Chicago Cubs Could Show Interest in Gold Glove Third Baseman

The Chicago Cubs attacked free agency hard last offseason. It's one of the main reasons why they are fighting for a playoff spot this late in the year, currently holding the final Wild Card spot entering Wednesday.

The additions of Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger have been pivotal in turning the Cubs into playoff contenders.

With the focus still rightfully on the remainder of 2023, the front office is continuing to look at places on the roster where they can potentially upgrade during free agency.

One of those positions is third base.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic writes, "If the Cubs want to be taken seriously as a team that can win multiple postseason rounds next year, they will have to address big holes at first base and third base."

The revolving door of players at the corner infield positions is something that Chicago has managed to succeed with despite the challenges that situation presents.

Mooney says that president Jed Hoyer could eventually spend big in the offseason to make sure they address the hole at the hot corner.

"Or they could pay the price for a free agent like Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman," he writes.

The current Toronto Blue Jays third baseman will easily be the best player at that position on the market.

Chapman is hitting .246/.335/.430 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI this season. It's a down year for him in terms of power, after hitting 27 home runs the previous two seasons. But the 30-year-old is also great defensively, having won three Gold Gloves in the past and continuing to play the corner infield at a high level.

Whether the Cubs are interested in paying another big contract with the looming free agency of Bellinger on the horizon is unknown.

There are plenty of young prospects in their pipeline who are seemingly ready to make their leap to Major League Baseball. However, those prospects likely aren't impact players that will boost a playoff ready roster.

Hoyer will be one of the busiest executives in the offseason as he tries to build a contender in Chicago for years to come.