The Chicago Cubs developed a transparent offseason technique to enhance their run prevention.
Signing heart fielder Cody Bellinger and shortstop Dansby Swanson — and transferring Nico Hoerner again to second base — didn’t go unnoticed by catcher Tucker Barnhart. As he evaluated his choices in free company, the Cubs’ funding in run prevention, notably up the center, made them an intriguing vacation spot.
“It’s not the coolest, most highlight-reel thing to see every day, but pitching and defense wins games,” Barnhart mentioned Wednesday throughout an introductory Zoom information convention. “There’s a bias as a result of that’s the way in which I play the sport, defensive-first mindset, issues like that. I don’t suppose sufficient individuals put an emphasis on run prevention and pitching and protection. Hearing how extremely they worth that was an enormous key in making my antennas go up as a spot that I needed to play.
“Knowing that we’re going to have Gold Glovers all over the field, that says something. It gives pitchers a lot of confidence to know they don’t have to be super fine and pitch for the strikeout all the time.”
The Cubs plan to have Barnhart and Yan Gomes break up time behind the plate, in line with Barnhart’s dialog with supervisor David Ross, who outlined the setup. Barnhart has related a number of instances with Gomes since signing his two-year deal.
“You need two catchers that you trust and believe in that could play every day if necessary, and I think we have that,” Barnhart mentioned. “Yan has clearly confirmed that he’s an elite-level on a regular basis catcher within the massive leagues, and I believe I’ve performed the identical. I can’t wait to work with him.
“Over time the best teams that win, it’s a lot easier to sustain winning when you are able to pitch and play defense because bats get hot, they get cold — it’s just a reality of the game. When you’re able to consistently play good defense and pitch well, you’re going to win a lot of games.”
While evaluating the Cubs, Barnhart leaned closely on pitcher Wade Miley regardless of the left-hander spending solely the 2022 season with the Cubs. The two grew to become shut throughout two seasons collectively in Cincinnati (2020-21).
Barnhart trusts Miley’s 12 years of big-league expertise that spans eight groups, and Miley couldn’t say sufficient good issues concerning the Cubs: “It’s hard for me to choose a different organization that’s done it better,” he instructed Barnhart.
Miley’s reward coupled with the proximity to his native Indiana added to the match for Barnhart, who turns 32 on Saturday.
The Barnhart-Gomes tandem received’t come near replicating what Willson Contreras offered offensively. The Cubs haven’t adequately changed his offensive manufacturing and clearly are banking on their pitching employees and protection to maintain video games shut, low-scoring and winnable. Barnhart brings a profession 82 OPS+ to Wrigley Field, a ballpark he’s very aware of after spending the primary eight years of his big-league profession with the Reds.
The Cubs, although, didn’t goal and signal Barnhart for what he can convey offensively. His profession has been constructed round his recreation calling and pitch framing. His pitch-framing numbers dipped final season in what Barnhart acknowledged as an all-around dangerous yr in Detroit, his lone season with the Tigers. He considers it precious expertise in the way to work by these conditions.
“I hit rock bottom in terms of my performance, and I took that into the offseason as motivation,” Barnhart mentioned. “Everybody’s going to say that, I know, and it’s cliché as hell, but I’ve enjoyed my work more this offseason and I’m looking forward to bouncing back.”
The Cubs are taking a low-risk strategy in an effort to generate extra offense at first base, the place their choices final yr posted a mixed 86 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), twenty fifth within the majors. They agreed to a deal Wednesday with first baseman Eric Hosmer, a supply confirmed to the Tribune.
Hosmer, 33, is anticipated to obtain the league-minimum $720,000 for 2023 as a result of the San Diego Padres are on the hook for practically $37 million he’s owed over the subsequent three years.
Hosmer appeared in 104 video games between the Padres and Boston Red Sox final season, recording a .268/.334/.382 slash line with a 108 OPS+. But most of his success got here in April, when he hit .389 with a .457 on-base share and 1.054 OPS in 81 plate appearances. Over the subsequent 5 months, Hosmer managed a meager .240/.305/.331 line and a .636 OPS in 338 plate appearances.
Although Hosmer received 4 Gold Gloves earlier in his profession with the Kansas City Royals, he isn’t identified for elite protection at this level. His minus-5 defensive runs saved (DRS) ranked thirty third among the many 37 first basemen who performed at the least 350 innings in 2022.
Comparatively, Alfonso Rivas, who was designated for project Dec. 23, led the Cubs in innings at first base and completed with 6 DRS, tied for second in baseball.
The Cubs can hope Hosmer recaptures a few of his energy whereas residing along with his ground-ball price. The minimal monetary funding offers them leeway to maneuver on if he struggles or first base prospect Matt Mervis earns a big-league roster spot and common enjoying time.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com