Chicago Cubs: Plenty of big free agents still to come

If the Chicago Cubs miss out on this year’s big free agent class, there are a few great position players set to hit the open market in the years to come.

If the Chicago Cubs don’t sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado this offseason, it’s not the end of the world. I know you may think otherwise, but I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. Nolan Arenado will be a free agent after the upcoming 2019 campaign. Arguably the greatest player of all-time, Mike Trout, is due to be a free agent after the 2020 season. Arenado and Trout are a couple of future free agents the front office might target in upcoming off seasons.

The decision to add Arenado to the Cubs will be a complicated one. The first issue is that Arenado is a third baseman. So if the Cubs sign him, Kris Bryant will have to move to the outfield full-time. Everything Bryant has said publicly about playing third base or the outfield has been positive and team-first. But you have to wonder if Bryant has a preference for where he plays in the field.

When the 2016 National League has played in the outfield he has played well defensively. In just under 800 innings Bryant has made only four errors in the outfield for a .971 fielding percentage. He has a strong enough arm that he can play right field. Bryant also has enough range that he can occasionally play center field if that is what the lineup needs. Joe Maddon almost started him in center field in a game last season.