Chicago Cubs Still Have Interest in Star Third Baseman
The Chicago Cubs play a Spring Training game this month and there are still questions that the front office needs to answer.
Offensively, the lineup needs to improve.
Cody Bellinger's pending free agency doesn't help that, and there are others out there who could improve this team.
It's uncertain if the Bellinger decision is delaying any of the other moves the Cubs hope to make. Of the available hitters, Matt Chapman looks to be the second option for Chicago.
A deal for both of them hasn't been ruled out, but it's much more likely that the club will make a move for one of them due to the price.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cubs are still viewed as a possibility for Chapman.
"The Cubs are also a possibility for Chapman, and of course they make sense for Cody Bellinger."
Chapman, 30 years old, enters his eighth big league season. His most recent stint was with the Toronto Blue Jays during 2022 and 2023. He's posted a 7.9 bWAR with a slash line of .234/.327/.429 and 44 home runs.
He's best known for his defensive abilities, winning four Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Gloves. Chapman has shown signs of being an above-average offensive player, but he's also struggled at the plate for parts of his career.
With a 4.4 WAR in 2023, it was his best season since 2019 when he posted a 7.8 WAR and was named an All-Star.
If Chicago can't re-sign Bellinger, Chapman needs to be in a Cubs jersey. With Spring Training around the corner, it's time to sign at least one of them.
