The Chicago Cubs have an interesting MLB trade deadline ahead of them. Sitting in last place in the NL Central, they had aspirations of contending in the division when the season began. After a hot start, the team decayed physically and on the field, leaving the cupboard barren for first-year manager Craig Counsell. The front office is in an interesting position as the MLB trade deadline approaches and the Cubs start to play better.
Do they sell what they can and stockpile assets for 2025 and beyond? Do they add to the roster, hoping the tide will change for the better in the final two months of the year? One thing has made the hectic next couple of weeks a little more clear. The play of Michael Busch has cemented that if the Cubs want to add at the MLB trade deadline, they don’t have to at the expense of their first-year first baseman.
Welcome to Chicago Michael Busch
Michael Busch has had a whirlwind of a first half in his first season with the Chicago Cubs. After being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2023 offseason, Busch took advantage of his opportunity on the north side of Chicago, starting white hot out the gate at the plate while playing a significant league-quality first base.
It was unclear exactly where Busch could fit in the majors in the field but the Cubs brought him in with the goal of putting him at first to secure the position for the present and future.
The position had been in flux since Anthony Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees. The team opted for minor-leaguers to try and fill the void with Frank Schwindel, Jared Young, and veterans like Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini. Busch was seen as a player with upside and a more viable probability of staying with the Cubs long-term.
Game of Adjustments
Coming into the year, the Cubs hoped that they would make the playoffs, and their decision to put Busch at first would be a reason why. Three-plus months in, it is still murky whether the Cubs have a chance to make the postseason, and it’s been a roller coaster for Busch at the plate.
Opening up 2024, Busch was bashing anything he could get his eyes on, setting rookie records for consecutive games with a home run in early April, taking his walks, and coming up big in the clutch. The left-handed slugger was atop many early-season Rookie of the Year rankings and was a big reason the Cubs got a hot start in the NL Central.
However, like the club, Michael Busch’s fortunes took a hit over the next couple of months. As pitchers scouted and adjusted to Busch in the box, he cooled off considerably, putting the ROTY projections on hold.
He fell victim to early count off-speed pitches and swinging strike-threes on fastballs above the zone. He couldn’t stay off breaking balls that sank beneath the zone, and he wasn’t as reliable in the clutch. Even Busch’s fielding fell in quality, as plays he routinely made became questionable, and plays where he would pick up another infielder failed to become outs.
Mid-Summer Swing
Just when the questions around Busch rose to a fever pitch with the MLB trade deadline approaching, he was able to turn it around at the perfect time and make the necessary adjustments. His average came back up, his plate discipline improved, and his fielding returned to where it was early on in the season. Starting in June, Busch and his teammate Ian Happ have propelled the Cubs to victories.
Busch now touts a .275/.365/.476 with a .841 OPS on the season with 12 HRs and 34 RBIs.
The team has been mired in the constant questions about buying or selling at this year’s MLB trade deadline, but with Busch’s recent success, that’s one player the Chicago Cubs won’t have to worry about. With his versatility, Busch can play all around the infield, so if the Cubs want to add a first baseman or even an outfielder, Chicago has the fielding utility to get the best bats in their lineup while not compromising on defense.
Impacting the MLB Trade Deadline
With the tumultuous season the Chicago Cubs have had so far, combined with their organizational landscape, payroll, and prospect haul, the Cubs will be one of the more interesting teams to watch as we approach the end of July.
There have been pleas to buy before the deadline and add a Mason Miller to the ailing bullpen or an Elias Diaz to the lineup. There have been scattered calls to sell and further develop the farm system, which has consistently ranked in the top five for the last two seasons, by trading away coveted players like Cody Bellinger, Christopher Morel, and Nico Hoerner.
Michael Busch’s play as a solid, young, club-controlled first baseman is vital for Jed Hoyer to piece together what must be done in the coming weeks. The early-season calls for Vlad Guerrero Jr. have been quelled to a large extent, allowing fans to focus their attention on other positions.
With many of the players in the Cubs lineup being versatile fielders, it gives Jed Hoyer a lot of leeway regarding who the club can target if they choose to buy. If they decide to sell, prospects wait in the wings to fill the gaps left by those traded away. Either way, Michael Busch has been a welcomed addition to the Chicago Cubs, and after a rocky May, he has rebounded to help make Hoyer’s MLB trade deadline decision a lot more difficult through his quality play.
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