If the Chicago Cubs need to add a star participant after falling one win wanting the postseason, they’ve quite a lot of choices to pursue within the coming weeks.
A giant-market crew such because the Cubs must be concerned when high gamers attain free company or can be found in a commerce. Those pursuits finally may finish with the Cubs failing to amass an elite participant this offseason, nevertheless, for a crew that wants far more dependable manufacturing in key spots.
Shohei Ohtani’s hush-hush courtship continued Wednesday, the ultimate day of the winter conferences. The Cubs stay among the many groups within the combine for the famous person. Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is anticipated to fetch a long-term deal value greater than $200 million as a part of a pitching market that options National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell, standout reliever Josh Hader and lefty starters Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez, whereas outfielder Cody Bellinger stays the most effective slugger available on the market behind Ohtani. Third baseman Matt Chapman and first baseman Rhys Hoskins are among the many subsequent tier of hitters who additionally match the Cubs’ offensive wants.
Some components are out of the Cubs’ management in the case of making an attempt to reel in a high participant. But in the event that they fall quick of their efforts to signal a free-agent star, the group’s offseason imaginative and prescient would possibly grow to be a troublesome promote to followers who need to see them construct off a profitable but playoff-less season. The entrance workplace isn’t taking a star-or-bust method, nevertheless.
“Winning the offseason is probably more a curse than blessing,” Hoyer mentioned. “With Cody Bellinger, it wasn’t precisely a transfer that folks have been lauding tremendously final 12 months and it was in all probability the most effective free-agent signings available on the market. You simply don’t know the place the most effective offers are going to return from.
“Certainly there’s immensely talented players on the market, but I think if you go in thinking it’s one of those guys or bust, you can make some really bad long-term decisions. So trying to win the offseason is not a good idea. Let’s try to make the best decisions we can and if we do that we’ll be in good position.”
Trade exercise has began to choose up, led by the San Diego Padres reportedly finalizing a deal Wednesday afternoon to ship outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in a multiplayer transaction. Soto, 25, a three-time All-Star and one-time NL batting champion, will grow to be a free agent after the 2024 season, making him an expensive rental.
The Cubs’ monetary flexibility and deep top-five farm system makes them an intriguing participant in free company and as a commerce companion — and with that, inaccurate rumors popping up and linked to them. Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow stays on the crew’s radar, however Christopher Morel has not been mentioned as a part of a possible deal, sources informed the Tribune, refuting a report this week. Based on observations from throughout the sphere the final two years, supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned Morel, 24, has put himself ready the place he must be on the sphere.
“Now where? That’s what we have to figure out,” Counsell mentioned. “He has earned his way into a lineup. There’s no question about that. He’s an exciting young hitter. And the Cubs have up to this point moved him around the field because he’s forced his way into the lineup. That’s a good thing. I see that as a really good thing.”
Similarly, different sources informed the Tribune that the Cubs haven’t talked to the Blue Jays about shortstop Bo Bichette after that rumor turned fodder on social media two weeks in the past.
This is the value of the Cubs doing enterprise within the deep finish of the expertise pool as they attempt to capitalize on the second.
“We have young players that creates great depth in the organization,” Counsell mentioned. “Depth is a technique to remedy for wins. It actually raises your flooring as a crew. Not each prospect seems to be a daily major-league participant, however some transform higher than you assume too. At this time the Cubs have a extremely good basis and base and numbers together with some potential high-end gamers.
“At this time of the year that creates a lot of conversation, but it’s also trying to figure out ways to keep those guys developing so that they add wins to the major-league team.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com