Cody Bellinger will probably be back in the discussion for 2024 as the Chicago Cubs continue to look for a franchise player this offseason.
The Cubs are thought to be the front-runners to sign the slugging lefty, who hasn’t been replaced in their lineup yet.
However, third base may be where Chicago has the biggest need.
They still don’t have a reliable everyday player who can contribute both defensively and offensively.
According to manager Craig Counsell’s remarks, Christopher Morel doesn’t seem to be the best option, and Nick Madrigal isn’t the attacking threat they need going ahead.
That’s why Matt Chapman, a free agent third baseman, feels like a natural fit.
In addition to his four Gold Glove victories (he will win one more in 2023), he has a lifetime OPS+ of 117 and slugging percentage of.461, which would improve his offensive stats.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the San Francisco Giants appear to be the team with the greatest chance of signing the Cubs’ target this offseason.
“When Zaidi was a member of Oakland’s front office in 2014, the Athletics selected Chapman in the first round. Zaidi, the head of baseball operations for the Giants, is well-versed in Chapman’s career. Bob Melvin, the skipper of the Giants, managed Chapman in Oakland from 2017 to 21.
It is important to acknowledge the relationship that exists between the player, manager, and front office.
Free agency frequently boils down to relationships rather than money, and the Giants excel in that area.
They also have a lot of money to spend because they were unable to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, their key targets.
Despite claiming that their objective was to significantly improve the roster in order to become a contender, Chicago has been reluctant to part with significant sums of money this offseason.
Based on their behaviour, it appears improbable that they would turn around and give Chapman another megadeal if they were interested in signing Bellinger.
That might obviously change, but as of right now, it appears as though the Giants could sign the best third baseman available, leaving the Cubs facing the same problems at that position as they did the previous season.
The Chicago Cubs must undoubtedly make another big acquisition at this stage of the offseason.
When Opening Day rolled around, they thought they would have a tonne of new players to show off. But, the disappointment has come from missing out on quality players like Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, as well as from not being able to acquire another elite player through trade.
Shota Imanaga, a pitcher from Japan, was the lone notable free agent signing made by the Cubs.
The name that keeps coming up is Cody Bellinger since Chicago hasn’t added a replacement bat to their lineup and, on paper, appears to be much worse off without him.
It’s been intriguing to use his free agency.
Expectations were high that the star slugger and former MVP would have plenty of suitors after a breakout season with the Cubs. So numerous that unless Chicago made astronomical contract expenditures, they would not be able to get him back.
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