Chicago Cubs: Why re-signing Nicholas Castellanos is not a priority

The Chicago Cubs had the second-highest payroll in all of baseball in 2019. But this winter, they finally have some payroll flexibility.

With several players hitting the market as unrestricted free agents and the Chicago Cubs holding team options on a host of other players, Theo Epstein and the rest of the front office have the opportunity to pursue a variety of different avenues during the offseason.

There has been a lot of noise suggesting that the Cubs “need” to bring back Nicholas Castellanos after one of the most impressive two-month stretches in team history.

While Castellanos would undoubtedly give the Cubs added offensive firepower heading into 2020, it is dangerous to suggest that re-signing him should be the top priority this winter.

Instead of doing “whatever it takes” to bring a player back into the fold, the Cubs should emulate the strategy used by the Washington Nationals last year: add multiple pieces in fringe areas.