The Red Sox have DFAd Franchy Cordero. Should the Cubs pounce?

I completely dig the premise of the DFA and waiver wires in Major League Baseball, more from the perspective of “Which guys make sense analytically?” than “Somebody lost their job.” Each of us, through our experiences, have a sort of player we’d be more lenient toward. Familiarity and a “perception of future success” play in heavily. On Thursday, as garbage trucks rolled through my neighborhood, Franchy Cordero was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox. Should Cordero be a Cubs post-season target?

As with many similar situations, it’s more complex than a simple “thumbs-up or thumbs-down” argument. There’s nuance in anything regarding an MLB roster. Which all goes to useless if the basics of learning more about a topic are disregarded. This case has gray areas, as do many.

When the Cubs had an open 40-man roster spot, and a pending opening at first base, in mid-July, putting a claim in on Frank Schwindel made sense. While Schwindel’s performance was “98th percentile or better,” that wasn’t necessarily the expectation in July. “Someone will need to play first when Anthony Rizzo is traded, and Schwindel is available for the waiver wire fee” applied then. Cordero will have no games to play until very late February.

Cordero has an option year remaining and is coming off a rather dreadful 2021 MLB season (though he did hit well in Triple-A). A lefty-swinging first baseman/outfielder from the Dominican Republic, Cordero hasn’t really been given a regular chance at the MLB level. Which, eventually, happened with Schwindel, Rafael Ortega and Patrick Wisdom in 2021. Would Cordero thrive in a chance at 300 MLB at-bats? By the way, a chance at 300 at bats is significantly different from a guarantee of 300 at-bats. Schwindel and Ortega were given a chance, and ran with it.

I’m not that familiar with Cordero, really. I’m not even aware if trades are permitted, yet. Whether trades are permitted or not, the Cubs have the seventh spot in waiver claims until after next season begins. With Cordero, three opportunities exist, and you’re welcomed to vote and chime in, below.

The Cubs could put a claim in on Cordero, and have him as that guy they try to sneak through waivers, as needed. They could pass on interest in him, entirely. They could pass, but monitor his case as the winter progresses, and offer him a competitive minor-league deal if he later becomes available. All three might make sense, depending on what you think of the 27-year-old.

I don’t think he’d make the roster in 2022, but he might. That he has an option season remaining plays, as well. In my opinion, the Cubs might as well put in a claim, even though I don’t see him surviving the entire offseason. I’m more intrigued, generally, by players the Cubs can stow in Iowa for multiple seasons, but each case is what it is.