Three free agents options for Cubs |
With the World Series officially set and congratulations to the Yankees and Dodgers for making the Fall Classic, it's almost time for the MLB offseason to begin. This will be an offseason filled with tons of excitement, but also one filled with anxiety and uncertainty about the Cubs' plan of attack.
This team brought back virtually the same roster this season as they had in 2023, and if Cody Bellinger doesn't opt out or if trades aren't made, you are looking at virtually the same roster for a third straight season. Had this team won 90-plus games and made the playoffs, you can live with that, but by winning 83 games in back-to-back seasons, there is no way you can trot this same roster out for a third straight season. Knowing that and how much money they will have to spend with several players coming off the books, the Cubs are expected to be players in free agency for a lot of names, but the question is what names are they going after and for how much. Ideally, every fan on the planet would for Juan Soto to come walking through those doors on a 10-12 million dollar deal, but history shows that there is no way the Ricketts fork out a deal that long for the kind of money he will want. If that is the case, who would be some realistic options for this team to pursue? Pete Alonso continues to be the name mostly linked to the Cubs, and given that we have discussed him a lot already, there is no need to go into more detail on him. Alonso would give the Cubs the power bat they are looking for in the middle of the lineup, but adding him to play 1B would mean that either Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, or both would be traded. Does it make sense for this team to improve in the long run, even if it provides them the needed power? It's a tricky question to answer and one the Cubs need to consider desperately.
If adding some middle-of-the-lineup power is one of the focal points of the offseason, Teoscar Hernandez could be a name to watch, especially if Bellinger elects to opt out.
The former Blue Jay, Mariner, and now Dodgers OF, Hernandez, is set to participate in his first-ever World Series and is doing so coming off a solid season. With a .272 average and a career-high 33 homers this season, Hernandez demonstrated the type of player he can be, but you have to keep in mind his overall protection in the lineup.
From a numbers perspective, he is exactly what the Cubs are looking for, but when you look at how he produced prior to arriving in Chicago, is he really worth the 25-30 million he will be asking for? Maybe, but based on his past, this is a player who would be worth about 20 million per year, so this is one of those decisions where the Cubs may have to overpay to get him.
Another area of need for the Cubs this offseason is figuring out what to do at the catcher position long-term. Given how Moises Ballesteros has performed this season and then into the AFL, there is a shot that he could make the club out of the opening day or at the very least, very shortly after the season began.
Should that happen, then this is a moot point, but if he doesn't make the team, Chicago will be in the market to find some help for Miguel Amaya, and Danny Jansen comes to mind as a logical option. This wouldn't be the first time the Cubs were linked to Jansen, as he was viewed as a deadline target for them this season until he was traded to Boston.
Cheaper than most of the catching options on the open market, Jansen was a starter most of his career, but is coming off a down year to the point where he may have to settle for a backup role. While the power numbers and overall production remain solid, his .205 average was a concern and is something to consider when bringing him in.
Even if the offensive numbers are down, Jansen is still one of the best in blocking pitches in the dirt and game-calling behind the dish. For the Cubs to sign him, the sole idea would be that he would be ok with settling into a backup or a 1-B type of role in Chicago.
