The Cubs signed first baseman/outfielder Jesus Guzman to a minor league deal, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports (via Twitter). Guzman spent 2015 with the Hiroshima Carp, hitting .230/.336/.420 over 116 plate appearances in NPB.
The 31-year-old owns an impressive .856 career OPS in the minors (3835 PA) and his first extended taste of Major League action saw him deliver an .847 OPS over 271 PA with the Padres in 2011. Guzman’s numbers tailed off after that initial season, however, and he managed only a .188/.272/.248 line in 184 PA with Houston in 2014 before electing free agency and signing with Hiroshima.
As you’d expect for a right-handed hitter, Guzman has performed much better against lefty pitching than righty pitching over his career, with a .746 OPS against southpaws against only a .670 OPS against righties. With a strong Spring Training, Guzman could find a place for himself on Chicago’s roster, backing up Anthony Rizzo at first or perhaps even finding a platoon spot in left field. Kyle Schwarber and Chris Coghlan (both left-handed hitters) and the switch-hitting Ben Zobrist are slated for left field, though the bulk of Zobrist’s playing time will be at second base.
I remember him lol
I dont remember him. How does a guy who can only hit .230 in japan get a job with an mlb team lol.
It was only in 116 at bats
But you have a point
First off its a minor league contract not mlb contract secondly he has raked in the minors
Minor league deal.
He’s probably just a minor league piece.
He had that awesome amazing bat flip a couple weeks back
I can’t see him carving out a spot on the opening day roster, but he could see some time if he does well.
Definitely a minor league depth piece, though I could see him having some time with the club if there was an injury to Rizzo or an outfielder
Maybe they should’ve just gotten a full time left fielder in Schwarber or Coghlan,not three guys. I guess they have a platoon.
There is not a platoon , Schwarber is their full time LF!
Guzman was good he might find one more good year but not at the risk of one of are young guys
This is a minor league deal. He will be in Triple-A Iowa, or Double-A Tennessee. He’s a more logical 1B call-up than Vogelbach, if it gets to that.
More like an insurance piece. Guzman has some major league experience and can hold down first or a corner outfield spot in an emergency..
amazing how so many people don’t even read the article