Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team expected to sign top free agent shortstop

The Chicago Cubs appear to be heading toward a second consecutive Major League Baseball trade deadline where the team is likely looking towards selling their veteran players in an attempt to continue the retooling of their farm system.

Though, given the lack of star power that the Cubs have at the Major League level, this year’s trade deadline may not be as eventful as last season’s trade deadline. It seems rather inevitable that the Cubs will deal Willson Contreras before the trade deadline on August 2 and other players that could be moved are starting pitchers Kyle Hendricks, Wade Miley, and Drew Smyly; and relievers David Robertson, Chris Martin, and Mychal Givens..

Despite the idea that the Cubs will be sellers for the second consecutive trade deadline, and despite what popular belief may suggest, there have been signs that the team is inching closer to returning to relevancy.

This past offseason, the Cubs identified outfielder Seiya Suzuki and starting pitcher Marcus Stroman as players that could be a part of their next contending window. Suzuki was signed to a five-year deal while Stroman was signed to a three-year deal. Outside of Suzuki and Stroman, the Cubs were also in pursuit of free agent shortstop Carlos Correa this past offseason.

It is clear that the Cubs are no longer operating in free agency with a “sign and flip” mindset. The team is now identifying players that could be a part of their next contending window and that window may open in 2023 based on their reported plans for the offseason. Bob Nightengale of USA Today spoke to a veteran general manager in Major League Baseball and the general manager guaranteed that the Cubs will sign one of the top three free agent shortstops this offseason.

"They have their eyes on shortstop Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts.“I guarantee you they’re going to get one of them,’’ one veteran GM told USA TODAY Sports."

The Chicago Cubs will have money to spend this offseason and could have their sights set on the free agent shortstop market.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner will be hitting free agency for the first time in his Major League career while Correa is expected to opt out of his contract with the Minnesota Twins, and Xander Bogaerts is expected to opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Of the three, if the Cubs were to, in fact, sign one of them, logic would indicate that it will be Correa. The Cubs pursued Correa heavily this past offseason and their offer may have been more lucrative than the deal that he signed with the Twins but there have been questions as to if Correa’s switch in representation resulted in miscommunication with the Cubs.

If the Cubs do land one of the top free agent shortstops this offseason, that certainly would accelerate their rebuild, if not, completely change the priority from retooling the minor league system to contending at the Major League level.