One trade, one signing Cubs should make

Making news early in the offseason by hiring new manager Craig Counsell away from their division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs have been quiet as free agency has opened. With Shohei Ohtani finally making his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs can shift their focus to reality and try to improve a team that won 83 games last season.

Trade: Acquire RHP Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins

With a right arm possessing some of the most electric stuff in baseball, 25-year-old Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera is reportedly a name being floated around on the trade market that would fit perfectly with the Cubs.

Going 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 99.2 innings pitched in 2023, the right-hander has yet to throw over 100 innings in the majors in a single season as the Marlins continue to ease him into the rotation.

Under team control through 2028, Cabrera is 13-14 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while striking out 221 batters over 197.2 innings pitched since his MLB debut in 2021.

While he has battled injuries throughout his young career, the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation type arm still is there and is worth the gamble for a club that is looking for arms to pair with ace pitcher Justin Steele.

With pitchers Kyle Hendricks, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all returning, Cabrera would slide into the spot in the rotation vacated by free agent Marcus Stroman.

Signing: Re-sign Cody Bellinger

This one is pretty self-explanatory, as the 28-year-old outfielder experienced a resurgence with the Cubs in 2023 after his career was on a downhill slide. 

After a historic start to his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers that included a Rookie of the Year Award and National League Most Valuable Player Award in his first three seasons in MLB, he struggled to the point that he was allowed to become a free agent last offseason. 

He chose to sign a one-year, $17.5M deal with the Cubs and posted his best season since 2019, slashing .307/.356/.525 with 56 extra-base hits, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field and at first base. 

After playing such an integral part in the Cubs success in 2023, Bellinger figures to be a top priority as they look to continue building a playoff baseball team in Chicago. 

While there is the risk that he could go back to his previous struggles, Bellinger's gamble on himself paid off as he is projected to secure a contract of around seven years, $150M this offseason according to Sportrac's calculated market value.

A player with as many accolades as Bellinger has hitting the open market again is sure to generate plenty of interest from all of the clubs looking for an offensive upgrade this offseason after passing on him last year.