3 Shohei Ohtani-less moves for the Chicago Cubs to make in offseason
By Thomas Erbe
A monumental free agency is taking place as the world awaits a decision from superstar Shohei Ohtani. For the first time in recent memory, fans, team executives, and the national media are all in the same spot of knowing absolutely nothing for sure about where Ohtani stands. The only one who knows anything about what’s going on with Ohtani is Ohtani himself, and I respect that tremendously. He is controlling his own narrative.
The thing about it that has everyone all worked up about this is that Ohtani’s command of the market has every other free agent’s plans and narratives at a halt. There are a number of teams that need an Ohtani decision before they are able to make other decisions due to the financial toll a signing of this magnitude will take.
When it comes to the Chicago Cubs, the only person who might know how close or far they are from getting Ohtani is Jed Hoyer. He’s the one talking to Ohtani. Any other outside reporting can only be taken as educated speculation at most.
Regardless of whether the Cubs get Ohtani or not, they are busy on both the free agent and trade market preparing to fill out the roster for 2024 and beyond. After signing Dansby Swanson last offseason and negotiating extensions for cornerstones Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ, this franchise is ready to open up its window to chase another World Series Championship (and hopefully more to follow).
The Cubs are on the uptick. There seems to be this speculation that the Cubs are ready to empty their pockets to open that window right now. Outside of an Ohtani deal, here are three other moves they should zone in on – regardless of whether Ohtani coming to Chicago or not.