Last-minute Cubs offseason signing prediction makes no sense for this roster

As the World Baseball Classic rolls on and Opening Day draws ever closer, a number of notable free agents continue to seek new homes. Spring injuries could open doors to opportunities for guys like Lucase Giolito and Michael Kopech, both of whom remain unsigned in mid-March.

In a new MLB free agency prediction piece, FanSided's Chris Landers rolled through some of the biggest names still out there - including veteran Wilmer Flores, surprisingly pegging the Chicago Cubs as the team that will bring him into the fold.

Uh, what?

At this point, yes, the Cubs do have one bench spot left up for grabs, with Dylan Carlson, Chas McCormick and Michael Conforto all in the mix. Things seem to be leaning toward Carlson or Conforto winning out - but nothing we've seen makes it sound like Craig Counsell has made a decision just yet.

Flores, who turns 35 this August, spent the last six years with the San Francisco Giants and is coming off a season in which he was a roughly league-average bat in 463 plate appearances and a well below-average defender, seeing time mostly as a DH, with 30 games at first. Once a middle infielder, he's now extremely limited in his defensive capabilities.

Wilmer Flores' contract expectations are reason enough to steer clear

Chicago enters the 2026 season with Michael Busch set to take on an even larger role at first base, getting regular at-bats against lefties for the first time. Behind him, it's a smorgasbord of Moises Ballesteros, Miguel Amaya and, most recently added, Matt Shaw, who handled first base for the first time this week in a Cactus League game.

The Cubs would be better off giving Jonathon Long a look as a backup first baseman rather than bringing in someone like Flores. At this point in his career, you know what he is - and the fact he's reportedly holding out for a guaranteed major-league deal makes the fit even less ideal. With three potential contingencies lined up behind Busch at the big-league level, unless he changes his demands, Flores will have to look elsewhere to score his next gig.