Cubs: Non-tender candidates team should consider signing

The Chicago Cubs will be making a decision whether to non-tender Addison Russell but there are several candidates they should consider as well.

After a breakout 2016 season, Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell is looking like an easy non-tender candidate as Monday’s deadline rapidly approaches. Russell, 25, was acquired on July 4, 2014, in exchange for both Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija and made his big league debut in April the following season.

He was named that National League starting shortstop at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and played a critical role in helping the Cubs force a decisive Game 7 of the World Series with an emphatic Grand Slam. His image forever changed in June 2017 when he was accused of domestic violence incidents and again after a lengthy blog post surfaced in 2018 from his ex-wife.

Aside from his off-the-field issues, Russell never materialized into the player the Cubs had hoped when they made the trade. In 82 games last year, Russell slashed an unimpressive .237/.308/.391 with 9 home runs and 23 RBI and was sent down to Triple-A after an embarrassing day in the field. And while it’s looking like his time in a Cubs’ uniform is just about over, the team should keep a close eye on several other potential non-tender candidates:

1. Kevin Pillar, CF (Giants)

Pillar is projected to earn nearly $9.7 million in arbitration, and with the Giants heading into a full rebuild, there is a good chance they decide to move on from the 30-year-old centerfielder. Not long into the 2019 season, the Blue Jays traded him to San Francisco and Pillar put up great numbers. In 156 games, he slashed .264/.293/.442 with 37 doubles, 3 triples, 21 home runs, and 87 RBI.

With the unknown future of Albert Almora and given the decline in his defensive abilities, Pillar would make a lot of sense for the Cubs as his career .990 fielding percentage supports his offense. As noted, he was projected to make almost $10 million in arbitration this offseason, so it would likely come down to the money. He would certainly be an upgrade over Almora but that’s not exactly saying a lot.

2. Domingo Santana, OF (Mariners)

The Cubs should be extremely familiar with Santana from his days with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 27-year-old was the odd man out in a crowded outfield and was ultimately traded to Seattle in the Ben Gamel deal. With regular playing time, Santana posted his best season since 2017, slashing .253/.329/.441 with 20 doubles, 21 home runs, and 69 RBI.

He’s projected to make $4.4 million in arbitration, but his struggles in the field need to be considered. Last year, Santana logged 865.2 innings in the outfield with just a .940 fielding percentage. If the Cubs signed him, it would likely also permanently move Jason Heyward to centerfield as Santana has primarily played left and right field throughout his career. Again, if the price is right, the signing would make a lot of sense but the Cubs would be sacrificing defense with the hope that his offense outshines it.

3. Tony Wolters, C (Rockies)

This move would purely be a reactionary one if the Cubs were to trade Willson Contreras. Wolters, 27, played in 121 games last year for the Rockies and slashed .262/.337/.329 with 1 home run and 42 RBI. I am a bit skeptical of his production away from Coors Field as he’s hit just 0.198 on the road in four seasons with the team.

Wolters recorded a .999 fielding percentage in 112 games behind the plate last year and is projected to make a modest $2 million in arbitration. He would provide solid depth at the position until Miguel Amaya was ready but would likely provide nothing offensively given his track record.

4. Chris Devenski, RHP (Astros)

The Cubs will need to overhaul their bullpen and could find a potential arm in Chris Devenski. The 29-year-old was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox but has spent all four of his big league seasons with the Houston Astros. During that time, Devenski tossed 305.1 innings while posting a 3.21 ERA and a 9.6 K/9.

A closer look at his pitch usage indicates that his fastball tops out near 95 mph and is thrown 44 percent of the time. Opponents were able to hit .306 off his primary pitch last year, but Devenski has above-average pitches in his changeup and slider, producing .208 and .233 averages, respectively. He’s projected to make just $2 million in arbitration and could be a valuable bullpen arm as he has a career .209 opponents average in high-leverage situations.

There are several other candidates that could potentially be worth a look – like Blake Treinen, Adam Conley, or Jose Urena – but due to inconsistency or likelihood of being signed for the right price, they were omitted from consideration. Theo Epstein and the Cubs front office will have to get creative this offseason to improve the roster, so no stone should be left unturned.