Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have themselves a new shortstop.

The team reportedly signed free agent Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million deal Saturday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Bally Sports' Russell Dorsey.

Before the move, the Cubs had a projected tax payroll of $176.7 million, per Spotrac. Assuming an average annual value of $25.3 million on Swanson's contract, his signing should move that figure to an estimated $202 million.

It also will lock down the shortstop position for the foreseeable future and bolster the Cubs lineup. Here's a look at what that unit might look like in 2023:

1. Dansby Swanson, SS
2. Seiya Suzuki, RF
   
3. Cody Bellinger, CF
4. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
   
5. Nico Hoerner, 2B
6. Ian Happ, LF
7. Matt Mervis, 1B
8. Christopher Morel, DH
9. Yan Gomes, C
   

The additions of Bellinger and Swanson are huge for a Cubs team that lacked pop in 2022, finishing 17th in baseball in homers (159), 22nd in runs (657) and 19th in team batting average (.238).

That duo combined to hit 44 homers and added 164 RBI last season alone. Swanson has posted consecutive seasons with 25 or more homers, while Bellinger—the 2019 NL MVP and 2017 NL Rookie of the Year—has hit 25 or more homers three times in his career, though his power has diminished in recent seasons.

Perhaps a change in scenery will do him good. If it does, a Cubs lineup that was a question mark heading into the winter will look a whole lot better. At the very least, the excellent defense of Swanson is going to make the Cubs extremely steady up the middle.

In other words, Chicago got better Saturday.

Carlos Correa reportedly has no shortage of suitors as his free agency continues.

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, "at least six teams are interested" in the shortstop with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs having "the inside track."

This comes after MLB Network Radio's Steve Phillips reported Monday that the Twins and San Francisco Giants were the favorites for Correa.

Shortstop was a major focus of this offseason with Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson all hitting free agency. Turner (11 years, $300 million) and Bogaerts (11 years, $280 million) already signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, respectively, and it may not be a jump to suggest Correa will command an even more lucrative deal.

After all, he is theoretically in the middle of his prime at 28 years old and has a World Series title, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and two All-Star selections to his name.

He spent his first seven years on the Houston Astros and then joined the Twins as a free agent last offseason. He slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI for the American League Central team.

It doesn't come as much surprise the Twins are interested in keeping him given they signed him to a three-year, $105.3 million deal last offseason. That contract featured an opt-out clause that Correa eventually used, but it was clear Minnesota wanted him for multiple seasons.

As for the Cubs, their interest is nothing new.

In fact, Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted they pursued him last offseason before he signed with the Twins. Chicago met with Correa during winter meetings and was also connected to Bogaerts and Swanson at times this offseason.

Whether Chicago's ownership is willing to commit the type of money it will take to sign Correa remains to be seen, but the team is clearly looking to add a shortstop and move Nico Hoerner over to second base.

It will have to beat out the Twins and others, though, if that shortstop is going to be Correa.

Carlos Correa's market is starting to take shape.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins are among the teams interested in the 28-year-old shortstop.

ESPN's Buster Olney said on 95.7 The Game's Willard & Dibs on Friday that the New York Yankees could be in play for the best remaining free agent because "they're working on something big" after getting a commitment from Aaron Judge.

Once Judge decided to re-sign with the Yankees, the Giants became the most logical fit for Correa. They had an offer on the table for the reigning American League MVP of around $360 million in total value, per Heyman.

If the Giants offered that much for Judge, why not make the same proposal to Correa?

While Correa isn't the same level of superstar as Judge, at least by name recognition, there's a strong argument he would be a better free-agent investment. He's two-and-a-half years younger than Judge, plays a more important defensive position and has played it at a high level for most of his career.

The Giants have fallen behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the National League West hierarchy. The Padres show no signs of slowing their spending, having signed Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million deal.

Correa alone wouldn't make the Giants a playoff contender, but he would help them close the gap on the top two teams in their division.

The Cubs have put themselves in an interesting spot, even after losing Willson Contreras to the St. Louis Cardinals. They've spent money the past two offseasons to bring in Marcus Stroman, Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, but they lack high-ceiling players who can get them back into playoff contention in 2023.

Chicago has reportedly been heavily involved in the shortstop market this offseason. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported team brass met with Bogaerts earlier this month as well as Correa.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney reported Thursday the Cubs have a "particular focus" on Dansby Swanson.

The Twins are familiar with Correa after he played for them last season. He was a standout in their lineup with a .291/.366/.467 slash line and 22 homers in 136 games.

The AL Central is wide-open every year because none of the teams spend exorbitant amounts of money to sign players. The Cleveland Guardians won the division last season with 92 wins and appear to have a bright future, but their biggest addition has been Josh Bell.

The Chicago White Sox finished .500 and have lost José Abreu in free agency. Their only meaningful addition has been Mike Clevinger.

The Twins have a path to win the AL Central in 2023. If they can bring back Correa, that path becomes easier.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed five-time Gold Glover Jason Heyward to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, the team announced Thursday, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Heyward began his career with the Atlanta Braves in 2010, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and earning his only All-Star Game selection. In his five seasons with the club, he slashed .262/.351/.429 with 84 home runs and 292 RBI in 681 games, in addition to winning two Gold Gloves.

The Braves traded Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2015 campaign. In his lone season with the franchise, he hit .293/.359/.439 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI in 154 games. He also earned another Gold Glove award.

He then agreed to an eight-year, $184 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2016 campaign. He earned two Gold Gloves with the Cubs and helped the team capture the 2016 World Series title, but he never lived up to the contract offensively. He was released in November.

Heyward's performance at the plate over the last two seasons has been particularly poor. In 2021, he slashed .214/.280/.347 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 104 games. He appeared in just 48 games for the Cubbies in 2022, hitting .204/.278/.277 with one home run and 10 RBI.

In Los Angeles, it's possible the 33-year-old will find himself back on a major league roster in 2023, especially if he puts together a strong performance in spring training.

The Dodgers saw outfielder Cody Bellinger sign a one-year deal with the Cubs this winter after they non-tendered him, and they could use some depth in both left and center field alongside Trayce Thompson and Chris Taylor.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki announced Wednesday night that he would represent Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Seiya Suzuki announces he will play for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. #Cubs https://t.co/a5icG1Pht5

— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) December 8, 2022

He reportedly had been initially undecided about participating because of the tournament interfering with spring training preparations, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Chicago.

"I put myself in his shoes," manager David Ross told reporters at the winter meetings of Suzuki potentially playing in the WBC. "I would have loved to play for Team USA. How cool is that? You're going to get into the best competition in the world and be able to compete at a high level for your country. I would never want to take that away from anybody and always kind of push that experience. You should play if that's where your heart is."

Suzuki, 28, hit .262 with 14 homers, 46 RBI, 54 runs, nine stolen bases and a .770 OPS in 111 games this past season, his first with the Cubs after joining the team from Japan's NPB.

Ross said he wasn't worried about the WBC impacting Suzuki once the season began.

"He's our starting right fielder. He's going to be in the lineup," he said. "Whether you have a clean spring training and things aren't perfect to start our whatever, if that was the case, or maybe he starts on fire because of already facing great pitching. None of us know that, but I don't think that's something we'll blame or make an excuse."

"It doesn't matter," he continued. "You've got to go out and play and perform and win games. He's our starting right fielder. He'll be prepared. He works his tail off."

Suzuki previously represented Japan at the 2017 WBC and 2020 Olympics, so it always seemed likely he would take up the proverbial banners again for March's WBC.

Japan was slotted into Pool B alongside South Korea, Australia, China and the Czech Republic. They'll open their tournament against China on March 9.

The Philadelphia Phillies were the first team to make a major move in the shortstop market this offseason when they agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with Trea Turner, per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, but the Chicago Cubs may not be far behind.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the National League Central team sees Dansby Swanson as "their most realistic target at shortstop, assuming they don't go big for [Carlos] Correa."

He notably called the idea of signing both Swanson and Xander Bogaerts "far-fetched" after Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Cubs could go that route and ask the latter to switch to third base.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network also called Swanson the "most likely" shortstop for the Cubs, although Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports reported the team is "well down the road with Correa."

Chicago's interest in Correa is nothing new.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the team "jumped into the Correa sweepstakes" last offseason before he signed with the Minnesota Twins, and he would be a major addition for a club looking to return to competitiveness after two consecutive losing seasons.

Correa's resume includes a World Series crown, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and two All-Star selections, and he could be the new face of a team that has lost Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Willson Contreras, among others, in recent years.

The team has already been aggressive this offseason by adding Cody Bellinger on a one-year, $17.5 million deal, per Passan, and pitcher Jameson Taillon on a four-year, $68 million deal, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

Yet it needs more star power and could be counting on the shortstop market to provide it.

Swanson is more than just a consolation prize, though, considering he is coming off a season that saw him win a Gold Glove and make his first All-Star Game. He slashed .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI for the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and helped lead them to a World Series title the previous season.

Chicago would likely respond to signing Swanson or Correa by moving Nico Hoerner off shortstop and bolstering the middle infield defense as it looks to build a contender as soon as next season.

Should he hit the open market after the 2023 season, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani will be on the radar for just about every team that can afford to sign him, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

"I don't want to say he's going to the Dodgers next year because every team...listen, the Yankees are gonna be on him," Passan said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show. "Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, the Mets are gonna be in on him. The Cubs are gonna be in on him. The Pirates are not gonna be in. ... Yeah, Red Sox will be on him."

Ohtani is a truly generational two-way talent who followed up his 2021 Most Valuable Player season by being nearly just as good in 2022.

The 28-year-old had 34 home runs, 95 RBI and a .273/.356/.519 slash line at the plate. On the mound, he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. He was runner-up to Aaron Judge in the MVP voting and placed fourth on the Cy Young ballot.

If he reaches free agency, then every single team in MLB should at least make overtures his way. Of course, his price tag will limit that pool substantially because The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in June he might eclipse Max Scherzer's record-setting $43.3 million average salary.

There's still the chance Ohtani doesn't reach free agency.

General manager Perry Minasian told reporters in November the Angels have every intention of keeping him on the roster by Opening Day, and this is the same franchise that signed Mike Trout to the biggest contract in MLB history (12 years, $426.5 million).

Team owner Arte Moreno's exploration of a sale presents an obvious variable. But if he does truly intend to sell the Angels within the next few years, then he won't be the one paying Ohtani for a majority of the deal. And you'd think having Ohtani on the roster is something a new owner would prefer rather than trading him or letting him walk as a free agent.

In the event Ohtani plays out his final year with the Angels and doesn't agree to an extension, it could set off a bidding war for the ages next winter.

Free-agent pitcher Jameson Taillon and the Chicago Cubs reportedly agreed to a contract early Wednesday morning amid the MLB winter meetings in San Diego.

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the deal is worth $68 million over four years. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted that the Cubs were the only team to meet with Taillon in person and were "in on him from the start of free agency."

The news comes as little surprise after Feinsand reported on Nov. 30 that Taillon was expected to command a deal worth more than the four-year, $56 million deal Jon Gray signed with the Texas Rangers last year.

The 31-year-old spent the past two seasons with the New York Yankees, who acquired him in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the 2021 season.

In 2021, Taillon went 8-6 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 140 strikeouts in 144.1 innings across 29 starts.

The Lakeland, Florida, native followed that up with a better 2022 campaign, posting a 14-5 record with a 3.91 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in 177.1 innings across 32 starts. He exceeded expectations in a rotation that also included Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino.

Before joining the Yankees, Taillon spent four seasons with the Pirates. He went 29-24 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 82 starts.

As for the Yankees, they still have a solid rotation entering the 2023 campaign, including Cole, Severino, Cortes, Frankie Montas and Domingo Germán, so they should be just fine without Taillon.

On the Cubs front, signing Taillon is a move seemingly aimed toward getting them out of the doldrums, as they have missed the playoffs in two successive campaigns and three of the past four years, and went just 74-88 last season.

Chicago ranked 20th in MLB last season with an ERA of 4.00 and 24th with 540 walks, which are two areas Taillon should help improve.

While the Cubs may not be done yet in free agency, Taillon will help solidify a starting rotation that already includes Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, Justin Steele and Adrian Sampson.

Two of the most historic venues in all of sports are in the running to host the 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Evan Drellich of The Athletic noted MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs are potential candidates for the annual event's next opening. It is scheduled to take place in Seattle in 2023, Arlington in 2024 and Philadelphia in 2026, making 2025 a possibility for Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field.

Wrigley Field has hosted the All-Star Game three times, with the most recent coming 32 years ago in 1990.

Fenway has hosted the event three times as well, although the most recent came nine years after Wrigley's in 1999. That remains one of the most memorable All-Star Games in the sport's history, as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. dazzled the fans at the Home Run Derby before hometown hero Pedro Martinez won the All-Star Game MVP.

There was also a tribute to Ted Williams and the unveiling of the All-Century Team.

Either ballpark would be a historic backdrop for the 2025 game, and this is not the first time Wrigley Field has been mentioned as a candidate. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in November that the Cubs were among the "leading candidates" to host the game that year.

On the field, the All-Star Game has largely been a one-sided show of late.

The American League has won nine consecutive matchups and is a dominant 21-3 since 1997. That record does not count the 2002 tie that led to the game deciding home-field advantage in the World Series for some time, which it no longer does.

The American League won the 2022 game in Dodger Stadium 3-2 behind home runs from Giancarlo Stanton and Byron Buxton.

Free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger is reportedly signing with the Chicago Cubs.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Bellinger will join the Cubs, and ESPN's Jeff Passan noted it will be on a one-year, $17.5 million contract.

The Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered Bellinger following the end of the 2022 MLB season, a decision that symbolized how precipitously his stock has fallen since he was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 2019.

In 504 plate appearances in 2022, Bellinger struck out 150 times while batting .210 and slugging .389. He had 19 home runs and 68 RBI as well.

"Obviously, it's been a unique path for Cody as he's battled through injuries and worked diligently over the past few years to return to his All-Star-caliber performance," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "However, it hasn't played out as well as we would've hoped or expected, and therefore we had to make a difficult decision of non-tendering."

Bellinger could've opted to return to Los Angeles for less than the $18-20 million he could have earned for 2023, but a fresh start should benefit him more.

When the 27-year-old's performance noticeably declined in 2020, it was easy to chalk it up to the challenges presented by the COVID-19-pandemic-shortened season. After he played even worse in 2021, it was grounds for concern.

A third straight poor season offensively for Bellinger raises serious questions over whether there's any coming back from here.

Among hitters with at least 1,000 plate appearances since 2020, the two-time All-Star owns the fifth-lowest wOBA (.281) and is tied with Myles Straw for the fourth-worst wRC+ (78), per FanGraphs.

Nothing symbolizes Bellinger's downturn more than his swing.

Watching the 6'4" slugger connect was a thing of beauty when he first entered MLB in 2017 and went on to win MVP.

That @Cody_Bellinger swing. pic.twitter.com/OP6i2Pw49F

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 27, 2019

Bellinger decided to tweak his swing in 2020, though. Then he suffered a shoulder injury that required further adjustments. His continued changes since then point to a hitter who has simply lost confidence.

Said he went back to the more familiar hand position because he is feeling strong again (after shoulder surgery) and "group effort" with hitting coaches, looking at video feedback on his barrel angle before contact

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 22, 2022

If Bellinger's problems boil down to a mechanical flaw, then it might at least be something solvable. But more changes could exacerbate the situation, especially if they reflect a deeper psychological dynamic at play. Think of a defender getting the "yips."

Because of how good he was to begin his MLB career, Bellinger is a tantalizing reclamation project. And amid the cratering of his offense, he remains a plus defender and an effective baserunner.

The risk behind this move is obvious, but the upside makes the gambit easily justifiable for Chicago.

The Cubs went 74-88 in 2022, the first full season after they removed nearly all of the remaining vestiges from their 2016 World Series title. Barring massive investment from ownership, it could be another year of middling on-field returns in the Windy City.

If that is indeed the plan, Bellinger could thrive without the daily scrutiny that comes when you're suiting up for a franchise that's aiming to win a title.