Chicago Cubs Named as Potential Fit for All-Star
The Chicago Cubs have made moves throughout the offseason and will need to continue doing so if they want to be the team they were hoping to be coming into the offseason. After the Cubs hired Craig Counsell, it signaled that they were ready to compete.
While Chicago has allowed multiple free agents to join other teams, they can't allow that to happen anymore.
Of the possible free-agent targets, Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger need to be at the top of their list.
As constructed, Bellinger and Chapman are essentially players they must land before Spring Training.
MLB.com put together a team of the top remaining free agents, and Chapman was named the third baseman of the team. When listing his fits, Mark Feinsand writes that the Cubs and San Francisco Giants are the two potential fits.
Concerns are warranted around Chapman's offensive game. His numbers were down last season but he hit 36 home runs in 2019 and 27 in 2021 and 2022. If he can continue to give that type of production offensively, with his defense, he's one of the most valuable players in baseball.
The problem, however, is he hit just 17 home runs and slashed .240/.330/.424 this season. His 108 OPS+ was the lowest in his career outside of the 2021 season.
Chapman does bring Chicago much of what they need. Defensively, he picks it better than anyone at the hot corner, and his veteran leadership can go a long way in a clubhouse trying to build winning habits.
The star third baseman continues to be linked to the Cubs and there is a much clearer path for him to join the team according to another insider.
It will be up to the front office to get something done.
