As of December 18, 2023, there has been no MLB-level offseason move made by the Chicago Cubs. Though the organisation recently added some bullpen arms and depth at catching, at the major league level, it’s crickets. What is the reason behind the Cubs executive office’s inaction on signings thus far?
The Cubs were anticipated to be among the busiest clubs during the Winter Meetings and the whole offseason heading into it. The franchise hasn’t signed anyone despite being linked to almost every big free agent, including Shohei Ohtani, who reportedly received a huge offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tyler Glasnow in exchange for Ohtani, and as of the week before Christmas, the Cubs had nothing.
It is unclear if the Cubs are holding out for players. They must, therefore, move swiftly to make decisions, and the supporters aren’t the only ones who feel this way. If the Cubs keep waiting on a guy like Rhys Hoskins, the market may heat up as the holidays draw near, according to MLB Insider Jon Morosi on MLB Hot Stove Monday morning.
For most of the offseason, Hoskins has been associated with the Cubs. In addition to being viewed as a “good fit” for the Cubs, he and the team are said to have spoken about short- and long-term contracts. Why haven’t they made the move if there has been so much dialogue?
As the offseason progresses, it seems the Cubs are beginning to have faith in a few of their young players and believe Craig Counsell would be the ideal manager to help guide them into the major leagues. Nevertheless, it’s possible that players like Matt Mervis, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and others won’t be sufficient or ready to support the Cubs in their immediate need to stay competitive. Even with a significant improvement—a Christopher Morel, for instance—there would still be a discernible lack of power if Cody Bellinger goes on.
Hoskins seems like a reasonable addition, but this raises more serious issues. The Cubs can’t wait on guys they’re interested in, as Morosi states. That holds true for any player they desire. They must be checking out players like Shota Imanaga, Hoskins, and Bellinger, but they must act quickly. They risk losing all of their primary goals and suffering a huge regression in the roster from 2023 if they procrastinate too long.
