Chicago Cubs have other focuses outside of Shohei Ohtani

Chicago Cubs always a threat at baseball’s Winter Meetings

Next week, representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball organizations will get together in Orlando for the annual Winter Meetings. With everyone in one place, big moves are a very real possibility.

And we’re not just talking about free agent signings. Blockbuster deals have gone down at these meetings time and time again. Will Giancarlo Stanton finally change hands? Will the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes come to an end?

We’ll get answers to all these questions. For the Cubs, could this be the year they part with a big-league position player in hopes of landing elite pitching talent? It’s not out of the question, but it would have to be the right deal. Epstein won’t deal guys like Kyle Schwarber just for the sake of making a deal.

Next: Is this right-hander the future ace of the Cubs?

And even if the Cubs don’t make a splash next week, you can bet Epstein and the front office will be laying the groundwork for the moves they need to make to send the Cubs to a fourth-straight National League Championship Series.