The Cubs made an enormous splash on the commerce market yesterday after they landed star outfielder Kyle Tucker is a blockbuster deal with the Astros. The membership surrendered a hefty bundle of All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes, 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith, and right-handed teen Hayden Wesneski in an effort to make the deal, nonetheless, and the lack of Paredes particularly could have modified among the membership’s offseason plans.
Second baseman Nico Hoerner has reportedly been obtainable in commerce talks this winter, with the Mariners particularly being mentioned to have curiosity within the infielder. In response to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, nonetheless, it’s doable that the membership’s considering involving Hoerner has modified within the aftermath of yesterday’s take care of the Astros. Rosenthal notes that the Cubs have been motivated to commerce from their infield combine in an effort to open up taking part in time for prime prospect Matt Shaw, who hit a sensational .298/.395/.534 in a late-season cup of espresso on the Triple-A stage and seems able to make the soar to the foremost leagues.
Shaw was drafted as a shortstop, however is a bat-first prospect who has frolicked at each second and third base within the minors since being chosen with the Thirteenth-overall decide within the 2023 draft. Whereas Shaw has sometimes been thought of a extra pure match at second than third as a consequence of questions on his arm energy, the teen logged 580 1/3 innings on the sizzling nook within the minors this previous yr and appears to be a pure alternative to interchange Paredes in Chicago’s infield combine subsequent yr. That, in line with Rosenthal, leaves the Cubs “seemingly” to maintain Hoerner within the fold headed into subsequent season.
It’s no less than doable one other addition modifications these plans, as USA Immediately’s Bob Nightengale reported earlier right now that the membership is out there for third base assist following yesterday’s deal. It’s unclear if such an addition could be a part-time participant who may provide insurance coverage in case Shaw proves to not be fairly prepared for the majors or if the Cubs are pursuing extra of an everyday possibility on the sizzling nook, however it could appear seemingly at this level that the Cubs could solely significantly entertain a Hoerner commerce going ahead in the event that they’re in a position to land an everyday third baseman, thereby permitting them to interchange Hoerner with Shaw on the keystone.
Whereas Hoerner could also be staying put in Chicago, the identical can’t be mentioned for Cody Bellinger. The 2019 NL MVP has been identified to be on the commerce block all winter as a result of outfield logjam the Cubs skilled late within the 2024 season, when Bellinger was vying with Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Mike Tauchman, and prime prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong for normal taking part in time. That logjam already led the Cubs to non-tender Tauchman, and the introduction of Tucker because the surefire on a regular basis starter in proper discipline solely additional emphasised that Bellinger figures to play in one other uniform subsequent yr.
The Yankees seem like maybe probably the most aggressive suitor for Bellinger this winter, although experiences have beforehand indicated that the perimeters stay aside on how a lot of Bellinger’s contract the Cubs ought to retain. Peter Botte of the New York Put up offered further particulars concerning the scenario yesterday, reporting that the perimeters are “greater than $10MM” aside of their negotiations. That’s a hefty hole the perimeters might want to bridge in an effort to come collectively on a deal, because it represents greater than a 3rd of Bellinger’s $27.5MM wage for the 2025 season. Releasing up cash in an effort to enhance different areas of the roster appears to be one of many major motivators for the Cubs in buying and selling Bellinger. In response to RosterResource, the membership’s luxurious tax payroll sits at slightly below $215MM after the Tucker deal, and clearing as a lot of Bellinger’s $26.67MM common annual worth off the books as doable would drastically improve Chicago’s monetary flexibility as they give the impression of being into enhancing their rotation by dealing for a starter like Mariners righty Luis Castillo or Marlins southpaw Jesus Luzardo.
Talking of the rotation, Patrick Mooney and Tim Britton of The Athletic lately took a have a look at the potential of an extension between the Cubs and left-hander Justin Steele. The pair report that Steele and the Cubs haven’t engaged in extension talks up to now, although they word that the Cubs continuously use the beginning of Spring Coaching as a chance to discover extensions with gamers as they’ve performed with Hoerner and Happ previously earlier than finally getting offers performed nearer to Opening Day.
The 29-year-old lefty is definitely an intriguing extension candidate. Steele is beneath crew management for 3 extra seasons and doesn’t sport high-end velocity or huge strikeout charges. With that mentioned, his outcomes have been undeniably wonderful in three seasons since he joined the rotation on a full-time foundation. In 427 innings of labor throughout 78 begins over the previous three years, Metal has posted a 3.10 ERA (134 ERA+) with a virtually matching 3.14 FIP. He generates grounders at a powerful 48.5% clip and has restricted walks to only a 5.7% fee over the previous two seasons after struggling considerably together with his management in 2022. Amongst starters with no less than 300 innings over the previous two years, solely Gerrit Cole has allowed a decrease ERA than Steele’s 3.07, whereas his 3.11 FIP ranks third behind Sonny Grey and Logan Webb.
