3 Impact Bats Cubs Should Sign After Losing Out on Nicholas Castellanos

Apparently a .321 average and 37 extra base hits in 51 games wasn't enough to convince the Chicago Cubs they needed to break the bank to sign slugging outfielder Nick Castellanos. Now that the 58-double man has signed a huge deal with the rival Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs need to get right on finding a power-hitting replacement on the free agent market, and these three names stand out.

3. Domingo Santana

Santana made his name destroying NL Central pitching, as his 30 home run season in 2017 with Milwaukee will attest and his lone season in Seattle shows off. He is by no means fleet of foot or a good defender, but if Chicago is in the market for power and power alone, a 6-5 giant with 21 home runs last year as a Mariner would be a cost-effective option for them.

2. Hunter Pence

Pence will be 37 soon, but he was selected to an All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career with the Rangers. Pence and his herky-jerky batting stance hit .297 with 18 home runs in just 83 games. His defense is subpar, but Pence has 13 seasons in the league that attest to the fact he is incredibly consistent at the dish, and he could help bring another veteran into the locker room for David Ross.

1. Yasiel Puig

How is Puig not on a team yet? The magnetic Cuban star has clobbered 23 or more home runs in each of his three seasons, and his speed in the field and on the basepaths can singlehandedly alter the course of any given game. Puig might ask for a good chunk of change, which could be too much for the penny-pinching Cubs, but he would be the most direct replacement for Castellanos in terms of how he would impact a lineup.