Biggest Cubs Free Agent Decisions this Offseason
While most of the talk has been about which big name free agent pitcher the Chicago Cubs will sign this offseason, there are several questions on the current roster that will need to be addressed first. Yes, the Cubs free agent decisions very well could reflect the direction that the team will go when pursuing other players, as well as what path the team might make with current minor league prospects.
Here is a list, provided by Spotrac, of the Chicago Cubs free agents in 2016.
Of course the biggest name on this list belongs to Dexter Fowler. Fowler, the Cubs leadoff hitter and centerfielder, has played his way into a multi-year contract, worth a similar pricetag as he is currently being paid ($9.5 million). While Theo Epstein had said, “We’ll see what the future holds. Certainly, there’s an interest in sitting down at the appropriate time with Dexter and his agent … and seeing if there’s a way to keep him a Chicago Cub. Because he made a big impact on the field and off, and we love having him around.”
While yes there is an interest, it seems as though the ball is in Dexter’s and his agent’s court in terms of a return to the Cubs. While it would be great to see Fowler back in Chicago, he will command a four year deal and it is unsure if the Cubs, or Theo, would like to commit to that length.
Why, you might ask. The Cubs have another prospect they have high hopes for, a guy by the name of Albert Almora.
Almora has had his fair share of Struggles with the bat, but he still projects as a top prospect and possible leadoff hitter. He plays a great centerfield (praised as the best defensive outfielder in the Cubs system) and he should be able to adapt to become a respectable MLB hitter. More so, Fangraphs projects his hitting ability at 55 and his power as 50. These are both respectable MLB level projections.
While Almora isn’t going to make the 2016 team, he does look like a 2017/18 callup. The problem with spending money on Fowler for four seasons, when the heir apparent will be here in two is inefficient spending, something Theo nor Jed Hoyer like to do.
Dexter has certainly earned his deal, it most likely will not be in Chicago. Unless the Cubs find a way to sign him cheaper, or for a shorter term.
Outside of Fowler, there are six relievers on the list. Sure James Russell, who was designated for assignment in September, has already been counted out of future plans, but the team will need to resign at least one of these guys. Could Russell catch a comeback, or did Clayton Richard do enough to earn another shot here? Jury is out. The Cubs did indeed become very fortunate to find gems via other team’s scraps, but you would like a team that had a difficult time solidifying their bullpen in 2015 you would like for them to have a better starting point than they did last season.
The team will make some additional offseason moves. While probably not as big as the internet Kyle Schwarber rumor or even any of these deals, they will certainly pair up with some team to add pitching. One option that screams a match is with the New York Mets, and possibly acquiring Jon Niese or even Zack Wheeler.
Then of course the Cubs will kick the tires on David Price or even Zack Greinke, but adding one of the next tier guys — Jordan Zimmermann, Yovani Gallardo, or possibly Ian Kennedy — which will supplement their current guys, and any pitcher acquired in a trade. While none of these names are as sexy as a David Price, the team can still control some costs that will soon have more than $50 committed to two pitchers (Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta) per season for several years to come.
Would anyone bat an eye at a starting rotation of:
Jake Arrieta
Jon Lester
Jordan Zimmermann
Jon Niese
Kyle Hendricks
Looks pretty damn good to me, and gives the Cubs a great short series rotation in hopes of allowing them to get into the NLCS for many years to come.
Another free agency option that has been talked about a lot has been with St Louis Cardinals free agent, Jason Heyward.
While Heyward has played centerfield in the past, he’s really a corner outfielder, and if the Cubs were to acquire him you could almost bet either Jorge Soler or Kyle Schwarber will be dealt this offseason (ok, or Schwarber returns to his natural position as catcher). This is an intriguing conversation to dive into, but a difficult one since it will likely mean a trade of one of the team’s beloved prospects.
Now remember, when a team trades a player it doesn’t always mean they’ve given up on them. Especially not in the case of a Schwarber or Soler. Any deal involving these guys will only go down because they (and the other team) believes in their ability so much, they were able to acquire a huge talent.
Now, a Soler to NY deal which brings Niese back might not make a ton of sense for the Mets. With a loaded outfield already, most certainly the Cubs would assume one of their current outfielders (not names Yoenis Cespedes).
We are still in a very speculative mode right now, and until baseball’s winter meetings we probably will not have much more to go off of. But so is the hot stove league, can’t wait till it really heats up!
