Cubs are keeping a close eye on the Juan Soto sweepstakes (for one key reason)

As the Juan Soto sweepstakes heat up, with the Boston Red Sox emerging as a serious suitor alongside the likes of the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs remain on the sidelines - unwilling or unable to shell out what it will take to bring the four-time All-Star to the North Side for the rest of his career.

How this all plays out could still have a major impact on the Cubs. A new report from The Athletic (subscription required) suggests Jed Hoyer could shop Cody Bellinger to the teams that miss out on Soto as a way to shake up a roster that, as currently constructed, would necessitate the team more or less running things back in 2025.

That report acknowledges Bellinger's trade value has fallen since the summer of 2023 when he carried the Cubs' offense for lengthy stretches en route to NL Comeback Player of the Year honors. But without clear avenues of injecting new blood into the lineup, a creative trade of someone like Bellinger or infielder Nico Hoerner remain on the table.

Bellinger's $32.5 million price tag, paired with a decent but unspectacular showing at the plate this season, complicates finding a fit in a trade. But there are few players on the market, either in free agency or on the trade block, who can do what he can: play above-average defense at multiple positions, run well and be a run producer at the plate.

Trading Hoerner to shake things up is hardly simple, either. The Gold Glove infielder underwent flexor tendon surgery last month and faces an unclear timetable. Chicago is planning on evaluating him further as spring training opens and is looking at prospects Matt Shaw and James Triantos as potential fill-in options already on the 40-man.

Hoyer is already hard at work looking to improve a team that fell well short of expectations in 2024. This week, he's designated familiar faces for assignment, including Adbert Alzolay, Brennen Davis and Patrick Wisdom. He swung trades for depth behind the plate and a high-quality bullpen arm. The focus remains on the pitching staff, but don't rule out the possibility of a trade involving Bellinger once the dust settles on Soto's foray into free agency.