Cubs slated to pick No. 13 in 2023 |
Lost in the shuffle during the frenzy of free agent moves that went down on Tuesday was a historic day for MLB baseball. Tuesday marked the inaugural MLB draft lottery to determine who would receive the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB. Unlike years past, where the team with the worst record would automatically receive that selection, the lottery was implemented as a possible way to prevent teams from tanking at the end of the season.
With the 18 non-playoff teams as a part of the lottery, the odds of getting the No.1 pick increased the worst you were, with three teams having the same odds of grabbing the No. 1 pick. When the dust settled, and everything was revealed, the Pittsburgh Pirates checked in with the No.1 pick as they will look to add to a roster in desperate need of help. When it came to the Cubs, they entered the lottery with the 12th best odds and sat at a 1.3% chance to get the No. 1 pick. No one expected that to happen, but they will be picking one spot worse than they finished the season and will select at No. 13. Picking 13th is not an ideal spot for a rebuilding team, but this is an organization that did improve as the season went on and one that could be on the verge of contending sooner rather than later. While picking in the middle of the first round will not net you the top-of-class type of prospect, you can land some great talent. You also have to keep in mind that the MLB draft is a complete crapshoot, and a lot of the time, picks don't work out the way teams have planned. Looking back at the history of the No. 13 pick, the Cubs are in good company, as several outstanding players have come out of that spot. The last several drafts have seen talented players come out of that spot, but they have yet to do much if anything, at this point. You have to go back to 2017 when the Marlins drafted Trevor Rodgers as the last significant player to be taken at 13. Going a bit further down the line, you have Josh Lowe in 2016, Garrett Whitley in 2015, Trea Turner in 2014, Hunter Renfroe in 2013, Brandon Nimmo in 2011, and Chris Sale in 2010. Looking at that list, there are several players not only in the game today, but playing significant roles. However, none may be as crucial as Turner and Sale. Turner just signed an 11-year 300 million-dollar contract with the Phillies, and that deal speaks for itself. On the other hand, Sale was once the best left-hander in the game until a rash of arm and shoulder injuries has really sent him back. There is a lot of value at pick No.13 if the scouting is done correctly. Not only that, you need to develop these players once you draft, and the Cubs sometimes need to do better when it comes to that. Depending on what happens during the course of the season and the rest of the offseason, fans should have a great idea as to what the Cubs plans are come the draft. Do they continue to build their pitching back up which was the focus last season, or do they go with a best player available approach and see what happens. In any way, this is an organization trending upward and the next young prospect to put on the Cubs uniform will be picked at No. 13.
