3 superstar free agents who could join the Cubs next season

With over $300 million committed to free agents this offseason, the Cubs ranked among the top spenders in the league this winter. Jed Hoyer handed the second-largest free agent contract in franchise history to shortstop Dansby Swanson, a move that had a domino-like effect, giving the team arguably the best middle infield defense in all of baseball.

Still, you can make the case Chicago still lacks that top-tier superstar presence. That's hardly a knock on Swanson, who, no doubt, makes this a better team in 2023 and beyond. But if the Cubs are going to lock down a true top-of-the-market free agent next year, it's going to take a contract far beyond anything they've doled out to this point.

3 superstar free agents who could join the Cubs in 2024 - 3: Shohei Ohtani

The big fish in the free agent pond next winter is two-way generational talent Shohei Ohtani. I'm not going to delve into the Babe Ruth comparisons, but I will say that there is no one more deserving of drawing such lofty comps in terms of his skillset.

Ohtani wants to win. He's made that perfectly clear, sidestepping any questions about his future with the Angels. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, the 28-year-old made it clear he was frustrated with how the club performed, missing the postseason yet again despite his AL MVP runner-up performance.

You can make the case the team that comes away with Ohtani will have the distinction of handing the first $500 million contract to a free agent. That puts teams like the Mets and Dodgers at the top of likely landing spots, but the Cubs have a ton of money coming off the books after 2022, as well - and could be a dark horse candidate to land one of the most dynamic talents the game has ever known.