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Cubs Have Shown Interest In Jason Kipnis

By Steve Adams | February 4, 2020 at 6:45pm CDT

The Cubs have been in contact with free-agent second baseman Jason Kipnis, tweets MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The Chicago organization was also tied to Scooter Gennet recently, and Bastian notes that they’re considering left-handed options at second base to pair with right-handed-hitting options like Nico Hoerner and David Bote.

Kipnis has spent his entire career to date in the Indians organization. But while he was once a star-caliber second baseman whom Cleveland rewarded with a $52.5MM extension, the former second-round pick has seen his stock tumble in recent seasons. Kipnis was brilliant both in 2013 and 2015, making a pair of All-Star teams and garnering MVP votes in each of those seasons. On the whole, from the time he debuted through the completion of the 2016 season, he batted a combined .272/.345/.423 while averaging 17 homers, 38 doubles and 25 steals per 162 games played.

Since 2017, though, Kipnis’ bat has wilted. In the past three years he’s combined for a .236/.305/.403 slash (86 OPS+) in 1485 plate appearances. That downturn prompted the Indians to pay a $2.5MM buyout on what once looked to be a reasonable $16.5MM club option for the 2021 season, sending Kipnis out into the open market for the first time.

It’s been largely silent on Kipnis all winter, as teams in need of second base help have had a deep pool of both free agents and trade options from which to draw. Regardless of how many teams to which he’s spoken, one would imagine that the Cubs are a highly appealing option for Kipnis, a Chicago-area native who attended high school at Glenbrook North — just 19 miles from Wrigley Field.

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Chicago Cubs Jason Kipnis

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View Comments (55)

Comments

  1. dynamite drop in monty

    3 years ago

    What’s in the cellar, HERR KLOPEK???

    Reply
    • Judge_Smails45

      3 years ago

      Best comment ever! I quickly turned on The Burbs after I read this! Lol!

      Reply
      • dynamite drop in monty

        3 years ago

        Cheers!

        And don’t sell yourself short, Judge. You’re an excellent slouch!

        Reply
        • greenguy

          3 years ago

          Tremendous slouch

    • Android Dawesome

      3 years ago

      You keep a horse in the basement?

      Reply
  2. chitown311

    3 years ago

    Now Theo is player shopping at Aldi’s

    Reply
    • bobtillman

      3 years ago

      Family Dollar.

      Not Theo’s fault. That Cubs have no money.

      Reply
      • twentyforty

        3 years ago

        You win it….dumbest comment of the month. The Cubs print money but are electing not to spend it this offseason. Move along.

        Reply
        • bronyaur

          3 years ago

          The Cubs print money. That does not mean that Theo and Jed have infinite money to spend. The owners get to decide that.

          The Ricketts bought the team to maximize profits and/or asset appreciation, not run a public nonprofit. Spend your own money supporting that if it raises your utility.

        • chiraqi_savage

          3 years ago

          END THE FED

        • Desertbull

          3 years ago

          They are abive the tax threshold but aren’t spending money. I think you just took the lead in the dumbest comment race

  3. eyesaiah

    3 years ago

    better than Daniel Delscaso, I say go for it

    Reply
    • Wrek305

      3 years ago

      Descalso needs to be released. He’s garbage. Anyone the cubs have or signed is a better option.. trade him for a box of rocks. That 3.5mil the books.

      Reply
  4. Marner#16

    3 years ago

    He’s 32 totally worth a shot in the weaker NL.

    Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      3 years ago

      Love this 1992 mindset of the NL being a less offensive league. Check the stats.

      Reply
      • Marner#16

        3 years ago

        Monty,

        Weak hitting 8 hitters and pitchers hitting you will never convince me otherwise!

        Reply
        • dynamite drop in monty

          3 years ago

          Then I shan’t attempt. Care for a cannoli?

    • Goetta

      3 years ago

      You mean the way the game was meant to be played? I personally hope the NL continues to let pitchers hit regardless of offensive output. It’s baseball.

      Reply
      • dynamite drop in monty

        3 years ago

        Do you say this to the pharmacist when you refuse your antibiotics because 1867 was how medicine was supposed to be?

        Reply
        • Catuli Carl

          3 years ago

          Why stop at pitchers? What if I find a gold glove shortstop who can’t hit to save his life? Can I DH for him?

        • andthenisaid

          3 years ago

          Yes, Carl, you could if you choose to let the pitcher bat for himself.

      • dynamite drop in monty

        3 years ago

        And I do appreciate the honesty here. You’re finally admitting you would prefer a watered down, poorer product on the field if it means it can mildly irk forward thinking fans.

        Reply
        • WereAllJustGuestsHere

          3 years ago

          If players have to play defense and hit, pitchers should work on hitting too. They should be better hitters than they are. They probably would be if the DH was abolished.

        • Catuli Carl

          3 years ago

          Do you think baseball teams should have 9 designated hitters? What about 9 fielders and 9 hitters?

        • bronyaur

          3 years ago

          Not everyone feels that the additional strategic complexity is equal to watering down. Just like not everyone thinks that showy guitar shredding of 1980s hairband bands was fabulously interesting. If offense was all that mattered, we should encourage juicing.

  5. bigbadjohnny

    3 years ago

    Good contact hitter……either Scotter or Jason will be okay with me…….just think of all the Halloween Jason masks showing up in the bleachers !

    Reply
    • Oxford Karma

      3 years ago

      They’d have be playing in October for that to work. Also, hasn’t Heyward been a Cub for awhile?

      Reply
      • seattlesuperfan

        3 years ago

        lol my thoughts exactly

        Reply
    • getright11

      3 years ago

      Nobody wearing a mask on a 96 degree, humid Chicago summer afternoon.

      Reply
  6. bigbadjohnny

    3 years ago

    btw,what is mick kellher or steve dillard doing these days ????

    Reply
    • johnsilver

      3 years ago

      Funny stuff.. Not thought of The Colonel for YEARS. Wonder if he’s even still involved in the game in some way/shape/form?

      Reply
  7. wb3cubs

    3 years ago

    Good grief……

    Reply
  8. solaris602

    3 years ago

    There’s a reason Kipnis hasn’t been connected with any team this winter. His defensive skills have been in steady decline for 4 years, he can ONLY play 2B primarily because he has a very weak throwing arm, he’s injury-prone, and he’s a master at hitting into the shift. He’s a pretty solid citizen otherwise, so there’s that.

    Reply
  9. i hate my father

    3 years ago

    Pretty sure on a minor league deal only, I rather they give Gennett a shot but he also has to accept a minor league deal.

    Reply
  10. Ully

    3 years ago

    Northbrook’s own, bring him home Theo.

    Reply
  11. AaronSapoznik

    3 years ago

    Local kid from Northbrook who had a solid MLB career with the Indians. Jason Kipnis is still just 32 (33 in April) so maybe he’s worth a gamble for the payroll restricted Cubs front office.

    I could also envision Kipnis as a stop gap on the other side of town for the White Sox if they choose to play the MLB service time game with Nick Madrigal to open the 2020 season. White Sox GM Rick Hahn is from the same neck of the woods as Kipnis, born in nearby Winnetka and currently residing in Glencoe.

    Ironically, Kipnis grew up a Cubs fan as did Hahn. An added bit of trivia is that Kipnis was also an actual neighbor of Steve Bartman.

    Reply
    • greenguy

      3 years ago

      What’s ironic about north suburban kids growing up fans of north side cubs?

      Reply
  12. Les Chesterfield

    3 years ago

    whoever will play for free is welcome in Chicago. Cost of living is cheap there anyway

    Reply
    • AaronSapoznik

      3 years ago

      Compared to where? Nome, Alaska?

      Reply
      • AaronSapoznik

        3 years ago

        Living at the “Y.M.C.A.” !!!

        Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      3 years ago

      Do you ever say anything correctly even by accident?

      Reply
      • Les Chesterfield

        3 years ago

        I’m right 100% of the time; 65% of the time.

        Reply
        • dray16

          3 years ago

          you can’t even say that right

  13. TheReal_DK

    3 years ago

    At the end of the day I’d still take a chance on Gennett’s upside. Both looked pretty lost at the plate last year but Scooter’s season is easier to write off with the groin injury. Kipnis honestly hasn’t been good for about 2-3 years now.

    Reply
  14. BeeVeeTee

    3 years ago

    The Cubs should sign Kipnis since he choked in his last at bat in game 7 of the 2016 World Series!

    Reply
    • BeeVeeTee

      3 years ago

      I mean 2016!

      Reply
      • Wrek305

        3 years ago

        Mike Napoli was the biggest choker that year. He did nothing the entire world series. Kipnis at least hit a 3 run home run in game 4 I think it was.

        Reply
    • wordonthestreet

      3 years ago

      What does that have to do with anything

      Reply
  15. Erik

    3 years ago

    How many washed up second basemen can one team sign??? Does theo think he’s gonna trade 17 ex MLB caliber 2b for prospects??

    Reply
  16. megaj

    3 years ago

    They must be looking for another whiff machine? A strict left/right platoon on the cheap is the ONLY reasonable scenario here. The scouts must not think Hoerner will be effective against righties…

    Reply
  17. spinach

    3 years ago

    DDT.

    Reply
  18. Col_chestbridge

    3 years ago

    That would be great for both sides. Kipnis grew up in Chicago and was a Cubs fan growing up – he would love to play there. The Cubs would likely be getting a good player, likely on a minor league deal.

    Kipnis stands to do better with the bat if platooned. Last year the difference in wRC+ was 27 points, close to his career mark of 31- he is an acceptable hitter against RHP but shouldn’t be getting time against LHP. The Indians never did this (partly because their RHH infield options were ghastly, like Eric Stamets and Max Moroff) He’s an okay defender and runner.

    I have personally met Kip a few times and I would really love to see this happen for him.

    Reply
  19. Desertbull

    3 years ago

    Would rather have Scooter Genette

    Reply
  20. angt222

    3 years ago

    If he’s healthy, why not? Won’t command a big commitment and could surprise CHC. I’d think if he hits well he could be a lead off option.

    Reply
  21. holycow16

    3 years ago

    Go Cubs Go

    Reply

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