It is possible that by Game 1 of the 2015 season, the Cubs will have set their infield for the next 5 years. In fact, it makes the most sense to set their infield as soon as possible in order to stem the tide of fan disinterest.
Kris Bryant continues to hit minor league pitching. There is no reason why he needs a full season of "training" at the AAA level. He should be the starting third baseman in 2015 (barring injury). He was an accomplished college player. Scouts believe he already has a major league bat. End of story.
As for the last infield position, Arismendy Alcantara appears ready to make the leap to the Cubs. At Triple-A Iowa, he is hitting .286
with an .843 OPS, eight
homers, 18 doubles, 10 triples and 17 stolen bases while showing off his defensive versatility. He’s a 22-year-old switch-hitter with more power than his
5-foot-10, 170-pound frame would suggest. He proved it last summer at the All-Star Futures Game, blasting a home run into the upper deck of New York’s Citi Field.
Alcantara has the defensive tools to be a major league middle infielder. He can play second base. He has a much higher ceiling than Barney or Valbuena.
If the Cubs believe that the team needs to salvaged quicker than waiting for the alleged rainbow treasure of new broadcasting fees in 2020, 2015 becomes a pivotal year. No one is blocking Bryant and Alcantara's promotion to the major league roster. Rick Renteria was hired specifically to help young players adapt at the major league level.
The starting 2015 infield would be:
3B Bryant SS Castro 2B Alcantara 1B Rizzo C Castillo
Suddenly, you have nearly doubled the youth core of the team, and solidified the middle of your daily line-up. Alcantara is a lead off hitter. Bryant is projected to be a clean up hitter. Rizzo can continue in the third slot, and Castro can move up to a comfortable #2 hole. If Castillo can regain his power, he can hit 5th or 6th.
Once the infield is set, the Cubs can fix the outfield. The current roster is filled with AAA cast-offs with no upside. The Cubs could spend in free agency and quickly turn around the outfield and actually have a competitive team on the field just a year from now.
But that is only true if the Cubs stop messing with their starting pitchers and shore up the rotation. If you think the Cubs can turn around the offense with promotions and OF free agents, then there is no reason to trade Samardzija. It would make more sense to try to extend Hammel.
This plan does involve the Cubs actually spending more money, something that the ownership has clearly decided not to do in the past three years.
