1 lightweight, 1 middleweight, and 1 heavyweight free agent target remaining for Cubs

It hasn't exactly been an active offseason for the Chicago Cubs. There's nothing wrong with what the Cubs have done--stabilizing their bullpen, improving their bench, and finding catching depth--but for a team that has a question mark in their starting rotation and on offense, it's been an underwhelming winter.

The good news is that the Cubs still have plenty of room to make moves this offseason. The Cubs' luxury tax payroll sits around $203 million, giving them nearly $40 million in space before reaching the first level of the luxury tax. Even if the Cubs plan on leaving themselves space for in-season moves, there's plenty of space for them to have a successful offseason.

Even, if at this current moment, the Chicago White Sox have spent more than them this winter.

Michael Kopech would be the perfect lightweight free-agent target for the Cubs

It's no secret that the Cubs are still looking to add another high-leverage relief pitcher to their bullpen. The issue is that most are off the board by now. Pete Fairbanks remains available, but the trend this offseason has been the bidding for established closers passing the Cubs' comfort zone.

It could lead to Jed Hoyer and Co. turning to the strength they are best at: turning reclamation projects into success stories. One option the Cubs might want to consider is Michael Kopech. Once Kopech got away from the Chicago White Sox, he's proved to be an effective high-leverage reliever who misses bats.

The issue is that injuries limited him to only 14 appearances last season, and he is a clear buy-low candidate this offseason.

With pitching being the focus, Kazuma Okamoto could be the middleweight free agent for the Cubs' offense

With Munetaka Murakami now with the Chicago White Sox, the market for Kazuma Okamoto should come into focus. Okamoto is four years older than Murakami, but his contact-oriented approach could give him a higher ceiling. Okamoto doesn't have the power that Murakami has, and ultimately, that's the reason he's not expected to be in the heavyweight category of someone like Alex Bregman.

If the Cubs' big free-agent splash is going to be for a pitcher like Tatsuya Imai or Zac Gallen, Okamato could fall within their price range. Though if the teams pursuing Alex Bregman view him as a fallback option, there's a scenario where the bidding pushes him closer to the heavyweight category.

As a heavyweight target, Alex Bregman is the best free-agent fit for the Chicago Cubs.

There's no question that the Cubs need to add another established starting pitcher to their rotation, and ultimately, that could be the main reason why they don't sign Alex Bregman. Having said that, the best free-agent fit for the Cubs this offseason is Bregman.

The Cubs' offense will be without Kyle Tucker this season, and Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Nico Hoerner are all free agents next offseason. Adding Bregman will give the starting lineup some certainty in 2026 and the years ahead. Not to mention, it moves Matt Shaw into a super-utility role and improves the Cubs' bench.