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3 free agent position players the Chicago Cubs need to target

By Jordan Campbell

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on August 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on August 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Cubs, Nick Castellanos
Chicago Cubs /

Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellano would bring instant energy back to the Chicago Cubs offense.

The Chicago Cubs offense has been broken since the end of their 2016 World Series victory over Cleveland. Since then, the Cubs’ offense has become too dependent on the home run and has grown vulnerable to the strikeout.

However, after their fire sale at the trade deadline last season, there is a question over where the power will come from within the Cubs’ lineup. While Patrick Wisdom did set a Chicago Cubs’ rookie record with 28 home runs last season, there will be questions over whether or not he can repeat the performance.

Being that he is 30 years old and only had 4 career home runs prior to this year, it is fair to wonder. The same caveat can be applied to first baseman Frank Schwindel. The Cubs will certainly need to add some power to their lineup prior to the 2022 season starting.

Schwindel and Wisdom aside, the Cubs on paper will be destined to struggle in the power department being that shortstop Nico Hoerner and second baseman Nick Madrigal are contact hitters that possess little to no power.

In the outfield, Ian Happ certainly can provide thump in the Cubs’ lineup but was plagued with inconsistent production last season and throughout most of his career.

That is the reason why the Cubs need to target Castellanos in an effort to fix their offense. It is a solution that the Cubs have attempted previously and it was successful. The Cubs acquired Castellanos at the trade deadline of the 2019 season.

Castellanos thrived during his time with the Cubs in 2019 as he had a .321/.356/.646 slash for an OPS of 1.002 with 16 home runs and 21 doubles.

Castellanos spent the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and has continued to be an offensive force. Last season with the Reds, Castellanos hit .309/.362/.576 with a .939 OPS to go along with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs. Castellanos is everything that the Cubs need in order to fix their offense and he should be a priority for the team once activity returns.

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