*Photo from Sports Illustrated*
The name of the game for the Chicago Cubs this offseason has been versatility. The Cubs and IF Jonathan Villar have agreed to a one year, $6 million deal, with incentives and a mutual option for 2023, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The Cubs have confirmed the deal.
Cubs manager David Ross said of the versatility brought in this offseason that "To be able to match up, and find the perfect matchup, is a luxury that most teams don't have. I think the goal is to get as many good players as you possibly can. The more we can bring talent into camp, the better off we're going to be overall, for sure."
Villar has no platoon splits at the plate, with a .733 OPS against left handed pitching, and a near equal .727 OPS against right handers. Villar has experience defensively at second base, 3rd base, and shortstop, while having a little bit of outfield under his belt as well, but he's a sure bet to get infield reps for the Cubs.
Last season, with the New York Mets, Villar finished the season with a .249 batting average to go with a .416 slugging percentage and .738 OPS. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 42 runs, adding 14 stolen bases for the Mets in 142 games, getting most of his action at 3rd base last season.
In the 9 major league seasons Villar has under his belt, he has a career .258 batting average with a .403 slugging percentage and .729 OPS. Villar has 98 home runs, 325 RBI's, and 232 stolen bases in 973 regular season games, split between 6 teams. Villar has made only two plate appearances in the playoffs, and didn't get on base.
With the universal DH being implemented, that gives Villar a chance for more reps, but he is more likely to platoon with Patrick Wisdom at 3rd base, with Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal, and Andrelton Simmons currently manning the middle infield.
Villar joins Simmons, Seiya Suzuki, Clint Frazier, Marcus Stroman, and Wade Miley as new acquisitions for the Cubs this offseason, as they look to retool in 2022.
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