The Cubs currently possess one of the more imposing outfields in terms of height and power.
And manager Joe Maddon hopes that 6-foot-5, 245-pound newcomer Jason Heyward gets acclimated immediately with 6-0, 235-pound left fielder Kyle Schwarber and 6-4, 215-pound right fielder Jorge Soler to avoid any mishaps.
“When it comes to (Heyward) playing center field, specifically with Schwarbs and Soler, my biggest concern is communication,” Maddon said Friday on the eve of the first workout for pitchers and catchers. “Those are three big guys. I’m going to cringe when they run into gaps with each other.
“Beyond all the physical mechanics of playing with each other, I want them to get on the same page communicatively.”
Maddon places a premium on run prevention, and the current outfield alignment figures to present a challenge even with the addition of Heyward, a 2015 National League Gold Glove right fielder with the Cardinals.
Heyward will move to center, where he has played only 233 career innings. Heyward should be an improvement over free agent Dexter Fowler, who was a minus-12 in defensive runs saved last season. But Soler was rated as a minus-8 and Schwarber, who will continue to work out at catcher but spend most of his time in left, was a minus-3 in left and experienced difficulty in Games 3 and 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Mets.
“I’ll help as much as they want,” Heyward said. “If I can pass along anything, or if they can pass something along for me, I’m wide open for it. If they need anything from me, feel free to ask because I want you to get better, and I want to be better. If you’re better, it makes me better. I’m better, it makes you better.”
Maddon also likes versatility, so there could be occasions when Heyward moves to right and speedster Matt Szczur or Javier Baez (an infielder by trade) takes over in center. As for the possibility of trades in any area, “right now that front is very quiet,” general manager Jed Hoyer said.
President Theo Epstein doesn’t want to overload Schwarber with work and information as he tries to improve his defensive skills in left and at catcher. Chris Coghlan and second baseman Ben Zobrist can play left, but Schwarber is eager to improve in left with help from Heyward. He wants the two of them to be comfortable with each other.
“I need to pick his brain a little bit,” Schwarber said, “so we can really make this outfield mesh.”
Twitter @MDGonzales
