RUMOR: Chicago Cubs Could Target Free Agent Manny Machado After 2023

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado recently announced that he plans to opt out of his contract upon the conclusion of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Among teams that could make a play for the free agent, are the Chicago Cubs, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

According to Nightengale, Machado is seeking a ten-year, $400 million contract.

"If the Padres don’t pay it, well, don’t think for a second that someone like the New York Mets or Yankees or San Francisco Giants or the Chicago Cubs will hesitate," Nightengale wrote in his Sunday article.

The Cubs should have a lot of money to play around with, even after signing shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million contract. The club has begun engaging in talks to extend infielder Nico Hoerner. If they are able to lock him up, they'll have a talented middle infield secured for a number of years. However, third base remains to be a position in question.

The club does not have any can't-miss prospects due to make a Major League impact at the position this year. Former top prospect and promising infielder Nick Madrigal has been taking reps at the position this offseason, moving over from second base, with Hoerner taking over his natural position, thanks to the Swanson signing.

The Cubs have the 11th-highest projected payroll for the 2023 season at $147 million.

The Cubs had a chance to sign Machado four years ago, when he hit the open market. The club did not make a serious push for him, however, already having the top payroll in the National League. Even with a $210 million payroll, the Cubs failed to make the postseason, signaling the beginning of the end of the golden era of Cubs baseball. Less than two years later, World Series champions Jon Lester, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Albert Almora Jr. were all gone.

The Cubs appear to be at least a year or two away from competing in the National League, but according to MLB Pipeline, the organization currently has one of the best ten farm systems in baseball. Without a blue chip prospect at third base, Machado could be a good fit on the north side of Chicago.

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