What's next for the Cubs offseason? |
As the Cubs Convention and all of its excitement dissipates, the Cubs front office is back to work as they try to build a stronger team for 2025. Spring Training report dates are inching closer and closer, but the Cubs and President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer made sure that the team is not done adding to the team.
However, it seems like the only team making news this offseason has been the Los Angeles Dodgers: adding Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, Japanese utility man Hyeseong Kim, two elite closers in Tanner Scott and Kerby Yates, outfielders Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez — all to a 98-win team that just won the World Series. The Cubs have reportedly finished close on some of those free agents the Dodgers signed but still have some work to do to upgrade their roster. Early reports of the offseason indicated that the Cubs wanted to upgrade their starting pitching, but only depth signings like Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have occurred to this point. The Cubs have passed on signing starters like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Yusei Kikuchi. Do the Cubs decide to overpay for a player like Jack Flaherty, who looks to be the last of the front-end starters left on the open market? Do the Cubs look for a short-term deal for aging stars Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer? Or do the Cubs dip back into trade conversations to connect with the Mariners about acquiring one of their starters? Or the Twins or Padres about Pablo Lopez or Dylan Cease? The Cubs have been active on the trade front, acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for a package that featured Cam Smith, Isaac Paredes, and Hayden Wesneski. The Cubs also traded away Cody Bellinger in exchange for reliever Cody Poteet and a commitment from the New York Yankees to pay a majority of Bellinger’s salary — assumedly freeing up more money for the Cubs to spend this winter. While veteran first and third basemen like Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman remain on the open market, the Cubs appear confident in Michael Busch at first base [and with the addition of Tucker, the Cubs no longer have an opening at designated hitter as Seiya Suzuki slots to DH “a lot” but third base is a different story. Cubs' top prospect and No. 2 ranked 3B prospect in all of baseball, Matt Shaw, appears to be given the runway to earn the third base job. Would the Cubs splurge on a player of Alex Bregman’s caliber if the desire is for the job to be Shaw’s? According to reports, the Cubs would be interested in signing a player like Bregman if he were open to a short-term deal with opt-outs, similar to the contract the Cubs offered Cody Bellinger last February. This would temporarily allow the Cubs to acquire an aging middle-of-the-order answer without blocking or jeopardizing their future. However, Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, have expressed their desire for a long-term contract — so that option might be more out of desperation if Bregman’s market does not heat up. The Cubs did express an interest in acquiring a “safety net” for Matt Shaw either way. Here are some of the players that could include: Ha-Seong Kim Jose Iglesias Paul DeJong Yoan Moncada Whit Merrifield Enrique Hernandez Now for the bullpen. The Cubs have missed out on players like Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, but closers Kyle Finnegan, Carlos Esteves, and Kenley Jansen remain on the market. Would the Cubs consider reuniting with former Cubs Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, or Craig Kimbrel? The Cubs have already acquired Matt Festa, Gavin Hollowell, Eli Morgan, Cody Poteet, Rob Zastryzny, and Caleb Thielbar this offseason to factor into the bullpen picture, but more must be on the way, according to Jed Hoyer. Spring Training’s clock is ticking down, but the Cubs, who are looking to build a playoff contender, plan to make the most of an offseason that still features some attractive options on the market.
