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CHICAGO — As the sounds of the Cubs Convention spilled through a doorway Saturday, Michael Busch stood in front of a group of reporters in a back hallway, answering questions for the first time as a member of the team. Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong smiled as he passed.
“I love Michael Busch!” Crow-Armstrong exclaimed. “He’s so awesome!”
Two days earlier, Busch was still a member of the Dodgers organization. Friday night at Cubs Con, he was in the Chicago snow, congratulating fans from the stage during opening ceremonies and being touted as the team’s likely starting first baseman by members of the front office and the manager Craig Counsell.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” said Busch, who is now ranked No. 1 on the Cubs. Hope #3 by MLB Pipeline.
The Cubs had their eye on the highly touted slugger throughout this offseason, especially with the development of Mookie Betts playing second base for Los Angeles and with the Dodgers adding superstar Shohei Ohtani as a designated hitter. The first and third are also locked up in Los Angeles between Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, respectively.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said publicly earlier this winter that Busch, 26, had shown he no longer belonged in the minor leagues. The Cubs agreed and – with a need for left-handed power and some openings on the diamond – reached an agreement with four players this convinced Los Angeles to part ways with the newcomer.
“Sometimes trades happen very quickly,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said. “And you want to be that team (that makes the deal) if it’s a player you really like. We were fortunate to stay on the radar with him.
Throughout his Minor League career, Busch spent time at second base (241 games), third base (61), first base (18), and left field (15). During his 27-game stint in the Majors last year, he logged most of his playing time at third base, but made a few appearances at those other spots.
Busch hasn’t played first base regularly since attending college 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 Busch’s priority this spring, but he could also find work at third.
“Our hope or expectation is that he’ll be on the Opening Day roster,” Hawkins said. “There’s obviously opportunities at first base – it’s kind of the easy plug-and-play. He got a lot of really good defensive reviews there from our scouts who saw him and his discussions with the Dodgers.
Busch posted a .919 OPS during 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 hitters in slugging percentage (.618) and seventh in OPS (1.049).
“I mean, look, he’s a player that has basically conquered the minor leagues,” Counsell said. “He’s going to have an opportunity. Of course, there’s something attached to it: he’s going to have to perform. But he will have an opportunity.
With the North Siders, Busch will also reunite 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 the alternate training site in Los Angeles.
Busch said that by his second day at the Cubs Convention, he already felt very comfortable with his new teammates and staff.
“I can come play for the Chicago Cubs. It’s pretty cool,” Busch said. “It’s something I was looking forward to when I found out about it. It’s a tremendous opportunity and opportunity to play for one of the most historic franchises in all of sports.
