While 2023 is just starting, the Chicago Cubs aren’t done adding pieces to their team for the upcoming season.
With the team already nabbing solid star power, they feel they need some additional tools on their roster.
This has led them to landing another player who some saw on the Cubs’ radar for a while.
According to ESPN analyst Jesse Rogers, the Cubs are signing Trey Mancini to a two-year deal.
News: Free agent Trey Mancini is in agreement with the Cubs on a 2 year deal which includes an opt out, sources tell ESPN.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 15, 2023
While the deal still requires him to pass a physical, the addition of Mancini is one which could help the Cubs in multiple ways.
One area he can help is by playing as the backup to Eric Hosmer at first base.
On days where he isn’t playing the field, the Cubs will probably use him as their designated hitter.
However, signing him might not give the Cubs the offensive bat they want in their lineup.
Mancini hasn’t been the same since his amazing outing in 2019, where he posted career highs in home runs (35) and RBIs (97).
He also had a great .291 batting average that year, the second-highest of his career during a full season of play.
But since that 2019 season, he’s dealt with colon cancer, which kept him out of the 2020 season.
When he came back in 2021, he had a downturn that leaked into 2022.
After being sent to the Houston Astros, his batting average continued to fall.
While he finished 2022 with a .239/.319/.391 slash between the Baltimore Orioles and Astros, his line with the Astros was lower at .176/.258./.364.
Unless he can return to his 2019 form, the move to sign Mancini might be a bust.
