3 Winter Meetings rumors that should absolutely terrify Cubs fans

The Winter Meetings have officially come and gone with little fanfare. What's normally one of the busiest transactional times of the year, when trades and big signings happen left and right, turned out to be a mostly quiet affair with fewer exciting rumors than usual and only a handful of notable players coming off the board. The Chicago Cubs were among those teams sitting on their hands, though it's not like they missed many opportunities by doing so.

Of the players who did sign, only a few, like Kyle Schwarber and Devin Williams, had more established connections to the Cubs. Even those two were more seen as long shots to end up in Chicago, given their projected contracts. Arguably, the biggest loss for their sake came right after the meetings when Robert Suarez inked a deal with the Atlanta Braves. That's not to say there weren't developments in Orlando that should have fans a tad bit concerned about where the market could head from here.

Lets look at three rumors circulating coming out of the Winter Meetings that could signal trouble ahead for the Cubs depending on their actions.

3 Cubs Winter Meeting rumors that will give fans nightmares

Mets targeting Michael King as top pitching option

Coming into the offseason, Michael King was immediately circled as one of the best fits for the North Siders in free agency. Although not without concerns after a nerve injury in his shoulder wrecked his platform year, he offers some of the highest upside of any pitcher still available and, importantly, isn't going to cost nearly as much as some of the other aces on the market. In 2024, he showed what he was capable of in San Diego when he made 30 starts with a 2.95 ERA and 3.33 FIP and seemed poised to repeat that in 2025 until everything came undone.

It's no surprise, then, that he's been one of the names most tied to the Cubs throughout the offseason so far. It's even less of a surprise, however, that other teams have a similar interest, namely the New York Mets. King emerged from the Winter Meetings as Queens' top target for the rotation, making for some big market competition for Jed Hoyer. Moreover, the Mets are likely more eager to make a move after seeing fan favorites Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz bid farewell.

This won't be a concern if the Cubs can land Tatsuya Imai, who they appear to be focused on at the moment, but that's no guarantee. Imai will demand a hefty contract, and there's been plenty of rumored interest in him around the league. If King signs before the Japanese righty, which seems like a strong possibility right now, that would leave Hoyer in a bit of a bind if they come up short in their pursuit. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen remain on the market at least, but it's clear how much the front office likes King specifically.

Alex Bregman remains the Red Sox' priority

On its own, the fact that the Boston Red Sox are keeping open the possibility of re-signing Alex Bregman is no shock. Though his lone season with them was slightly marred by injury, he still performed well with a .273/.360/.462/125 wRC+ slash line and bolstered his reputation as a positive clubhouse presence. Boston's chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, has made it clear that he's still a guy they value highly and that adding offense is a priority. However, the possibility of the Cubs staging a coup and signing Bregman away likely became even harder after both Schwarber and Alonso came off the market.

Alonso, in particular, was linked to the Red Sox as a potential offensive upgrade, even if not as their top overall choice to improve. His absence on the market only makes it even more likely that they'll default to bringing Bregman back in the fold. Even before that, though, Ken Rosenthal reported that, despite their interest in other players like Isaac Paredes or Ketel Marte in a trade, Bregman is their top choice. The Athletic's Jen McAffrey (subscription required) reiterated that point on Wednesday after the Alonso signing, adding that Boston wants to add two bats, including Bregman.

It's just harder to imagine the third baseman slipping out of their grasp with options for replacements coming off the table. That doesn't bode well, considering Bregman is the most notable offensive upgrade the Cubs have been linked to, particularly if Boston goes another direction.

Multiple teams, including the Blue Jays, interested in Pete Fairbanks

Cubs fans have started getting a little anxious about the team acquiring a higher-end reliever. Despite the stated interest in shopping out of their usual price and year range this offseason, Hoyer and company have merely watched as Williams, Suarez, Diaz, Ryan Helsley, Kyle Finnegan, and Raisel Iglesias all signed elsewhere. The market for closer types is moving at a lightning pace, and there's a real risk they may be left holding the bag. There is still one bigger name discussed in connection to them in Pete Fairbanks, but he may be the next domino to fall, given how everything has shaken out.

Multiple teams have expressed interest in the former Rays closer leading up to and throughout the Winter Meetings, including the White Sox, Diamondbacks, Tigers, Marlins, and Dodgers. Chief among them, however, may be the Blue Jays, who have been wildly aggressive this offseason, paying a hefty sum for Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce while also courting Kyle Tucker. If they're set on Fairbanks as an upgrade to their relief corps, they've shown a willingness to do what it takes to get a deal done.

Coming off a year in which he pitched to a 2.83 ERA and 3.63 FIP, Fairbanks has the potential to be that experienced fireballer the Cubs have needed at the back end. They still have other options, like Luke Weaver or a reunion with Brad Keller if another team swoops in, but he remains one of the only options left to fulfill that hope of finally adding an established name at the back end. If he, too, goes off the board, it'll be fair to question whether the team's interest in the closer market is more opportunistic than legitimate.