3 moves the Chicago Cubs need to make after the lockout

Designated Hitter

With the Designated Hitter returning to the National League in a full-time capacity, the Chicago Cubs will need add a legitimate power hitter.

Entering the 2022 season, one of the biggest questions marks regarding the Chicago Cubs starting lineup is the lack of power hitters. Reviewing the Cubs’ projected starting lineup, they have four potential sources of power in catcher Willson Contreras, first baseman Frank Schwindel, third baseman Patrick Wisdom, and outfielder Ian Happ.

While Contreras has proven to be an offensive threat, Schwindel, Wisdom, and Happ all have question marks. For both Schwindel and Wisdom, the 2021 season was the first time that either have shown offensive success at the Major League level and the Cubs will need to be cautious of depending on both to repeat their 2021 success as they are each at the age of 30. Happ, meanwhile, has proven to be inconsistent as he has yet to put together a full season of offensive success.

Fortunately for the Cubs, the designated hitter role is returning to the National League in a full-time capacity in 2022 and beyond. With the designated hitter now being a part of the National League, the Cubs have a clear path to improving their power output for the 2022 season. There are several free agents that the Cubs will likely target as a potential designated hitter. Those targets include Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. Rizzo could be the target for the Cubs as there have been reports that the team will look to reunite with the first baseman once the lockout concludes.