4 external options to take over third base for the Cubs after trading Isaac Paredes

In acquiring their first legitimate superstar in years, the Chicago Cubs created a hole on the roster at third base. The man supposed to be the long-term answer, Isaac Paredes, was acquired last July - but his second stint with the organization lasted just a few months before he was sent to the Houston Astros as part of the Kyle Tucker deal.

The move cost the Cubs one of their top prospects in 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith, but they managed to hold on to Matt Shaw - who looks like the club's top internal option at the hot corner as things currently stand.

But if Chicago wants to slow play things with their top prospect, they could look at adding a third baseman either via trade or free agency. These are four names to keep an eye on - and keep in mind, they vary in terms of probability and cost.

Alex Bregman is the biggest name left on the free agent market

All signs point to the Houston Astros planning for life after Alex Bregman, both in the acquisition of Paredes and rumors they're interested in trading for Nolan Arenado. So if he's not returning to Houston, could Bregman follow Tucker to Wrigleyville?

Maybe, but there have been no concrete reports suggesting the Cubs would be willing to meet his asking price, which is rumored to be near $200 million. If anything, I would think the Tucker trade makes it less likely Hoyer goes after any of the remaining big-name free agents, instead saving every dollar for a run at keeping Tucker long-term when he hits the open market next winter.

Bregman, for what it's worth, would be the best third baseman the Cubs have had since the peak Kris Bryant years. A first-time Gold Glover in 2024, he put up a 118 OPS+ with 26 homers and 30 doubles last year with the Astros. He's been linked to the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros and Phillies, to varying degrees. Long story short, it would be absolutely mind-blowing if this was the team's answer at third.

Alec Bohm has been one of the hottest names on the trade market

The Philadelphia Phillies seem to be aggressively shopping third baseman Alec Bohm, which feels odd because he's coming off arguably his best season in the big leagues and has three more years of team control. Dave Dombrowski is looking to shake his club after yet another season that began with World Series aspirations ended in disappointment.

Bohm, 28, graded out a solidly above-average defender on top of being a plus bat, and it's no wonder he's garnered so much trade interest. Perhaps there's a way for the Cubs to take Bohm and a bad contract (Nick Castellanos) in a Cody Bellinger deal, but there seem to be better matches in a deal from the Phillies' standpoint.

This former Mets top prospect has fallen out of favor in Queens

Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Brett Baty was regarded as one of the game's best up-and-coming prospects, ranked #33 by Baseball America and #21 by MLB Pipeline. But production to match the hype has never materialized and, with Mark Vientos breaking out for the New York Mets in a big way, Baty feels like the odd man out.

Last season, in limited action, Baty slashed just .229/.306/.327 - which was actually a pretty marked improvement over his numbers in 2023. There's no reason to give up on the former first-round pick, but the road to playing time with the Mets is unclear, at best. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see David Stearns move him this winter - but if this is the answer, the Cubs might be better off sticking with Shaw and avoiding paying up in a trade.

Yoan Moncada might actually be the likeliest option of them all

The Yoan Moncada error on the South Side ended pretty similarly to the team's much-hyped window of contention that closed with a whimper a few years ago. The former highly-touted prospect turns 30 in May and hasn't been a force at the plate in a long time. Him getting more than a one-year deal in free agency this offseason would be shocking.

The upside here is just that. You could likely bring him in on a short-term, low-dollar pact, which keeps the door open for Shaw should Moncada continue to struggle as he has in recent years. He played in just 12 games due to injuries in 2024, and has never come close to replicating his breakout performance from 2019, when he put up a 5.2 bWAR campaign on the South Side with a 140 OPS+ in 132 games.