Chicago Cubs Rumors: Jed Hoyer loves this free-agent shortstop

The Major League Baseball Winter Meetings are here and the Chicago Cubs are connected to each of the top four-free agent shortstops. Entering the Sunday, the talk was centered around Dansby Swanson as there appears to be escalating interest from the Cubs in the former Atlanta Braves shortstop. Still, a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today has free-agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts as the team's top priority this offseason. All this while Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic had this to say about Cubs' president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and Trea Turner.

"Some officials believe Hoyer is particularly high on Trea Turner, though that should be interpreted as more of an obvious statement than a piece of breaking news. Who wouldn’t want a World Series-winning shortstop with 80-grade speed and the ability to hit .300 with power?"

The Athletic

Of all the free-agent shortstops, Turner is expected to receive the most lucrative contract this offseason. Turner has the speed that would instantly put him at the top of the Cubs' lineup but also the power that can change a game with one swing.

For obvious reasons, the Cubs' front office is keeping things close to the vest. The Cubs' front office is probably preparing for multiple paths this offseason depending on whether or not they are able to sign a free-agent shortstop, and if they do, what other moves would be needed in order to find success this offseason. For the Cubs, signing Turner, Bogaerts, or Carlos Correa would give them an impact bat while adding Swanson would heighten the need for the Cubs to find offensive improvement at other positions of need.

As for Turner and Hoyer's fondness for the shortstop, there probably is no reason to look further into it as ever front office official in Major League Baseball is probably high on Turner and the value he could bring to a team.