It’s difficult to identify a team that has had a more miserable offseason than the Chicago Cubs.
After ownership and the front office stated their intention to develop a contender by the start of 2024, they went out and hired Craig Counsell as manager to show they meant business.
However, after missing out on Shohei Ohtani in free agency and failing to acquire Juan Soto or Tyler Glasnow on the trade market, they are left with nothing.
Of course, the offseason is long, and the Cubs still have time to bring in high-profile players to fill their requirements, but it hasn’t been a nice Winter thus far.
Cody Bellinger, who Chicago had indicated was their top target, is one guy who might see his stock rise.
However, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, they will have stiff competition if they want to re-sign their star slugger in free agency.
“The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as the favourite for Cody Bellinger with the Cubs still in the hunt,” he wrote in the article.
They were another team in the Ohtani sweepstakes, with rumours flying that they were going to sign the phenom. However, the Toronto Blue Jays must now pick themselves up off the ground and look to Bellinger to be their left-handed power bat.
The Blue Jays appear eager to spend this offseason in order to contend in the American League East division and pursue a World Series title.
Because the Cubs appear hesitant to pay their former slugger large sums of money, this could be the opportunity that sends him to Toronto.
