Chicago Cubs

Nico Hoerner reportedly will be the second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for the foreseeable future.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Cubs and Hoerner agreed on a three-year, $35 million contract extension. As Passan noted, the deal means the middle infielder can still hit free agency at age 29 for another potential notable deal.

This extension stands in stark contrast to the way the Cubs have done business in the recent past.

Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras were all integral parts of the 2016 Chicago team that won the World Series and snapped a championship drought that dated back to 1908. However, none of them ended up signing contract extensions with the team and ended up being traded or leaving in free agency.

It is a new time for the North Siders, though, and the front office clearly sees the 25-year-old Hoerner as an important part of the team's present and future.

His versatility surely stands out, as he started as a second baseman and moved over to shortstop last season. Yet he figures to be back at second in 2023 after the team signed shortstop Dansby Swanson this offseason.

That shouldn't be a problem for Hoerner, who was a Gold Glove finalist at the position in 2020.

Hoerner's defense is impressive, but he is also a solid offensive player for the Cubs. He hit .302 in 44 games in 2021 and then slashed .281/.327/.410 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 stolen bases last season.

Chicago reached three straight National League Championship Series from 2015 through 2017 but hasn't won a playoff game since. It is looking to return to that form in the coming years with a new core, and Hoerner will now be an important part of that following this extension.

The New York Yankees are once again the most valuable team in Major League Baseball.

Sportico released its 2023 rankings of the league's most valuable teams ahead of the upcoming campaign, and the Bronx Bombers top the list at $7.13 billion. There is a sizable gap between them and the Los Angeles Dodgers ($5.24 billion) and Boston Red Sox ($5.21 billion) in the top three.

Here is a look at the complete list:

1. New York Yankees, $7.13 billion

2. Los Angeles Dodgers, $5.24 billion

3. Boston Red Sox, $5.21 billion

4. Chicago Cubs, $4.69 billion

5. San Francisco Giants, $3.81 billion

6. New York Mets, $2.82 billion

7. Atlanta Braves, $2.75 billion

8. Houston Astros, $2.58 billion

9. Philadelphia Phillies, $2.46 billion

10. Los Angeles Angels, $2.45 billion

11. St. Louis Cardinals, $2.44 billion

12. Washington Nationals, $2.18 billion

13. Toronto Blue Jays, $1.97 billion

14. Texas Rangers, $1.93 billion

15. San Diego Padres, $1.87 billion

16. Chicago White Sox, $1.84 billion

17. Seattle Mariners, $1.8 billion

18. Baltimore Orioles, $1.6 billion

19. Minnesota Twins, $1.56 billion

20. Milwaukee Brewers, $1.5 billion

21. Detroit Tigers, $1.46 billion

22. Cincinnati Reds, $1.39 billion

23. Colorado Rockies, $1.37 billion

24. Cleveland Guardians, $1.36 billion

25. Arizona Diamondbacks, $1.33 billion

26. Oakland Athletics, $1.31 billion

27. Pittsburgh Pirates, $1.26 billion

28. Kansas City Royals, $1.21 billion

29. Tampa Bay Rays, $1.19 billion

30. Miami Marlins, $1.07 billion

The Yankees' astronomical valuation jumps out, and Sportico noted only the Dallas Cowboys ($7.64 billion) and Golden State Warriors ($7.58 billion) are worth more when it comes to sports franchises.

Elsewhere, the Houston Astros were the biggest movers from last year's rankings.

Houston jumped three spots from 11th to eighth and also saw its total valuation increase by 8 percent. It turns out winning a World Series is good for business, as the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the Fall Classic.

They are near the top of the list, but even those on the bottom are still worth a considerable amount of money.

Every team on the list is valued at more than $1 billion, which is notable in a league without a hard salary cap. Even the Miami Marlins, who are last on the list, check in at $1.07 billion.

But everyone is looking up at the Yankees.

Dansby Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in free agency this winter, but it was by no means an easy decision for the veteran shortstop.

While many believed Chicago made sense as a destination for the former Atlanta Brave because his wife, Mallory Swanson, plays for the National Women's Soccer League's Chicago Red Stars, he told reporters otherwise.

"No," Swanson said in response to a question asking if the Cubs always made sense, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. "Truth be told, I wanted to win. I wasn't sure this was the place."

"That's all that really matters. I don't play for personal glory," Swanson added. "It's all about building something that's bigger than you. It's about the legacy of the team."

Swanson ultimately decided that Chicago was the "perfect place" to build a legacy.

"It's a gut feeling," he said. "it's hard to explain."

It's not necessarily surprising that Swanson said he wasn't initially sold on the Cubs.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told The Athletic's Jeff Schultz in December that the Georgia native "made every effort to find a way to stay in Atlanta" this offseason, adding that he "was willing to take a lot less" to remain with the franchise.

Anthopoulos added that the gap between Swanson's reported $140 million counterproposal and Chicago's $177 million offer "was too great."

However, during his introductory press conference with the Cubs in December, Swanson said the memories of his late grandfather influenced his decision to sign with Chicago:

"So every day when I would come home from school, I would run up to his house, I'd run in, and pretty much demand that he come outside and hit me ground balls, which he would always do. Every time I'd walk in, he'd have a Cubs game on, back when it was on WGN. I was always like 'Pops, we're in Atlanta, dude, we're Braves fans.'

"He loved baseball so much and all he ever wanted me to [do] was doing what I'm doing now."

Swanson spent the first seven years of his career with his hometown Braves, where he emerged as one of the best shortstops in baseball. He was part of an immaculate free-agent shortstop class this winter that also included Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Trea Turner.

The 29-year-old earned an All-Star selection, Gold Glove and a World Series title during his tenure with the Braves and is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he finished 12th in National League MVP voting after hitting.277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI in 162 games.

Now in Chicago, Swanson will be aiming to bring another World Series title back to the Cubs, which haven't won since Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber combined to help the franchise lift the Commissioner's Trophy in 2016.

Every single team in baseball has Shohei Ohtani on their wishlist, and for most teams around the league, that wish is unlikely to be granted.

Luckily for the Chicago Cubs, they have a great recruiter in their clubhouse in Seiya Suzuki who has already started putting in the work to try and convince his fellow countryman to join him at Wrigley Field.

According to a report by Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times, when Suzuki was asked whether he'd try and lure Ohtani to Chicago during the World Baseball Classic, the 28-year-old said he's already "invited" him to join the team.

Suzuki and Ohtani are set to be teammates for Japan during the WBC, he'll have plenty of time to try and convince the Angels' star to come to the Cubs.

Ohtani, 28, has been one of the most dominant players in MLB since signing with the league in 2017 both as a pitcher and hitter. The 2021 AL MVP has a 2.96 ERA on the mound and has batted .267/.354/.532 with 127 homers with Los Angeles.

He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2024, according to Spotrac, and will have no shortage of suitors for his signature. Agents have estimated that his new contract can be worth around 10-year, $430 million.

Suzuki, meanwhile, just wrapped up his first season in the big leagues with the Cubs after signing with the organization in March 2022. He spent the first portion of his career with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.

During the 2022 season Suzuki batted .262/.336/.433 with 14 homers and 95 RBIs.

The Chicago Cubs have completed filling their void at first base.

Trey Mancini has agreed to a two-year contract with the NL Central club, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The deal includes an opt out.

Chicago lacked an everyday first baseman in 2022, relying on a combination of Patrick Wisdom, Alfonso Rivas, Frank Schwindel and P.J. Higgins. They now have plenty of depth at the position entering the 2023 campaign.

Mancini was first linked to the Cubs in December, and the team made the Eric Hosmer signing official earlier this week. The left-handed hitting Hosmer should split time at first base with the right-handed hitting Mancini next season. However, Mancini can also play both corner outfield spots, giving Chicago some versatility.

Mancini spent the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to the Houston Astros at the 2022 season's deadline. In 143 games split between Baltimore and Houston, he slashed .239/.319/.391 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI.

In 51 games with the Astros, though, Mancini underperformed, hitting .176/.258/.364 with eight home runs and 22 RBI.

Considering both Mancini and Hosmer are on board, top prospect Matt Mervis will more than likely begin the season in Triple-A, where he can continue to work on his game with hopes of being called up in 2023 or in the near future.

Mancini is only Chicago's latest signing, joining Hosmer, star shortstop Dansby Swanson, Jameson Taillon, Drew Smyly, Cody Bellinger, Tucker Barnhart and Brad Boxberger.

Before signing with the Cubs, Mancini was also in contact with the New York Mets.

Eric Hosmer and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a one-year contract following his release from the Boston Red Sox, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

The Cubs will only pay Hosmer the league minimum salary, Rogers added.

The news comes after MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Dec. 31 that the two sides were in contract negotiations and that things looked "promising."

The Red Sox announced on Dec. 16 that Hosmer had been designated for assignment to make room for right-handed pitcher Wyatt Mills on the 40-man roster. However, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom noted at the time that he wanted to give top prospect Triston Casas a clear path to the first base job in 2023.

Boston acquired Hosmer from the San Diego Padres at the 2022 season's trade deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Jay Groome. He appeared in just 14 games for the Red Sox, slashing .244/.320/.311 with four RBI.

The 33-year-old began his career with the Kansas City Royals in 2011, and he earned four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger in his seven seasons with the club. After impressing with the Royals, he landed an eight-year, $144 million deal with the Padres ahead of the 2018 campaign.

However, Hosmer underperformed in his four-and-a-half seasons with the Friars, hitting .265/.325/.411 with 69 home runs and 309 RBI in 596 games. That led to San Diego exploring trade options for the Florida native, and he ended up in Boston after nixing a trade to the Washington Nationals as part of the Juan Soto deal.

Now in Chicago, Hosmer gives the Cubs an everyday first baseman, which is something they lacked in 2022. Patrick Wisdom, Alfonso Rivas, Frank Schwindel and P.J. Higgins saw playing time at first last season.

In addition to Hosmer, top prospect Matt Mervis should see time at first base in 2023. The 24-year-old spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago's minor league system. In 57 games with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, he slashed .297/.383/.593 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI.

The Chicago Cubs and first baseman Eric Hosmer are reportedly closing in on a contract agreement.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the news, which comes two weeks after Hosmer was released by the Boston Red Sox.

Boston's decision to DFA Hosmer was a bit of a surprise given the almost nonexistent financial investment necessary to keep him on the roster. Under terms of a trade with the San Diego Padres completed last season, the Red Sox were only on the hook for $2.2 million over the next three years. The Padres will pay Hosmer $36.8 million over the same timeframe.

While the eight-year, $144 million contract Hosmer signed with the Padres in 2018 was a massive bust, he's still a quality platoon player who could have helped Boston in 2023. He's provided at least one WAR over the last three seasons, which translates to a free-agent worth of somewhere in the $8-9 million range.

Top prospect Triston Casas is set to start at first base for Boston next season, so releasing Hosmer may have simply been a courtesy to allow him to hit the open market and find a better situation. That said, it's a questionable call from a purely analytical standpoint.

The Cubs do not have an obvious starter for Opening Day at the first base position, so Hosmer slotting in would make some amount of sense. Chicago remains in a rebuilding phase but has made a few roster moves—signing Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon—indicating some commitment to winning next season.

Hosmer could be the latest vet to join the youth-laden roster.

Free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer is in contract negotiations with the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, who notes that while things look "promising," no deal is done.

Hosmer, who spent part of the 2022 season with the Boston Red Sox after coming over in a trade from the San Diego Padres, was designated for assignment by the club on Dec. 16.

Boston's decision to DFA Hosmer was puzzling to some, but Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said at the time that he wanted to give 22-year-old Triston Casas "a clear lane" to the position.

The BoSox acquired Hosmer, Max Ferguson, Corey Rosier and cash from the Padres at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Jay Groome. The Friars paid Hosmer's deal down to the minimum, saving the Red Sox about $44 million.

Had the Red Sox kept Hosmer on their roster, he wouldn't have made more than $760,000 in a season through the remainder of his deal thanks to the Padres' decision to pay off most of his contract.

Hosmer began his career with the Kansas City Royals in 2011. He earned four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger award and an All-Star Game selection during his seven-year career with the franchise.

The Florida native went on to sign an eight-year contract with the Padres in 2018, but he never lived up to expectations in San Diego. In four-and-a-half seasons with the club, he slashed .265/.325/.411 with 69 home runs and 309 RBI in 596 games.

His underwhelming performance led the Padres to make him available on the trade market, and they eventually dealt him to the Red Sox. He appeared in only 14 games for Boston in 2022, slashing .244/.320/.311 with four RBI.

If Hosmer were to sign with the Cubs, it's possible he would serve as the team's starting first baseman. Patrick Wisdom is currently atop Chicago's depth chart at the position, but he spent the majority of the 2022 campaign at third base.

The Cubs have also been linked to former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini this winter. He would be the better option, but he would also likely cost more money than Hosmer.

After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves, Dansby Swanson is now a Chicago Cub, though he did try desperately to reach an agreement to remain with his hometown team.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos told The Athletic's Jeff Schultz that Swanson "was willing to take a lot less" to remain in Atlanta, but the gap between Swanson's reported $140 million counterproposal and the Cubs' $177 million offer "was too great."

When Schultz asked why the Braves "didn't want Dansby Swanson," Anthopoulos responded:

"Wow, strong question, strong comment. I don't agree with that. He got an incredible contract from a great organization, and we weren't close to it. That's what he was worth when he hit the open market. He was an incredible player for us, in the clubhouse and on the field. We're always trying to manage short term and long term. The better players become, the closer they get to free agency, the harder it is to keep these guys. But I will say this: Dansby made every effort to find a way to stay in Atlanta. We had conversations in the summer. He was willing to take a lot less than what he got. That's important. But we have to manage in our minds short term and long term, and we have to make sure we have enough payroll to allocate a full 26. He deserves everything he got, but at a certain point, it doesn't make sense for us. It's hard because you're losing a phenomenal human being and a phenomenal player."

Swanson made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2016 and has emerged as one of the best shortstops in baseball since. Last season, he slashed .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs, 96 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 162 games, earning his first All-Star Game selection and first Gold Glove award.

The Braves, of course, would have liked to retain Swanson, but Anthopoulos is right in saying the club must be wise in what contracts it gives out so it can continue to field a contending team in the future.

Additionally, Atlanta has a solid replacement for Swanson in top prospect Vaughn Grissom. He appeared in 41 games for the Braves last season, hitting .291/.353/.440 with five home runs and 18 RBI.

While the Cubs may not be a true playoff contender in 2023, the signing of Swanson signals that the team is slowly working its way back to contending for a playoff spot. Chicago also signed outfielder Cody Bellinger and pitcher Jameson Taillon this winter, two solid additions for a team that has to contend with the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

The Cubs finished the 2022 campaign third in the NL Central with a 74-88 record. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020 and haven't won a title since 2016.