Cubs Add Utility Infielder/Second Baseman
The Chicago Cubs had been rumored to have some interest in former Milwaukee Brewers infielder, Eric Sogard. Today they have signed him to a minor league deal, per source.
Sogard is 34, and has been on the Cubs radar several times in the last few years. Played for Milwaukee last year. Replaces that left handed hitting 2b role Jason Kipnis had last year, assuming he makes the team. https://t.co/yOTVyt9WwV
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 3, 2021
Sogard is a legit MLB player. He isn’t the guy that makes people shake in their boots, but he’s a guy and is an asset to every team he’s played for. He will replace the Jason Kipnis/left-handed platoon guy at second (as Jesse says) if he makes the club.
I would imagine the Cubs bring him aboard over a few others that are in that mix. Ildemaro Vargas is the other likely player at that spot. Vargas offers some flexibility being a switch hitter, but the Cubs have plenty of depth with Nico Hoerner, David Bote, Sogard, and Vargas in that mix. Vargas has a higher career average than Sogard, but Sogard gets on base at a higher rate. Neither are considered power bats by any stretch.
My thoughts would be they break camp with Sogard in Wrigley and Vargas in Iowa (or at the alternate site as MiLB seems to be delayed again). This would give David Ross flexibility with two right-handed bats and the lefty Sogard.
