With Addison Russell on the disabled list, Javy Baez is currently the Cubs’ starting shortstop. The backup shortstop is … um … Kris Bryant? Ben Zobrist? Ian Happ? Tommy La Stella?
None are actually shortstops, and they’d play there only in case of emergency. Even at AAA Iowa, the Cubs have only utility options who could play at shortstop if necessary, with Chesny Young being the name you’re most likely to recognize (and he’s hitting just .272/.322/.321 this year).
That is all to say, even if Russell were active, the Cubs could probably stand to add some experienced middle infield depth to the reserves at AAA Iowa.
So they have.
The Cubs have signed veteran utility man Mike Freeman to a minor league deal, and he’s already on the Iowa Cubs roster (h/t MLBTR on the signing). The 30-year-old lefty batter was bounced from the Dodgers’ 40-man roster when the team traded for Yu Darvish. He was hitting .306/.384/.372 at AAA at the time, and has generally hit well at AAA in his career.
Freeman has seen time with multiple teams at the big league level the last two years, putting up completely forgettable offensive numbers, but seeing time defensively all over the field.
He’ll continue fill that role with the Cubs – extremely versatile defensive depth – who lost a similar player in Munenori Kawasaki after last season. Hopefully Freeman’s ready to discuss his feelings on ghosts.