Chicago Cubs News: Reliever signing soon, third base, and more

It has been no secret that the Chicago Cubs have spent the past month looking for bullpen help, a veteran left-handed reliever to be more specific, and it would appear that the team has made progress in the search. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the team expects to add a reliever before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training next week.

The Cubs guaranteed more than $300 million to free agents this offseason, raising payroll back toward the luxury-tax threshold while planning to add another reliever before the first formal workout for pitchers and catchers next week in Arizona.

As it stands now, the Cubs only have one left-handed reliever in their projected bullpen and that is Brandon Hughes, Over the course of the past month, the Cubs have been linked to veteran lefties Andrew Chafin and Matt Moore. Chafin may be the more reliable option for the Cubs and has a history in Chicago as he was with the team for parts of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Who will be the Chicago Cubs starting third baseman?

MLB Trade Rumors did an extensive look at the Chicago Cubs' third base position on Thursday and came away with the conclusion that Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel will likely split time at third base. The platoon will likely look something along the lines of Wisdom getting most of the starts against left-handed pitchers and Morel against right-handed pitchers. Nick Madrigal, who won't be participating in the World Baseball Classic, may get some time at third base as the Cubs try and work his hit tool into their lineup on occasion.

An appreciation for Jed Hoyer

There are legitimate critiques that can be made with the decisions that Chicago Cubs preside of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has made. However, in light of the NBA Trade Deadline and the confusing messaging originating from Bulls' president Arturas Karnisovas, there is an appreciation to be had for Hoyer. Hoyer does not take half measures and when he makes a decision, he is more than willing to speak at a press conference and clearly illustrate what his thought process was.

Chicago Cubs Spring Training Tweets