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Cubs News

Cubs agree to deals with pair of lefty hitters

8 months agoAndy Martinez

MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs have added a pair of left-handed hitters to their Spring Training mix.

The team agreed to minor-league deals with David Peralta and Dom Smith, per sources. The deal includes an invite to major-league Spring Training for the pair.

Peralta, 36, gives the Cubs another option to match up against right-handed pitching. He is a career .289/.343/.474 hitter against righties. One hundred of his 117 career homers have come against righties.

[MORE: Shadow of Cody Bellinger looms over Cubs camp]

Smith, 28, slashed .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI in 153 games with Washington. Smith had hamate bone surgery last month. He ended the 2023 campaign hitting .241/.315/.532 with 6 home runs in 22 games in September. He hit .263 with 10 home runs against righties last season.

Peralta spent the 2023 season with Los Angeles, slashing .259/.294/.381 with 7 home runs and 55 RBI. Peralta started 97 games in left field for the Dodgers.

Peralta joins a crowded outfield mix in camp. The team has Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Mike Tauchman in camp. Prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alexander Canario are in camp and are in contention for an Opening Day roster spot. Then there’s other prospects — Owen Caissie and Brennen Davis — also in big-league camp.

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Both additions bring cover to the Cubs’ position group mix should an injury arise, too. The Cubs could add either to the big-league roster in that situation and have veteran cover at both positions.

The move doesn’t rule out a return for Cody Bellinger, either. Bellinger’s track record and success would pencil him into the Cubs’ roster ahead of Smith and Peralta. The moves are more likely insurance policies if they can’t come to terms with the star lefty.

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