Matt Chapman would be a huge get for Cubs this offseason |
It's hard to believe that the Cubs regular season has been over for nearly a month, and the World Series is right around the corner. Well, here we are as Houston and Texas are in a winner-take-all game seven while Arizona tries to force a winner-take against Philadelphia. In roughly two weeks, the 2023 MLB season will be officially over, and teams will then begin to focus on the offseason and what they need to do for 2024.
Most teams have already started to plan for that, but nothing can happen until the free-agent period opens up, which isn't until after the World Series concludes. When it comes to the Cubs, that is a significant time to keep an eye on as this team was very aggressive last season and was rewarded with a mostly successful campaign that saw them do better than many felt they would. To take it a step further, Tom Ricketts has said that he fully intends this team to be aggressive again this offseason in an effort to build on last season. That puts all the pressure back on Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins, as they need to build on what they started last season. For that to happen, the entire front office and coaching staff must get together and address what they have in place and what they need to fix. The starting rotation will continue to be an area of need as the Cubs will likely be looking to add a front-line starter to join the returning group they will bring back. You also have the bullpen that was a mess down the stretch, and that might take the most work this offseason if the Cubs want to contend next season. While there are holes that need to be fixed in the pitching staff, there are even bigger holes that need to be addressed in the lineup, with the two most significant areas of need coming at the corner infield spots. First base has been a need for years, but with Matt Mervis continuing to crush the ball in the minors and the potential of bringing back Cody Bellinger to play first, the Cubs may be in better shape than some would think. Third base, on the other hand, is a different scenario as I would argue that is the biggest area they need to focus on this offseason regarding the position players. Ever since Kris Bryant was traded, the Cubs have tried countless players at the hot corner, and none have worked out in their favor. Last year, the plan was to have Patrick Wisdom and Edwin Rios provide the Cubs with an excellent lefty/righty power platoon option, but with Rios going 2-29 before being sent to the minors the rest of the way and Wisdom not even cracking the .200 mark this season those too are no longer seen as future pieces for this team. Regarding in-house options for third, Nick Madrigal had a phenomenal defensive year last season, but his lack of power makes it difficult to play him every day. Christopher Morel has the power you are looking for, but has been a liability on defense since his MLB debut in 2022. He may be better suited for the DH role to keep his bat in the lineup. The Cubs also have guys like Jake Slaughter and the suddenly improved David Bote in AAA, but neither of them would be the long-term solutions you would look for at this point. One name mentioned as a possible trade candidate for the Cubs last season is now a free agent and one the Cubs need to pursue in Matt Chapman. The former Oakland Athletic and Toronto Blue Jay is coming off a down season in terms of his career marks, where he hit .240 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs. Before that, Chapman was one of the more productive and consistent 3B in the game, although the .240 average falls right on his career .240 average. Sure, you would like to see his average be better if you invest a long-term commitment in him, but when you look at what he brings to the table, the investment would be a wise decision for this team. With Chapman on your team, you are getting a 3B who will consistently give you 20-25 homers (similar to Wisdom), but also knows how to drive in runs other ways, as he averages around 76 RBIs per season. While he is a high-strikeout guy at times, which the Cubs have gone away from, Chapman also knows how to take walks, which the 3B position lacked a season ago. Anything he can give you offensively would be a bonus, as his glove will always stand out. Not only does Chapman have Gold Glove potential every season, but he has earned Platinum Glove status in the past and is right up there with Nolan Arenado regarding the best defensive 3B in the game. With Nico Hoerner and Dasnby Swanson already in the infield, adding Chapman would give the Cubs three annual Gold Glove finalists in the infield with a potential of having four depending on the Bellinger situation. That is something no other team can say, and for a league that is built on margins, the Cubs would undoubtedly win the margins game with that. What it would cost to get Chapman is where things get tricky, as you have to consider last season, but also his career numbers. Don't be surprised to see him land a four- or five-year contract somewhere in the range of 85-100 million. Would that be a reach to sign him to that type of deal? Possibly, but he is worth the gamble, especially when you look at the Cubs' recent history at 3B. This could be the move that opens the door for this team to become one of the best defensive teams in MLB history, and the last time the Cubs were a top defensive team, you know what happened.
