Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Come on Down Soriano, You're the Next Cub to Be Traded

The N.Y. Post is reporting that the Yankees and Cubs are close to deal that will send Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees for a mid-level prospect. The Cubs owe a little over $6M for the rest of 2013 on Soriano's deal and then $18 million next year and the Cubs will pay the bulk of it, and whatever the Yankees are contributing will be for this year as the Yanks are trying to avoid luxury tax hell next season. Soriano still has to approve the deal, but it seems unlikely he'll reject a chance to go to his first organization and play alongside Jeter and Mo' once again...presuming this is all true.

As for the prospect, no one knows yet but here's a top 20 list from the preseason. Manny Banuelos was a 5-star prospect heading into 2012 before Tommy John surgery, so maybe the Cubs can take a shot at the upside there. Dellin Betances was well up there as well before 2012 or maybe the Cubs see something in catcher Austin Romine, who was once a top 100 prospect. More likely, it's someone not on any of this lists with far less upside...we shall wait and see.

Comments

Rob- Are your readying the post headline that you used for Neifi and I believe Kal Daniels departure?

Gordon Wittenmyer‏@GDubCub Talks with Yanks on Sori ongoing. Not imminent but serious. Cubs' willingness to take most of $$ could swing deal for decent prospect.

I just have to say that I am enjoying thee deals these last couple of years. They haven't made out on everyone of them of course, but seems like a lot of the guys they are getting are doing pretty well in the minors (or majors with guys like Rizzo) and that makes me feel more hopeful about this Garza trade and future trades.

From the twitter box: Joel Sherman‏@Joelsherman1 #Cubs scout watched Chase Whitley over weekend, #Yankees deep in yng/inexpensive setup Kelly/Claiborne in MLB Burawa/Betances/Kahnle close

I would think one or more of the Yankees International Signing Pool Values (SBV) will be part of the deal. 

#29: $487,200
#58: $329,000
#87: $222,100
#116: $139,600

The Cubs have been holding off announcing the Eloy Jimenez signing, presumably so that they can acquire additional SBVs in trades that can at least minimize their expected tax-penalty for exceeding their adjusted 2013-14 ISBP.

The Cubs originally-assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) was $4,557,200, and they are permitted add up to 50% above their originally-assigned ISBP ($2,278,600) in trades, as long as they haven't exceeded their adjusted ISBP limit at the time of the trade. So far the Cubs have added $963,100 (net) in SBV in trades with Houston and Baltimore (they also traded their 4th SBV slot to the Dodgers in the Carlos Marmol deal), and so they can still add an additional $1,315,500 in SBV before they reach their max ISBP, as long as they don't reach or exceed their adjusted ISBP before they make the trade. Therefore, they could acquire all four of the Yankees SBV without exceeding their maximum-possible ISBP ($6,835,800).

The Yankees have not signed any of the top international free-agents, and a club''s six-highest signings of $50,000 or less are exempt from the International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) restrictions. But even if the Yankees were to trade all four of their SBV, they still would retain the $700K in ISBP that all teams get in addition to their four SBVs, so they could still sign a fairly significant IFA for as much as $735K (the $700K base plus a 5% overage) without incurring a penalty that would restrict them in signing players in the 2014-14 Internationalo Signing Period. 

BTW, the Cubs were not able to acquire SBVs from Texas in the Garza deal because the Rangers are big-time players in the international market for under 23-year olds, too, 

@TonyAndracki23 Hoyer on MLB Network Radio said the Alfonso Soriano to #Yankees rumor is getting ahead of itself. Talks are not that advanced yet.

Bryant is headed to Boise, Hoyer says he hopes he can see some time in KC before end of the year

@Jim_Duquette Hoyer felt that maybe towards the end of next year, or into 2015 that they would start to compete more in the division

That should piss off a sufficient amount of the fanbase.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I could see this team wrangling for 2nd place in the division in 2014, if a few things break right. That'd be good enough to get fans back in. It'd certainly get me back on board paying closer attention and maybe even watching some games on MLB.TV or something. I would hope that by 2015 they have a legit shot at winning the division, though. By that point, they might start trading off some long-term assets in order to get some shorter term assets.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I've been watching a helluva a lot more this year than in recent years. The last years under Hendry were excruciating. I refused to spend any time watching a bunch of journeymen play lousy baseball. Now, there's something to look at. Can Castro get his groove back? Can Rizzo grow as a hitter? What's with this Junior Puig thing? Will Shark shave that awful mullet? There's all these kids, and I'm interested in seeing if they become any good. If they do, that builds even more interest. I actually root for these guys, instead of wanting to throw something at the TV, or throw my iPad across the room. If just a couple of these kids turn into bonafides, we suddenly have a contender if they can cobble together a decent pitching staff. Cubbery dictates that it won't happen, but what if Lake turns into a star, and Rizzo develops into something special next year? Throw an improved Castro into the mix, and you have some interesting stuff going on. I'm not necessarily optimistic that will happen but it's at least something to hope for, as opposed to the Hendry madness at the end where I had to endure journeyman after journeyman traipsing through the roster. I really rather liked Soriano, at least as an on field personality, and he seems like a hard working guy always trying to get better in spite of an insane contract, but I'll be glad to see him go because he represents the biggest Hendry gamble, one that a lot of people didn't really complain a lot about at the time, and as such his exit really, for me, signals the final end of the Hendry regime.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

This team should have most of the resources and personnel to be competitive next year. I expect to see some reasonable free-agent signings in the 1, 2, and maybe 3 year range for positions like RP, 2B, OF, perhaps C or SP. The primary problem is that the Cubs aren't ready to be one of the best teams in baseball yet, and 3 of their division rivals currently hold or are near that mantle. The Reds window may start to close soon, but it will probably still be open next year. The Cardinals are just flat-out loaded and would need a lot to go wrong to be a bad team. The Pirates also look loaded, but figuring out how to either pay for or replace Liriano and Burnett will be their challenge.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Liriano's on a 2-year deal I believe

Pirates seem pretty adept at finding good buy lows (like Burnett, McDonald, Liriano) while waiting for their guys to be ready, don't see why that would be different next offseason. Also, they have plenty of money they have chosen not to spend while rebuilding, not that they'll pour $100M into a pitcher.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Yeah, Liriano has a vesting option that's going to vest probably for $8M unless he gets hurt soon. So they're taken care of there - losing Burnett should be manageable, though that plus Locke's inevitable regression might leave them weakened but still talented. Depends on how Cole steps up I guess.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

it's a vesting option, but also an $8M club option

  • 13:$1M, 14:$8M club option
  • may earn additional $3.75M in 2013
    roster bonuses based on days not spent on disabled list with injury to
    humerus bonus of non-throwing right arm
  • 2014 option may become guaranteed at $5M, $6M or $8M based on days not spent on disabled list in 2013 with the right arm injury
  • if 2014 option vests at $5M or $6M, Liriano may earn performance bonuses up to $8M based on games started

Pedroia 7/100M extension...what will Cano get?

Utley a free agent too, doubtful Cubs enterain either idea.

Ellsbury will be available, but I'm sure Cubs aren't going over 5 years on any deal to anyone and would prefer less in most cases.

Granderson, Beltran, Cruz, Pence are the other big names that I don't see the Cubs getting involved with, although Beltran on a 1 or 2 year deal might make some sense depending on whom is leftover after the purge.

FA pitchers

Baker, Feldman again as well as Arroyo, Colon, Burnett, Garza, Hudson, Lincecum, Maholm, Josh Johnson, E. Santana...someone out of that might be a good buy low option. A few other dudes if their options aren't exercised including Halladay.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/league-info/potenti…

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'd think Beltran and Choo are probably likely targets given their skillsets and the team's needs, depending on what those guys end up costing. Choo is more likely to want something longer than 3 years, while Beltran might be more inclined for a shorter deal with a team he sees as a contender.

Ryan Braun – another player voted MVP by the same baseball writers who will gloriously trash him when it comes time for a HOF vote. By my count, that now makes 17 MVP trophies awarded to PED players – Bonds 7, ARod 3, Braun, Sosa, Caminiti, Tejeda, Giambi, Juan Gonzalez 2. Throw in Clemens Cy Young awards and that’s 20+ prestige trophies with PED names on them. Neat.

Jason Parks and Jeff Sullivan have both stated today that the Cubs might now be the #2 farm system in baseball. Still not enough arms for my taste, especially at the higher levels. But it's hard to make a case that any team in baseball has a better or deeper stable of hitting prospects.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

As I am getting older fast it seems, I sure as hell hope that TheoJed have put some very good people in coaching capacities at the levels our "studs" are passing through. Since the money thing can be equalized to a degree in the MLB with all of the "small market bullshit" (Cardinals get another draft pick...), the teams that can muster the most talented scouting, and then back that up with excellent coaching, are gonna be perennial contenders. From what I have read the last couple years, AZ PHIL is not impressed...But, at least they moved Junior out of the infield. Right PHIL?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

I was wondering how far they would climb. Added Bryant, Olt, Edwards, international signees, and Alcantara at least raised his stock dramatically. On the other hand, Paniagua and Vizcaino haven't pitched at all. I keep wondering if/when the Cubs might swap out some young bats for some young arms, but I'm guessing that won't happen until these players progress enough for the Cubs to have a logjam at the MLB or at least AAA level.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

the article is a bit, but it related to 2014 and the issues still remain. Their (lack of) moves over the last offseason back it up.

Grilli to the DL. Who is a prospect match for Gregg if he gets to wear an eyepatch over his goggles?

Nick Delmonico to Brewers for K-rod.

decent haul for Brewers, Sickels had him at #4 on his preseason Top 20 Orioles list.

Cubs will get a little less for Gregg most likely.

"@ChrisCotillo Name to watch in #Yankees-#Cubs deal is Joel De La Cruz. I'm told he is possibly involved if a Soriano deal happens" ...oh boy...a 24 year old repeating high A ball. the rumored return value in this trade is dropping by the hour.

heh...Theo seems less than thrilled with Yankees leaks

@CarrieMuskat  Theo says Yankees aren't 1st team to call re: Soriano. "They're the first team to show up in the paper in their home city right away."

Dodgers fix of C. Marmol

enters in 5th with one out

1b to Encarnacion, Lind foul out, BB DeRosa, GO R. Davis

comes back for the 6th

2B Arencibia, WP, RBI 1B Lawrie, 2-run HR Reyes, GO Cabrera , Foul Out Bautista, GO Encarnacion

you're going to have to be more specific... "Donovan Hand left Tuesday's start against the Padres after four innings with a right hand contusion."

k.bryant in the lineup tonight for Boise (@Eugene, OR) dylan "ball 4" maples pitching.

Adam Eaton used to be on my list of players I would have liked to get from the D-backs in a trade. But with that 70's stash he's now dead to me.

h.rondon keeps up his pace and finally moves his ERA for the month over 5.00...his lowest ERA in any month is 5.19 and he's currently sporting a 6.68 ERA with a 1.71 WHIP. that's rather impressive for a reliever...and by impressive, i mean, why he still with this club? 6 out of his last 10 he's given up runs...3 of them, multiple runs.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Bring him up! He can have Rizzo, he of watching the batting practice pitch come down the middle of the plate on a 3-0 count with men on, mentor him. What's with the Cubs coaching staff? You have an umpire with an unruly strike zone, you tell them to go ahead and swing the f'ing bat.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Watching the Cubs is admittedly much less frustrating than a couple years ago now, but one of the most frustrating things is in fact watching Anthony Rizzo take a called third strike on a pitch in the zone or just off the plate.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Baez is batting .203 with a .242 OBP through 62 PAs in AA, but he's still managing to display a wRC+ of 109 thanks to that great power. BABIP is pretty low too, but hopefully it starts to sink in that his power will only partially compensate for his poor plate discipline. I agree with the promotion to AA, but hopefully they keep him parked there long enough to really try to figure out that part of his game.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Javy Baez is the last Wilken 1st round choice, right? It would appear he would not fit the TheoJed mold. Its going to be interesting to see if this guy will develop into a nice player with any plate discipline, and, would he be used as trade bait over the winter due to current shortcomings.

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Forget starting the year at AA - how about spending possibly all of 2014 at AA. At his age and given the gaps in his game, I don't mind seeing his development slowed a touch. If he wants to go to Iowa next year, I would make him earn a graduation based upon BB% as well as defensive metrics or skills discussed between him and the organization.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

They should have brought him up to start the year off. Can't have had a much worse first half than Castro. But, more seriously, in response to an earlier remark, I think Theo is bright enough not to care if it's a Wilken pick. If he plays well, he'll get a shot. Still sounds pretty raw, even for me.

I just picked up Junior Lake for my fantasy team.

Sorry everybody...hope you enjoyed the ride.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

FWIW sometimes it doesn't show up for me in Firefox and I just refresh the page and it comes back. It just seems like there is a lot to load and sometimes it stalls and doesn't grab it all. Also, on a related note, starting a couple of months ago the site takes forever (like 3 minutes-ish) to load on the browser on my Kindle Fire. Not a huge deal, and works fine on my other devices.

Drew Davison‏@drewdavison Double A Frisco right-hander Neil Ramirez has been placed on the disabled list with a biceps injury. #Rangers

Soriano not in lineup tonight...Sveum/Cubs say it was a scheduled off day

Soriano is 6/13 against Kennedy in his career though with 3 HR, 7 RBI and 3 BB.

Twitter rumors says Cubs/Yanks haggling over money at this point.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Totally agree. I believe Soriano is EXTREMELY touchy about this and is no guarantee to leave. Obviously based on last year not going to SF and just his answers are always family first etc. I believe the deal was ready when NY press leaked it and Theo had to quash it to avoid another Dempster style backlash while Soriano goes through his decision process at whatever pace he needs.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Back in college, I ended up breaking a guy's tibia in a soccer game accident -- went all Joe Theismann-like. We were both going for the ball and I got to it first while he swung at it and his leg hit my shin instead. It was pretty horrific and I never had the stomach for playing soccer again.

Wayne Randazzo‏@WayneRandazzo Baker at 33 pitches through 2 innings. Sitting around 85. Topped out at 89. #Cubs Wayne Randazzo‏@WayneRandazzo Final line for Scott Baker: 3+ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR. 63 pitches, 39 strikes in third rehab start for @KCCougars #Cubs

dejesus with a double off the top of the CF 407 wall (with the actual HR line up insanely higher). hitting a HR to CF in that park is "bombs or nothing." it would have been a HR in many parks.

not watching, did Svuem really have Lake lay down a sac bunt in the 4th or was he going for the hit?

Just when I start to think Soriano is a player . . . I am reminded his resurgence has been on a cushy team with no pressure, he passed up a chance to play for the eventual world champions last year to protect his knees or something, he still enjoys watching his home runs a bit too much, and apparently he and Dempster drink the same kook aid. Yes he has every right to 'take a few days' apparently (tho I would say his real rights are to be ready and say yes or veto) but he to me is much more interested in country club baseball and padding his stats then winning. And THAT is a problem that it will be fun to see eradicated whenever his lazy ass leaves this town. Again I repeat... Do these morons have agents who can counsel them to be ready in obvious trade situations to say yes or veto?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I'm guessing not. I know San Francisco is cold, but I think I do remember him not being into LA too. But obviously the Dodgers don't need and OF, Angels? Oakland? I just find it frustrating. I know it's living in the past to think of these guys as relentless competitors (like when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's) but I mean the guy HAS to know he's not part of the plan and that being in a pennant race is fun. Right? Maybe not . . .

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I do agree that it's silly that's he's only now considering it, unless he he wants to decide which teams could provide him a championship (not the other way around, of course). From what I hear though, he's one of the hardest workers in baseball and far from lazy. Some people just have different priorities. Some are willing to win at any cost...cheating or going to another team. Others have a stronger sense of team and loyalty and may not want to win a championship as a mercenary. I absolutely agree though, he should have been ready. BUT, Theo could also have scheduled this meeting earlier so that the decision was already made.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

No doubt. But I'm going to put it in the Cubby Occurance column that we have back to back years with a player who is so screwed up they can't handle an obvious part of the job. Yes you make $300 bazillion dollars so one little annoyance is that you may have to say yes or no kinda fast on trades. Dempster never vetoed Atlanta last year. It was hilarious, they just eventually took the offer off the table. I've never seen anything like it. Now last year we could have dealt Soriano but he rejects it. Fine. Now this year he talked several times in the press in recent months about playing for a contender and now it's time and he asks for a few days. The article I post twice above originally ended with him saying he would not say no to the Yankees. And then was extended to kind of say he might as Theo says a complete veto is a possibility. It's true cubby cancer growing wild. Can't wait until the last country clubber is gone. BTW joe I am not really arguing with you at all, just venting about something that pisses me off.

darwin macias with his 3rd error on the season. cubs still lead 6-2 after 5...but ninja is most likely done thanks to pitches thrown and the pen gets 4 innings.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

and it's gregg going for 2 innings... bases loaded, 2 outs...because drama and why not...and he coaxes a groundout. phew. 2ip 3h 3bb 0k (he hasn't had a K in 4 games now) i think his trade value is reaching infield rake status at this point. ...wonder who's next to pitch...gregg's gotta be done. 40 pitches.

lulz...tim naehring (ex-BOS player turned high profile yanks scout) is at the game tonight looking bored as hell. wonder if he's scouting anyone other than soriano.

Recent comments

  • Cubster (view)

    I blame Jason Schmidt’s 3/44

  • Craig A. (view)

    Was all that stuff with the Blue Jays just to squeeze an extra $10 million/yr out of the Dodgers?  It's more than enough to cover his California income taxes!

  • crunch (view)

    unless he pitches into his late-30 that is gonna sting.  a 70m DH...ow.

    it's great to take care of 2 roster spots in 1 player, and i'm sure the team will cut into the pay with the amount of merch/etc he can sell just by being attached to the team....but yeah, i'm not mad the cubs didn't go that extreme.

  • WebAdmin (view)

    Shohei Ohtani to join Dodgers according to ESPN. 10 years for $700 m
  • Cubster (view)

    I'm getting the feeling that Todd Walker might be a Shaw comp. A valuable hit first player but limited albeit not awful on defense. Hopefully, he has more upside. Not a bad floor if Steve Garvey is his ceiling.

  • Wrigley Rat (view)

    AZ Phil - If that's the level of return, I would want NO part of that trade to Cleveland for Clase and Bieber. I have some faith that the Cubs have a strong plan for which prospects they will keep (even if they dangle them in trade talks) and which they will move, because they have plenty of solid prospects they can trade but they shouldn't be trading any of the ones they hope will be future core players. Some guys are redundant, so I hope they choose the right players to keep and the right players to move. It's always important for a team to know its own minor league players better than scouts from other teams (obviously), but I don't think that's always been the case for the Cubs and many other clubs. 

    Cubster - I watched an interview with Carter Hawkins a couple days ago where he said that although Morel hasn't gotten into any Dominican games at 1B, the Cubs did send coaches down with Morel to work on first base skills during practice. So he is developing those skills, whether the Cubs end up using him there or not will probably be dependent on a lot of factors including how those coaches think he looks at the position while training. 

  • tim815 (view)

    He could still play SS at Double-A, but Vazquez, Hoerner, and Swanson are much better defensively, arm strength or not. I'd be good leaving Shaw at SS with McGeary and Ballesteros around, but by the first of June (?), 1B might make sense in DM.

  • crunch (view)

    i have no reason to see a problem, it just seems like it's his most obvious reason to give pause on him at 1st.

    the cubs situation dictates 2nd/SS isn't an option.  his arm dictates 3rd isn't an option.  1st or CF seems to be his best path and he's only played CF in summer ball back in highschool/college...and of course PCA is a better + closer to the bigs CF.

    it's a lot safer to say he's made for 1st than it is he's made for 3rd.  even as a SS his arm is weak, and it's not like his glove is so great he needs to stay in the middle-IF.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CRUNCH: Steve Garvey (one of Shaw's comps as a hitter) was a 5'10 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Jeff Bagwell (another Shaw comp) was a 6'0 right-handed throwing first-baseman with a rag arm. Carlos Santana (who played 1B for Counsell in Milwaukee last season and is an above-average defensive first-baseman) is 5'11. It's not like Shaw is 5'7 or 5'8. I don't really see the problem. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    CUBSTER: It's not that Matt Shaw can't play SS (or 2B). Shaw was a SS his last two years in college at Maryland and apparently was OK defensively. It's just that there are certain throws a big league SS has to make (the backhand / flat-foot throw from deep in the 5.5 hole and the leap & change direction throw after fielding a ball up the middle after ranging to his left) that you might not see every game. So while he might appear to be passable at SS, over time the below-average arm at SS will catch up with the player and cost the team runs. 

    Shaw is a good fielder so he could play SS (like Ryan Theriot did) and you would just live with the below-average arm strength that would rear its ugly head every now & again, because he is a plus-plus hitter. But the Cubs have Dansby Swanson locked-in at SS through 2029, so Shaw won't be playing there even if he were to improve his arm strength and remake his throwing mechanics.  

    As far as second-base is concerned, that would seem to be Shaw's best position, because the position requires a plus-glove but not a plus-arm. Nico Hoerner is presently the Cubs' 2B and is signed through 2026 (although he does NOT have "no trade" rights, so he could be traded at any time). So Shaw could move to 2B in 2027 after Hoerner's contract expires (presuming Hoerner does not sign another extension in the meantime), or the Cubs could preemptively trade Hoerner at some point prior to the conclusion of the 2026 season and install Shaw at 2B before 2027. 

    The thing is, the Cubs have three other prospects who also project as second-basemen, including Top 10 prospect James Triantos, Top 10 prospect Jefferson Rojas, and Top 30 prospect Pedro Ramirez. So while Shaw could very well eventually be the Cubs second-baseman, there are other legit candidates who could eventually take-over the position after Hoerner departs. But for second-base to open up before 2027, Hoerner has to be traded.  

    As far as third-base is concerned, the Cubs already have a Top 15 prospect (B. J. Murray) who plays 3B and plays it well, and he should be considered the Cubs third-baseman of the future (possibly as soon as sometime during the 2024 season). Also, I don't think that Christopher Morel has the "touch" required to play 3B (he is an athletic and rangy player who plays like the proverbial "Bull in a China Shop" or like a point guard who plays too fast and turns the ball over too much), while Shaw simply does not appear to have the arm strength required to play 3B. It is true that Nick Madrigal has made himself into an above-average defensive-third baseman, but I would not be too quick to generalize and say that because Madrigal did it, that anybody can do it. Also, 3B requires different perception, reaction, and tracking skills than does SS and 2B (which is why a lot of catchers can often play 3B fairly well), so not all middle infielders can play 3B well-enough to be an MLB-regular at the position. 

    The one position that is wide-open on the Chicago Cubs going forward is 1st base. Matt Shaw is a plus-fielder with a below-average arm but with a plus-plus bat, so he could be a fit at 1st base. Sort of like Padres first-baseman Jake Cronenworth, but Shaw has a higher ceiling as a hitter. If the Cubs were to move Shaw to 1st base in Spring Training 2024 and presuming he is able to play the position without difficulty, he could be in Chicago by the end of the 2024 season. I understand why the Cubs might think about Christopher Morel as a possible first-baseman because they want to get his power into the lineup any way they can, but Morel's two best attributes are HR power and raw arm strength. He is a rangy infielder (not needed at 1st base) with a plus-arm (also not needed at 1st base), but he also doesn't have the "flyhawk" skills needed to play CF. Morel's best position would be LF, but Ian Happ is firmly ensconced there (with a full "no trade") through 2026, which makes Morel a prime trade chip to be used to acquire pitching (or maybe a catcher).  

    As far as Matt Chapman is concerned, I would hope the Cubs don't sign him. It's not just losing the draft pick (Chapman got a QO from the Jays) or that he blocks B. J. Murray long-term, because that wouldn't matter if Chapman is still the hitter he was earlier in his career. But after a red-hot April last year he fell off the table at the plate the last five months. Granted he is a Gold Glove-quality defender at 3B, but you're essentially getting Patrick Wisdom offensively, and so he is not worth the financial investment (money & years) and losing a draft pick on top of it if you sign him. 

    If the Cubs don't sign Ohtani, Yakamoto, or Bellinger (and I am becoming increasingly pessimistic that they can), I would hope that they will sign position player free agents only to one year deals (with maybe a second year option) that can be easily moved at the Trade Deadline, and then get ready to unleash the youth (PCA, Shaw, Caissie, Ballesteros, Murray, et al) in 2025 (or perhaps even over the last two months of the 2024 season, if the Cubs are not in contention). 

    As for possible free agents the Cubs might target, Brandon Belt and Carlos Santana (who played for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee last season) would provide some LH power at 1B & DH (Santana is an above-average defensive first-baseman, and Belt still hits RHP very well).  

    I can see the Cubs maybe acquiring a pitcher like Tyler Glasnow in a trade and then signing him to an extension (Glasnow has the same agency representation as Kyle Hendricks, so an extension should be possible), which would not be the case with Corbin Burnes or Dylan Cease (both are Boras clients).   

    I think in part because of the Carter Hawkins connection with Cleveland, even more-likely than a trade for Glasnow might be a trade for SP Shane Bieber (a post-2024 FA but as a Rosenhaus client he should be open to signing an extension) and closer Emmanuel Clase (signed through 2026 with club options both in 2027 and 2028). The Guardians need power hitters and the Cubs have Christopher Morel, although Morel would not be anywhere near enough to get both Bieber and Clase (or to get Glasnow if the trade is with the Rays). If the trade is with Cleveland for Bieber and Clase, the Cubs would probably have to give up some combination of Christopher Morel, Owen Caissie, Moises Ballestereos, Kevin Alcantara, Jefferson Rojas, and/or James Triantos (probably three from that group), one Top 10 pitching prospect like Ben Brown or Jackson Ferris, and an MLB-ready reliever with closer potential like Daniel Palencia or Luke Little.