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.
What’s in the cellar, HERR KLOPEK???
Best comment ever! I quickly turned on The Burbs after I read this! Lol!
Cheers!
And don’t sell yourself short, Judge. You’re an excellent slouch!
Tremendous slouch
You keep a horse in the basement?
Now Theo is player shopping at Aldi’s
Family Dollar.
Not Theo’s fault. That Cubs have no money.
You win it….dumbest comment of the month. The Cubs print money but are electing not to spend it this offseason. Move along.
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.
END THE FED
They are abive the tax threshold but aren’t spending money. I think you just took the lead in the dumbest comment race
better than Daniel Delscaso, I say go for it
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.
He’s 32 totally worth a shot in the weaker NL.
Love this 1992 mindset of the NL being a less offensive league. Check the stats.
Monty,
Weak hitting 8 hitters and pitchers hitting you will never convince me otherwise!
Then I shan’t attempt. Care for a cannoli?
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.
Do you say this to the pharmacist when you refuse your antibiotics because 1867 was how medicine was supposed to be?
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?
Yes, Carl, you could if you choose to let the pitcher bat for himself.
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.
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.
Do you think baseball teams should have 9 designated hitters? What about 9 fielders and 9 hitters?
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.
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 !
They’d have be playing in October for that to work. Also, hasn’t Heyward been a Cub for awhile?
lol my thoughts exactly
Nobody wearing a mask on a 96 degree, humid Chicago summer afternoon.
btw,what is mick kellher or steve dillard doing these days ????
Funny stuff.. Not thought of The Colonel for YEARS. Wonder if he’s even still involved in the game in some way/shape/form?
Good grief……
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.
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.
Northbrook’s own, bring him home Theo.
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.
What’s ironic about north suburban kids growing up fans of north side cubs?
whoever will play for free is welcome in Chicago. Cost of living is cheap there anyway
Compared to where? Nome, Alaska?
Living at the “Y.M.C.A.” !!!
Do you ever say anything correctly even by accident?
I’m right 100% of the time; 65% of the time.
you can’t even say that right
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.
The Cubs should sign Kipnis since he choked in his last at bat in game 7 of the 2016 World Series!
I mean 2016!
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.
What does that have to do with anything
How many washed up second basemen can one team sign??? Does theo think he’s gonna trade 17 ex MLB caliber 2b for prospects??
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…
DDT.
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.
Would rather have Scooter Genette
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.
Go Cubs Go