Newest Chicago Cubs' offseason outlook sets a new reality for fanbase desiring more

It's common knowledge at this point that the Chicago Cubs aren't planning to spend big this offseason. Forget Juan Soto, recent reports have ruled out even Max Fried and Blake Snell as options while revealing that shedding Cody Bellinger's salary was a priority at the GM Meetings. This team isn't going to come close to having the impactful offseason fans have long hoped for, but they won't sit still.

Even if the methods of improving this roster likely won't involve adding star power, the Cubs will still look to the middle class of the free agent market to fill some holes. We've known since their pursuit of Logan O'Hoppe at the trade deadline that catcher is a priority, even after adding Matt Thaiss, and, with impactful free agent bats out of the question, they'll also be targeting pitching depth. That includes another starter and likely another reliever or two.

Working within those guidelines, Lance Brozdowski went on Marquee Sports Network to share his idea for how he'd address the team's needs on a tight budget. Particularly, he eyes frequently connected Cubs target Nathan Eovaldi for the rotation, with intriguing recent DFAs Jordan Romano and Kyle Finnegan for the bullpen and Kyle Higashioka behind the plate.

How you feel about Brozdowski's proposed offseason additions depends on the lens you look at it through. Coming off of back-to-back 83-win seasons with a serious need for a star to pull their lineup together, this shouldn't be what the Cubs are doing to close the gap on the rest of the National League. However, when considering the reality that this team isn't swimming in the deepest waters of free agency and hasn't for years now, it's a solid strategy under the circumstances

The Chicago Cubs have options if they insist on working with a budget

Eovaldi has been discussed as a Cubs target since before the offseason began and for good reason. Though far from the biggest name on the market, he's been a remarkably steady arm with plenty of playoff experience and an ERA under four for the past five seasons. Heading into his age-35 season, he's coming off another year right in line with expectations - a 3.80 ERA and 3.83 FIP across 170 2/3 innings with 8.75 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.21 walks per nine. Despite his age, he'd be a compelling addition thanks to the price tag and track record.

In the bullpen, Romano is a target we'd already pinpointed as a perfect fit for Chicago as a buy-low reclamation piece. After four straight seasons with an ERA under three, he suffered from a right elbow impingement that led to an eventual arthroscopic surgery, only managing a 6.59 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. If he comes into 2025 healthy, he could be a steal for any team. Finnegan, meanwhile, shows a lot of potential despite lackluster numbers including a 3.68 ERA and 4.32 FIP. Boasting a 97+ mph fastball and a slider that looked nasty with a .099 xWOBA in limited use, he could be a tweak or two away from unlocking his full value.

In short, both could add much-needed power to a bullpen that just lost Adbert Alzolay. With the trade for Eli Morgan, they also added a bit more certainty, meaning they could afford to take a risk on at least one of these guys. That said, it'd be nice to see the addition of another proper lefty like A.J. Minter.

Behind the dish, Higashioka is not a bad option either. There is concern to be had with a catcher entering his age-35 season coming off his best career year with a .220/.263/.476 slash line and 105 wRC+. A younger catcher like Danny Jansen may offer a higher upside overall, but the Cubs just need a backup to share the workload with Miguel Amaya. Plus, Higashioka would give them a 65th-percentile framer who grades out as a positive defender, even if not the best at blocking or throwing.

These are just some of the guys that the Cubs could consider though. For a team that's shopping in the middle class, this is a deep offseason with a mix of high-upside guys and quality veterans. This team should be aiming higher, but, especially if you couple it with a trade for someone greater, there are plenty of options to cover their needs.