2 trades and 1 signing that turn the Cubs from pretenders to contenders

The Chicago Cubs have chosen to take this offseason and re-group without making any large scale changes. That’s why it was determined that they had the most disappointing offseason in Major League Baseball. 

Despite having the money to make moves, the front office has appeared willing to run it back in 2024 with essentially the same team that missed the 2023 playoffs by a game with the only major difference being Craig Counsell at the end of the bench instead of David Ross.

However, if the Cubs decide to wake up and turn the offseason around there are two trades and a signing that could move them from being a bad bet to being the odds-on favorites to win the NL Central.

#1: Re-signing Cody Bellinger remains at the top of the to-do list

These deals are going to be prioritized in order of what is most likely to improve the team and propel them to winning the division and hopefully a lot more than that. 

Cody Bellinger is the obvious target and he’s the one of the remaining Boras clients that fans and current Cubs’ players want to see on this roster, no disrespect to Matt Chapman. 

There are the fans that believe that “overspending” on free agents is a bad call. While their holier than thou attitude toward saving money that isn’t theirs to begin with so that they can continue to watch an inferior product on the field is incredibly compelling, we’re going to disregard it and point to the obvious fact that Bellinger improves this baseball team. 

With Bellinger being back on this club it relieves stress in many other areas. If Pete Crow-Armstrong dominates spring training, that’s great and Bellinger can play first base and if not then Bellinger can play center until PCA is ready for it. 

If Michael Busch proves the Jackson Ferris trade wasn’t a colossal mistake and dominates at the plate then he can either take first base or DH and that would push Christopher Morel to third base. However, if Busch struggles, then having Bellinger allows us to not have to force a prospect that isn’t ready to fill a first base hole like we did last year with Matt Mervis. 

If Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Christopher Morel and Cody Bellinger all dominate at the plate but we have a logjam at DH because Morel struggles defensively at third base, then that will lead us to the next move the Cubs should make.

WHAT'S THE MOVE? Sign Cody Bellinger to an eight-year $200 million dollar deal (AAV $25M) with a player option that kicks in after the 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons.