How The Chicago Cubs Can Continue To Be Effective In Free Agency

The Chicago Cubs haven’t struck big yet, but there are plenty of opportunities to make that big more before Spring Training.

So Shohei Ohtani turned out to be a swing-and-miss for the Chicago Cubs. If they were interested in pitcher Tyler Glasnow, well he ended up in Los Angeles with Ohtani and the Dodgers, too.

So, what now?

The Cubs are one of several teams that MLB.com wrote on Friday need to make a “splash” move in free agency, especially now that the biggest free-agent target in Ohtani is off the board.

MLB.com described the Cubs’ interest in Ohtani as “legitimate” and now that he’s signed the Cubs have to look for a backup plan. Part of that is accounting for what it’s lost, or what else it could potentially lose off its own roster.

The Cubs also need to account for Cody Bellinger, Marcus Stroman and Jeimer Candelario all hitting free agency. Candelario already signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the division-rival Reds, but the other two remain on the market.

If the NL Central race really is as wide open as it appears, the Cubs — coming off a second-place finish in the division and falling out of the Wild Card race in the final week of the season — would appear to be well-positioned to contend, if their talent base doesn’t erode too much.

The Cubs’ free-agent escapades to this point have involved minor-league contracts — pitchers Edwin Escobar, Alberto Chala, Jeremy Guzman and Ethan Roberts, along with catcher Ivan Cespedes.

The good news for the Cubs is that, if they want to make that splash, there are plenty of options — at least right now.

Hitting? Well, they could re-sign Cody Bellinger, and that might be the most expedient option. But the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be the Cubs’ biggest competition.

If the Cubs can’t get Bellinger back, then they could simply sign Matt Champan away from the Blue Jays and solidify third base in Candelario’s place.

Starting pitching? Well, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Shōta Imanaga are two of the top free agents on the market and the Cubs have the tools to sign one of them. Plus, a trade is possible. Perhaps Dylan Cease from across town or former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from Cleveland.

As for the bullpen, well one option is tempting and would lead to a reunion:

Oh, and let’s not forget the bullpen, where free-agent closer Josh Hader could slot in nicely for his former manager, Craig Counsell.

The Cubs may have missed on Ohtani, but there is still plenty of time for the Cubs to make a move that will satisfy their fan base and make their team better for 2024.