Chicago Cubs: Three free agents the team should go after this winter

Looking to balance out a lineup that’s become too one-dimensional, the Chicago Cubs have an opportunity to make big changes via free agency this year.

On the surface, the Chicago Cubs were a pretty solid ball club in 2019. They ranked fifth in the league in runs scored, fourth in on-base percentage and second in home runs, setting a new franchise record by blasting 256 long-balls on the year.

But all that resulted in a disappointing 84-win season and missing the postseason for the first time in nearly half a decade. The front office moved on from Joe Maddon and kicked off a search that remains ongoing here in late October.

As I’ve said before – the theme of this offseason will undoubtedly be change. The scope of said change remains to be seen. But it seems safe to assume the team that takes the field on Opening Day next March will look quite different from the one we’ve grown used to in recent years. 

With the World Series underway, obviously, the true hot stove season hasn’t even kicked off yet. Still, it’s never too early to kick around some names – especially given the Cubs’ needs at second base, in the outfield and in the bullpen.