Position Battles - NL Central

We have almost reached the height of draft season and there is so much around the league that remains uncertain. Position battles are afoot and with the WBC taking center stage (and many of the top players away from their rosters) it further muddies the waters for playing time.

This week, the Dynasty Team will be looking into one position battle per team and try to identify some players you need to be prioritizing in your dynasty leagues. Paying attention to roster trends and news items is key this time of year to get a leg up on your competition.

Next up, the NL Central! Tom Gates (@tagates99 on X) gives his insight into how he sees some important roster battles shaking out.

Position Battles- NL EastThe Dynasty Team breaks down one spring position battle per team providing insight into who might be a target in dynasty leagues.Prospects LivePJ Benasillo

Chicago Cubs - RF/DH

Chas McCormick attempts to win a spot on the Cubs this spring (Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian)

With Kyle Tucker and Owen Caissie leaving, a spot has opened in right field. The Chicago Cubs addressed outfield depth by signing Michael Conforto and Chas McCormick, while also having Seiya Suzuki as an internal option since he has played there before. McCormick can handle all three outfield spots, while Conforto has mostly been limited to left field in recent seasons. Offensively, Suzuki’s bat stands well above the other two, though his defense has been a concern. He has posted negative field run values over the last three years, though there has been some improvement in fewer innings. The Cubs prioritize defense and generally feature plus defenders across the diamond, so ideally, Suzuki could just be average out there while being a plus hitter. That would allow Moises Ballesteros to settle in as the full-time DH.

Matt Shaw has been working in the outfield this spring, and with Nico Hoerner manning second base is going to be a super utility player. However, if Suzuki’s defense becomes an issue, there is a path where Shaw takes over right field, Suzuki shifts to DH, and Ballesteros returns to Triple-A to get regular at-bats. There are no real platoon concerns with Suzuki as a DH. He hit 22 of his 32 home runs last year against right-handed pitching, so his bat needs to remain in the lineup. If Shaw begins seeing more time in right with Suzuki at DH, it becomes more likely that Conforto or McCormick do not make the team, and the Cubs instead carry an extra infielder for their final bench spot. The dominoes hinge on Suzuki's glove in right and the Cubs patience.

Cincinnati Reds- Left Field

Sign up for Prospects Live

Your one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card & MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data & Scouting into our Player Evaluation

Subscribe

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now