One of the main storylines out of Cubs camp during this year’s spring training is what will the bench look like on the Opening Day roster. There are as many as nine players competing for three bench spots on the position side and a recent trend in Cubs spring training lineups might be hinting at one guy who may have an edge in the competition.
Let’s assume that left fielder Ian Happ will return sometime soon and be ready for Opening Day. He’s been out with a hamstring strain for the past few weeks and in the meantime the Cubs have been using several different players to start in left field during spring training. However, on Friday and now again Saturday, there’s been a new name on Craig Counsell’s lineup card that’s been playing left field and it’s a bit surprising.
The Cubs signed veteran right-handed hitter Garrett Cooper late in the offseason and he’s certainly done a great job of winning over fans with his bat down in Arizona. Cooper, 33, signed a minor league deal and was a non-roster invitee to Cubs camp, meaning if he does make the Opening Day squad at the end of March, then the Cubs will have to make room on their 40-man roster.
Cooper is 6-for-17, with 2 home runs a double and four walks in seven Cactus League games entering Saturday’s action.
Many have seen Cooper’s addition to the team in spring training as the main competition to Patrick Wisdom, as both right-handed hitters have excelled against left-handed pitching throughout their respective careers. However, with Nick Madrigal also going down with a hamstring issue, the Cubs might carry both Wisdom and Cooper to begin the regular season and seeing Cooper starting in left field may just be a big hint into that decision.
Cooper started in left on Friday against the White Sox and he’s out there again vs. the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
Cooper has primarily been a first baseman during his MLB career, but he does have some experience in the outfield, although it’s been a couple years since he’s had starts out there. He has 73 career starts in right and 3 more in left, but all those came from 2018-21.
Is there a chance that the Cubs feel Happ won’t be ready by Opening Day, so the team is testing out Cooper in left? Sure, that could definitely be a possibility, but there’s also the scenario in which Happ is on the roster and begins the year easing into the outfield and mainly starts at DH the first week or so. In that scenario, especially against a left-handed starting pitcher, maybe the Cubs want Cooper’s bat in the lineup instead of Mike Tauchman, so he has to start a few games in left field.
I wouldn’t say it’s ideal to have Cooper in left, but if it’s only for a short period of time, then the Cubs can manage through it. But for me, seeing Cooper go out and starting a few games in left does tell me the team values him and is most likely leaning toward having Cooper on the Opening Day roster.
