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Chicago Cubs Rumors: Local insider offers predictions for year ahead

By Jordan Campbell |
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2023 figures to be an important year for the Chicago Cubs as it marks the first year since 2021 that the team has shifted their expectations at the Major League level. No longer is the goal for the organization to deconstruct their core at the Major League level in order to replenish the farm system but instead, the goal has shifted toward the team returning to contention at the Major League level. The foundation for the Cubs returning to relevancy at the Major League started to be laid last offseason with the signings of outfielder Seiya Suzuki and starting pitcher Marcus Stroman and continued this offseason with the additions of shortstop Dansby Swanson, outfielder Cody Bellinger, and starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. Not to overlook catcher Tucker Barnhart or relief pitcher Brad Boxberger either.

In his predictions for the year ahead, The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma touched on several topics to look for: Ian Happ will finish the 2023 season with a different team, the Cubs' outfield prospects excel, Nico Hoerner signs an extension, another pitching prospect emerges, and the Cubs will add an impact bat.

For the purpose of this thought exercise, we are going to focus on three of Sharma's predictions. Those predictions are that Happ ends the 2023 season with another team, Hoerner signs an extension, and the Cubs add an impact bat. These three predictions certainly would have an immediate impact at the Major League level for the Cubs.

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Ian Happ finishes the 2023 season on a different team than the Chicago Cubs.

Unlike the 2022 season with catcher Willson Contreras and how it was clear that there was no future for Contreras with the Chicago Cubs, the same can't be said for Ian Happ as he enters his final season before reaching free agency. Happ earned his first National League All-Star selection of his career last season with the Cubs while also earning a Gold Glove award for the first time in his career.

As Sharma pointed out, the idea of the Cubs trading Happ at the Major League Baseball trade deadline next season does not necessarily mean that the Cubs will be sellers. There is a scenario where the Cubs could move Happ at the deadline and get a piece in return that is able to contribute at the Major League level right away.

Barring an extension in Spring Training, trading Happ at the deadline makes the most sense for the Cubs as it outweighs the risk of losing him for only a compensatory pick at the end of the season. The Cubs have three prospects in MLB Pipeline's Top-100 prospect list and all three are outfielders. Factoring that with the notion that Seiya Suzuki is still under team control for three more seasons after the 2023 season and that could result in the Cubs being open to the idea of losing Happ.

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Nico Hoerner signs an extension with the Chicago Cubs

Next up on Sharma's prediction for 2023 is Nico Hoerner signing an extension with the Chicago Cubs. After signing free-agent shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal worth $177MM this offseason, the Cubs instantly jumped toward the top of Major League Baseball in regard to their middle infield defense with Hoerner shifting to second base. Hoerner was a Gold Glove candidate at second base when he last played the position in a full-time capacity with the Cubs.

2022 was Hoerner's first full season at the Major League level with the Cubs and he slashed .281/.327/.410 with a .320 wOBA and 106 wRC+.

Hoerner is under team control until 2026 but given the boom the free-agent market saw this offseason with regard to shortstops, it would be in the Cubs' best interest to sign Hoerner to an extension before he reaches free agency in 2026. That approach has worked for the Atlanta Braves in recent seasons and that is how teams continue to have success at the Major League level while transitioning from core to core.

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Chicago Cubs add an impact bat

The last of Sharma's predictions that we are taking a look at is the idea of the Cubs adding an impact bat in 2023. The current shortcoming of the Cubs' current starting lineup is that the team lacks an elite hitter. Barring an unexpected trade this offseason, it stands to reason that the Cubs will enter the season with the need for an impact bat. Once the Cubs find that impact bat, then the path to the team returning to contention becomes more clear.

It's possible that path includes Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. Rewinding back to the offseason after 2014, the Cubs sold free-agent starting pitcher Jon Lester on their plan to return to winning at the Major League level. Included in the Cubs' recruitment of Lester was a projection that included Jason Heyward as the team's starting right fielder. At the time, Heyward was one season away from reaching free agency.

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Fast forwarding to last week when Swanson was introduced by the Cubs, he spoke glowingly about the Cubs' plan to win at the Major League level. It's possible that plan included a projection of Devers as the team's third baseman for the long-term.

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