Other than the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency talks, there hasn’t been much activity in the market this offseason. Things have been eerily silent for almost a month, with not many teams making any major moves. The offseason seemed to be picking up after the Philadelphia Phillies re-signed Aaron Nola, but that proved to be a false alarm. Recently, Chicago Cubs’ general manager explained why this lull was happening in the market.

The Cubs are heavily linked with Shohei Ohtani. They’re one of the last remaining participants in the race for the two-way phenom. While they aren’t as heavily considered as favorites like the LA Dodgers or the rest, they still have a chance of getting Ohtani. Even if they fail, they’ve planned extensively for their next moves.

The Chicago Cubs GM sheds light on the reasons behind the current market lull

Cubs GM Carter Hawkins was interviewed by The Athletic where he talked about their strategy for the winter meetings. While the market has been dull, the North Siders in particular have been quiet, choosing to wait for Ohtani to make his decision first. Still, when asked about the lull in the market, Hawkins had a few reasons for it.

Carter talked about trying to create a perfect offseason and how difficult it is. He said, “it’s way too complex of a challenge to actually do that. Instead, you have to be able to look at each individual transaction and say, ‘Hey this makes sense for us.” Hawkins then went on to say that the real action happens not on what occurs in the market but during the preparations that go on before making deals.

When asked about a slow market, he wondered if the norovirus breakout during the GM meetings was a reason. “I can’t figure out if it’s because of the big guys at the top or because everybody had norovirus at the GM Meetings and all those conversations didn’t start up until a few days later.” Still, the Cubs can end this lull by getting Ohtani. After all, they do have a few advantages in this race.

The North Siders’ advantage in Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes

The Cubs have created an impressive farm system. Added to this, they have a tightly maintained payroll. The GM said that they could go over the tax threshold but only if it’s necessary. The team chooses to focus more on drafts and international signings and maximizes its prospects.

This is an advantage because they have built a winning team on a reasonable payroll. They have the cash available to invest in taking the next step. With all this, Ohtani will be stepping into a team that has a firm foundation and a good long-term prospect.

Read more: Shocking News Indicates Possible Return of Shohei Ohtani to the LA Angels

Can the Cubs break the market lull by getting the Japanese superstar?

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