Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings will get underway on Sunday at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and the Chicago Cubs are naturally expected to be one of the most active teams at the meetings.
The Cubs, who lost in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, have already added a starting pitcher this offseason, signing Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal, but that’s just the beginning for the team.
What will Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer’s shopping list look like? Which players could we see sign with the Cubs at the meetings? Here is our best guess at what will take place over the next five days for the Cubs.
Starting Pitching Still on the Agenda
Even with the addition of Chatwood, the Cubs will undoubtedly be looking for another hurler to add to the mix. The only question, of course, is just how high up the pecking order they want to go in terms of quality of talent.
It seems unlikely at this point that the Cubs are going to be looking for an ace-type pitcher, which means that hurlers like Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish probably aren’t on their radar. Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer could be in play, with the prospects given up for players like Jose Quintana and Aroldis Chapman the last two seasons, they probably don’t have the talent available in their system to get him without giving up Major League players.
If a trade for a top-line starter isn’t on the table, then a free agent like Alex Cobb could very well be in play for the Cubs. A trade for a high-priced hurler from a team desperate to shed salary could also be a possibility, so Cubs fans should prepare for whispers about players like Jeff Samardzija or Johnny Cueto if Epstein and Hoyer look to go that direction.
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Veterans like Lance Lynn have also been linked to the Cubs, should they decide to go in the John Lackey-type mold for their next starting pitcher added.
Bullpen Arms a Must
Wade Davis likely won’t be back as the team’s closer, and Hector Rondon has already been non-tendered, so the Cubs are still looking for someone to finish out games.
Carl Edwards Jr. could fulfill that role, but after his postseason struggles, it seems more likely that the team will look to add another arm to the mix. That’s where players like Brandon Morrow come into play, and he could command some decent, but not exorbitant, money at these meetings.
Pitchers like Greg Holland, Mike Minor, and Addison Reed have also been linked to the Cubs, and although all three come with their own issues and challenges, they could potentially be good fits in a Cubs bullpen that needs some shoring up in a big way.
Back-Up Catcher
The Cubs have a few catching options in their system, but none will likely be ready to be a full-time backup for Willson Contreras next season.
Free agents like Alex Avila could make their way back to the North Side if Epstein and Hoyer want to go with a more veteran guy, while others, like former Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Jose Lobaton could also spark some interest from the Cubs.
A New Lead-Off Hitter
The experiment of having Kyle Schwarber bat lead-off was a disaster, and the Cubs really couldn’t find anyone to fill that top-hitter role consistently to get the table set for Kris Bryant and company during the season.
The St. Louis Cardinals might dangle Dexter Fowler in a trade, but the odds of the Cubs being able to swing that kind of a deal are slim to none. Other players could be available, such as Kevin Keirmaier, but the price would be steep, and the Cubs would probably have to give up a regular like Schwarber or Javier Baez to make that happen.
One free agent to keep an eye on is Cameron Maybin, who will likely come somewhat cheap considering his struggles in 2017. He had a .383 on-base percentage in 2016, so there is a possibility he could return to that form next year if the Cubs can work with him.
If all else fails, Jon Jay could be back on the North Side if the team elects to offer him a new contract in free agency.
