(670 The Score) Having traded away nine players in July from their Opening Day roster, the Cubs’ path moving forward has been redefined. The rest of the regular season is primarily about learning more about young players and setting the organization up for 2022 and beyond.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at several big-picture storylines to follow for the Cubs in August and September.
Develop young, controllable pitching
Acquiring and developing young pitching has been a priority of Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer since he ascended to his position last November. With the Cubs out of the playoff race, they’re stretching out 26-year-old right-hander Keegan Thompson and 26-year-old left-hander Justin Steele and are expected to give them a chance in the starting rotation late in the season. Both have had success out of the Cubs’ bullpen and are now being converted back into a starters at the Triple-A level. Steele’s ascension to the big league rotation could come soon, as he’s farther along in the process than Thompson.
How each performs late in the season could tell the Cubs a lot about their ideal role in 2022.
Conduct extension talks with key veterans who remain
The Cubs’ only long-term contract commitments are to ace Kyle Hendricks and outfielder Jason Heyward, so they have the financial flexibility now to conduct extensions talks with the veterans who remain.
One of those is catcher Willson Contreras, who has established himself as a team leader and an ironman behind the plate. He’s under contract control through 2022. Contreras could be viewed as a cornerstone to help foster the development of young pitchers in the coming years or he could be another valuable trade chip. If it’s the former, the Cubs would benefit from getting him locked up on an extension.
The Cubs would also be wise to offer an extension to veteran right-hander Zach Davies, as he has been dependable and durable for them in his first season in Chicago. The Cubs will need someone other than Hendricks to consistently eat innings in 2022 if a few rotation spots are filled by younger pitchers whose workloads aren’t as big. Davis is set to be a free agent at the end of this season.
Decide if Hoerner is everyday answer at shortstop
Middle infielder Nico Hoerner’s injury-plagued season hasn’t changed how the Cubs front office views him – he’s an everyday player in their lineup moving forward. The question is where. With the exit of Javier Baez to the Mets and the Cubs’ acquisition of second baseman Nick Madrigal from the White Sox, shortstop appears to be the fit for Hoerner, who played that position in college and filled in solidly there when Baez was hurt late in 2019.
Hoerner was a Gold Glove finalist at second base in 2020. The Cubs’ hope is he can carry that elite form over to shortstop. If that’s not the case, he also has the versatility to play elsewhere. Hoerner has played the outfield sparingly across parts of three MLB seasons.
New challenge for Ross
Hoyer and Cubs players have praised manager David Ross for his leadership and communication skills amid a COVID-altered 2020 season and again in what’s turned out to be a rough 2021 campaign for the team. With star veteran players now traded, Ross has a different challenge late in the season. He’ll largely be shepherding young players through a transition period, with the goal of helping them improve while holding them accountable knowing that mistakes will be made.
Ross originally signed a three-year contract with a fourth-year team option. The Cubs could give him more security by exercising the option for 2023 or working on an extension with him.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.