Predicting what will happen with these 3 Cubs non-tender candidates

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Non-tender candidates have the potential to shake up the free agent market, sometimes in big ways. We saw that firsthand last winter when the Chicago Cubs pounced after the Dodgers non-tendered former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP Cody Bellinger, inking him to a one-year deal for 2023.

Bellinger wound up being the Cubs' most valuable player this season and has set himself up for a high-dollar, long-term deal as he hits the open market again this winter. There are still some impactful names on the potential non-tender list this time around - some of whom could be targets for Jed Hoyer. As far as Chicago is concerned, though, there are just 3 guys listed by MLB Trade Rumors who could wind up on the chopping block.

3 Cubs non-tender candidates: #3 - Patrick Wisdom

Patrick Wisdom rose to fame in the wake of the mid-2021 trade deadline sell-off, becoming the everyday third baseman after Hoyer sent Kris Bryant to the Giants. He proceeded to set the franchise rookie record for home runs in a season, despite playing in just 106 games, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

That power has never really waned. But with that power has come a wholly unsustainable strikeout rate that really proved problematic here in 2024 and led to him having a reduced role down the stretch. With both corner infield spots a major area of need for the team, it's worth wondering if Wisdom's time with the team has run its course.

MLBTR pegs Wisdom for a $2.6 million salary in 2024; I think the team explores a trade for the power-hitting corner infielder before they non-tender him, but there's no way he should be in the starting lineup regularly heading into 2024.

PREDICTION: Traded or non-tendered

3 Cubs non-tender candidates: #2 - Codi Heuer

Codi Heuer came to the Cubs along with Nick Madrigal in the Craig Kimbrel trade and, after looking like a potential late-inning weapon down the stretch in 2021, wound up undergoing season-ending surgeries in each of the last two years, casting major doubts on what role he could play moving forward.

Still only 27 years old, the former sixth-rounder still has a chance to get things back on track, but given his injury history, he's a total wild card. There's no way Chicago can fill out a depth chart heading into the offseason with his name penciled in as a surefire contributor looking ahead to 2024.

Due to make less than $1 million in 2024, I think the Cubs will keep him in the fold and give him one more chance to prove he's healthy and ready to contribute again. Prior to his season-ending injury during his rehab assignment this year, he really struggled with Iowa, with a 7.82 ERA and a WHIP north of 2.000 in 17 appearances. If there was ever a guy who needed a strong spring, this is it.

PREDICTION: Re-signed

3 Cubs non-tender candidates: #1 - Nick Burdi

Lost in the annual batch of reclamation projects the Cubs brought in last offseason was big right-hander Nick Burdi, who wound up making just three appearances for Chicago before an emergency appendectomy cost him the rest of the season.

Making it back to the big leagues was a feel-good story for Burdi, a Chicagoland native, who hadn't thrown an MLB pitch since 2020. It's not really worth digging into the numbers all that much given the sample size, but I think this is a lock as far as non-tender candidates go.

That's not to say he won't get brought back again, but I think Hoyer will go with a new batch of bullpen arms, similar to how he's approached building out a relief corps for years and, frankly, Burdi's tough luck will probably cost him a roster spot as the Cubs look to re-tool heading into 2024.

PREDICTION: Non-tendered

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