MLB.com is preserving monitor of all the most recent Cubs-related free agent and commerce rumors proper right here.
Dec. 7: Cubs eyeing Buehler, ‘decided’ to commerce Suzuki or Bellinger (stories)The offseason has contained loads of buzz concerning the Cubs presumably buying and selling outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. The Yankees, Astros and Mariners have checked in with Chicago a couple of doable deal, in keeping with Bruce Levine of 670 The Rating in Chicago. MLB Community insider Jon Paul Morosi additionally linked Bellinger to the Mariners on Friday.
Conversely, there was nearly zero buzz concerning the Cubs presumably buying and selling outfielder Seiya Suzuki this winter. Till now.
MLB Community insider Joel Sherman stories within the New York Put up (subscription required) that the Cubs are “decided” to maneuver both Bellinger or Suzuki, because the group want to use the cash owed to these massive bats subsequent season elsewhere on the roster.
The rotation stays an space of focus for the Cubs, even after signing Matthew Boyd to a two-year, $29 million deal. In response to a report from Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required), the Cubs “have saved Walker Buehler on their radar,” although Mooney and Sharma acknowledge that the right-hander’s price ticket would possibly now be out of the group’s most popular vary as a result of hovering price of free-agent starters.
The Cubs might have to commerce Bellinger or Suzuki to suit Buehler of their funds, however such a transfer seemingly will not occur till Juan Soto comes off the board, probably creating extra demand for Chicago’s outfielders.
Sherman states that Suzuki is the much less fascinating participant since he’s a right-handed hitter and isn’t pretty much as good of a defender because the lefty-hitting Bellinger. Plus, the Cubs could also be extra open to buying and selling Bellinger since they’ve youthful and extra reasonably priced choices in place at his two positions: first baseman Michael Busch and heart fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Suzuki is coming off of a extra productive season, nonetheless. The 30-year-old batted .283 with 21 dwelling runs and an .848 OPS in 132 video games. Bellinger, 29, hit .266 with 18 homers and a .751 OPS in 130 video games.
Dec. 2: Cubs reportedly energetic in bullpen market after touchdown BoydThe Cubs and free-agent left hander Matthew Boyd reached an settlement on a two-year deal on Monday, a supply advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal is value $29 million for 2 years, with $1 million in incentives. The Cubs haven’t confirmed the report.
Including a starter was a precedence for the Cubs this offseason, and the addition of Boyd does simply that. Boyd will slot in behind Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon within the Cubs’ rotation, with Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks and Hayden Wesneski among the many choices vying for the fifth spot.
The again finish of the Cubs’ bullpen is unsettled in the mean time, however the free-agent market is brimming with engaging reduction choices. Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Kirby Yates, Carlos Estévez, Clay Holmes, David Robertson and Kenley Jansen are among the many many relievers accessible.
The membership nonetheless has some flexibility for added strikes, as FanGraphs’ Roster Useful resource places Chicago’s present payroll at $190 million, $38 million shy of its estimated end-of-season determine ($228 million). The Cubs can create much more house if they’ll handle to commerce Cody Bellinger, who’s reportedly being shopped.
Nov. 21: Cubs need to commerce Bellinger (report)Though outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger exercised his participant choice for 2025, it’s not a assure that he’ll be with the Cubs on Opening Day. In response to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), rival executives say that the Cubs need to commerce the 29-year-old.
Bellinger’s contract — he’s owed $27.5 million in 2025 and might earn $25 million in 2026 by choosing up his participant choice — might restrict the return for the Cubs. But when they’re actually motivated to maneuver him, they need to be capable of discover a suitor.
Bellinger’s manufacturing regressed in 2024, however he nonetheless had a stable 111 OPS+. He has additionally confirmed able to dealing with heart subject, a weak place on this 12 months’s free-agent market.
Rosenthal mentions the Yankees as a doable match for Bellinger in the event that they aren’t capable of re-sign Juan Soto, noting that the Bronx Bombers have proven curiosity in Bellinger previously. Bellinger might probably be a backup choice for a number of the different groups concerned within the Soto sweepstakes as properly.
Buying and selling Bellinger would add extra payroll flexibility for the Cubs to deal with their prime precedence this offseason, which is pitching. However whereas Chicago’s curiosity in including a starter is obvious, there have been conflicting stories about which arms the group would possibly goal.
On Wednesday, MLB Community insider Jon Heyman talked about the Cubs among the many groups within the combine to signal one of many aces at the moment accessible through free company, together with Corbin Burnes andMax Fried. Nevertheless, The Athletic’s (subscription required) Sahadev Sharma stories that the Cubs have “dominated out” that tier of free-agent hurlers and will additionally steer clear of different pitchers who declined a qualifying provide, together with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Nick Pivetta.
Sharma mentions a number of doable choices for the Cubs, together with Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Flaherty.
Nov. 20: Cubs purchase Morgan and Thaiss, DFA WisdomThe Cubs acquired reliever Eli Morgan from the Guardians in alternate for outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario (No. 21 on Pipeline’s Prime 30 listing for the Cubs) on Wednesday.
To clear room on the 40-man roster for his or her new acquisitions, Chicago designated Patrick Knowledge and Trey Wingenter for task.
