Busch's role on '24 squad a hot topic at Cubs Convention

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- As the sounds of Cubs Convention poured through a doorway on Saturday, Michael Busch stood before a pack of reporters in a back hallway fielding questions for the first time as a member of the team. Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong cracked a smile as he walked by.

“I love Michael Busch!” Crow-Armstrong exclaimed. “He’s so great!”

Two days earlier, Busch was still a member of the Dodgers’ organization. By Friday night at Cubs Con, he was in snowy Chicago, high-fiving fans from the stage during the opening ceremonies and being touted as the team’s likely starting first baseman by members of the front office and manager Craig Counsell.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” said Busch, who is now ranked as the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

The Cubs had their eye on the highly-touted hitter throughout this offseason, especially with the development that Mookie Betts would play second base for L.A. and with the Dodgers adding superstar Shohei Ohtani as their designated hitter. First and third are also locked down in L.A. between Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, respectively.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said publicly earlier this winter that the 26-year-old Busch has shown he no longer belongs in the Minor Leagues. The Cubs agreed, and -- with a need for left-handed power and a few openings on the diamond -- found a four-player deal that convinced L.A. to part with the up-and-comer.

“Sometimes trades happen really fast,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said. “And you want to be that team [that gets the deal done] if it's a player that you really like. We were lucky to stay on the radar with him.”

Throughout his Minor League career, Busch has logged time at second base (241 games), third base (61), first base (18) and left field (15). In his 27-game stay in the Majors last year, he garnered most of his playing time at third base but had a few cameos at those other spots.

Busch has not played first base regularly since his college days at North Carolina, but the Cubs believe he can handle the position. Counsell also likes the fact that Busch has multiple positions under his belt, giving Chicago another versatile puzzle piece. First base will be the focus for Busch this spring, but he could also get work at third.

“Our hope or expectation is he's on the Opening Day roster,” Hawkins said. “There's obviously opportunity at first base -- that is kind of the easy plug-and-play. He's got a lot of really good reviews defensively over there from our scouts that have seen him and from talking to the Dodgers.”

Busch has posted a .919 OPS across his four Minor League campaigns and posted elite numbers last year. In 2023, he hit .323 with 27 homers, 26 doubles and 90 RBIs with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Busch posted an 18.8% strikeout rate and a 13.9% walk rate, while ranking fourth among all qualified Minor League batters in slugging percentage (.618) and seventh in OPS (1.049).

“I mean, look, he is a player that has essentially conquered the Minor Leagues,” Counsell said. “He's going to get an opportunity. Of course, there's something attached: He's going to have to perform. But, he's going to get an opportunity.”

With the North Siders, Busch will also be reunited with Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly, who worked in the Dodgers’ system earlier in his career. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Kelly and Busch spent a lot of time working together at Los Angeles’ alternate training site.

Busch said that by his second day at Cubs Convention, he already felt a strong comfort level with his new teammates and the staff.

“I get to come play for the Chicago Cubs. That’s pretty cool,” Busch said. “That’s something I was actually looking forward to when I found that out. This is a cool opportunity and a cool chance to play for one of the most historic franchises in all of sports.”