility, which in a broad sense is a tremendous asset. But that means a promising young player is going to be squeezed out of regular playing time, and between infielder Michael Busch and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, it sounds as though the latter is shaping up to be the odd man out.
With the return of star Cody Bellinger on a three-year deal, the Cubs need to figure out where the pieces fit in the outfield and at first base since Bellinger can play both positions well. If Bellinger plays center field and Busch mans first base, that would leave Crow-Armstrong coming off the bench if he were to open the season on the big league club.
If Bellinger plays first, Busch would be out of the lineup or used as the designated hitter, with Crow-Amstrong in center.
Busch, 26, is coming off a monster season in Triple-A that saw him get named as the top prospect and MVP of the Pacific Coast league after hitting .323 with 27 homers and 90 RBIs in 98 games. The Cubs seem committed to giving Busch – who they acquired from the Dodgers in a trade in January – the inside track to prove himself in spring training and thus break camp as the starting first baseman.
Manager Craig Counsell reiterated as much Wednesday in an appearance on the Mully & Haugh Show.
“The most important part of that whole conversation is that whatever decision you make, you’re not bound to it for 162 games, right?" Counsell said. "That’s where depth matters. It’s really like let the players play, and whoever determines themself as the guy who should be in there plays. We’re going to have to make a decision early on. Yeah, if you’re talking about three guys for two positions, we’re going to have to make a decision who's going to play first, no question about it. But it doesn’t bind us to that the whole season.
“When you’re talking about young players that don’t have the track record that Cody Bellinger has, yeah, you’re going to have to earn it. Between Michael and Pete, there’s definitely a decision to make there. We’re committed to giving Michael at-bats at first base, I know that, and that’s going to happen. But after that, then he’s going to have to earn that next phase of that.
“And the good thing with this is we have another place to go if it doesn’t work out, right? And that’s where the team – I talk about a floor and it may not be exciting, but it’s important – and that’s where the team has established itself.”
Crow-Armstrong is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 16 prospect in baseball, so the commitment to Busch opens the door for a bigger philosophical conversation about what to do with the outfielder. Essentially turning him into a defensive specialist until someone underperforms or gets hurt probably isn’t the most pragmatic approach for a player who didn’t offer much with the bat in limited big league opportunities last season. The Cubs have also acknowledged the need for Crow-Armstrong to get consistent at-bats, so he could open the season at Triple-A.