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Cubs listed among best fits for Carlos Correa, Anthony Rizzo and more
As we’re all well aware, 99 percent of what we, as baseball fans, get right now is pure speculation and opinions from national writers. Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) falls firmly in that category – but he recently penned a piece identifying the best fits for the remaining top 25 free agents and the Chicago Cubs were all over it.
Chicago’s offseason could still go in some wildly different directions, even after Jed Hoyer brought in Marcus Stroman, Yan Gomes, Wade Miley and Clint Frazier. There could be a big-ticket move or the club could look to go more in the direction of higher quantity, shorter-term deals. But let’s break down the names Bowden believes the Cubs are among the best fits for.
Chicago Cubs: Carlos Correa tops Bowden’s rankings – and with good reason
Starting things off, Bowden looks at Carlos Correa – and has the Cubs fourth on his list of best fits, trailing the likes of Houston, New York and Boston.
For me, the reasons that would keep him from returning to the Astros mirror those that could prevent him signing with the Cubs. Houston’s ownership famously prefers higher AAV, shorter-term deals and it’s hard to envision that changing this winter, even for a player who’s been as integral to the franchise as Correa.
Personally, I don’t see Yankees fans forgiving and forgetting Correa’s role in the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal – and I think he’s smart enough to understand that. Boston has the flexibility to make it happen, but that would mean the Sox moving Xander Bogaerts off shortstop, which would be a surprising move given his tremendous value in recent years (he’s racked up 17.6 WAR since 2018, even with the shortened 2020 season).
There could be another suitor out there. Maybe Detroit gets frisky and tries to match the Rangers by signing Correa to play alongside Javier Baez, who has experience at second base. This is the biggest fish left – and it’ll be interesting to see where he winds up.
Chicago Cubs: Sorry, Jim Bowden, but Kris Bryant isn’t coming back
If I have to read one more story about how Kris Bryant could wind up coming back to the North Side, I’m going to lose my mind.
For years, the team failed to work out an extension. There’s the lingering effects of the service time manipulation from his rookie year, the incessant trade rumors and constant criticism and an undeserved label of Bryant being ‘soft’ or ‘oft-injured’. If I were the former MVP, I’d pack my bags and never look back.
It sounds like San Francisco is out of the running unless his price tag drops significantly. Bowden sees the Phillies as the best fit and I agree with him. The chance to spend the back half of his career playing along lifelong friend Bryce Harper would be a dream come true and the Phillies aren’t afraid to pay.
Other teams mentioned include the Rockies (I’d be shocked but, hey, never say never) and the Mariners – a young team on the rise looking to break a two-plus decade postseason drought. Adding the veteran presence and versatility of Bryant could help put them over the top and back into October for the first time since 2001.
Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo made his feelings pretty clear this year
Similar to Bryant, it just feels like we’re at the end of the road when it comes to the Chicago Cubs and Anthony Rizzo, who was acquired in a trade with the Padres 10 years ago this week.
Bowden has the Cubs third on his list of best fits for the three-time All-Star, behind the Yankees and Braves. Of course, Atlanta’s involvement is entirely predicated upon the possibility that franchise icon Freddie Freeman leaves in free agency. Most in the industry don’t believe this will happen, but with New York and Los Angeles sniffing around, you can never say never.
Rizzo loved his time in the Bronx and, according to reports, would love to return. He moved out of his Chicago-based home last month and after a surprisingly public back-and-forth between him and Cubs president Jed Hoyer after the deadline, I just don’t see a reunion working here.
Maybe his market craters and the two sides decide to bury the hatchet. But that would mean he accepts that he’s not the player he once was (although he’s still an above-average presence on multiple fronts) and he’s not going to take home a nine-figure deal. I think Bowden hits it on the head here: if Freeman leaves Atlanta, Rizzo could end up there – otherwise, my money’s on the Yankees.
Chicago Cubs: Jonathan Villar is a perfect fallback option at shortstop
Carlos Correa is probably going to cost $300 million. Most teams will balk at that price – and with good reason. If you want to spread around those resources and build a more rounded out roster, looking at someone who costs one percent of that makes a ton of sense.
Is Jonathan Villar going to put up numbers anywhere near what Correa will? No. But a team like the Cubs could take that financial flexibility and add more pitching, another impact bat and even an established outfielder – spending what they’d otherwise commit to one player. You can see why this approach could end up with a higher floor for the team heading into 2022.
The Cubs check in as Bowden’s second-ranked fit for Villar, who’s coming off a 2021 in which he carried a .738 OPS, just above his career average. He still runs decently well and wouldn’t require the long-term commitment of a Correa or even a Trevor Story.
Other potential suitors include Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Colorado and Seattle. Bowden notes that this could be a ‘tremendous value signing’. Is it just me or does that sound like something that tickles Hoyer’s fancy?
Chicago Cubs need more established bullpen arms heading into this year
Ryan Tepera was masterful during his time with the Cubs. Prior to being dealt to the White Sox, the veteran worked to a 2.80 FIP with a 4.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio, teaming up with Andrew Chafin (another potential reunion target) and Craig Kimbrel early in the year as a formidable bullpen trio.
There’s going to be a wide-ranging market for Tepera’s services this offseason – and it’s not hard to see why. Over the last two seasons, he’s been a reliable bullpen arm, amassing a 3.07 ERA, 2.88 FIP and 11.5 K/9 mark across 86 appearances.
Chicago checks in at #5 on Bowden’s list of best fits here – and other potential landing spots include The White Sox, Astros, Angels, Phillies, Mariners, Red Sox and Giants. Like I said – he’s going to draw a ton of interest from a lot of different teams.
Ranking the best free agent signings in Cubs history. dark. Next
The entire piece is an interesting read. As you can tell, I definitely don’t agree with all of his takes – but he also looks at where former Cubs Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber could land once the lockout ends. The Cubs aren’t done adding – that’s for sure – but I think the Tepera/Villar level is more likely than reunions with Bryant or Rizzo.