Cubs Holiday Wish List: 3 must-dos for the team before spring

3 Cubs holiday wishes: #2 - Find that left-handed power bat

With Michael Conforto headed off to San Francisco (assuming he passes his physical), the perfect left-handed bat with some pop is officially off the market, leaving the Cubs scrounging for scraps in dire need of more power from the left side.

We've heard names like Dominic Smith and Eric Hosmer connected to Chicago - along with first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini, although he does little to balance the lineup given he's a right-handed hitter, as well. Smith, a former first-round pick, has never lived up to the hype but is still just 27 years old and had an .839 OPS at Triple-A Syracuse last year.

Hosmer, a name Cubs fans seem to almost universally despise, could provide a veteran insurance option at first base while the team sees what they have (or don't) in Matt Mervis, who turned in a monster 2022 campaign in the minors. He doesn't exactly bring the power you'd like from that left-handed bat, ranking below-average in average exit velocity and barrel rate last year, but at least he'd be cost-effective and add a lefty presence in the lineup.

Those are just two free agent options still available - but that's not the only way the Cubs could address this need, which brings us to my third and final wish this holiday season.