3 big ticket free agents if the Chicago Cubs miss out on Carlos Correa

With the Chicago Cubs‘ presumed willingness to easily exceed the $30 million AAV threshold on Carlos Correa, it is important to keep an open mind regarding how aggressive Jed Hoyer and Tom Ricketts are being this winter. Though the Cubs have yet to land the huge fish outside of perhaps Marcus Stroman, the thought is the team is at least open to making a big-dollar signing.

Personally, I am perplexed as to why there are still some assuming the “Cubs won’t do anything this winter.” Signing Stroman and the fact that they are having dialogue with free agents set to get massive paydays sends a clear message to me. Perhaps any hope regarding the future has been overshadowed by the team’s potential but lack of success in recent years. Regardless, that was then and this is now. It‘s time to wake up and realize the Cubs are going to go for it again.

Chicago has been constantly connected to Correa this offseason, so much so they have specific terms in mind when it comes to the All-Star infielder. The money is there and the main roadblock to get around isn’t price point but rather a length of contract. It’s believed Correa is looking for something around what Corey Seager received from the Texas Rangers at 10 years and $325 million. Hoyer is willing to pay up, but is said to prefer a deal in the seven-year range. 

But what if the Cubs miss on Correa? The good news is that there are still a multitude of top talent available this winter. Even in the shortstop department, the Cubs don’t have to necessarily have a ‘Correa-or-bust’ mentality. If Correa lands elsewhere, the team still needs to stay aggressive.

If you’re Hoyer, it’s risky to assume Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal will stay healthy in 2022. We know the details on Hoerner and his battles to stay on the field consistently and, after all, Madrigal just missed the lion’s share of the 2021 season recovering from a serious injury. When healthy, both players are capable of being .300 hitters who keep things moving – but this lineup still needs to add some pop.

Signing Wade Miley and Marcus Stroman addressed the issues in the rotation, while warm to hot stove rumors of adding Correa prove the team is ready to make serious moves. But if, at the end of it all, the former Rookie of the Year goes elsewhere, there are other big ticket options out there.

3 big ticket players if the Chicago Cubs miss on Carlos Correa – #2: Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellanos had a career year and then some in 2021. Many in Chicago weren’t surprised as fans were appalled when the masher wasn’t re-signed at the end of 2019, so seeing him earn an All-Star nod in 2021 made sense.

Castellanos’ numbers in the first half of 2021 were absolutely absurd. He smashed to the tune of a .331/.381/.585 slash line, including an impressive 150 wRC+ and .406 wOBA. Though he batted .270 in the second half, Castellanos got red hot again in September and October, batting .283/.328/.623 with a ridiculous .340 ISO after blasting 10 homers and six doubles.

It’s no surprise that Castellanos’ numbers have gone up substantially in recent years. Detroit is pretty much where fly balls go to die with that giant outfield. After playing in hitter-friendly ballparks such as Wrigley Field and Great American Ballpark the last two-plus years, it’s not hard to figure out why he’s put up ridiculous numbers.

In the second half of 2019, he slashed .321/.356/.646 as a Cub, but little financial wiggle room led the team to watch him join the rival Reds in free agency. But bringing him back if they miss out on Correa is a surefire way to appease the fanbase.

3 big ticket players if the Chicago Cubs miss on Carlos Correa – #1: Kyle Schwarber

Speaking of warming the hearts of Cubs fans, perhaps the biggest oopsie-daisy was the front office non-tendering Kyle Schwarber last winter. It wasn’t quite clear at the time, but Schwarber was ultimately just the first domino to fall in what became a heart-wrenching fire sale of talent. So, of course, he went on to have a career year between Washington and Boston.

Schwarber in 2021 was every bit the player the Cubs hoped he’d become during his time in Chicago. He set career marks in every category. Slashing .266/374/.554, proving that he is not just just all power but can learn to hit for average, as well. Unbelievable, on top of raising his batting average 30 points higher than his career average, the baby Bambino smashed 32 bombs in only 113 games played after suffering a hamstring injury in July.

Thinking about the red-hot tear that Schwarber was on before he was sidelined with injury makes me wonder how close he could have gotten to a 50-homer campaign. Considering he missed nearly one-third of the season and still managed 32 home runs, it’s safe to say he easily could have catapulted himself into the MVP conversation. He also earned his first All-Star nod in 2021.

As the Nationals went on to sell at the trade deadline, Schwarber was moved to Boston. After returning from his hamstring injury, the veteran slugger slashed .291/.435/.522 in a Red Sox uniform while recording career marks of a .288 ISO and 145 wRC+ in the second half.

Though his defense is spotty at times, the belief is still that the DH is coming to the NL which bodes incredibly well for a player like Schwarber. Aside from being a mainstay in the hearts of Cubs fans, should he play anything like he did in 2021, his lefty power-but-now-also-for-average bat is also a perfect fit in the Chicago order.