Today the finalists for the 2023 Silver Slugger awards were announced, and the Chicago Cubs have three on the list.
Probably the three you’d guess:
Since Cody Bellinger got the nod at both the outfield spot and the utility spot, I think that counts as two, right? So four finalists for the Cubs? Maybe 3.5?
I’m not sure any of the three will win the award when you review the other candidates, but Bellinger probably has the best chance at the utility spot, if Mookie Betts wins one for the outfield and the voters limit him to that one? (I don’t think that’s likely. Still nice to be a finalist, though.)
The full list of finalists is here at MLB.com, but the National League looks like this:
FIRST BASE
Pete Alonso, NYM
Freddie Freeman, LAD
Matt Olson, ATL
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies, ATL
Luis Arraez, MIA
Ketel Marte, AZ
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, STL
Manny Machado, SD
Max Muncy, LAD
Austin Riley, ATL
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts, SD
Francisco Lindor, NYM
Dansby Swanson, CHC
Trea Turner, PHI
OUTFIELD
Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL
Mookie Betts, LAD
Cody Bellinger, CHC
Corbin Carroll, AZ
Kyle Schwarber, PHI
Juan Soto, SD
Seiya Suzuki, CHC
CATCHER
William Contreras, MIL
Sean Murphy, ATL
J.T. Realmuto, PHI
Will Smith, LAD
DESIGNATED HITTER
Bryce Harper, PHI
J.D. Martinez, LAD
Marcell Ozuna, ATL
Jorge Soler, MIA
UTILITY
Cody Bellinger, CHC
Mookie Betts, LAD
Ha-Seong Kim, SD
Spencer Steer, CIN