The Cubs agreed with the pitcher Jon Bertireports Robert Murray of FanSided. A one-year, $2MM guarantee that includes another $1.3MM in performance bonuses, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Chicago has a full 40-man roster and will need to make another move once this deal is finalized. Berti is a client of Ball Players Agency.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said last week that the front office is looking to improve the bench. The multi-positional striker appeared to be in high demand. Chicago is already adding Carson Kelly as a backup catcher and has a strong outfield. Their infield was very unsettled after the inning Isaac Paredes of Kyle Tucker trade.
Berti, who turns 35 today, is the picture of a sane figure. He is a good athlete with enough experience at second base, third base and shortstop. He has decent defensive ranges in all three areas. Berti surpassed 100 games for the Marlins in both the 2022 and ’23 seasons. He compiled a .268/.334/.373 batting line with solid strikeout and walk rates. Although he has little strength, he is an excellent runner. Berti stole 41 bases in 46 attempts back in 2022 and continues to get high with his overall baserunning acumen.
The Yankees acquired a hitter from Miami just before the start of last season. Berti would have a chance to push DJ LeMahieu because the third worker was always healthy. It wasn’t to be, as he went on the injured list with groin and calf issues earlier in the year. The latter – a notable strain on his left calf – sidelined him between May and September. Berti was limited to 25 regular season appearances and played four times during New York’s run to the AL pennant. He hit .273 with one extra-base knock (a homer) in 74 plate appearances.
Berti ended his six-year career in the big leagues. New York could keep him in his final year of arbitration eligibility. They chose not to offer him a contract, which MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz revealed was worth around $3.8MM. He’s just shy of that number as a free agent but gets a guaranteed deal and an MLB roster spot. As a player with more than five years of service, he cannot be sent to minors without his consent. He will be on the Chicago big league team.
It will probably be part of the bench. Dansby Swanson locked in at shortstop. Nico Hoerner will play second base when healthy. Hoerner is recovering from flexor surgery and may start the season on the injured list. That would leave Berti as the favorite to take the keystone. Hope Matt Shaw It is expected to work every day in the third place. He is coming off a monster year in the majors (.284/.379/.488 with 21 homers between Double-A and Triple-A). Shaw has a great offense, but plenty of top prospects have struggled in their first major league appearance.
Berti provides injury insurance for Hoerner and adds a grounder to third base if Shaw doesn’t ground out. The discovery may have pushed at least one of you Vidal Bruján or Gage Workman out of the list. Workman is a Rule 5 pick, and Bruján is one of the Cubs’ top picks from Miami last month. Bruján is out of options and can’t be shipped without clearing waivers. It’s unlikely the Cubs will carry Berti, Bruján and Workman each to the opening day lineup, especially if Hoerner is healthy.
Berti’s low salary brings the Cubs’ luxury tax number to nearly $200MM, as calculated by RosterResource. He’s still more than $40MM under the tax line and should have plenty of room for other acquisitions. Hoyer called the bullpen a priority and is tied for a number of high-profile shortstops in trades and free agents.
Image courtesy of Imagn.
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