It is being reported that the Chicago Cubs are adding to their versatility by signing veteran Daniel Descalso. The deal as reported by Ken Rosenthal is for two years with an option for 2021. This is not the type of high-profile signing Cubs fans may be looking for, but Descalso brings positional versatility, something manager Joe Maddon is fond of.
Sources: Descalso deal with #Cubs is two years, $5M with a club option fo 2021.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 18, 2018
Report: Chicago Cubs Adding Veteran Infielder Daniel Descalso
Descalso spent his last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, slashing .235/.343/.416. He is coming off a season where he set a career high with 13 home runs and 57 RBI. He added 22 doubles, 54 runs scored, and 64 walks while also posting a career-best .353 OBP.
The big draw for the 32-year-old veteran is the ability to play any number of positions on the field. He appeared at five different positions for Arizona, not counting his appearances as a pitcher. Descalso has appeared at every position except for catcher and center field during his career and will likely appear all over the diamond for Maddon’s squad.
Descalso returns to the NL Central after debuting with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010. He went on to play five seasons with the Cardinals, including serving as a vital role player during the team’s 2011 World Series run.
Perfect fit?
This is certainly not the splashy Bryce Harper-esque signing fans may be looking for, but it is a low-key move that could pay off for Chicago. The Cubs already have four players making over $20 million for 2019, including Yu Darvish who spent much of 2018 injured. Chicago is also dealing with a number of young, key players entering or about to enter arbitration, including stars Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Willson Contreras.
The problem for the Cubs in 2018 was a mixture of injuries and mixed production from key players. Hopefully, the team will be healthier and more consistent in 2019, and the Descalso signing is a cost-effective way to improve depth across the board.
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