Ben Zobrist \(photo/MLB)
The Chicago Cubs “win now” mentality continued on Tuesday at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville when they agreed to a deal with free agent and former Royal Ben Zobrist. The Cubs landed Zobrist with a four-year, $56 million contract, and reunited him with Joe Maddon, his manager in Tampa Bay.
Maddon calls Zobrist one of his favorite players and after watching Zobrist in the second half of the season and into October with with Royals, we can see why he’s a manager’s favorite. He split last season between the A’s and Royals, helping Kansas City win the World Series. Zobrist batted .276 with 13 home runs, 36 doubles and three triples, playing second base, third base, left field and right field.
He hit .333 in the ALDS against Houston, driving in two runs. In the ALCS, he batted .320 and drove in six. While his average dipped to .261 against the New York Mets, he hit four doubles in the World Series.