Chicago Cubs largely quiet on Day One of the Winter Meetings

Derek Jeter continues to tear apart the Miami Marlins

If I were Derek Jeter, I might lay low for awhile when I get back to South Florida.

The new owner of the Miami Marlins already traded two key players in Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stantons (to his former team in the New York Yankees, no less). Now, he’s working with a quarter of the league in talks on outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

The bad news for the Cubs? Two of the top three teams with reported interest: the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals. Obviously, the Cardinals are seeking to unseat the Cubs atop the Central, while Washington represents one of Chicago’s biggest threats in the National League.

Ozuna comes with two years of control and is coming off the best season of his career. He slashed .312/.376/.548 and smacked a career-best 37 home runs. He smacked 191 hits and drove in over 100 runs for the first time. With pretty much any team, he represents a significant offensive upgrade.

Christian Yellich comes with a much steeper price tag given his five years of control. So expect more teams in on Ozuna, even if they’re facing a tighter budget.