It’s shaping up as a busy off-season for the Cubs as they look to push on with their rebuild and improve on their 74-88 record in 2022. According to remarks made by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs are expecting to add a starting center fielder, while Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the team has been one of the most active early on in the shortstop market.
“We have guys internally that will certainly play out there [in center],” Hoyer said, “but I think the lion’s share might come from external.”
Rafael Ortega and Christopher Morel had the bulk of the playing time in center this past season, but while both are under club control for next season, Hoyer’s comments make it pretty clear that neither are seen as their center fielder moving forward. Ortega hit .241/.331/.358 with seven home runs, while Morel posted a .235/.308/.433 line with 16 home runs in his rookie campaign. Morel bounced around the infield positions as well, but neither posted positive defensive marks for their work in center.
A number of the Cubs top prospects are outfielders, but they’re at varying stages of their development. Their top prospect, according to Fangraphs, Pete Crowe-Armstrong is at High-A while Kevin Alcantara (third) is at Single-A. Brennen Davis and Alexander Canario are their best outfield prospects at Triple-A, but both are injured and uncertain timelines.
“Certainly with [Alexander] Canario’s injury and Brennen [Davis’] setback, it made that just that much more obvious,” Hoyer said.
As far as center field options go in free agency, the options aren’t particularly plentiful. Aaron Judge is the biggest name available, but while he played a significant amount of center this season for the Yankees, it seems unlikely the Cubs would be prepared to make the sort of splash needed to land him. Brandon Nimmo’s blend of elite on-base skills, solid power, and adequate defense would make him a strong candidate, but even though he’ll be much cheaper than Judge, he’ll still likely command a deal north of $100MM and there’ll be plenty of suitors to drive his price up.
Two less high profile names to consider are Kevin Kiermaier and Cody Bellinger, and Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports reports that both are n the Cubs’ radar. Kiermaier, 33, is a free agent after the Rays declined his team option for 2023. While his previously elite defensive numbers have dropped off as he’s aged, he’s still a strong defender and would be a cheaper stopgap option until one of the Cubs’ prospects are ready. Bellinger could well become a free agent shortly if the Dodgers opt to non-tender him. He’s dropped off considerably since his 47-homer MVP year in 2019, posting a wRC+ of 47 and 83 the past two seasons, but is still a solid defender in center, and at 27, he’s young enough that a change of scenery might allow him to rediscover some of his offensive talent.
While a big splash in center doesn’t appear likely, it could come at shortstop where the team is active in the market for the top four options available – Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson and Xander Bogaerts. Wittenmyer’s report adds that the Cubs apparently “love” Correa, something that dates back to the 2012 draft when they were eyeing him up with the sixth pick before he went first overall to the Astros. The 28-year-old had a strong platform year with the Twins, where he signed on a short term deal after no adequate long term deals materialized last winter. He’ll look to cash in this winter though, and it’s certainly possible that his contract lands in the $300MM range over nine or ten years.
The Cubs used Nico Hoerner at shortstop this year to great effect. Hoerner was worth 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 13 Outs Above Average at the position, but he could easily slide over to second base in the event the Cubs do sign one of the aforementioned shortstops, and take over at shortstop again if a new signing begins to decline and needs to switch position.
Ultimately, it’s going to be a busy winter for the Cubs, and it won’t just stop at shortstop and center field. As Wittenmyer adds, the Cubs have explored upgrading at first base and have checked in with Josh Bell and Trey Mancini, while they’re also looking to beef up their rotation and showing interest in Koudai Senga and a reunion with lefty Drew Smyly. The Cubs payroll is currently projected at $126MM, according to RosterResource. That’s well short of the sort of spending they made during their championship years last decade, so as they begin to show progress in their rebuild, it’s not surprising to see them willing to flex their financial muscle again.
How about Aaron Hicks? Cheap! 🙂
And he switch-hits!
Well, he switch bats…
Sher
Switch-hitters do not always use different bats on the left and right side of the plate. If you were attempting to make a joke about Hocks lack of prowess you should have said that at least he stands on both sides of the plate
Not sure that Cody Bellinger should classify as lower profile. Sure, he hasn’t been very good the past few years, but he’s 3 years removed from an MVP. If we could get him for a reasonable package, I’d take it and run.
Nah they gonna sign one of these star shortstop for way to much money and handcuff spending for there next core like they did with Jason Heyward
No, Hicks will be busy filming Judge’s shoes for Bronx Bombers in 2023.
Yes, read carefully, I did say “filming” Judge’s shows, not filling them!
Filming shoes, not filling them
Shows or shoes, dork?
The ad hominem attack isn’t a good look for you.
Kiermaier is the obvious fit here.
Kiermaier is not an everyday player; no offense and injury prone. It would be a typical lackluster acquisition for the Cubs, however, it doesn’t make them better over 162 games.
He has White Sox written all over him.
Yeah for a AAA team
Well, it is the cubs…
I’m surprised MLBTR said that the cubs would be busy this off season. It’s all pure speculation. All I read was ‘probably’, ‘might’, ‘looking into’, ‘expected to add’, and on and on. It doesn’t say that they are actually close to signing someone, or have spoken to anyone. Most teams are ‘looking’, ‘searching’, ‘hoping’, whatever. What else is new?
Well considering they need about 12 players to fill out their roster, they are gonna be busy one way or another. I imagine they will have one of the most expensive offseasons
That doesn’t include the Rule 5 players that have to be added to the roster, does it?
Well yeah, free agency just opened. I doubt anybody is close to signing anyone yet. Rumors are all we have to go on.
Maddie Lee interview of Hoyer. Jon Paul Morosi.
Hoyer said the teams expects to add a CF. That is news.
Morosi said that they have been the most active team talking to the agents of the shortstops on the market. That is news.
If you don’t like a RUMORS site and just want concrete reporting of past events, then you are in the wrong place.
Can’t believe I’m saying it but I would almost prefer to just use an already paid for Jason Heyward or dirt cheap Ortega than spend anything on Kiermaier. Bellinger would be interesting.
No…..Bellinger
Younger
Faster
No hip injury
Can play 1b
Bellinger is the obvious fit, plus defender and even if he doesn’t improve offensively from this season he’d still be an upgrade offensively for us.
I’d love to see Correa and Hoerner up the middle next season although I’m not sold on Correa being worth his price tag.
The truth is, based on Hoyers comments, I expect more flips coming next year. I’d love to snag Bellinger and Abreu… wouldn’t mind trading for Donaldson if the Yankees ate quite a bit of money.
I agree with everything except trading for Donaldson. Why give up anything for production that could be had with a $6M-$8M FA?
Donaldson is just a year away from 3.4 WAR season and a 27 home run campaign… he would just be on a one year contract, would give us an upgrade over Wisdom (who could slide into a first base/3rd base/DH/corner outfield role).
It would ultimately depend on what the Cubs could get the Yankees to pay, as I mentioned before, Yankees pay the buy out, assuming the Cubs decline his option, and we do a prospect for prospect swap with the edge coming our way. I would say trading a 40 future value for a 45+ future value should be fair.
Hoyer and Hawkins just had a heart to heart with Scott Boras. Nobody is going to tip their hand this early but I’m sure figures have been thrown around and trades discussed since the Winter Meetings.
Cub predictions( By Me ) so not worth much.
Cubs get Senga
Cubs get Correa
Cubs re sign Givens and Chafin
Cubs avoid Donaldson like the plague he is
Cubs take a flyer on Bellinger to hold the fort for PCA
Cubs trade for Danny Jansen since Beane is delusional
Now that would be an off season.
Beane gets nothing for Murphy and has to pay him in Arbitration.A’s
Forced to declare bankruptcy. Beane fired.
Why in the world would the Cubs want Donaldson? He’s had good years in the past, but it’s a big roll of the dice to expect him to 1) be healthy and 2) produce the way he used to
Because of his winning personality?
Did you wet yourself when you typed that? Because I did when I read it. LOL
I commented on here last year when he was in the deal from the Twins for Urshela, and I said it back then that Urshela is equivalent to him offensively at this stage.. and people ridiculed me for saying that.. If you watched Donaldson play at all this season, you’d know his bat is extremely slow.. his defense is still fine, but the guy is a shell of what he used to be. I can’t attribute it to his physique, bc he still looks like he’s in great shape, but his bat is slow now.
My Cubs offseason would be this, and I know some of these aren’t sexy moves, but the Cubs just need to buy time right now until the next wave of youngsters are ready. This could be an 85-90 win team with a lot coming off the books after 1 year anyway, giving them flexibility for future seasons. This would also put minimal pressure on the up and coming guys, but at the same time, you wouldn’t be overly committed at the big league level. If you had to move on from someone to make room for a youngster, it wouldn’t be hard to do so.
– Bogaerts: 6 years $180m ($20m year 1, $32m after that)
– Kiermaier: 1 year $9m or JBJ: 1 year $6m
– Jose Abreu: 2 years $34m
– Omar Navarez: 2 years $16m
– Elvis Andrus: 1 year, $11m (3B)
– Nathan Eovaldi: 4 years, $64m
– Mike Clevinger: 3 years, $48m
– Matt Moore: 2 years, $18m
That gives you:
Andrus 3B
Bogaerts SS
Abreu DH
Happ LF
Suzuki RF
Hoerner 2B
Navarez C
Wisdom/Mervis 1B
Kiermaier/JBJ CF
Eovaldi
Stroman
Clevinger
Hendricks
Steele
And to defend the Andrus in the leadoff spot move: he has hit .270 with over .800 OPS when hitting in the 1 spot both last year and over the course of his career.
You forgot Donaldson
RyanD44:
There is so much wrong with that.
Cubs already have 7 starters better than Clevinger and Eovaldi. 8 If they get Senga.
No guarantee Hendricks even pitches
Why would you need JBJ AND Kirmaeier? Waste of money AND they’re not very good.
Navarez isn’t even better than Higgins
Happ is gonna be traded
Andrus has stunk for the last 4 years. He had a decent month or 2 for the Sox but not enough to make me interested.
Hoerner is already better than Boegarts.Why pay him?
Like your enthusiasm, just not your players much.
And before you ask the 7 starters are:
Stroman
Steele
Thompson
Asad
Wesneski
Sampson
Killian
Plus they’re in on Senga full tilt
And all signs pointing towards a Smyly reunion.
That’s not even counting Brown and Wicks who should start in AAA.
Don’t need expensive horrible, injured Pitchers.
drasco036, Well maybe, but Donaldson is going to be 37 next season, and late 30’s is when guys show their steepest decline. He’s owed $27.75M. What if Yankees agree to eat $20M – $22.75? Isn’t there some guy out the there they could sign for $5M -$7.75M that would give them similar production without having to give up an asset?
You’re drinking some serious koolaid. Asad, Wesneski, Sampson and Killian are better than Eovaldi and Clevinger?!? Eovaldi is a very, very good pitcher. Clevinger is still only a year removed from TJS. Very few pitchers come back and pitch well after that. They are still re-training their body.
I clearly said JBJ “OR” Kiermaier. Not both.
Navarez is WAY better than Higgins. Higgins isn’t a MLB player on most teams.
If you think Hoerner is better than Bogaerts, you are the biggest Cubs homer I’ve ever encountered.
So then Wisdom/Mervis = either or? Because then your post is as confusing as you and Yeah I think Hoerner is better than Boegarts. Certainly not enough of a difference to warrant 6/180. I would even take Swanson over Boegarts as he’s the worst FA SS available. Turner and Correa are better than Hoerner and would warrant the expense. Swanson might take less if the Cubs can’t get the first 2 because his Girlfriend is Mallory Pugh of the Chicago Red Stars and the Womens National Soccer team. As for Clevinger and Eovaldi, They smell/ bad. All Wisdom is good for anyway is Air Conditioning on really hot days. Whiff, Whiff, Whiff, ah thanks, that’s better.
Wisdom/Mervis means Wisdom to start the season there until Mervis takes the job from him.
I like Hoerner, but he’s nowhere near Bogaerts talent level – at least not at this point. Bogaerts had a down year and still had a higher WAR than any of the other SS in FA. Dansby is not worth what he’s going to get paid. He’s as streaky as they come.
I think the Cubs may well trade with the A’s, but I think it will be for Sean Murphy.
Beane is a minority owner and he is not the GM anymore. That would be Forst.
Murphy would not be worth the cost. Rumor has it they want Brayan Bello as part of the package for Murphy. He’s one of top young players. Cubs shouldn’t be giving up their top kids until they are in a better spot to compete or unless it’s for a top tier controllable starter.
Thinking back to what Hoyer said in his press conference after the season ended, it seems like the Cubs are looking to improve defense overall, especially up the middle.
The comments he made to Maddie Lee reinforce that focus. So of the shortstops out there, the one with the best defense overall is Correa.
Hoyer has also been reticent to give up draft picks and Correa has no QO attached to him. He will undoubtedly be the most expensive of that quartet, but he is also the best of the bunch.
With the decidedly mediocre group of CF available on the FA market, it would seem to me that a better fit for the Cubs would be from a trade. One of Arizona’s young OF would be the best bet to me.
Hoyer has long been a fan of Christian Vazquez. I would not be surprised in the least if he signed him. I also think that Sean Murphy is a definite possibility on the trade front.
The Cubs definitely have the money to spend. Going to be interesting to see what happens on the North Side.
Have not heard that rumor. Where did you hear it?
Bello would be a fair price to pay for a catcher that just put up a 5.1 WAR, 120 OPS+ and 122 wRC+.
Murphy is the real deal and Bello just put up a 4.71 ERA with a below average K rate and higher than average BB rate.in his first go round in the bigs. Bello might get better, but Murphy is already one of the best.
Bello is also a Red Sox player, so not sure how that is relevant to the Cubs.
I think it’s more likely that the A’s would be asking the Cubs for something like Alcantara, Wicks, and Amaya plus a lottery ticket for Murphy.
I saw an article saying the cubs should trade Morel and Keegan Thompson and 1 other for Pablo Lopez. I forgot tbe trade but it also said they should trade PCA. PCA and Davis need to be untouchable in any trade. I don’t care what the return is. He’s the cubs CFer of the future.
Davis could be traded tomorrow and I’d be ok with it. I don’t care 30% strikeout rate guys – especially when they haven’t even cracked the bigs yet. Not to mention, low back problems and surgery at such a young age.
That’s a good point. Off the top I can I could think and others that should be untouchable. Probably the top 3 and possibly top 5 prospects
Kevin Alcántara #3
Cole Horton #4
And Jordan Wicks
That’s the cubs top 5. I see your about Davis.
Killian does not look ready yet.
For a good FO, no player is untouchable. Not sure PCA’s bat will impress. Not sure Davis will get healthy. Both may be behind Canario in depth chart on the short term. To make it clear, I see no reason to trade any of these prospects unless the return is exceptional, but no one is untouchable. Pablo Lopez will get more in return so Cubs should be out.
We wouldn’t be giving up an asset, we would be gaining an asset. We would be giving up a lesser ceiling prospect for a higher ceiling prospect.
I wouldn’t be upset if the Cubs signed Bogaerts although Correa has the highest ceiling, and seeing him at short and Hoerner at second would make up an insanely strong middle infield.
In a sense, I would rather have Wisdom than Andrus at third and keep DH open for Mervis (perhaps). If the Cubs do not sign Abreu, I’d like to see Martinez at DH and live with Wisdom/Mervis first base combo.
Center field… no options really intrigue me and all have their value. If they flame out, I could see the Cubs moving Nico temporarily to cf if Madrigal can hold down second.
Nicky mads is the wild card imo, he has such tremendous upside that you cannot give up on him. At the very least he can be a situational bat off the bench.
I don’t love Navarez, I would rather see the Cubs get another glove first catcher and give the lions share to Gomes.
I think smyly ship has sailed. I don’t think the Cubs would give him a multi-year pact.
Hoosier, summer cottage nearish by, he wants to play on grass, and his brother is chief groundskeeper for Wrigley
Let’s make sure we save as much $$$ as possible. Owners need to be able to afford their Thanksgiving dinners…
Bawhahahaha
I actually thought the Cubs were going to fare better this past year. Didn’t happen, but I do like Jed Hoyer’s approach. He has made a rebuilding phase and even managed to sign and flip Robertson.
He’s clueless.
I don’t know. I think he made enough deals to not fully commit to a rebuild but not be out of contention. Seiya Suzuki was an interesting signing and while he hadn’t fully panned out, I feel he’s a guy they could flip of need be. My point is Hoyer didn’t go too far in one direction so much as to hurt the future.
116 OPS+. Passable defense. Leage average WAR, In his first season in the majors. He hasn’t been a failure either.
They definitely shouldn’t trade Suzuki. They also can’t trade him without his consent.
I wasn’t saying they should, just thought it could be an option.
Conforto would be an interesting option in CF. A short term “prove it deal” could benefit both. Let Conforto re-establish himself/his market while buying time for one of the Cubs top prospects to take over.
Conforto is definitely not a CF.
I would like Conforto for DH. But definitely not CF.
Conforto couldn’t handle center field before having surgery and sitting out an entire year. Smart move.
The Cubs are almost always mentioned in the top tier if FA’s, but they usually shop in the bargain aisle. I don’t expect them to sign one of the big 4 SS’s. They don’t want to go beyond 5 years on any contract.
Also, the other players mentioned won’t help them win in the short term. Bellinger had one great year because he knew what was coming. That was the same year that Boston was also cheating, as much of the league was (no, not just the Astros). Check out Mookie’s best season offensively. So you have guys in KK & Belli who can’t hit. Cubs clearly are waiting until 2024 to really get serious IMO. Sure, they’d love Correa, on a short-term, high AAV deal. I don’t think that’s what Carlos is looking for now.
No, they’re going to get serious now, but that means wildcard mix serious not division serious for this season. I do think Correa is going to be too much, I think the most likely target is Bogaerts. Cubs can probably afford to add him, a DH bat and a SP this year and another allstar type next offseason, or 2 if they opt to let Happ go.
Wild card and division is about the same record in their division.
I don’t know about Bogaerts. The last time the Cubs got a shortstop from Boston it was Nomar Garciaparra in 2004. He was just 30 years old but never had another good season.
‘Division’ sure ddn’t seem to matter much in the East either.
Rodcannon wth does Nomar have to do with Bogarts?? All Boston SS decline sharply at 30..? Not sure that’s really sound logic. I like Correa and Turner more but not because of something that happened in 2004…
I figure they will sign Correa and possibly Nimmo.
I highly doubt that. I wish they would – that would be perfect. But they want a stopgap in CF, and Nimmo will probably want too many years. PCA is their CF possibly as early as 24.
Kiermaier and Bellinger are not upgrades on Morel.
Morel is below average defensively in CF.
Agree. I am not saying Morel is solution he is just a utility 23rd player type. I am saying Bellinger is so bad at the plate that it offsets his good defense and Kiermaier is injured enough that he is no solution either. To me, neither are an upgrade over Morel. Go strong or spend elsewhere
So roughly 20 home runs, 30 doubles and a dozen stolen bases while playing outstanding cf defense wouldn’t be an upgrade over Morel?
No. For 2022, Morel had the highest WAR, followed by Bellinger and then Kiermaier last. And Morel was called up after Opening Day. I would take Morel’s bat first among the three and his glove last among the three presuming that Kiermaier is not on IL. I would rather roll with Morel and use the money elsewhere if I am limited to those choices. Plus Morel has the personality which makes the clubhouse and whole team better and he is a fan favorite.
Nimmo or trade for one of Arizona’s OF, Varsho or Thomas?
Morel is below average defensively. Don’t be surprised if he is riding the shuttle back and forth from Iowa if he doesn’t improve upon his second half hitting.
I do agree that Morel’s hitting fizzled down the stretch and also that his roster spot depends on him hitting more like the first half. But I want to avoid spending money on equally inadequate solutions.
No, but Morel isn’t an everyday CF either, and both would pair well with him.
Belli will cost too much for a platoon outfielder and defensive specialist. If the Cubs could get him for one year 5 million of course that would be an asset. I want to see if the Brewers trade Burnes or Woodruff. If so, the Cubs are not far from the mix to compete should they pick up two or three quality free agents given that the NL Central is pretty week right now. Of course, if the Cardinals sign Rodon or DeGrom, that makes it tougher if not a long shot.
The Cubs aren’t at the point of their rebuild where they should be spending big on free agents. They should see what they have internally for the next year or two then spend on needs when they become apparent. There will big name free agents to chase every year. You don’t have to get the first ones that become available. This is a mistake we see teams continuously make
That makes zero sense. Not at the point in their rebuild? Of course, they are! They have the money to do whatever they want to. They will need to add pieces and if they add the right ones this off-season, they will contend. Then add more next year and be in great position. They had better spend on getting the talent they need. If they decide to bargain bin shop again, they will lose even more than they have financially. Cubs fans are getting to the point of leaving.
You don’t spend money in an effort to expedite a rebuild. Just look at the Twins last year as a prime example of why it’s a bad idea. The smart move is to build your core internally then add to that core. I think the Astros have shown that to be a prime strategy. Also if Cubs fans are getting to the point of leaving six years after winning it all, it sounds like they were never really fans
Cub fans leaving???..El Oh El!
Every year is a good year to add quality free agents in a rebuild if your team has money. The Cubs have money.
Yes because spending exorbitantly the past two years has led the Mets to a ton of success
They won 101 games. What are you talking about?
101 wins just to get embarrassed in the wild card. Will they hang a banner to celebrate?
They got embarrassed for losing a three game series to good pitching? You really don’t know much about baseball. You can rebuild for ten years and nothing guarantees a title.
Guys… you know Yankee fans can read this, right?
RonK
I think the Mets did it the wrong way but they hardly embarrassed themselves. Atlanta and LA just continued their fine runs. And Philly surprised everyone. No teams in NL are embarrassing to me except the Pirates for low spending. Marlins and recently Nationals are borderline embarrassing but I will withhold judgment on the Nats until after sale goes through.
The changes to the draft are making a big difference in strategy. The worst team in baseball has less than a 20% shot at the first pick now. There’s much greater incentive to be a wildcard level team now since you still have a decent shot at a high pick that way. I believe those are the waters the Cubs intend to play in for 2023 and theyre plenty close enough to that already.
I bet you were saying the same thing in 2014. Stupid to spend all that money on Lester this year.
There may be free agents every year, but when the right one is available you go get him.
Cf89- totally agree. Cubs FO has gotten really good at not tipping their hand, but it seems as though they have focused in on a particular target. Sounds like that player is Carlos Correa. Cubs do NOT need a shortstop, they want the player. In fact, SS, LF and RF are the only positions the Cubs are set at for next year, but that certainly will change throughout the winter.
Personally, as good as Correa is at SS, if they sign him I would see if he’s interested in playing 3B (understandably Carlos probably wants to stay at SS). That would give you strong INF defense and help fill holes, not create logjams.
Correa 3B
Hoerner SS
Madrigal/McKinstry 2B
Wisdom/Mervis 1B
Morel UTIL
Then acquire a strong defensive CF and boatload of pitching.
I agree if they will keep spending as a mid-market team but I would argue that they should spend like a big market team.
When is the next superstar SS going to be on the market?
I’ll believe that they’ll sign one of the Big 4 shortstops when it’s official.
I would bet on Bogaerts.
Hoping the Orioles can woo away Smiley. I was surprised the fellas had him outside their Top 50 list as an honorable mention.
As several tv program hosts and baseball personalities have pointed out, the Cubs are a big market team with big market money. They’re in the top tier but aren’t spending like it and it’s about time they spend like it for their fans. The drought has been long enough….. give Ian Happ some help, Cubs.
What’s their payroll? I figures the Cubs would be low on the list because they underperform
Set to open 2023 at $86MM, which is 14th overall. They’re probably the…fourth or fifth largest market, however.
That’s per Spotrac
Chicago is the third largest market.
Wow, okay, I didn’t realize they were that large, but it makes sense actually.
According to Cots Baseball Contracts, the Cubs are sitting at $126 million for their 26 man roster and $144 million for their 40 man CBT payroll.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1He7WB2TXeoGRjWmS3-…
With the CBT threshold at $233 million for 2023, that leaves quite a bit of room to spend if they choose to.
Last season their payroll for CBT calculations was $174 million. Still left them with $56 million they could have spent.
The Cubs are in the 3rd largest media market and the 3rd largest metro area by population. If you are talking about total revenue, they are 3 or 4th depending on the publication you read.
No quality centerfield free agents.
Brandon Nimmo
Bogaerts is an absolute stud. Cubs should be in on him all day. Average defense. Excellent bat. Cheaper than correa and turner.
He won’t be much cheaper.
I think the SS musical chairs lands the Cubs Dansby Swanson, and they add Keirmire to CF.
Even with his upcoming ankle & shoulder surgeries, Canario should be their long term answer in CF. While his 2022 batting average was a little low, he had a monster year last season across 3 levels in the minors. He had 37 HRs, 97 RBI and 23 SB. I’m not sure how strong his arm is but he seems to be at 3-4 tool player at worst. His power will definitely transfer to the majors too and he’ll only be 23 years old for the entire 2023 season. If they sign a new CF, he should just be keeping the seat warm for Canario unless there are plans to move Canario to a corner OF spot or unless his injuries don’t heal well and he can no longer cover CF. Terrible luck for this kid as he was on the doorstep to becoming a star.
Nah, it’s PCA in CF starting late 2024-early 2025. His glove is the best of their OF prospects.
PCA is in the low minors. Nobody at that level can or should be counted on at the big league level.
Not being a Cubs fan, you don’t know our owners well.
You can’t count on Canario coming back or PCA not being a bust.
Nimmo is the obvious choice, but he’ll probably get overpaid as being the only real CF option.
Nimmo does not seem like a Hoyer-type move. I think it will be a stopgap.
I was just looking at Canarios numbers. Wow! Cubs should just go young. Maybe pick up a quad A player to keep seet warm or stick with the kid from last year for half a season. Seems logical to me.
No way he will be better than PCA in CF Dorothy. PCA is their long-term answer there, both with the glove and bat. He is developing some surprising power (maybe 20 HRs), along with a high contact style with plenty of speed. He’s the guy in center over Canario for sure. Future leadoff hitter. That’s why they are only looking for a stop-gap there. Nimmo won’t be that guy, unfortunately. I’d love to have him.
Canaria is 165 pounds which is light for 6’1”. He will be better than Killian and will reach the show before PCA. PCA has the better glove, Canaria has the better bat. Davis has to show that he can move past injuries. Cubs only have Happ and Suzuki, so there is room for all even if Happ is extended.
Hey, I submitted my picks for the contest but never got an email. How do I edit?
Last year you could not edit if you only used email rather than a different method.
Interesting contrast between the article, which colors the Cubs as very ambitious, and the comments, where a lot of negativity prevails. They’re in a similar situation as the Giants; teams that can afford to spend big, but haven’t done so, at least not so far.
Fans seem to think how a team operates for a few seasons, is how they will always operate. I don’t think that’s true. Not being a Cub’s fan, their ability to spend scares me a bit that they may actually start doing that.
Cubs are going sign Judge and Correa
They should and they could. But they absolutely won’t. And for all the ‘Hoyer Haters’ — this is entirely on Tom Ricketts & family. The Cubs are in the upper echelon of MLB and Ricketts stuffs his pockets instead. As an owner, he can’t be waiting until late February to release funds to buy Free Agents. He did this to both Epstein and now Hoyer. You can’t be in on competitive Free Agents that way.
I know you are being sarcastic. But in actuality, they can sign any player they want to. They basically print money at Wrigley Field (at least when their not experiencing “biblical” losses ha). But Ricketts figures he got us our WS, so now is the time to make some money for his shareholders. Plus, he has to recoup all that money he put into real estate around the ballpark.
In short, they are a big market club, but sure don’t act like it these days. It’s a damn shame.
Of course they’re in love with the cheater Correa instead of the better player Turner. Can my Cubs do anything right?
Turner better than Correa? Not a chance. Turner is an average defender and sux in the postseason.
Turner wants to be on the East coast. I doubt he gives Chicago much thought.
Turner has shot down that east coast preference thing. That was from when he knew he was being traded and hoped to influence where he went. But since then he has said, as a FA, he has no geographical preferences.
Every article I just googled said he is not limiting free agency but prefers to play on east coast. Players don’t usually say they prefer they want to play anywhere unless they really want to be in a certain area.
This is from an interview quoting Turner from this past Sept:
“Turner admitted that he had voiced his preference for playing on the East Coast prior to being traded to the Dodgers, but that the primary reason was to try to influence that process.
“Yeah, I’m an East Coast guy. But with free agency, you get a chance to pick and control it as much as you can in your entire career,” Turner said, via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “I’m open to anything really. Everything is in play.”
Your initial post said: “Turner wants to be on the East coast”. Your reply to me had it more correctly, that he “prefers to play on east coast”. A lot of guys have regional preferences, but when a guy says ” I’m open to anything…everything is in play” I think you can over-estimate that preference.
Look Mets69, he will go where the most money is. If the Cubs showed up at his door with a wheelbarrow full of cash, he would run to get his pen.
Trade for Michael Taylor, great defense and in the last year of his contract with Kansas City.
He can’t hit water tho.
Anyone else antsy and refreshing the site every 20 minutes or so to see if anything happened? LOL… I can’t wait for the dominoes to fall even though my team won’t be doing jack.
Yes, the stove is heating up.
Alek Thomas? Crowded out of the OF in Arizona, and could return back home. Granted, he’d be headed to the north side instead of the south side, where his dad worked and he had unlimited access, but really, who wants to live on the south side of Chicago…..except maybe Leroy Brown?
Guardians will trade Myles Straw for Patrick Wisdom
The Cubs can have Dom Smith just give them 2 RP
Cubs should signing FA bats, and trading farm pieces for Pitching if need be. If they’re planning on sifting through the Walmart Black Friday bargain bin for FA’s, then why bother? Heyward is already being paid, so is Ortega & Morel. Happ could also slot in at CF, Wisdom at LF, and other in-house infielders could fill in their missing vacancies. If it ain’t Judge or Nimmo, don’t waste your time or my emotions as a fan.
Bellinger would be the interesting one because if he does get non-tendered by the Dodgers Wrigley Field would be a great place to try to reestablish value. JBJ, Kevin Kiermaier, Odubel Herrera, these are the names that represent the CF market if they don’t want to spend on Nimmo.
I like Bell for the Cubs at 1B and Swanson at SS
Belli can’t hit when he doesn’t know what’s coming.
Nimmo and Turner are the two Free Agents they should sign.
Happ could be moved via trade when Pete is ready for his every day in Wrigley with Nimmo moving to LF.
I still believe the Cubs should ask Rizzo what he wants to return and if nothing really high then sign him for first base.
And they’ve moved the skating rink from outside Wrigley to inside the friendly confines this year so you know they mean business this off-season.
I’m actually excited for that lol
Correa the Cub?
I think they want to sign Nimmo for the of. and don’t plan to extend Happ.?
I’d sign Bellinger for three years. After a complete physical showing his shoulder is 100 percent. Appears to me if he’s sound he will rebound at Wrigley.
Hard to see Bellinger signing a three year deal. If so then maybe he doesnt have the confidence he once had in his bat. A 1 year deal seems more likely but thats based on what he feels he is willing to gamble on. If he can recapture ‘19 then its obviously Big Money! Be glad to see him in Wrigley tho for the chance or three at a reasonable price. Just hard to imagine an mvp with an injury not to think he can still be elite at his age.
There’s that gold glove center fielder from the Padres who’s looking to have a breakout year and hit 60 dingers…
From 17 to 60. That is a wee bit of a jump in power.
Didn’t the Cubs *have* an elite Shortstop? Seems weird to me to let Baez go just to sign another big name next offseason.
Are there really Cubs fans who believe they acquire Brandon Nimmo and Trea Turner?
Reading all the rumors, I think Bellinger is a solid pick for CF. 3 years 45 million can get that done IMO
Senga as SP instead of deGrom, who probably goes back to the Mets.
If I had my pick for SS, give me Turner to bat leadoff and I want Bell and Abreu, for 1st and DH
I am a bit worried about catcher so trading for Murphy makes sense. Contreras for all the good he did was frustrating while managing the pitching staff at times. That said, we can survive with an adequate catcher like Yan
I think Senga is the only true starter to sign on with the Cubs this offseason. They have a lot of young pieces and with Stroman and a possibly healthy Hendricks already on board.
Big believer in the farm pitchers right now.
Turner SS
Hoerner 2nd
Abreu DH
Bell 1st
Happ LF
Suzuki RF
Belliger CF
Morel/Wisdom 3rd
Gomes Catcher
Pitching staff
Stroman Steele Hendricks Senga Thompson/Killian/Weisneski/Alozlay. etc.
Does that break the bank for Chicago? no and it leaves them development options for the farm.