Could the slow offseason for the Chicago Cubs finally be turning around? It looks to be possible as Jim Bowden reports that the Cubs have made significant offers to four of the top free agents on the market.
According to Bowden, Chicago has offered Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Rhys Hoskins.
While unlikely that they land all four, adding two of these top-end free agents could put the Cubs in a great position moving forward. Details of the offers are unknown, but it's a positive sign that the offers are on the table.
Bellinger played the 2023 season in Chicago and put his career back on track, setting him up to potentially earn more than $200 million. He posted a 4.4 WAR after hitting 26 home runs and slashing .307/.356/.525.
Chapman is arguably the best defender in baseball. Despite the obvious concerns with the bat, he's still someone who can help this Cubs team. He posted a 4.4 WAR, too, last season, but slashed just .240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs.
As for Hoskins, this would almost certainly be the cheapest deal out of the four. The power-hitting first baseman is coming off an ACL injury that he sustained during Spring Training in '23. When healthy, he's one of the biggest power threats in baseball. During the 2022 season, Hoskins hit 30 home runs. In every season he's played more than 100 games, he's hit at least 27 home runs.
Montgomery is exactly what the team needs as the rotation will need to be better heading into 2024. The 2023 World Series champion has a ton of interest after posting a 3.2 ERA in 188.2 innings pitched. The left-hander is arguably the best remaining free agent in baseball.
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