Madrigal likely won't have an everyday role in 2023, though he could hit leadoff when he does play, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Madrigal's path to an everyday role has become clouded with Dansby Swanson now in the fold and Nico Hoerner still around, though Madrigal should still rotate in at several positions. Chicago manager David Ross may choose to use Madrigal in the leadoff role from time to time, which would boost his fantasy value when he does find his way onto the lineup card.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Avoids arbitration
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Madrigal and the Cubs agreed on a one-year, $1.225 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The 25-year-old struggled to stay healthy in 2022, batting .249 with seven doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs and three stolen bases over 209 at-bats in 59 games with the Cubs. With the addition of Dansby Swanson this offseason, Madrigal does not have direct path to a starting spot in the infield, though he will likely rotate in and out of the lineup in a variety of spots including designated hitter in 2023.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Done for 2022
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Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that Madrigal (groin) won't return this season, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Injuries have been an issue for Madrigal in all three of his big-league seasons, and this year a couple different issues limited him to only 59 games. He will finish 2022 with just a .587 OPS, but he did hit an even .300 in August -- the month in which he recorded over a third of his at-bats. Madrigal should be back at 100 percent well in advance of spring training, and he figures to get a chance to compete for a starting job at second base.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Placed on injured list
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Madrigal was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Madrigal exited Friday's matchup with a groin issue, and he'll be sidelined for at least a week and a half after being diagnosed with a strain. Zach McKinstry is starting at second base Saturday against the Giants and should see the majority of the playing time at the keystone during Madrigal's absence.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Madrigal (groin) isn't starting Saturday against the Giants.
Madrigal was removed from Friday's matchup due to right groin tightness, and he'll be held out of the lineup for at least one game. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Zach McKinstry will start at second base and lead off.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Not in Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Madrigal isn't starting Thursday against the Reds.
Madrigal started the last two games and went 2-for-9 with a double, two RBI, a steal, a walk and a strikeout. Zach McKinstry will take his place at second base and lead off.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Heads to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Madrigal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in St. Louis.
Madrigal will get a breather for the series finale while Zach McKinstry gets at turn at second base and as the Cubs' leadoff man. Over his past six games, Madrigal went 8-for-25 at the plate, but he produced no home runs, runs, RBI or steals during that stretch.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Takes seat Wednesday
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Madrigal isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Madrigal started the last five games and hit .300 with a double, a run and two walks across that span. Zach McKinstry will take over at second base and lead off Wednesday.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting Thursday
Rotowire
Madrigal will sit Thursday against the Cardinals.
Madrigal will get a day off after he went 2-for-7 with a run scored while starting the last two contests. Zach McKinstry will slide over to second base while Nelson Velazquez enters the lineup in center field and bats eighth after some shuffling.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting for early game
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Cardinals.
Zach McKinstry will man second base and handle leadoff duties while Madrigal gets a breather for the early game of the twin bill. Madrigal led off in each of the Cubs' last five games, going 6-for-21 with a walk, three runs and an RBI.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Tallies three hits Friday
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Madrigal went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Friday's 8-7 win over the Brewers.
Madrigal gave the Cubs a spark as their leadoff hitter. The second baseman is now batting .250 this season, though he's upped that to .325 across 12 games this month, which has been his first action since June due to a groin injury. If Madrigal stays healthy, he could be primed for a good finish to the year as Chicago's primary option at the keystone and a regular leadoff hitter.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting Wednesday
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Madrigal isn't starting Wednesday against Washington.
Madrigal is resting during Wednesday's series finale after he went 1-for-9 with a double, a run and a strikeout over the last two games. Zach McKinstry will shift to the keystone while P.J. Higgins enters the lineup at first base.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Madrigal is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Madrigal racked up six hits over his last three games, but he will be held out Sunday in favor of Zach McKinstry, who is sharing the playing time at both second and third base with Madrigal and Christopher Morel.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Tallies three hits, stolen base
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Madrigal went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Reds.
Madrigal led off for the Cubs in the Field of Dreams Game in Iowa, and the second baseman looked comfortable in the cornfield, leading all players with the three hits. The 25-year-old has taken over as the team's top option at the keystone, and he's slashing .400/.478/.450 across seven games since returning from the injured list at the beginning of August.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Heads to bench Tuesday
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Madrigal is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.
With starts at second base in four of the past five games, Madrigal looks to be the Cubs' preferred option at the position for the moment, though he'll need to sustain a good run of health and offensive production to keep his spot atop the depth chart. Christopher Morel will get the start at the keystone Tuesday at Madrigal's expense.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Taking on primary duties at 2B
Rotowire
Madrigal will start at second base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Nationals.
With David Bote having been optioned to Triple-A Iowa, Christopher Morel having been deployed in more of a utility role of late and with Zach McKinstry getting off to an 0-for-14 start to his Cubs career, Madrigal has gained traction as the team's primary option of second base since coming off the injured list last Tuesday. He'll pick up his fourth start in five games Monday.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Back from injured list
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The Cubs reinstated Madrigal (groin) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Madrigal missed nearly two months of action with his injury, but he's ready to resume playing for the big club. Madrigal hit .385 over his last seven rehab games, though because the Cubs have numerous options at second base, it's unclear what role he will fill in the short term. Zach McKinstry will get the nod at the keystone Tuesday versus the Cardinals.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Ready to resume rehab
Rotowire
Madrigal (groin) will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Madrigal was shut down for nearly two weeks after aggravating a groin injury in a rehab game earlier this month, but he is ready to get back on field. It's not clear how many games he will play with Iowa before being deemed ready to return, but expect the Cubs to proceed with caution.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Working on strength, volume
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Madrigal (groin) will work on strength and volume this week, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Madrigal was removed from Sunday's rehab game at Triple-A Iowa after experiencing renewed tightness in his left groin, but he'll work on strengthening exercises to begin the week. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to resume his rehab assignment, but it's possible that he'll rejoin the Cubs sometime in late July.
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Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Tweaks groin in rehab game
Rotowire
Madrigal was removed Sunday during his third rehab game with Triple-A Iowa after experiencing renewed tightness in his strained left groin, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Madrigal will be pulled off the rehab assignment and will return to Chicago to have his injury further evaluated. Even if the setback proves to be only a minor concern, the 25-year-old will more than likely be held out through the All-Star break to get more recovery time from the injury that has kept him on the shelf since mid-June.
