Prediction from national insider is that Cubs' offseason is just getting started

It's been a quiet first two months of the Chicago Cubs' off-season as they have yet to add a Major League player to their 26-man roster but there remains the expectation that the Cubs will be active during the final month ahead of Spring Training.

That statement should not shock anyone considering the fact that the Cubs have at least one opening in their starting rotation and multiple holes in their starting lineup. For a team that spent $40MM on their manager, not addressing those needs would be a fireable offense.

We are not at that point considering their remains a path to the Cubs having a successful off-season.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today made 10 predictions for the remainder of the off-season and mentioned that the Cubs will be aggressive during the final month of the off-season.

"The Cubs, who haven’t had a free-agent signing or made a trade all winter, will be baseball’s most aggressive team these next five weeks. They will not only re-sign Bellinger, with no one else expressing strong interest, but could bring in third baseman Matt Chapman or first baseman Rhys Hoskins, too, along with another starter. Their offseason is just starting. "

- Bob Nightengale, USA Today

It would seem that the Cubs realize that they are the only legitimate suitor for Cody Bellinger at the moment and that is the reason they have not moved off their current offer.

In a similar sense, the market for free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman may be dwindling to the point where there would be a logical short-term deal to be had with the Cubs. Chapman was never viewed as the top bat that the Cubs should add this off-season but given his elite defense at third base and hope within his batted-ball metrics, he would be an ideal second addition to the team's starting lineup.

The Cubs also appear to be shopping in the second-tier of free-agent starting pitchers but that saw movement over the weekend with Sean Manaea agreeing to a two-year deal with the New York Mets. The Cubs, however, still have the prospect capital to pull off a trade for a starting pitcher such as Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians.

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