Chicago Cubs See Free Agency Progress, but Hurdles Remain Amidst Lacking Off-Season

The Chicago Cubs have wholly disappointed this off-season in terms of player recruitment. After signing Manager Craig Counsell to an MLB record deal, the front office has failed to add a single player through trade or free agency. Despite being embroiled in a tug of war with Cody Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras, no significant progress seems to have been made. 

But amidst this cloud of doubt that hangs over the team’s off-season, recent updates have given fans hope. Top insiders paint the current situation more positively, despite which, only a big deal will relieve the Cubs’ mounting pressure.

The Cubs have offered Cody Bellinger and others big deals 

Fans and analysts have criticized the Chicago Cubs for their off-season inactivity. But recent reports have raised hope amidst difficult periods of tense waiting. Recently, top insider Ben Nightengale predicted that the Cubs will land Cody Bellinger and another player that could be Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman or even Rhys Hoskins. But President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has a lot of work left to do.

Nightengale said, “The Cubs, who haven’t had a free-agent signing or made a trade all winter, will be baseball’s most aggressive team these next five weeks. They will not only re-sign Bellinger, with no one else expressing strong interest, but could bring in third baseman Matt Chapman or first baseman Rhys Hoskins, too, along with another starter. Their offseason is just starting.” This is an encouraging prediction for fans amidst a tough off-season thus far. 

MLB analyst Jim Bowden went further and confirmed that the Cubs have even made significant offers to Bellinger and others. Despite this, the team has not successfully added a player, and there is a ways to go. The off-season is indeed only beginning for them, but there remain significant obstacles.

Cubs face hurdles in free agency 

Despite seemingly making big offers as Jim Bowden said, the Chicago Cubs are struggling to sign stars. The Cody Bellinger saga has gone on for weeks, despite almost every other team having pulled out. Although there might be other teams interested, the North Side are the only serious contenders. This also seems to be the case with other stars available. But there is still time to get a deal finalized. Regardless, the Cubs have a difficult path ahead with competition becoming tougher as the market gets thinner. Starting pitchers and star players are at a premium at the moment.

Read More: Cody Bellinger and Cubs’ Valuations Remain Far Apart, as Chicago Reunion Remains Likely Despite $300 Million Sweepstakes

It will be interesting to see how the Cubs finalize deals for Cody Bellinger and other targets. With Ben Nightengale predicting multiple deals, fans may have something to look forward to. I believe a Bellinger deal is inevitable and suits both parties’ needs. Do you think the Cubs will be able to sign some players soon?

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