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  • Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Chicago Cubs free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Brock Beauchamp
    In a cooperative report published by The Athletic recently, the Yankees and Rangers have a "noticeable presence" around the Cubs, scouting the team in case the northsiders continue to slip down the standings.
    While Texas and New York could be (and likely are) scouting multiple Cubs players, the focus appears to be on Cody Bellinger. After a bounceback season in 2023, the CF/1B is having a decent, if unspectacular, 2024 with a 113 OPS+ and 1.1 rWAR.
    The complicated aspect of any Bellinger trade is his contract: he has a player option for 2025 and 2026 for $27.5 million and $25 million, respectively. It's hard to gauge how teams will value his worth in trade because they have no ability to control the situation: if Bellinger thrives, he likely opts out. If he struggles, the team remains on the hook for at least one more season at a relatively high cost.
    Matthew Lenz
    While rumors of Kelley Jansen being in the market have been swirling since the offseason, it may have been assumed he was off the market considering the Red Sox unexpected success in 2024. Instead, Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote that rival executives believe "...there could be 'buyer-to-buyer' type trade this year..."
    While the price tag is hefty in both salary and player capital, the former elite reliever has done exceptional this year sporting a 2.30/2.13 ERA/FIP with a 19.1-percent K-BB and locking down 15/16 save opportunities. He would be an expensive but great addition for any team who needs bullpen help. While relievers are volatile creatures, it's an added bonus that an acquiring team would only be tied to him for this season.
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    Bob Nightengale (yes, I know) reported today that the Cubs have internally discussed pursuing the Blue Jays' star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
    The Blue Jays could find themselves in a difficult position come July. While they're currently only two games out of the third Wild Card spot, they're also in last place in the American League East. The Jays' recent window of contention could be closing with several of their star position players entering free agency in the next year and a half while their MLB.com 24th-ranked farm system won't be providing much in the way of cost-controlled young talent in the immediate future.
    Guerrero Jr is back to raking (137 OPS+) after a mildly disappointing 2023 season. The 25-year-old slugger will become a free agent after the 2025 season.
    Brock Beauchamp
    According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the White Sox are very open for business (despite it being early June) and are open to dealing oft-injured star outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
    Robert, who is signed through 2025 with two team options in 2026 and 2027, is scuffling a little this year (92 OPS+) but was stellar last season, posting a 5.0 rWAR season for the White Sox.
    The Cubs' offense in May was terrible, posting the 25th wRC+ in baseball. If Robert is healthy, he's likely going to hit better as the season progresses. What would it take to pry Robert away from the Southside?
    Brock Beauchamp
    Robert Murray of FanSided, appearing on the Baseball Insiders show, expressed skepticism that Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller will be traded before the deadline.
    Miller, who isn't even arbitration eligible until the 2026 season, cannot become a free agent until after the 2029 season. Murray also expressed the opinion that if Miller is made available, it will be difficult to offer more than the Baltimore Orioles, who have a stacked farm system and nowhere to put many of their farmhands in the coming years.
    Miller is still only 25 years old and has an incredible 17 strikeouts per nine innings as of this writing.
     
    Brandon Glick
    A cloud of uncertainty hangs above the Houston Astros’ heads. The team is off to a wildly disappointing start this season, as they currently sit in third place in the AL West behind the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. Many pundits are predicting a firesale for the team if they don’t right the ship soon, and we discussed Jon Heyman connecting the Cubs to Justin Verlander yesterday.
    Now, speculation has arisen surrounding star third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman, 30, is in the midst of the final year of his contract ($28.5 million salary, $16.6 million AAV against the luxury tax) and having one of the worst years of his pro career. He’s slashing just .223/.284/.349 through 183 plate appearances, which is good for a disappointing 84 OPS+. However, he was far better in 2022 and 2023 (OPS above .800 in both seasons), and he isn’t too far removed from two consecutive top-five finishes in AL MVP voting in 2018 and 2019 (when he had an OPS+ above 155).
    It is worth noting that Bregman has a history of starting slow, though, and has done by far his best work in August (.996 OPS) throughout his career.
    Christopher Morel has done a nice job at the hot corner since starting slow defensively, which could make the Cubs hesitant to pay the asking price on Bregman, who hasn’t played a position other than third base since 2019 (65 games at shortstop). Like Verlander, his rental status would drive down the prospect cost to acquire Bregman, though his large salary could make the Cubs’ front office hesitant to pull the trigger.
    What do you think? Should the Cubs reinforce a lineup that can’t seem to stay healthy in 2024? Should they make that bet on a hitter that’s been ice cold to start the season?
     
    Brandon Glick
    MLB Insider Jon Heyman said that the Houston Astros, currently sporting a 20-25 record and third in the AL Central, could begin selling off some of their shorter-term pieces in the coming months if they don’t turn things around quickly. The most notable player he mentioned is starting pitcher Justin Verlander, whom he connected directly to the Cubs. 
    Verlander, 41, has a 3.38 ERA in 29 and ⅓ innings this season. He’s currently in the final year of a two-year, $86 million pact he originally signed with the New York Mets, which could mean the Astros have to eat some money in order to move him (especially to a team that is trying to avoid the luxury tax, like the Cubs). The veteran starter is just two years removed from winning his third AL Cy Young Award in 2022, when he led the junior circuit in wins (18), ERA (1.75), ERA+ (218), WHIP (0.829), and hits allowed per nine innings (6.0).
    Notably, Verlander’s strikeout rate has plummeted over the last couple of seasons, dropping from 9.5 K/9 in 2022 to just 7.1 K/9 in 2024. Still, he remains a wildly effective starting pitcher who is capable of gobbling up innings. Most Cubs fans will remember the team’s failed pursuit of Verlander in 2017, when the ace pitcher badly wanted to go to Chicago once the Detroit Tigers placed him on (the since defunct) tradeable waivers in August. Instead, the Cubs opted against trading what little talent remained in their farm system, and Verlander was sent to the Astros, whom he won two World Series titles with.
    The Cubs have been pounded with injuries this season at every position, though their rotation depth has been pushed to the extreme already. All of Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Jordan Wicks, Kyle Hendricks, and Drew Smyly have been on the Injured List at some point or another this season, and the Cubs have had to rely heavily on the arms of Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad. Nevertheless, the Cubs rank 12th in the MLB in ERA despite an abysmal performance from the bullpen, and that’s thanks to the terrific work of players like Imanaga, Assad, Ben Brown, and Hayden Wesneski.
    Trading for a 41-year-old pitcher is way outside of Jed Hoyer’s wheelhouse, though Verlander is only a (expensive) rental. Would he be willing to pay the prospect cost for someone who might stretch the budget and not fill the team’s biggest area of need (the relief corps)? With Cade Horton possibly on the way soon, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs really being in deep on Verlander.
    Brock Beauchamp
    The Oakland Athletics currently hold a semi-respectable 19-25 record in the American League West but given their current payroll and stadium situation, are likely to be early wheelers and dealers on the trade market.
    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently wrote that A's closer, Mason Miller, is drawing significant trade interest from other teams. The trade deadline seems to be heating up quite early this year as teams like the White Sox and Marlins throw up white flags after abysmal starts to the season.
    Miller, 25 years old, has broken out in 2024 with a 0.98 ERA in 14 games. He made his debut with Oakland last season so is still pre-arbitration and cannot become a free agent until the 2029 season.
    The asking price for Miller will be very high but he's also a luxury a rebuilding A's team doesn't need in the here and now, making him somewhat expendable. The Cubs have both a pressing need for a closer and the farm system to easily negotiate this deal, it's a matter of whether Hoyer is ready to take a risk on a formerly-injured pitcher with a short track record.
    Cubs Whispers
    Source: Cubs in trade talks with teams involving Keegan Thompson
    Rumor posted by "@HotStoveCubbies" is that the Cubs are shopping Keegan Thompson due to an abundance of arms on the 40 man roster and in the minors who are close enough to the majors that they like better. Source cites Thompson's high number of walks allowed as to why the Cubs are willing to part with him.
    The Rays are mentioned prominently as a likely team the Cubs are talking to due to Rays interest expressed earlier for Thompson when the two teams discussed a trade for Tyler Glasnow before he was ultimately traded by the Rays to the Dodgers. Further discussion mentions the Rays abundance of infield bats as a potential match between the two teams.
    Cubs Whispers
    Cubs Potential Landing Spot For SP Jordan Montgomery Per Heyman
    Jon Heyman via live chat on X with Bleacher Report moments ago and lists the Cubs along with the Red Sox, Giants, and Angels as speculative most likely landing spots for free agent starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Heyman cited Jordan's close friendship with Cubs starter Jameson Taillon as to why the Cubs are an attractive spot for Montgomery. In the clip Heyman also mentioned that Cody Bellinger landing back with the Cubs is still the most likely scenario and that the Cubs are still expected to do more to fill out their roster.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, in his typically-great free agent roundup, ran through remaining free agents in the wake of the Josh Hader deal in Houston.
    It appears Cody Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras are still pursuing a deal in excess of $200 million, which is the reason he remains unsigned. The Blue Jays remain very interested but are balking at that price tag. Cubs' President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, is remaining patient in hopes that Bellinger's price will drop in either years or total dollars.
    Feinsand remains optimistic that the Cubs are still the most likely landing spot for the 28 year old center fielder.
    Brock Beauchamp
    At Cubs Con over the weekend, it feels like two of the most talked-about players were not in attendance: Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel.
    Bellinger, while still a free agent, was expected to be a point of conversation. Morel, on the other hand, has been involved in more trade rumors this weekend than you can shake a stick at and he was unable to attend the convention to due to visa issues. Patrick Mooney of The Athletic wrote up this substantive piece about Morel over the weekend.
    Morel has often found himself position-less in recent years and that problem is only magnified with the recent addition of Michael Busch. Morel is still only 24 years old and given his offensive output (110 OPS+ in 854 plate appearances), it's hard to envision the Cubs walking away from the depth he provides unless the offer is substantial.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Jon Morosi has reported the Yankees and Marcus Stroman have had "productive conversations", leading to him speculating the elder New York club is the most likely to sign the 32-year-old righty.
    Stroman opted out of his contract with the Cubs at the conclusion of the 2023 season, hoping to build upon the $21 million he was set to earn in Chicago in 2024. With the Cubs agreeing to terms with Shota Imanaga on Tuesday, their immediate need for help at the top (or mid, depending how you view Imanaga) has lessened but there are still question marks surrounding the North Siders' rotation, which would be helped enormously with the return of Stroman.
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    Shota Imanaga's signing deadline is a little over 48 hours away (5pm Eastern, January 11th) and teams are dropping out of the bidding, according to Jon Heyman.
    Imanaga, 30 years old, has been rumored to receive upwards of $100 million but teams have balked at that price point, possibly due to physical concerns.
    According to Heyman, the Cubs and Red Sox are still in play and possibly the leaders to sign the veteran left-hander.
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    Shota Imanaga remains unsigned but his posting deadline now looms. The Japanese lefty needs to sign by 5pm Eastern Time on Thursday, January 11th. The Cubs have been linked to Imanaga in several reports, along with the San Francisco Giants.
    What is causing the delay? While it's somewhat unclear, there have been rumblings that teams are wary of the 30 year old's medicals, possibly his shoulder. Once assumed to be a near-lock for a $100 million deal, with the deadline approaching and no solid rumors linking him to specific teams, how much Imanaga will sign for and where is up in the air.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Patrick Mooney of The Athletic wrote a comprehensive round-up of Cubs rumors and mentioned several note-worthy things:
    1. The Cubs are expected to be in on Japanese starting pitcher Shota Imanaga once his (higher-dollar) countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto selects a team. Imanaga, 30 years old, will come at a much lower AAV and years than Yamamoto.
    2. Christopher Morel is trade bait but the Cubs appear to be wary of trading him for a pure rental player.
    3. The Cubs realize they need a third baseman but don't appear closely linked to any specific players at this point in time.
    If you'd like to read the entire rundown and many bullet points I did not list, click the link above.
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