By: Alex Patt

Sometimes a player does not have to have a long tenure with a team to be greatly appreciated by it fans. No, this feature is not talking about David Ross but a great utility man that was part of two division winning teams. Our latest issue features Mark DeRosa and how a career bench guy became a centerpiece in Chicago.

DeRosa broke into the majors with the Braves in 1998 and played there until 2004 when he spent 2005 and 2006 with the Rangers. His utility ability was noted as he could play shortstop, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and outfield yet he was not an everyday player. He could be plugged in when needed off the bench or to start for a certain match up but was not a 140+ game guy.

Before getting to Chicago, 2006 was his career-high in games played at 136 and from his MLB debut until that year he averaged 57 games a year. Granted he did not get much playing time in his first three years as a young player with 34 total games from 1998–2000 but from 2001–2005 he averaged 85 games. His first nine seasons as a utility/bench guy, DeRosa put up a .273/.331/.735 slash with 38 homers in 595 games.

On November 14th, 2006 former Cubs GM Jim Hendry signed Mark DeRosa on a three-year $13 million deal. He had come off his best year in 2006 (3.7 bWAR) and Hendry was high on him, even though they were working with Ronny Cedeno in the infield. His next two years as a Cub would land him on the good side of many Cubs fans.

In 2007 he played a career high 149 games with a .293/.371/.792 slash and 10 homers. DeRosa played six different positions that year at one point, mostly at 2nd base (93 games). The 07 Cubs won the NL Central title that year but were swept by the Diamondbacks. 2008 was arguably his most productive year of his career. He played in 149 games again, slashed .285/.376/.857 with 21 homers and 87 RBI and 1.8 bWAR. His OPS, OBP and home runs up to that season were all career highs in seasons with 100+ games. The Cubs won 97 games and the division for the 2nd straight year, but were embarrassingly swept by LA in the NLDS. DeRosa hit a two-run home run in game one early which was the Cubs only lead in the series, he had a 1.083 OPS in the 08 LDS.

Later that year on New Year’s Eve, it was announced that the Cubs traded Mark DeRosa to the Indians. This move came as a surprise and upset many. Cubs in return got Chris Archer (later traded to Tampa Bay for Matt Garza), John Gaub and Jeff Stevens. DeRosa was with Cleveland for half a season before being traded to the Cardinals who won the NL Central in 2009. Ironically the Cardinals were swept by LA and DeRosa was 0–9 in his last three postseason games. He did hit his career high in home runs in 2009 with 23.

DeRosa bounced around the league for until 2013 when he ended his playing career with the Blue Jays. He also had stints with the Nationals and Giants. His last few years he was no longer an everyday player like he was from 07–09 and in those years hit .226/.317/.646 with 8 home runs in 209 total games. He now works for MLB Network.

It is interesting to discuss a player who only played two years with the Cubs out of his 16 year playing career. Still, he made such an impact that fans still seem to remember him and appreciate what he did as a Cub.

Do YOU #RememberThatCub??

Alex Patt is a writer for Wrigley Rapport and you can follow him on twitter @chifanpatt1