CHICAGO — Signing shortstop Andrelton Simmons to bolster the middle infield defense was an understandable approach for the Chicago Cubs’ roster construction.
Between the injury histories of shortstop Nico Hoerner and second baseman Nick Madrigal and a rotation reliant on ground balls, a defense-first infielder like Simmons can be valuable.
But the Cubs’ vision works only if Simmons is healthy — and when he will debut for them remains unclear.
