'Grand' Opportunity: Cubs Should Pounce On Detroit's Granderson

Curtis Granderson, the Detroit Tigers center fielder and 2009 All-Star, may be available in trades, according to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune. If that is true, then Rogers and I agree on a corollary point: the Cubs must have him.

Looking toward 2010, the Cubs have three needs in regard to position players: a center fielder who can offset the defensive struggles of left fielder Alfonso Soriano; a left-handed bat to balance the lineup; and a slugger capable of picking up the slack if Soriano and catcher Geovany Soto fail to rebound from miserable 2009 seasons.

Granderson fits all three prescriptions to a tee. He plays above-average defense in center (an off year in 2009 notwithstanding; statistically, players often have one bad defensive year in every three of four, even the great ones).

He hits for power: 75 homers in the last three seasons, tied with Cleveland's Grady Sizemore for the most by a center fielder during that span.

Finally, he bats left-handed, and absolutely mashes right-handed pitching: .292/.367/.528 for his career, versus a woeful .210/.270/.344 against lefties.

Where he would hit is a relevant question. He has accrued over 90 percent of his career plate appearances as a leadoff hitter, but has a career on-base percentage of just .344, good enough but not ideal leadoff man material.

The Cubs also need a fifth hitter to protect Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, and Granderson would seem a better fit there if Chicago can find a more suitable man for the top spot.

Wherever he hits, he will inevitably draw some comparisons to Alfonso Soriano, with whom he shares a similar statistical profile. While it may not be apparent, however, Granderson has substantially better plate discipline than the man who would be his outfield partner.

Better still, Granderson has a very reasonable $24 million left on his deal, which runs through 2012. The Cubs would then have a $13-million option on his services for 2013. He will turn 29 before Opening Day, but should thus retain his value for the balance of that contract.

It would take a lot to get Granderson. The Cubs might have to move a piece of substantial value, like Lee , to get the talent the Tigers would want at the low cost they need. Starlin Castro would almost certainly be a part of the deal.

But for Granderson's unique skill set—he had 20 or more homers, doubles, triples and steals in 2007, a feat equaled only by Willie Mays (1957 Giants) and Frank Schulte (1911 Cubs) in baseball history—the price is not too steep.