Chicago Cubs free agency update: Roki Sasaki, Travis d'Arnaud, infield help

Despite there being names available that would directly address their areas of need, specifically Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes, the Cubs will be avoiding the deepest end of Major League Baseball free agency this offseason.

It's a philosophy that the Cubs have operated with since 2018. Even their recent impact free agent acquisitions--Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and Dansby Swanson--were not expenditures that rivaled the largest contracts handed out during those respective offseasons.

The Cubs have become comfortable with their calculated approach to free agency and to their credit, it has paid off. Signing Shota Imanaga last offseason is proving to be one of the best value signings in all of Major League Baseball.

With that approach in mind, the Cubs' primary free-agent targets won't be the names at the top of most free-agent rankings.

The exception to that is Roki Sasaki. Sasaki is a 23-year-old Japanese starting pitcher who is expected to be posted for Major League Teams this offseason. Given that Sasaki isn't 25, he would be resigned to signing a minor-league deal with a signing bonus that likely won't exceed $8MM. Given that fact, it's no surprise that Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (Subscription Required) report that Sasaki is on the Cubs' radar this offseason.

The other free agent on the Cubs' radar this offseason is veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud. The second that the Atlanta Braves declined d'Arnaud's club option for the 2025 season earlier this week, it seemed clear that the Cubs were going to be involved in his market.

The Cubs' free-agent targets won't move the needle this offseason.

While Nico Hoerner's injury won't lead to the Cubs targeting a starting second baseman this offseason, the team is believed to be looking for a left-handed hitting utility infielder. That search is likely more tied to the ineffectiveness that the Cubs have seen from Nick Madrigral and Miles Mastrobuoni in recent seasons.

Short of the Cubs being able to successfully recruit Sasaki to Chicago, free agency likely won't be their primary method of improvement this offseason. The trade market is likely where the Cubs will divert their attention.