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Chicago Cubs Rumors: Three remaining offseason needs
By Thomas Erbe
In a crucial offseason that would set the tone for the 2023 season, the Chicago Cubs needed to make many improvements to the active roster. So far, the Cubs have been able to agree to terms with free agents Cody Bellinger, Jameson Taillon, Brad Boxberger, and Dansby Swanson to join them on the north side. But if this team is going to compete soon, more moves have to be made prior to Spring Training in February.
The Cubs front office was extremely vocal about being involved in talks with big names and being ready to spend the money to bring them to Chicago. To a point, what they were saying and what they were doing was not matching up. Nonetheless, the pieces added have drastically improved the chances of a competing Cubs team in 2023. And while the team is trending in the correct direction, more needs to be done to have this team ready to hunt for a championship sooner rather than later.
Chicago Cubs: an everyday first baseman should be priority.
The Cubs thought they had a long-term answer at first base after trading Anthony Rizzo when they took a chance on Frank Schwindel. Magic was there early on and fans were excited, but it eventually fizzled out and he is now playing in Japan. The Cubs' current options on the roster seem to be Patrick Wisdom and PJ Higgins, neither of who claim first as their primary position. Alfonso Rivas is still technically on the roster, but the thought is he will not be once the season rolls around.
At the beginning of free agency, there were some excellent options for the Cubs to fill this need. However, they missed out on Jose Abreu, Josh Bell, and Carlos Santana, all of who have signed deals with other teams. Trey Mancini seems to be the best fit available to join the Cubs on a potentially mid-to-long-term deal. He is a great clubhouse guy who is coming off a World Series championship with Houston, who signed the previously mentioned Abreu as his replacement. Other options for first base still available include Brandon Belt, Yulieski Gurriel, and Ronald Guzman.