TODAY: Marisnick’s deal has been officially announced.
FEB. 11, 9:12am: Marisnick and the Cubs have agreed to a one-year Major League deal with a mutual option for the 2022 season, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The contract guarantees Marisnick $1.5MM. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that the guarantee will be paid out in the form of a $1MM salary in 2021 and a $500K buyout on a $4MM mutual option. He can earn another $500K in 2021 via incentives, Heyman adds.
8:15am: The Cubs and free-agent outfielder Jake Marisnick are in agreement on a contract, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports (via Twitter). Marisnick is represented by Reynolds Sports Management.
Marisnick, 30 in March, has spent the bulk of his career with the Astros but was with the Mets in 2020. A pair of hamstring injuries limited the fleet-footed outfielder to just 16 games, although Marisnick was quite productive in his tiny sample of 34 plate appearances, hitting .333/.353/.604 with a pair of homers and three doubles.
That level of production, of course, shouldn’t be expected moving forward. Marisnick has been a below-average hitter for most of his time in the Majors, though he’s offset that sub-par bat with well above-average speed and excellent glovework. Over the past four years he’s a .234/.297/.441 hitter overall, though he’s fared better when facing left-handed pitching (.247/.313/.443).
Marisnick’s speed was down a bit in 2020, though the pair of hamstring strains surely contributed to that fact. Statcast measured his sprint speed at 29.2 feet per second from 2016-19 but had him down to 28.2 last year. That still ranked in the 84th percentile of MLB players, however, and Marisnick typically sits in the 94th percentile or better with those wheels. He also ranked among the 20 best outfielders in the game in Statcast’s Outs Above Average each year from 2016-19, and he’s been viewed as a similarly elite defender by Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating.
The Cubs already had a right-handed-hitting option to platoon with fellow newcomer Joc Pederson and right fielder Jason Heyward in the form of Phil Ervin, so it’s possible Marisnick will bump him out of the plans. Ervin is a much better hitter against lefties than Marisnick but doesn’t stack up as well defensively. Chicago could certainly carry both players on the roster and more aggressively utilize a platoon setup in the outfield. At the time of the Pederson signing, it was reported that he’d be given near-everyday at-bats, although playing him against lefties would mitigate much of his value.
However it shakes out, the Cubs are a much better defensive team now with Marisnick on board. Somewhat amusingly, they’ve also now in effect swapped fourth outfielders with the Mets. Albert Almora Jr., non-tendered by the Cubs earlier in the winter, signed with New York this past week.
Insert Jed Hoyer comments:
Ol’ Junk-Lovin’ Jed!
Hahahahahaha what happened to this team?
Can he be put on waiver
First person to say, “Nice move, good depth signing.” 3,2,1, Go!
Appears to be you.
that’s worse then the tired jokes about dumpster diving?
Cubs and Mets basically traded 4th outfielder, defensive replacement.
Makes sense.
Almora win’t take walks and has only average speed at best. He is very good in CF however. Playing Joc against lefties is stupid.
Almora has fit between the 70th and 80th percentile in sprint speed his whole career
Almora decent in field and on base paths. Hasn’t a clue at the plate. Has good power – needs a hitting lab correction. Will swing at anything
How do we know he was fine in the minors Dodgers never gave him ( Joc ) a chance
⚾️
Decent defensive replacement/ platoon option for Joc
Cubs basically promised Joc he wouldn’t get platooned. Makes me wonder how they handle the timeshare in the OF
Think defensive replacement for happ and will probably play against some left handed pitching. Better defensive cf than happ.
Or, move Happ to 2nd, give Marisnick CF, and let Hoerner get some seasoning in AAA…
No way Bote & Nico are better 2B than Happ
No Happ needs to play in CF. Give LF to Marisnick. If he makes the team. Pretty sure it’s a minor league deal with an invite to ML camp.
There are very few left handed SPs in the NL Central. Joc will get his reps.
He can play all three outfield spots.
I’d rather have Marisnick as the everyday LF over Joc. Joc always has a smug look on his face.. seems like he’s arrogant. And it’s all about me, me, me for him.
You’d rather someone not play because the look they have on their face? Even for the comments section, this is particularly vapid.
I’m just he doesn’t look like he’s a good clubhouse guy. I hope I’m wrong.
Wow, he doesn’t look like a clubhouse guy. I guess that matters more than what his teammates would say about how he acts. Looks are very important.
That person doesn’t look smart over there. Oh, well, that’s Neil deGrasse Tyson, so….
Production is all that matters. Being a good “clubhouse guy” is pretty much meaningless. You’re worried that your team signed a guy with a smug look on his face? What??
Joc is not jocular. That a fact
Joc makes Adam Eaton look like Sponge Bob
Adam Eaton (both of them) is/was not that good. The OF is trash. So comparing him to Joc Pederson isn’t saying much.
We will see blind in or be gone
Lol. Thoughts and feelings are not how you write out the lineup card. Even though I hate the Cubs I wouldn’t wish your uninformed opinion on them. Cubs are a bit lost right now, but have a great Franchise. They deserve smarter fans
I don’t hate this move.
Seems like a decent pick up.
Doesn’t hit for a high average but has some pop, good stolen base threat, solid defensively.
It’s a waste. Another guy who cannot hit the ball for average or get on base. His career OBP is .280.
That’s not inspiring depth. Who cares if he can occasionally hit HRs if he more often fails to hit or walk. Just another scrub signing by Jed, who has to hope Happ continues to trend upward and that Heyward doesn’t start to dip more.
This team has no professional hitter on the bench. No guy to count on coming off the bench or subbing well on an off day for starters.
I don’t often complain about pro money, but dude was given 4 million to be a below average bench role. They may as well have promoted one of their Triple A guys and saved the money.
But at least he doesn’t have that smug look on his face.
Trash heapin’ Hoyer meets trash can banging Marisnick. A match made in heaven!
nice move, good depth signing.
We have a winner!
yes! I havent felt this good since 2016
Cubs lol
how many WS has your team won since then?
If hamstrings are healthy he plays a great CF. Living in Houston I always wondered if he received consistent ABs, could he hit better? 6’3” – 6’4” and has some power. If someone gives him 500 ABs can he hit 25 HRs and bat .270 with solid D in CF?
I tend to agree with you. I saw a lot of him when he was at NOLA in AAA, and thought that given consistent ABs, and working to cut down on some pitches that tie him up inside, he could be a Mark Canha type, .260-270, 20-25 HR, 80 RBI, 35 SB, solid defensive player.
When did Mark Canha come close to a 35 SB season?
I like both players but Marisnick and Cahna are nothing alike as ballplayers.
Have to agree with Nebraska those 2 players are very different type players
Get your point though, and I agree if Marisnick got a 500 ab season he could hit .260 25hrs 30sb with great defense but a lot of k’s
Basically a Buxton-type with less hype.
@stevenebraska
Canha never has stolen more than 7 and has had more than 58 RBI once (70) and he hit 20+ once. He is also a .249 hitter. Not .260-.270. He has actually only hit over .255 once. And I wouldn’t really call him a plus or even average defender considering he has had primarily below average defensive metrics his whole career
Where does Bote play
On the water.
You’re confusing him with Smoak
You got me.
The Cubs OF defense really improved this winter.
Will Kris Bryant finally be traded?
Shake your Bote
Wow, a guy who proves to be around .235 getting 300-372 at-bats is going to morph into a .270 hitter after six plus year in the league. Wishful thinking. You don’t give .230 hitters more at-bats. If he had shown he could do those stats at the pro level, he would have earned playing time.
Wow he’s great. Trade Krissy while you can for useful parts.
He won’t get that many bats not even half are OF is set Phillip was on pass if they decided DH is safer for pitchers but union don’t care it’s a bargaining chip not fair. For many Pitchers who are they here for ?.
Nice move, good depth signing.
Hahaha, correct, nice move, good depth signing.
Put him in center and let Happ play 2B.
Nico needs some time in AAA. They missed the boat on Wong but that sounds like a solid plan B at least for a month or two.
Wong made no sense for the cubs. They believe in Hoerner, need to add pitching, and they have limited budget. Spending 16 million on Wong, would have made adding additional pitching impossible.
Nico can play a super utility role for the cubs. They have an entire rotation of contact pitchers and Wong excels at defense. Another added bonus is he can lead off without striking out 200 times. He was the perfect fit for the cubs. He cost 16 million over 2 years, not sure he would of prevented the cubs from adding any of the remaining bargain pitchers on free agency.
That would be a logical solution to the Cubs problem at 2nd. I think Marisnick would do well if given 450-500 ABs, but keeping healthy will be the key
Give Hoerner a chance, he is 23. Happ is terrible defensively at 2nd.
Agree
No
Disappointed Cubs fan here… should’ve kept Almora over Jake.
As much as I liked Almora’s glove, this guy, if healthy is a step up. And he may potentially have a better bat if given a chance. Almora had his shot and just didn’t deliver at the plate. He needed a change of scene.
The change of scenery is the only argument that I agree with. I think it’s more of a desire to distance themselves from the 2016 team.
I agree with these comments below–Almora needed a change of scenery. He still has not been the same since hitting the child with the foul ball, which was of course not his fault…but I can understand how that might take a toll on him. Maybe in a different city he can get back to what he was–league-average hitter, great glove, solid clubhouse presence. I always liked Almora and hope he does well, even if it is with the mets.
Yes
Basically the Cubs traded Almora for Marisnick? They should’ve kept Almora, as he has more upside. Marisnick will never be more than a fourth outfielder.
Almora has been absolutely atrocious for the cubs. Hopefully he gets a boost from a change of scenery.
Almora had his worst year last year, during a weird season, and yet his bomb of a BA still has him at 40 points higher than Marisnick. JM has more power, but Almora played a very solid CF and was never given a chance to start bc he never developed his power.
Almora should have been groomed to be a lead-off hitter, rather than the silliness of. all the non-traditional Maddeneque reimagining of what 1-4 hitters look like.
Almora will never be a starter for a good team. As spare outfielders go, Marisnick is fine.
Mets a better team than Cubs Almora should be in CF
Almora will never be anything more than a 4th OF himself,
Agreed Frank. People think Marisnick can hit. He can’t. Almora might be more effective vs lefties moving forward.
Almora has power. He needs a hitting lab stint badly. The home runs he has hit weren’t ones that barely cleared the wall. He has hit some monster shots. Like a computer that needs a complete reboot. He led the league in BA one year for four months. I know a stat that mentioning is like swearing now. Anyways A-Roid says Almora had the best swing coming up. Have no idea where he lost it
Holy hell did someone just mention Heywards name?!? He still exists??? We have a Heyward sighting?!?!?
Still getting paid. Forever and a half contract.
He actually had a good year last season too! Doubt he carries those numbers over a full 162 game season, but at least there’s a glimmer of hope
A noble and righteous dude too. Sometimes nice guys don’t finish last.
Marisnick looked very good for the Mets last year playing a good CF and hitting well when he wasn’t injured which was too few and far between.
Any player can look great over 33 at bats. They can look all-world. that’s a ridiculous analysis to make, considering for 1700 career at-bats, he simply has not looked any better than who he is replacing. Why go for an aged player rather than trust your farm for depth. Hoyer’s veteran plugs are sheet.
Marisnick is a better defender. The numbers substantiate that.
Would’ve much rather the Mets signed Marisnick instead of Almora. Good move for the Cubs.
I’m guessing the Mets believe Almora has an upside still? I think he is what he is. I would take Marisnick at the same cost for sure.
Cardinals fan here and I think this is a nice pickup. I wish the Cardinals had looked at him. I’d rather have him than Tyler O’Neill in LF here.
I actually was able to watch Marisnick play in person, outside of 2017 I should mention, and he was fun to watch, even against San Francisco. I enjoyed watching him, because he was making diving plays, and as a CF myself, I love watching those. I believe he had 2 hits that day as well. Definitely don’t want to hit it near center if he’s patrolling
So the Mets and Cubs basically swapped below average RH hitting Center Fielders
Yes & the Cubs win. Marisnick is better than Almora
Putt putt putter
Phil Ervin we barely knew thee..
This is a good deal. Nice 3 or 4 ML deals. Start the rebuild next year for their Prospects to get the call for 2022. There’s no need for a complete tear down. Their core guys are still very good Baez and Rizzo especially. KB can be t4ade for 2 low level prospects and one ML ready player with medium-high potential.
Descent pick up. This is how the Cubs will do business the next year or so. Now try to sign RP Jeremy Jefferies, back up infielder Brock Holt and a SP like Jake Odorizzi and this team can be competitive in a diluted NL Central.
I agree. Jeffress was their most consistent reliever last year. Sign him to a 1 year deal as well with a mutual option. We both know Kimbrel will struggle so Rossy and slowly move Jeffress/Ryan and Wick and Wieck with bullpen by committee.
Yes, a pickup for a team on their descent.
Jed “Brother can you spare a dime” Hoyer.
Da Cubs are Da Broke.
Ole “Trash Heap” Hoyer strikes gold again.
You got that right. Just remember baseball is a business. And just like any other business there are ups and downs. The downs catch up with every business sooner or later.
Bro you’re so cringe lol. Seriously the Sox have a legit team and U still on here like a scorned ex girlfriend blowing up dudes phone. Get a life. Oh wait, is your Sox website not doing so well. 4 real do u just sit and wait on MLB rumors all day in your moms basement?
He lives in your head haha
With 2 of the three starting Outfielders in Boston LH hitters i was hoping the Sox would make a run for Marisnick. Most likely Kike gets his Outfield reps against Lefty pitchers
This dude rakes and hits bombs!
8 tool playa
I’m just a couch potato GM, but I feel like I would have rather the Cubs passed on Joc Pederson ($7 M) if they were to sign Jake Marisnick ($1 M).
Could have probably also signed Brett Gardner ($5 M?) to platoon CF, and move Happ (a weak defender) to LF.
Then use the extra $1 M to put toward bringing back Jeffress.
Yes we need Jeffries no matter who we get and keep Kimbral till August
Don’t give KB up for free or near free ‼️!if it’s the Mets Get Bettani,JD Davis 2 minors 10-15 rating. Cause KB will love NYC
Insurance. Smart move too. By the end, I bet they’re predicting Pederson/Happ/Heyward against righties. And Ervin/Marisnick/Happ against lefties. If Bote gets playing time and Bryant doesn’t get traded they could always play Bote at 3B, and go with Bryant/Marisnick/Ervin and spell Happ or plug Happ at 2B.
Oh boy this is going to be great
All this talk about how he has potential with the bat and has some pop.
He’s had 2 seasons over a 700 OPS. The same 2 are the only seasons he has produced above 100 OPS+
Those two seasons would be 16 games last year and the 2017 trash can fest
They got him for his glove late in games and spot starts. There is almost zero chance he is worse with a bat than Almora.
Homeless Huntin’ Hoyer
Jed is just the Mini me
Junk Jugglin’ Jed
Amateurs
Can we fast forward to start the season?I really need some baseball.
honestly if was a cubs fan i wouldn’t worry about the “dumpster moves” i would be more concerned on how can we fix the problem of not being able to home-grow pitching. i feel that is the reason cubs farm is weak and they have an inflated payroll because they seem to have to buy pitching one way or another.
Cubs might have figured the pitching part out, but nobody to really help until 2022
i hope so and also hope they fixed the issues in milb why they can develop pitching either. i may hate the cubs but it’s more enjoyable watching the cards beat a good cubs team than cubbies of old
Winner winner dinner dinner!
It’s winner winner,chicken dinner.
Can the Cubs please talk about being Jeffries back on the cheap he was are best RP last year till Kimbral turned on his magic onThe last month of the short season.