Cubs Sign Speed Demon Jon Berti as Second-Base Stopgap and Utility Man

[Matthew Trueblood]

With Nico Hoerner's status for Opening Day much in doubt, one thing the Cubs wanted to do as they rounded out their roster was sign a capable second baseman who could stand in for him over the first few weeks. Wednesday night, they did so.

Image courtesy of © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs signed utility man Jon Berti to a one-year deal Wednesday night, a source confirmed. Robert Murray of FanSided was the first to break the news.

Berti, who turned 35 Wednesday, will make $2 million on the one-year deal. He's a .269/.337/.366 career hitter, and hit .268.335/.368 since the start of 2022. He remains one of the fastest players in baseball, even at this advanced age, and is 62-for-74 stealing bases over that same three-year span. His Statcast sprint speed for 2024 was 29.0 feet per second, an impressive number even before accounting for the facts of his age and his injury issues; he lost much of last year to groin and calf strains.

Obviously, this is a quintessential bench piece, a guy whom you slot in only when a primary option is unavailable. His price reflects that, though, and the good news is twofold: 

1. Berti, unlike other versions of this player type the Cubs have tried in recent years, has a track record of getting on base, where the ability to run so well can make a real difference. Nick Madrigal (.304) and Miles Mastrobuoni (.283) never ran OBPs that allowed their other skills to have much value. Berti should.
2. It's clear that the Cubs expect to run early and often in 2025. They're going to get aggressive. Berti fits that approach, not only because he's so fast, but because he's spent last season in the Yankees organization, from which the Cubs just hired baserunning gurus Jose Javier and Matt Talarico. Presumably, Berti will be able to act as a player conduit for the unique base-stealing ideas those two coaches bring to the organization.

By signing Berti on such a cheap deal, one might fairly hope, the Cubs gain the option of spending more freely to upgrade the pitching staff than they otherwise would. Whether that turns out to be true will determine how good anyone should feel about Berti's arrival, but given the pressing need for infield reinforcements and the frustration of watching Madrigal and Mastrobuoni fail to clear the low offensive bar for that role over the last few seasons, this is a perfectly sensible signing. It's not a needle-mover, but it does improve the team.

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[Rob]

Berti isn't just a backup plan for Nico. He is also our veteran 3B to challenge Shaw at 3B.

Honestly, I like the move. He's produced like an above-average regular two of the last three seasons. Last year was rough, and he's getting up there in years. But that's why he barely cost more than league minimum.

When he was healthy, he was basically what Vidal Brujan projected for before his development stalled. So the hope is either he gets healthy and returns to form or Brujan takes a step forward. But either way, I'm guessing the one looking rougher at the end of spring training is the one getting the axe.

[Development DL]

He gets on base . Above average at third and second .  When healthy strong base runner and stealer .  I agree this is a depth improvement.  I appreciate the data specific layout , in these areas .  Value in low dollar layout , that keeps flexibility for pitching improvements. 

 

 

 

[Rcal10]

8 hours ago, Development DL said:

He gets on base . Above average at third and second .  When healthy strong base runner and stealer .  I agree this is a depth improvement.  I appreciate the data specific layout , in these areas .  Value in low dollar layout , that keeps flexibility for pitching improvements. 

 

 

 

I don’t mind the Berdi signing. I agree he is a good utility. I also like the price. It allows them to be more aggressive somewhere else. Whether it is a trade or signing of a pitcher or another bench bat, or both, having that extra money could help. My fear is, he is the bench bat. Or at the very best he is one of the bench bats and he is the salary they are working with. Same with the pen. They have not shown they will spend bigger on the pen or the bench yet. And look how inexpensive they went with the rotation. If this is a move before the bigger addition, great. But if this is a move similar to what they do the rest of the off season, not so great.