With the signing of Shota Imanaga, the Chicago Cubs finally made their first significant offseason acquisition. The Cubs will try to win the National League Central with the aid of the prospective ace.
Though a terrific pickup in a quiet Chicago offseason, the work is far from done. The team has expressed interest in a number of notable free agents, including Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger is the most likely option because of his strong Cubs season in 2023. It relieves the front office of some of the pressure since they already know he can play in Chicago.
Chapman is in need and has a good chance of doing the same.
The 30-year-old hit.240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs and recorded a 4.4 WAR. Although his offensive productivity raises legitimate concerns, he is a nice addition for the Cubs if he can maintain his 20+ home run average and play excellent defence. In the 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons, Chapman hit at least 27 home runs, including a 36 home run season in 2019.
The San Francisco Giants are among the teams who have expressed interest in the two-time Platinum Glove winner. After the Giants signed Jordan Hicks to a four-year deal, they’re still in the running to land another crucial free agent.
MLB.com claims that Hicks’ arrival will force them to concentrate on Chapman.
“They’ve been linked to reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on the free-agent market, but it’s possible their acquisition of Hicks will cause them to focus their attention on other targets, such as third baseman Matt Chapman.”
Since the start of the offseason, Chapman has been the subject of reports from San Francisco.
The Cubs should be aware that Chapman may be their next addition if they want to keep improving after acquiring Imanaga. There is competition for his services.
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