Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team still "very much" in on Carlos Correa

The expectations are high for the Chicago Cubs at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. After Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and team chairman Tom Ricketts set the expectation that the team will be aggressive with their approach to free agency this offseason, it goes without saying that pressure is on the team's front office to back up those words with action. That is the overall theme of the latest from Gordon Wittenmyer for NBC Sports Chicago. Wittenmyer mentions that the Cubs' offseason will be viewed as a failure if the team is unable to land one of the top four free-agent shortstops. To that end, Wittenmyer offered this update on the shortstop front from the Winter Meetings.

"Despite recent rumors about Dansby Swanson (who would still leave a sizable need for a big bat), sources say the Cubs are among a lot of teams in on Red Sox free agent Xander Bogaerts and still very much in on Carlos Correa. "

- Gordon Wittenmyer, NBC Sports Chicago

Over the weekend, there was an uptick in the connections being made between the Cubs and Dansby Swanson. In addition, a report surfaced on Sunday that the Cubs were preparing to submit a formal offer to Xander Bogaerts.

Swanson and Bogaerts are lesser options in the free-agent shortstop market in comparison to Carlos Correa and Trea Turner. With Turner and Correa expected to receive contracts worth nearly $300MM if not more, there has been an overwhelming expectation that the Cubs may prefer a cheaper deal for either Swanson or Bogaerts.

The Chicago Cubs have not zeroed in on a specific free-agent shortstop yet.

If Swanson is the Cubs' answer then the move would negate the whole purpose of the team's pursuit of the shortstops. The pursuit is not nearly as much about the position of the free agents as it is about the bat they would provide the Cubs' lineup. Despite a breakout season in 2022, Swanson should not be considered an impact bat.

That would be the reason why the Cubs need to be involved in Correa's market until he makes his decision. Not only is Correa the impact bat the Cubs' lineup desperately needs, but he also has the foundation of being the face of the franchise. Those types of players are few and far between, and for the Cubs, that is the exact type of player they need.