Cubs Still Have Work to Do with Spring Training Days Away
Having pitchers and catchers report on Super Bowl Sunday seems like malpractice, but it also means baseball is officially right around the corner. And while Jed Hoyer has made several moves this winter to put the Cubs in a better spot than they were to end last season, more changes are needed to make them clear favorites to win the NL Central.
The bench is most likely done being addressed for now, though an argument could be made that one more spot is open. Matthew Boyd is the team’s only addition to the rotation so far, replacing Kyle Hendricks as the fifth starter. The closest they got out of numerous discussions with free agents and trade partners was with the Marlins on Jesus Luzardo, a deal that may have fallen through due to medicals. Garrett Crochet was a possibility as well, but Jerry Reinsdorf decided he didn’t want to trade with the Cubs.
Jack Flaherty signing with the Tigers makes Dylan Cease the main target if a starting pitcher will be added to this roster. However, A.J. Preller’s initial asking price was Matt Shaw and more. The Padres’ baseball boss knows that isn’t happening and that he needs to trip payroll. The Cubs are one of the best fits for Cease, so someone has to budge. Adding Cease, or even fellow Padre Michael King would immediately make the Cubs the clear favorites to win the division behind one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
The bullpen remains a questionable aspect of the roster, though, as one more high-leverage reliever needs to be added after trading for Ryan Pressly to solidify the closer role. One option is David Robertson, who the Cubs have been talking to throughout the winter about a possible reunion on the North Side. Robert Suárez is another Padre who has been connected to the Cubs, but Robertson would probably be more beneficial due to what would be a cheaper contract without the potential drawbacks of Suárez’s current deal.
Kyle Tucker headlines the offensive improvements for a roster that has no obvious holes to fill, but his former teammate Alex Bregman is still a very real possibility for the Cubs. He’s good friends with Tucker and Pressly, making the thought of joining the Cubs even more appealing. Bregman wants a long-term deal, something the Cubs have been hesitant to give out in years past. While this winter is no different, I wouldn’t totally rule it out. Trading Nico Hoerner would free up a decent amount of payroll and net enough of a return to offset penalties for signing a player who has turned down a qualifying offer.
Transactions aren’t frozen after players officially report to Mesa, but having your team assembled before then should always be the goal. With that in mind, these next few days could see a lot of action around the league as teams prepare for camps to open. The Cubs aren’t far off from being legitimate contenders, they just need to make another move or two.