The Cubs have reportedly talked to the Orioles about middle infielder Jonathan Villar, but Roch Kubatko of MASN writes that “there doesn’t appear to be a match.” The switch-hitting Villar is making $4.825 million this season and has one more year of arbitration eligibility, so the O’s probably aren’t in any rush to move him. But he’s having a solid year at the plate and can play both second and short, so the value could be there for a team like the Cubs.
It’s never a bad thing to have a little pop (13 homers) and speed (22 steals) while providing more depth up the middle.