Ivy League Cubs

By: Jake Russell

As the Cubs 2024 season winds down, there are some important questions that have to be asked about the future of some players on the Chicago Cubs. Last week, Jacob talked about Mike Tauchman’s future on the Chicago Cubs. Tauchman has just 18 PA’s in the month of August, and hasn’t started since the 7th. Patrick Wisdom is in a similar boat–he has just 16 PA’s this month, and today marks his first start in a week, with the struggling Paredes getting an off-day.

Wisdom has been the crux of much criticism from Cubs fans over the past few years, though that has never really sat right with me. Since 2021, Wisdom has a 109 wRC+ with 4.2 fWAR. This year, he has just a 98 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR. Wisdom has been pretty much relegated to just pinch hit appearances, and the occasional start–like today. He was relegated to a similar role down the stretch last year, and had a 148 wRC+ in the second half.

The reality is, Wisdom is a bench bat, one who has given above-average offense every year besides 2024. It could be his age catching up to him, or, more likely, it is small sample size related. He still sits at a 98 wRC+, which is not awful–and he’s making just 2.7 million dollars. A bump in his salary next year could put him at 3 million dollars or so, which is still incredibly cheap.

I think it’s worth keeping Wisdom around at a cheap price like that. He is still a fine hitter who you can keep on the bench. The reality is, bench bats are not superstars. Wisdom is projected by Steamer to have a 101 wRC+ the rest of the season. Getting a solid floor from a bench bat is very undervalued, in my opinion. Wisdom provides that, even if it comes with minimal defensive value and the need to be platooned. Plus, he has consistently decreased whiffs as a cub. This year marks his lowest Whiff and K rates as a Cub, though it’s come with more frequent mishits. Still, Wisdom is a worthy piece to keep around for as little as the Cubs are paying him.

I don’t think the Cubs will get rid of Wisdom, nor should they. People hate the way he plays, but the reality is he is a fine hitter who is getting paid next to nothing. Unless the Cubs really feel they need to get under the luxury tax (which I find unlikely), Wisdom will be around next year, albeit in a limited role once again.

Photo Credit: NBC Sports