Mark Teahen The Cubs Right Field Fix?

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly shown interest in 27-year old, left-handed, right fielder Mark Teahen of the Kansas City Royals.

Teahen, one of the "stars of the future" in the book Moneyball, has never lived up to the promise of being labeled the next Jason Giambi. In 2008, he hit .255 with 15 home runs and 59 runs batted in.

How interested are the Cubs?

The Kansas City Star has linked a number of Cub players to the rumors. Obviously, the Cubs are trying to unload Kosuke Fukudome to anyone that will take him. However, his slump in the second half of his rookie season has made him a trade market leper.

The names being most prominently linked to this potential deal are young center-fielder Felix Pie and position-less shortstop Ronny Cedeno. Should Teahen come to Chicago, it would allow Cubs manager Lou Piniella to make the moves he has intimated he wants—move Fukudome into a center-field platoon with Reed Johnson and leave Mark DeRosa in the infield.

Rumors are that the Cubs expressed a "serious interest" in Teahen and only backed away from the table with Kansas City to protect prospects they might need in a move to acquire Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres should Ryan Dempster leave. Now that Dempster is signed and staying in Chicago, the Cubs have talented youngsters that could draw interest from many trade partners.

With the quality of names on the free agent market this winter, with the likes of Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu, the name of Teahen is certainly intriguing. He would come dramatically cheaper than many other top-tier left handed hitting right fielders. He is also significantly younger than 36-year old Raul Ibanez, the free agent most frequently linked to "solving" the Cubs right field problem. In trade, the Royals have many more holes to fill than many of the other teams looking to shop a contract this winter as well.

Teahen has been referred to by some White Sox fans as their new Mark Sweeney (aka achilles' heel, nemesis, kryptonite, etc). However, perhaps the most interesting part of the Teahen rumor is his unique similarity to DeRosa. In 2008, Teahen saw 444 at bats as an outfielder and 124 as a corner infielder. His ability to play both third and first base, as well as both left and right field, is the kind of versatility that Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry has shown an affinity for acquiring.

Could Teahen be the Cubs' answer in right field in 2009? We'll see...