Ben Zobrist Might Be Done

There was already discussion about Ben Zobrist possibly retiring after the 2019 season during the winter, as the veteran utility man was about to enter the final year of a four-year contract with the Cubs. Now, with Zobrist dealing with a pending divorce and with three young kids, the Cubs seem to be prepared to play out the rest of the 2019 season without the veteran.

Via the Chicago Sun-Times.

And as the Cubs push through the toughest part of their schedule to date without the versatile veteran and significant clubhouse voice, they also are forced to consider the possibility of playing the rest of the season without him.

“I have to think that way, absolutely,” Maddon said Tuesday, exactly three weeks after Zobrist took leave to tend to family issues, which have since involved divorce filings by him and his wife.

“I hope that’s not the case. But he’s at the point now where if he chose to come back, it’s going to take him awhile to get back up to speed, too. We have to mentally be prepared that we will not have him.”

Zobrist turned 38-years-old on Sunday and has been on the restricted list since May 8.

We hope his personal issues get resolved and at this point it’s obvious that’s his top priority.

As far as the team goes there are two big things that come with Zobrist not returning this year. For one, David Bote and Addison Russell will get more playing time and without Zobrist that means Joe Maddon still has to use Daniel Descalso, who’s been one of the worst hitters in baseball in May.

Zobrist was getting the majority of his starts in the outfield before he stepped away from the team three weeks ago, so Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Albert Almora Jr. will continue to get more regular playing time, with Kris Bryant occasionally starting in one of the corner outfield spots.

Then, there’s the money aspect. Zobrist is on the restricted list which means the Cubs don’t have to pay him. Zobrist’s 2019 salary is $12 million.

But at this point we don’t know if the Cubs are still paying him or not. They could if they wanted to, but because of the restricted list status they’re not required to. If they’re not, then that opens up a lot of money that the team could use for in-season acquisitions.

We do know that before every season the front office reserves some money to make moves during the year. If most of Zobrist’s money remains off the 2019 payroll, then it could open up even more opportunities to add players.

The bullpen struggles and lack of closer have been evident so far this season, so the thought of signing Craig Kimbrel is still on the minds of many Cubs fans.

Could Zobrist possibly not returning make a Kimbrel signing more feasible for the Cubs? It should be, but again we don’t know for sure if the Cubs are still paying Zobrist or not.

If they’re not, then getting Kimbrel should be a top priority for the front office now.