Chicago Cubs News: Waiver moves, offensive upgrade, and more

As business picks back up for the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball teams after the holiday weekend, expect there to be a flurry of waiver decisions at some point this week. For the Cubs, there are two players in particular that the team is waiting for a resolution on.

Prior to the holiday, the Cubs had designated first baseman Alfonso Rivas and catcher P.J. Higgins for assignment. Major League Baseball does not recognize the days between the Christmas holiday and New Year's holiday as part of the waiver process so that would be the reason why there has not been clarification on the status of either player.

Ideally, the Cubs are able to sneak both players through waivers and are able to keep them within the organization with the Iowa Cubs. Rivas proved to be a capable fielder for the Cubs at the first base position but still needs work in terms of finding consistent success offensively at the Major League level. The Cubs are thin at the catching position in the upper levels of their system so there would be a benefit to keeping Higgins within the organization.

Finding an offensive upgrade for the Chicago Cubs

With the growing expectation that the Cubs will be signing veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer in the coming days, there has been discussion about how the Cubs will be able to add another impact bat to their starting lineup. The benefit to adding Hosmer is that it will be for the league minimum so the Cubs will still have ample financial flexibility to add another bat this offseason. It seems unlikely that Trey Mancini would be that back so perhaps the Cubs will turn their attention to the trade market.

A reminder for the Chicago Cubs

MLB Daily Dingers provided the Chicago Cubs with a reminder on Twitter on Tuesday morning that Sammy Sosa needs to be welcomed back by the team.

Obvious Shirts hosting a meet and greet with Chicago Cubs prospects

Following the weekend events of the Chicago Cubs convention in two weeks, Obvious Shirts will be hosting a meet and greet with Chicago Cubs' prospects Matt Mervis and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Around Major League Baseball

With Major League Baseball returning to regular operations this week, all eyes will be on Carlos Correa and the New York Mets. The silence from the two sides would seem to suggest that there is an emphasis on finalizing an agreement but the longer this lingers, the more likely it may be that Correa winds up back on the free-agent market. The Cubs should be hoping for the Mets and Correa to agree to terms as that may create some trade possibilities between the two teams.