*Photo from the Houston Chronicle*
There's another big bat coming to the Windy City. The Chicago Cubs and 1B/DH Trey Mancini have agreed to a two year, $14 million deal, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The Cubs have confirmed the deal.
The contract given to Mancini has an opt out following the 2023 season and also includes incentives. Mancini is coming off a World Series title in 2022, one year after winning AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 after missing the 2020 season due to his recovery from stage 3 colon cancer.
Mancini gives the Cubs an everyday player who is strong against both lefty and righty pitchers. He has hit .265 with a .330 on base percentage and .456 slugging percentage and right handed pitching compared to a .266 average with a .331 on base percentage and .459 slugging percentage against southpaws.
Last season, Mancini started the year with the Baltimore Orioles prior to a trade to the Houston Astros. Mancini ended the year with a .239 batting average and .710 OPS, hitting 18 home runs with 63 RBI's in 143 games played, 51 of which were with the Astros.
During Houston's playoff run, Mancini came off the bench, as Yuli Gurriel was ahead of him at first base and Yordan Alvarez was the DH. He struggled immensely with the bat, recording just one hit in 24 plate appearances. His biggest play was on defense. In game 5 of the World Series, playing first base, Mancini smothered a line drive from Kyle Schwarber to end the 8th inning with the Astros ahead 3-2. If that ball had gotten past Mancini, the game definitely would have been tied, and the Phillies might have taken the lead.
Mancini offers the Cubs some versatility, as he can take reps alongside Eric Hosmer at first base as well as DH. He can play both left and right field, but has not done so in a high volume recently, and the Cubs have their outfield lined up.
Across 6 seasons, Mancini has suited up for the Orioles for 5 1/2 along with Houston to end 2022. Mancini has a career .265 batting average, .330 on base percentage, and .457 slugging percentage, adding 372 RBI's and 125 home runs in 752 games played. The 2022 postseason has been Mancini's only taste of playoff baseball.
By adding Mancini, the Cubs have now added him, Hosmer, Dansby Swanson, Brad Boxberger, Cody Bellinger, and Jameson Taillon to the roster as they look to improve from a down year in 2022.
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