ORLANDO — There’s long been a healthy debate, both within the Cubs organization and externally, about how to best navigate catching prospect Moisés Ballesteros’ development.
At a position that requires a lot of reps, his hitting ability has naturally sped ahead of his defense, raising the question of how to balance those competing realities.
At the winter meetings this week, manager Craig Counsell made his stance clear: “He’s at the point where, if he can help the major league team, he’s going to be in the major leagues. There’s not an everyday catching job in the major leagues for him, but, as we’re constructed right now, we’ve got room for at bats. So I would prioritize the major leagues right now.”
Counsell noted that roster chances could change that evaluation. But it’s clear that the Cubs, prioritizing pitching this offseason, are comfortable with a scenario where Ballesteros and outfield prospect Owen Caissie step into larger roles to help fill the void left by Kyle Tucker’s free agency.
“Moisés gave us the offensive production of Tucker, essentially, in the month of September,” Counsell said. “And between him and Owen, who was unfortunately hurt for most of that month, those are two important players as we sit right now. And so there’s not much to think about there.”
Tucker was sidelined by a strained calf for most of September, providing a preview for the Cubs of life without him.
Ballesteros, serving as the DH while Seiya Suzuki played right field, posted a .999 OPS in 14 games from mid- to late-September.
Caissie was in the Cubs’ plans but sustained a concussion in his first game back in the majors after a two-week stint in August (5-for-24). The head injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
The best version of the Cubs’ offense still included a healthy Tucker hitting second or third in the batting order. But both Ballesteros and Caissie are going into the season with untapped upside.
“You have to give your young players opportunities,” Counsell said. “Your team is better for giving young players opportunities. … They’re the guys that are going to improve as the season goes, and turn into better players, and then turn into very important players on your club. And so you have to be patient with those opportunities. And you have to create the opportunities for players of that caliber.”
The offense is still projected to regress without Tucker. But the Cubs hope to make up for it with improved pitching.
Though Ballesteros, 22, and Caissie, 23, are expected to contribute to the major-league team, they still could spend time in Triple-A next season.
Look at the way the Cubs managed third baseman Matt Shaw’s rookie season last year. They didn’t waver in their hope that he could be their everyday solution at third, but when they were worried he was developing bad swing habits in the majors, they temporarily sent him to Triple-A to make adjustments.
The Cubs have also shied away from leaving promising prospects in bench roles for an extended period of time. Often, they’d rather the player get regular at-bats in Triple-A than watch from the sidelines in the majors.
Upgrading the bench from last year is another priority of the Cubs’ this season, not just in case of injury but also as a preventative measure.
“I don’t think guys should play 162 [games], period,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “I just think that at some point giving guys days off limits injuries and probably gives them needed rest for their brain.”
The Cubs’ roster is light on platoons, and many of their everyday players take pride in their availability. But Hoyer stressed that he wanted to give Counsell the means to manage workload without sacrificing the on-field product.
“When the drop off is significant, you always talk yourself into playing the guy an extra day,” Hoyer said. “And when the drop off is less significant, I think you’re going to rest guys a bit more. I thought we pushed some more guys last year.”
