4 big-time free agents who will be too expensive for the Cubs

Let me be clear. If Tom Ricketts so chose, he could land any of this winter's top free agents - regardless of cost. But that's not how this Cubs ownership group runs its franchise.

In his end-of-season comments, Ricketts made it clear that he believes developing prospects is the path to sustained success - not throwing record contracts at free agents. Yes, the team signed Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million deal last winter, but even that deal paled in comparison to what other shortstops in that free agent class got.

I think it's important to go into the offseason with realistic expectations. With that in mind, here are 4 primetime free agents who could help the Cubs, but will sign elsewhere this offseason.

4 big-time free agents who will be too expensive for the Cubs: #4 - Shohei Ohtani

Just stop it already. Please. For your own sakes. For your mental and emotional well-being. Shohei Ohtani is NOT coming to the Cubs. I don't care that he won't pitch in 2024 and that fact might drop his price tag a bit. It's just not going to happen.

Despite the fact the Cubs were reportedly in the mix for Ohtani the first time around before he made the jump to MLB as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, the landscape has shifted seismically since then. At that point, Ohtani was all about what he might do after coming to the big leagues. Now, it's about him continuing his dominance as the best two-way player the sport has ever seen.

Even as a hitter, Ohtani is elite - capable of singlehandedly transforming an offense. He's going to be the first $400+ million player in baseball history. And for that fact alone, there's zero chance he calls Chicago home for the rest of his career.

4 big-time free agents who will be too expensive for the Cubs: #3 - Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola was looking for 8 years and $200+ million last winter in talks with the Phillies. They didn't give it to him and, now, he'll test the free agent waters for the first time in his career. The former LSU standout and first-round pick has been one of the most dependable starters in the game in recent years - a real-innings eater.

He wasn't quite the same pitcher in 2023 as he'd been to this point, but there's little reason to believe it'll sour his market in any sort of notable way. The right-hander turned it around in the postseason for the Phillies, after seeming to hit his stride in the closing weeks of the regular season.

A true workhorse, of course, is something the Cubs have lacked in recent years, so the fit is clear right out of the gate. Throw in the fact he's got big market experience (and an October resume, to boot) and he checks just about every box - except for the one where he doesn't wind up as the richest free agent deal in Cubs history.

4 big-time free agents who will be too expensive for the Cubs: #2 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Speaking of pitchers who could command a deal north of $200 million, prized Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is poised to make the jump from the NPB this winter and will be one of the most sought-after international free agents in recent years.

In what might prove to be his final start in Japan this weekend, Yamamoto set a Japan Series record with 14 strikeouts in a 138-pitch complete game win. That level of dominance will surely turn heads over here across the league, but so will that pitch count - and not in a good way.

Just 25 years old, Yamamoto is young enough that a deal in excess of five years is almost a certainty. He's one of the most highly-regarded arms in Japan, and with good reason. In nearly 1,000 innings of work, the right-hander has a sub-2.00 ERA and 986 strikeouts. With big market teams like the Dodgers and Mets in dire need of starting pitching, there's little question he'll get paid this winter - it just won't be by the Cubs.