Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly in the market for a season-altering shortstop.

Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reported the North Siders met with free agent Carlos Correa in San Diego on Monday. Jon Morosi of MLB Network confirmed the news.

Chicago's interest in Correa is not new, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted it pursued him last offseason before he joined the Minnesota Twins. Nightengale also pointed out that the Cubs' "top priority" is Xander Bogaerts, underscoring the team's desire to add a shortstop.

Morosi suggested the Cubs are also a potential landing spot for Dansby Swanson.

Interestingly, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Cubs could ultimately sign two of the three star shortstops remaining on the market, with Bogaerts and Swanson as the likely combination:

The shortstop market is under the spotlight Monday after ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan reported the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with Trea Turner.

Perhaps that sets the market, but it isn't a stretch to suggest Correa is the better player.

The former Houston Astros and Twins star is in the middle of his prime at 28 years old and features a resume that includes a World Series crown, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and two All-Star selections.

Correa slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI last season for Minnesota while being responsible for three defensive runs saved above average, per FanGraphs. That was a dropoff from the head-turning 20 DRS he posted in 2021 that earned him a Platinum Glove, but it's still a solid number.

He is an ideal fit in Chicago for more than just his talent, though, as it would allow the team to move Nico Hoerner to second base and maximize the defense up the middle of the diamond.

Correa could also be the face of the next contending Cubs team after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Chicago went to three straight National League Championship Series from 2015 through 2017 and won a World Series crown in 2016 but has taken a step back of late despite playing in a major market.

Nightengale noted the front office has "boldly said they plan to build a contender, significantly raising their payroll," and Correa would be quite the starting point.

A pair of National League teams are reportedly looking to pry shortstop Dansby Swanson away from the Atlanta Braves in free agency.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs are among the teams that have shown interest in Swanson.

The 28-year-old Swanson spent the past seven seasons with the Braves and was named an All-Star for the first time in 2022.

Appearing in all 162 games last season, Swanson slashed .277/.329/.447 and hit 25 home runs, while also setting career highs with 96 RBI, 99 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.

Additionally, Swanson enjoyed the best defensive season of his career and won his first Gold Glove Award at shortstop.

Swanson was originally selected No. 1 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2015 MLB draft before getting traded to Atlanta. His first several MLB seasons were inconsistent offensively, but he has improved significantly over the past few campaigns.

In 2021, Swanson hit .248, drove in 88 RBI and scored 78 runs, while also hitting a career-high 27 home runs after previously not hitting more than 17 long balls in a single season.

Swanson went on to hit two homers in the 2021 World Series, which the Braves won over the Houston Astros.

While it was initially unclear if Swanson would ever come close to living up to his status as a No. 1 overall pick, he has established himself as one of the premier shortstops in Major League Baseball in recent years, and he is part of a stacked class of free-agent shortstops.

Swanson, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa are all in line to receive huge contracts, and it is possible that all of them could be switching teams as well.

On the heels of a surprising run to the World Series, the Phillies are known to be big-time players in the shortstop market.

The Athletic's Jayson Stark reported this week that the Phillies are scheduled to meet with all of the top free-agent shortstops, and Morosi reported that they are favored to sign Turner.

Turner is widely regarded as the top available shortstop, but Swanson would be an ideal consolation prize for the Phillies, especially since signing him would simultaneously weaken a National League East rival in the Braves.

As for the Cubs, they are looking to become a playoff-contending team once again after missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including going just 74-88 in 2022.

Nico Hoerner was a solid performer at shortstop for the Cubs last season, hitting .281 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 steals, but he could be moved to second base, which makes signing Swanson a legitimate possibility.

It isn't likely that merely signing Swanson would make the Cubs contenders again, but it would be a big step in the right direction and a sign that they are attempting to accelerate the rebuild.

Outfielder Michael Conforto and catcher Christian Vázquez are reportedly among the Chicago Cubs' group of free-agent targets.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday the Cubs have been in contact with both players, and in the case of Conforto, he's seeking a two-year contract with an opt-out clause after 2023.

Chicago finished with a 74-88 record in 2022, which left the club 13 games out of a playoff spot in the National League.

The biggest question entering the offseason was whether the club would try to make a major splash in free agency to accelerate its roster reconstruction or if the front office would opt for a more modest winter to continue a slow building process.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported last week the Cubs were linked to all four of the big-name shortstops on the free-agent market: Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

Signing one of those marquee targets would be a sign Chicago is trying to turn a corner in 2023.

On the flip side, an offseason headlined by additions like Conforto and Vázquez likely would point toward another rebuilding year for the North Siders.

Conforto, 29, missed the entire 2022 season while recovering from a shoulder injury. In 2021 with the New York Mets, he compiled a .232/.344/.384 slash line with 14 home runs in 125 games. His 1.4 WAR was his lowest figure since 2016, according to FanGraphs.

Vázquez, 32, hasn't been a major threat at the plate throughout his career aside from a 23-homer season for the Boston Red Sox in 2019, but he's a high-end defender behind the dish. His 11 defensive runs saved in 2022 ranked tied for fourth among catchers, per FanGraphs.

The Cubs have a need at both catcher and designated hitter, so Conforto and Vázquez would be solid upgrades, they just don't represent the type of game-changing additions the club needs to push toward contention in the immediate future.

That said, adding both of them along with one of the star shortstops could start to create a little buzz in Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs reportedly plan on having a new shortstop for the 2023 season.

"They are basically involved in all the main shortstops out there in free agency," MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported. "They are broadly active in terms of what we could see with the shortstop market. Carlos Correa is on their list, Trea Turner is on their list. Xander Bogaerts is on their list, as is Dansby Swanson. I think that the two main guys they're showing the most interest in right now are Correa and Turner."

Morosi went on to point out that the North Siders were interested in Correa ahead of the 2022 campaign as well. He also noted the shortstop has a "longstanding affinity for the Cubs and their history," making the team the "favorite" to land the coveted free agent at this point.

While Correa signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins last offseason, it featured an opt-out clause that he exercised with the final two years remaining.

That could end up being welcome news for the Cubs, who are looking to return to the form they demonstrated from 2015 through 2017 with three straight National League Championship Series appearances and one World Series crown.

They are coming off two successive losing seasons and have not had the star power to compete with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

Correa is someone who could help change that with a resume that includes an American League Rookie of the Year, a World Series crown, two All-Star selections and a Gold Glove. He just slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI this past season with the Twins.

Turner would be anything but a consolation prize considering he is a two-time All-Star with a World Series championship, batting title and Silver Slugger under his belt.

It is notable the Cubs seem locked in on the shortstop market considering Nico Hoerner was one of the few bright spots on the team in 2022. Yet the 25-year-old's versatility is one of the best things about his game, and the team could move him to second base if it means adding one of the premier shortstops on the market.

Chicago may need upgrades at starting pitcher, center field and first base as well if it is going to turn into a legitimate contender this offseason, but signing a star shortstop could help it significantly close the gap with the Brewers and Cardinals.

The Chicago Cubs have officially released outfielder Jason Heyward after seven seasons with the team.

Heyward still had $22 million remaining on the initial eight-year, $184 million deal he signed ahead of the 2016 season, which ran through 2023. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer still said the team planned to move on at the end of the season.

"We want to give him a full offseason to be able to go out and find an opportunity," Hoyer said in August. "We'll go our separate directions at the end of the year."

The 33-year-old last played in June before going on the injured list with a knee injury. He finished the 2022 season with a .204 average, .278 on-base percentage and one home run in 48 games.

Over his tenure with the Cubs, Heyward posted a .245/.323/.377 slash line with 62 home runs in 744 games.

Despite his struggles at the plate, the veteran helped the team with his fielding—he won two of his five career Gold Glove Awards in Chicago—while providing valuable leadership in the clubhouse.

Heyward notably gave an inspiring speech during Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, helping the Cubs win their first title in 108 years.

"He never stopped working. Never stopped trying to earn his contract," Hoyer said. "In a lot of ways the emotional leader of a group of players that broke the curse here."

With the Cubs now in the midst of a rebuild, it was time to move on from Heyward and instead play the younger talent in the organization.

The one-time All-Star could now seek a fresh start with a new team, although there could be a limited market for the light-hitting player.

The Chicago Cubs have been "among [the] most active teams in the shortstop market" in free agency, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Saturday, noting they have spoken with agents for Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

The Cubs have struggled in each of the past two years, going 71-91 in 2021 and 74-88 in 2022. They had made the playoffs in five of six years, a stretch that included the team's first World Series win in 108 years in 2016.

The Cubs have long since dismantled their World Series core and spent far less on their roster recently. The team was third in Opening Day payroll in 2019 ($203.1 million) but fell to 14th in 2022 ($143.4 million), per Cot's Baseball Contracts.

If the Cubs are interested in Correa, Turner, Bogaerts and Swanson, then they may be interested in spending to contend again.

Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors on Thursday predicted contracts for the top 50 free agents, and he had all four shortstops getting paid. Correa topped that list at $288 million over nine years, followed by Turner ($268 million, eight years), Bogaerts ($189 million, seven years) and Swanson ($154 million, seven years). Three of four writers predicted Swanson would end up with the Cubs.

If the Cubs add a big-name shortstop, that could mean Nico Hoerner will move to second base. Hoerner led the team in WAR (4.5) last year, per Baseball Reference. He hit a team-high .281 with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He's just 25 years old and should be a cornerstone moving forward.

With the Cubs in danger of losing catcher Willson Contreras, a free agent who finished second on the team with 22 home runs last year, they need more power in the lineup. Chicago was ninth in home runs (159) in the National League and 10th in OPS (.698).

All four of the aforementioned players could help in that regard. Swanson had 25 homers with a .776 OPS in 162 games, while Correa (136 G, 22 HR, .834 OPS), Turner (160 G, 21 HR, .809 OPS) and Bogaerts (150 G, 15 HR, .833 OPS) provided great seasons at the dish too.

The Cubs apparently will be a team to watch as the shortstops who form a loaded free-agent class decide on their destinations.

Catcher Willson Contreras will become a free agent after declining the Chicago Cubs' $19.65 million qualifying offer, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Contreras, who will turn 31 years old in May, is a three-time All-Star who has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Cubs. He had 22 home runs, 55 RBI and an .815 OPS in 113 games last season.

Heyman noted that Contreras "should do extremely well on the open market."

The Detroit Tigers already appear to have interest, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network:

The Houston Astros had been interested at the trade deadline, so much so that they and the Cubs agreed to a deal that would have sent starting pitcher Jose Urquidy to the Windy City pending ownership approval, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. But that approval never occurred.

Elsewhere, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote last month that "the Cardinals should strongly consider benefitting from the Cubs' loss" of Contreras.

Regardless of where Contreras winds up, that team will get one of the best offensive catchers in baseball.

Only two catchers with 300 or more at-bats last season had a better OPS than Contreras. One was his brother, William Contreras of the Atlanta Braves. The other was J.T. Realmuto of the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. Willson Contreras is good enough at the dish to serve as a designated hitter, which he did 39 times last season.

The cost to sign Contreras certainly won't be cheap, though. Heyman reported in June that Contreras would "likely be seeking" a deal of more than $100 million over five years.

That could be worth it for a player of his caliber, and Contreras will be one to watch as the hot-stove season rolls on.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is the hottest name on the 2022 free-agent market. He racked up an American League record 62 home runs this season and will be paid handsomely for his power in the not-too-distant future.

The 30-year-old will be free to sign with a new team five days after the World Series ends.

Just about any team would be happy to have Judge's services in 2023, and the Chicago Cubs are no exception.

According to David Kaplan of ESPN radio and NBC Sports Chicago, though, he is likely to be out of the Cubs' price range.

"Now, if you said to me Aaron Judge said, ‘I just wanna be a Cub or a White Sock and I'll take five years at—pick the number—$45 million,’ I think both teams would be in play," Kaplan told Miller and Condon of KXNO 1460 on Wednesday. "Certainly the Cubs would be in play. But I’m hearing Aaron Judge wants, like, nine years at $50 million."

If Judge wants something close to or beyond $50 million per year, he's likely to get it. The Yankees want him back and the Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The San Francisco Giants may ultimately outbid both New York and L.A, according to Randy Miller of NJ Advanced Media.

"The Giants have targeted Judge and are prepared to spend whatever it takes, a person with knowledge of the Giants’ thinking told NJ Advance Media after meeting with members of the franchise’s ownership group," he wrote.

If the Dodgers, Yankees and Giants—three franchises not shy about tossing around free-agent cash—are headlining the chase to sign Judge, the Cubs probably don't have a realistic shot.

However, this doesn't mean Chicago can't make a splash in free agency or get significantly better over the winter. According to Kaplan, the Cubs are very interested in adding longtime Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu to their rotation.

"Yeah, Cubs, José Abreu if the White Sox don’t bring him back, absolutely in play," he said. "I think they're looking for a short-term first baseman until they get something out of the system, whether that’s Matt Mervis or whoever."

While Abreu isn't going to scare opposing pitchers like Judge can, he would add a reliable bat to the lineup. He hit .304 with 75 RBI this past season and is a logical target if the White Sox are looking to move on.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, that may be the case.

"The White Sox loved having José Abreu the past nine years, and he has been nothing but a class act and valuable hitter, but they plan to part ways with him," he wrote last week. "Simply, they need to shake up their team."

Last month, Nightengale mentioned Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner as a Cubs target as well.

"Turner is expected to be the top free-agent target for the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, perhaps Atlanta, and yes, the Dodgers," he wrote.

The 29-year-old hit .298 with 21 homers and 100 RBI this past season. Theoretically, the Cubs could significantly upgrade their offense by adding both him and Abreu. Chicago may be able to do that at a lower cost than adding Judge alone.

According to Spotrac, Turner has an estimated market value of $33.6 million annually. The 35-year-old Abreu would be far cheaper, with an estimated market value of $9.1 million annually.

Perhaps not so coincidentally, that adds up to $42.7 million, just below the $45 million Kaplan mentioned as an agreeable price point for Judge.

And Turner is far from the only quality shortstop headed to market this year. Carlos Correa is likely to opt out, along with Xander Bogaerts. And 29-year-old Dansby Swanson is also slated to be a free agent.

Fans can and probably should expect Chicago to come away with one of these standout shortstops. Team president Jed Hoyer has committed to taking an aggressive approach to free agency.

"We'll be aggressive to try to fill those holes in the best way possible," he said, per Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago. " I think we can definitely compete next year, and we also want to create something lasting and special."

That effort to fill holes might also include a run at starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, according to Kaplan, and we can expect Chicago to target a few ancillary players as well.

The reality is that the Cubs, without a win in a playoff game since 2017, are already close. They showed a lot of promise down the stretch, finishing 39-31 over the final 70 games.

With a few new additions, they can make themselves a real threat in the National League, and they can do it without participating in the bidding war for Judge.