On Monday the Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros, which for some reason hasn't had many questioning what the team will do with youngster Arismendy Alcantara, who mostly played center field in 2014.
Fowler will now likely take over in center, where Alcantara started 48 out of his 70 games in 2014. The 23-year-old Dominican spent six seasons in the Cubs' farm system and played a majority of his games at shortstop (266) followed by second base (181), third base (51) and center field (11). Starlin Castro is at shortstop and Javier Baez is at second base, which rule out those two spots.
Third base is the next possible option. Alcantara can certainly be the Opening Day starter at that post since the Cubs traded starter Luis Valbuena to Houston in the Fowler deal, but it won't be long before top prospect Kris Bryant is called up to play the hot corner. The team also has Mike Olt and Tommy La Stella they can use at third. Barring any injuries, we can check the infield off as a place Alcantara probably won't see much playing time in 2015.
There doesn't seem to be much room in the outfield for him either with Chris Coghlan in left, Fowler in center and Jorge Soler in right. In September it was believed Alcantara would be the team's future leadoff hitter and now there's seemingly no place for him to get significant playing time. However, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, it appears the youngster will actually have an important role with Chicago in 2015.
"Alcantara brings a smile to [manager Joe Maddon's] face every time because he's exactly the type of player he loves," general manager Jed Hoyer said, via Gonzales. "If having Fowler in center field causes Alcantara to move around the field, that will make Joe a better manager because he'll have that guy he's always had in Tampa."
It's also possible they ease him in this upcoming season and allow him to develop a bit more instead of throwing him into a starting role as well as the leadoff spot after just 70 games in the big leagues. After all, he did struggle a bit with a .205/.254/.367 stat line in 2015. In fact, as the team's leadoff hitter in 19 games, he slashed just .170/.223/.205 with 11 runs scored and three RBIs. If they can successfully utilize him as a Ben Zobrist-type player that would be a great piece to have on their roster, but is he open to doing that? If not, it's likely he'd be a valuable piece on the trade market.
"Scouts are raving about Arismendy Alcantara and the talent he displayed for his Licey team in winter ball," writes ESPN's Jim Bowden. "He showed his usual power and speed while hitting .324, and continued to make strides defensively in center field. Last year he posted 20 homers, 29 steals and 69 extra-base hits between Triple-A and the big leagues, and will end up being an important part of the Cubs' lineup this year and going forward."
Here's one last thought: Chicago is still said to be in contact with the Philadelphia Phillies regarding a trade for left-hander Cole Hamels. Just to throw some ideas out there, is it possible Alcantara could be one of the players featured in a deal that would bring the Cubs another left-handed ace in Hamels? If so, with their deep farm system, it's certainly not too outlandish to think the Cubs would pull the trigger and send Alcantara to Philadelphia.
But that's all just speculation. As of right now, we expect to see the 23-year-old in some sort of utility role with the Cubs in 2015.
