What can the Chicago Cubs do about their lineup?

The Chicago Cubs are not playing good baseball right now. They started the year hovering over .500, but now they are 22-28 and one game out from being in fifth place. Obviously some injuries have been a problem for the cubs this year, with Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Cody Bellinger all missing some significant time. Still, the team has not been consistent in both hitting and back end pitching. So, where can the Chicago Cubs look to fix their biggest problems?

One of the things they did already was release Eric Hosmer and call up top first base prospect Matt Mervis. Unfortunately, Mervis has struggled so far in the majors. He is striking out almost every third at bat and he has not been able to find consistent power yet. Mervis is sure to get better as he gets more experience with big league pitching, but from a team perspective they need more production out of their first baseman, even with Trey Mancini still platooning at the spot.

This is a big year for the Cubs. They are one of those tweener teams that is not talented enough to win a championship but they should be pushing for a playoff spot with the amount of veteran players and young talent they have. Still, they are missing that superstar player that a lineup can be built around. While guys like Hoerner, Suzuki,  Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ are all very good hitters, none of them have shown that superstar potential yet. You look around the league and all the very good teams have one, if not two of those superstar players to really threaten pitchers. The Tampa Bay Rays are an exception because they have a lot of less familiar names that are just really consistent hitters this year, which is what the Cubs need since they lack the MVP type bat.

One of the biggest options could be Shohei Ohtani, but with the Angles in contention for the AL West and the historic haul it would take to get him, it is not a realistic option and cannot be what the Cubs are banking on to win. Unfortunately, with the way the team is put together, most of the positions are set for this season. With an outfield of Happ, Bellinger, and Suzuki, those are everyday starters. The only positions that could be open are third base and first base. That would mean less at bats for Christopher Morel and Matt Mervis, who are supposed to be big pieces for the future.

The main point here is that the Cubs sort of have their hands tied with their lineup and position players, unless they want to see if there were a star corner infielder that would not only fit their timeline but contribute a consistently good at bat to the lineup. If that is not the case, then the Cubs will need more from their core pieces, especially Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and even Nico Hoerner who has struggled a bit lately. The Cubs lineup is pretty much what it will be for the next few years most likely, with the biggest question being center field. So, they will need the guys they have now to just be even better, even if they have been solid this season.

Obviously if this team fails this season, then it might be time to pull the trigger on a big move to bring a star bat to the lineup. That would most likely come in the offseason though. This year, at the deadline, the most realistic option would be to look for veteran bullpen arms for the back end. Scott Barlow, Aroldis Chapman, or possibly David Bednar could be available options for the Cubs who need a closer.