Chicago Cubs: Who do they have targeted as free agents?

Nick Castellanos – Chicago Cubs

Well now onto the offensive side of the ball, and this is obvious. With the Cubs, Nick Castellanos has a .365/.400/.712 slash with nine home runs in just 25 games. If he keeps this performance up, the Cubs need to consider a long-term deal for Castellanos. He’s only 28, so his best prime years may be right in front of him yet.

He has three straight 20 home run seasons and is on pace for over 50 doubles. That kind of slugging can’t be found anywhere. He shouldn’t be too cheap, somewhere in the three-year range, and if the Chicago Cubs make a big trade, Castellanos can slide right into the vacated outfield spot. The resigning of Castellanos makes too much sense.

Anthony Rendon – Washington Nationals

Is there a better fit? Anthony Rendon doesn’t strike out; he has power and plays good defense. Rendon will easily pass six fWAR for the fourth time of his career, and the third straight year.

It’s no secret the Cubs’ issue is contact, ranking last in the Major League as a team in terms of putting the ball in play. Rendon strikes out just 14.2 percent of the time, which is music to the ears of Cubs fans.

If the Chicago Cubs want to get super out of the box, they can trade Kris Bryant and let Rendon play third. The chances of any of this scenario happening are slim, one would think. The Cubs need hitters who put the ball in play consistently, and these two hitters do precisely that and would lengthen the lineup so much.