Dream offseason still on the table for Cubs |
This is getting more frustrating by the day, isn't it? With every passing day and the Cubs continuing to remain stagnant regarding the free agent market, there is a sense of panic setting in more than frustration at this point for fans everywhere. Although there are still more than two months remaining until Spring Training gets underway and deals can be made, it's safe to say that many fans expected the Cubs to be way more active than they have been at this point, and it is creating an uneasy feeling on the Northside.
While the consensus feeling is still patience, you are starting to see more panic as fans are panicking about the lack of movement from this team. They feel the team put all their effort into Otani, only to come up short, and now they need a backup plan for free agency. Looking at how their roster sits heading into the season, there are some pieces coming back that will make a difference, but there are some causes for concern if they wait to add someone to this roster quickly. It seems impossible that this team won't make a deal at some point, but it's starting to get to the point where you have to ask yourself what deal they make and when that will happen. You could point to several players as ideal fits for this team and make a case of why they would work, but if I could draw up the dream offseason for the Cubs, this is how it would look. For the Cubs to be taken seriously, it all starts and stops with Cody Bellinger, as he needs to be the team's primary target. When you look at the Cubs lack of left-handed power and needing someone to play first base or Center Field, Bellinger is an ideal fit and is coming off a great 2023 season. The former NL MVP battled through a series of injuries the past few seasons before signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Cubs last season. He proved it by finishing the season with a team-best .307 average, leading the team in home runs with 26 home runs, and driving in 97 runs. He did that while also missing a month with a knee injury, so you have to think he would have hit 30 home runs and driven in 100 if he had not missed time. Bellinger may not be the player he once was, but he showed he can still be a power bat in the middle of this lineup and provides them with the left-handed pop the lineup lacks. If the Cubs make him their primary target, an eight-year 250 million dollar deal would be sufficient enough to get it done, and fans would rejoice to see him return.
Shota Imanaga or Shane Bieber
While Bellinger should be the primary target at this point, the Cubs have holes in their starting rotation that must be addressed. As things sit right now, Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, and Jameson Taillon are the only ones guaranteed to be in the rotation when the season opens, with Javier Assad, Drew Smyly, and Jordan Wicks as the potential options for the back end.
That puts this team in a situation similar to last season, and it was the one thing the team wanted to address this season. Aaron Nola was a great option for the Cubs, but he was first off the board when he returned to the Phillies. Yoshinbu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery are all options for the Cubs to add, but all three may be out of the price range for whatever reason.
This is where Imanaga and Bieber come into play; as one, if not both, they would be great additions to this rotation. Regarding Imanaga, he is widely regarded as the second-best pitcher to get posted from Japan, only behind Yamamoto. The 30-year lefty posted an ERA below 3.00 last season and a 2.96 ERA across his career. Seeking a lengthy contract, predictions expect him to land a five-year deal worth around 85 million, which is a perfect option for the Cubs.
Bieber is a bit more tricky as he is still under contract and can only be had via a trade. After hearing all offseason long that the Cubs were in on Tyler Glasnow only to lose out to the Dodgers, Bieber could become their primary trade target as he is younger and healthier than Glasnow. Granted, his production has declined the past couple of seasons; Bieber is still a former Cy Young winner and would be an instant middle-of-the-rotation upgrade that you could have under control for two or three more years.
Rhys Hoskins
While the two needs above are the most extensive needs on this team, the Cubs still have more holes to fill, with both coming from the corner infield spots. First base is the most likely position to be filled via free agency, with Rhys Hoskins being the most plausible option. After hearing themselves linked to Pete Alonso as a trade option, you then heard Hoskins linked to the Cubs picking up steam, and it continues to be that way.
The former Phillie is coming off a torn ACL but was one of the more consistent run producers in that lineup for four seasons, averaging 27 homers and 76 RBIs. With guys like Matt Mervis and potentially Patrick Wisdom as the only real 1B options in the system right now, Hoskins to the Cubs makes too much sense not to happen. The only issue with this is the contract itself, as he is looking for a two or three-year deal, but if the Cubs play their cards right, you could see him sign a one-year, 17-million-dollar deal.
Matt Chapman
Third base is another question mark surrounding this team, but not as big of a question as option positions. Worst comes to worst, Nick Madrigal and Christopher Morel could always platoon there as Madrigal played Gold Glove defense with Morel providing the pop. If having a gold glover with power is what the Cubs are looking for, then Matt Chapman is the name that makes the most sense, and it is a name that has been tied to the Cubs for quite some time.
Sure, his offensive numbers have been declining the past few seasons, but this is still a player who will hit in the .250-.260 range every season with 20-25 homers and 80 RBIs. While that is better production than what the Cubs had at that position last year, the real value from Chapman comes from his glove, as he will be a gold glove finalist every season.
His addition would give the Cubs three gold glovers on the infield, four if Bellinger moved to first, as that would be the best infield defensively in baseball. Given his recent decline and reaching the wrong side of 30, I wouldn't go more than five years on him, but it wouldn't shock me to see the Cubs reach for him a bit and land him on a five or six-year deal worth 110-130 million dollars.
All these players mentioned above are perfect fits for this team's holes and would be as close to a perfect offseason as you can have. The reality is, they will not land all of these guys, but as long as they can get a few on this list, it will have the Cubs offseason looking better than it does now.
