Every Cubs player who could reach free agency this offseason

While this season has been a really fun ride for the Chicago Cubs, there are some very big offseason decisions looming that could heavily impact the shape of the team in 2024 with several players possibly set to reach free agency.

Although not every player on this list will be an unrestricted free agent, there is a good chance their options will not be exorcised. Here is every current Cubs player that could reach free agency in the offseason.

1. Cody Bellinger: Mutual Option

Cody Bellinger technically has a mutual option for next season worth $12 million as a safety net in case he stunk this year. Not only did Bellinger outperform expectations, but he played his way into a significant contract that will likely exceed $250 million. With Scott Boras as his agent and the injury to Shohei Ohtani, I wouldn't be surprised if Bellinger signs the deal with the most guaranteed money this year.

And the Cubs need to be the ones to pay him that money. Bellinger is the best player on the team and if he didn't miss a month of the season, he would definitely be in the MVP conversation. He is a true five-tool player who can hit for power (25 HRs), and contact (.316), with speed (20 SB), a canon arm, and the ability to play the outfield and first base at a gold glove level.

He's exactly the kind of player the Cubs need to build around and they need to pony up the cash to keep him around for years to come.

3. RHP Brad Boxberger: Mutual Option

Reliever Brad Boxberger has been sidelined most of the year with a forearm strain. Until this week, Boxberger hadn't pitched a game since May 13th and he was not good prior to going on the IL. Maybe that was just the injury, but his 5.52 ERA in 14.2 innings was pretty ugly.

Even though the veteran reliever has turned in two scoreless outings since his return, his mutual option for next year should not be exorcised by the Cubs. At 35 years old, Boxberger's best years are probably behind him and his efforts are really not worth a $5 million payday from the Cubs.

The organization is pumping out pitchers at a high rate and there are plenty of other relievers hitting the market that would be a better fit for the Cubs like Reynaldo Lopez or Jordan Hicks.

4. RHP Michael Fulmer: Unrestricted Free Agent

Similar to Boxberger, Michael Fulmer is a reliever that the Cubs need to let go. David Ross may love putting this guy in high-leverage spots, but those innings need to be given to guys like Daniel Palencia or Luke Little next year. Fulmer doesn't have the velocity, the stuff, or the results needed to earn those types of innings, and re-signing him doesn't make much sense with so many other possibilities in the system right now.

5. C Yan Gomes: Club Option

So technically Yan Gomes could reach free agency this year, but the Cubs will undoubtedly pick up his club option which is only worth $6 million. Gomes has been a cornerstone of the Cubs this year and $6 million is a steal for what he brings to the team.

For a 35-year-old catcher, Gomes has actually been pretty good at the plate this year with a .274 batting average and 52 RBI. As the team's primary catcher, a guy like Gomes has been perfect for developing the young pitchers coming up and grooming rookie catcher Miguel Amaya for his inevitable future starting role.

But Gomes' real value comes from his off-the-field role as a leader. As an 11-year veteran, Gomes has seen playoff runs and a World Series championship with the Washington Nationals in 2019. His clubhouse presence has been praised by almost everyone on the team so keeping him around on an extremely team-friendly deal is a no-brainer.

6. RHP Kyle Hendricks: Club Option

This is going to be one of the most interesting decisions for the Cubs front office. On one hand, Kyle Hendricks has been pretty good this year since returning from a serious shoulder injury. Many thought he wouldn't be able to return to form, but he has turned in 11 quality starts in 21 games and there have only been a handful of times where the 33-year-old didn't give the team a chance to win.

On the other hand, Hendricks' age and uncertainty may not be worth the $16 million. Taking that money off the books would give the team flexibility to go after a guy like Aaron Nola or Blake Snell, but signing those guys is not a guarantee like picking up Hendricks' option would be.

I personally lean toward picking up Hendricks' option. He's been a soft-tosser for his whole career and I think he has the potential to play past the age of 40 which is not very common anymore. His ability to make batters put the ball in play is well-suited for the Cubs' defense especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong making the case to play every day in center field.

Plus I just think it would be cool to have a guy like Hendricks be a career-cub. It's been a long time since we've had one and it would be cool for him to be around as the only bastion of the last great Cubs team, and possibly a contributor for the next one.

7. RHP Marcus Stroman: Player Option

This is going to be another decision that greatly impacts the team's offseason approach. As things currently stand, Marcus Stroman will likely be opting into his player option for 2024, which is worth $21 million. Although he had one of the best first halves of any pitcher in baseball, where he posted a 2.96 ERA in 112.2 innings, Stroman's production took a steep decline in July and he landed on the injured list with a rib fracture.

Stroman once seemed destined for a large payday, but now it seems all but likely he will opt into his guaranteed $21 million and try to earn a larger contract next year.

But there is a catch here because recent updates are suggesting that Stroman could make a return to the mound in the next couple of weeks. If he returns for the playoffs and dazzles the team with a few impressive victories, there could end up being interest for him to receive a larger deal.

Whatever happens, Stroman's decision will come in early November soon after the playoffs end. By then, we will have a better look at what this Cubs team will look like in 2024.

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