This former Chicago Cubs player is tearing it up in 2020.
The Chicago Cubs are off to a really hot start to the 2020 season. They have the second-best winning percentage in all of baseball and have looked like they have a real shot at competing for the World Series, should we make it that far.
To date, their biggest weakness has clearly been their bullpen, which has been nothing short of abysmal. On the other hand, their offense has been quite good. The Cubs’ offense currently ranks No. 12 overall in major league baseball (ironically the Chicago White Sox rank No. 1 overall).
So far on the young season, as a team, they are hitting .238 with 19 home runs and 61 runs batted in. Not bad at all, but perhaps one player away from being a truly dominant offense in the league. And with the way their bullpen has let the team down thus far, it is becoming more and more apparent that they are likely going to have to slug their way to a championship.
That one player, ironically, was within their grasp and the Cubs let him slip away. Outfielder Nick Castellanos was acquired last year the by Cubs via a trade with the Detroit Tigers in August, in the hopes that he would give the Cubs offense, which struggled last season, a jolt. And a jolt is just what he gave them.
In 51 games, Castellanos hit .321 with 16 home runs and 36 runs batted in. He was one of the few Cubs who was a consistent threat in the lineup and he routinely delivered. Unfortunately, despite inking a lucrative television deal, and otherwise being one of the wealthiest franchises in baseball, the Cubs just could not scrape together enough money to re-sign Castellanos.
In fact, it appeared the Cubs never really had any intention of re-signing Castellanos as they appear to have been going through a Reinsdorfian period of poverty, in which they likely had to cut back to surf and turf only thrice a week.
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Well, all Castellanos has done so far in 2020 is dominate the National League with the Cincinnati Reds. Through his first 14 games, Castellanos is hitting .340 with 7 home runs and 16 runs batted in, with the latter two being tops in the National League. Moreover, his .840 slugging percentage, 1.251 OPS, 235 OPS+, and 42 total bases lead all of major league baseball.
Yes, the Cubs’ offense is doing just fine without him, but if the ownership team could have ponied up the dough, they could have had one capable of carrying them to a World Series. You have to think they have some regret — but hey, at least they’re able to pocket a few extra dollars this year.
