Chicago Cubs: the land of misfit toys

Chicago Cubs: The Land of Misfit Toys

Albert Almora and/or Ian Happ

Happ and Almora emerged almost simultaneously from the Chicago Cubs farm systems, and it’s a reasonable assertion that in their competition for playing time both have stunted the other’s development.

The sixth overall pick in 2012, Almora debuted in 2016 as a flashy, defensive-oriented center fielder with offensive potential. The defense has been there, but Almora has failed to grow either at bat or on the basepaths. He has become a misfit.

Following .298 and .286 showings in two-thirds time duty in 2017 and 2018, he slumped to just .236 last season, eventually giving way to Heyward when Castellanos arrived.

The loss of Castellanos and the relocation of Heyward back to right field does open up center to somebody in 2020, but who that somebody will be is not clear. When Almora slumped last season, the Cubs recalled Happ and he batted .264 in 58 games, adding 11 home runs.

But Happ is nobody’s model center fielder. He is more of a Zobrist type, having split time at six positions last season. Except he hasn’t produced Zobrist’s offensive reliability, making him another misfit.

For that reason, the Cubs front office has a love-hate relationship with Happ. The team’s first round (ninth overall) selection in 2015, he debuted less than two years later, and was the opening day centerfielder ahead of Almora in 2018.

But he batted only .233 that season, and when spring training went badly last year the Cubs demoted Happ to Triple A Iowa, where he marinated into late July.

In short, the center field situation is a contest between a pair of misfit former No. 1 draft choices, neither of which has established that he can hit above .250.