Why Cubs are assured even with out an MLB free agent splash

MESA, Ariz. — When the Chicago Cubs made the primary daring transfer of the MLB offseason, luring supervisor Craig Counsell from the rival Milwaukee Brewers with a $40 million contract in mid-November, many throughout the game figured it might be the beginning of a winter spree on the North Facet — regardless that Jed Hoyer mentioned that would not essentially be the case.

Quick ahead to the beginning of spring coaching and it seems to be just like the group’s president of baseball operations is likely to be proper, because the roster seems to be similar to the one which missed the playoffs by a single sport final yr. Certain, there have been additions, like 30 year-old starter Shota Imanaga and 34 year-old reliever Hector Neris, however the largest headlines have come from the strikes the Cubs did not make.

Whereas they had been talked about as gamers for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Cubs did not land both of probably the most coveted free brokers in the marketplace — or some other elite degree participant. And thus far, they have not been capable of retain the one who patrolled middle subject at Wrigley Area final season both, as Cody Bellinger remains to be a free agent.

That is as a result of, partly, their plan to compete revolves round selling younger gamers from their extremely touted farm system (ranked No. 2 in MLB by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel) as a lot as opening their wallets for splashy veteran additions. So as an alternative of cameras following each transfer made by a brand new star at spring coaching, the vibe at Sloan Park is about lauding an arriving wave of expertise.

“We’ve got a whole lot of younger gamers and a few younger veteran gamers that I believe have an opportunity to take actual steps ahead,” Hoyer mentioned final week. “Probably the most thrilling factor for me is I believe now we have a deep roster. And now we have a deep roster of gamers which have an opportunity to proceed to get higher. I believe that provides me a whole lot of hope that we will accomplish this yr what we could not final yr.”

However the query is whether or not these younger gamers arriving with massive hype — corresponding to hitting prospects Owen Cassie and Pete Crow-Armstrong and pitchers Cade Horton and Ben Brown — will actually be able to fill the holes Chicago must plug in 2024. At the moment there are query marks in middle subject, at each corner-infield positions and all through the pitching workers.

“I look again the place we had been a yr in the past and a number of the gamers which have stepped ahead and now we’re contemplating these guys established massive leaguers,” Hoyer mentioned, referencing All-Star Justin Steele. “The hope is we glance a yr from now and there are 5 to 6 of these guys that set up themselves as Cubs.”

Regardless of that hope, there’s nonetheless a lingering disappointment from falling simply in need of the postseason that is evident early in spring coaching, leaving gamers, corresponding to second baseman Nico Hoerner, considering whether or not the Cubs are higher now than they had been final yr.

“All of us are asking that query individually and as a bunch, and it is as much as us to reply that because the season performs out,” Hoerner mentioned. “Any time you go too deep in predicting baseball, it is often not very correct. Clearly, you need the absolute best group you possibly can have on the diamond.

“There’s nonetheless gamers on the market, so I do not know what that may appear like, however so far as the group that now we have right here now, I believe we undoubtedly have what we have to compete in addition to make a whole lot of enhancements internally.”

In fact, the largest enchancment to the roster would come if Bellinger had been to make a dramatic spring entrance saying his return like Dexter Fowler did in 2016 — however do not depend on that taking place anytime quickly.

The Cubs and Bellinger’s camp have been at a standstill for the whole offseason and nothing has modified, in accordance with sources acquainted with the scenario. That does not imply a deal cannot nonetheless occur, however it does present that the Cubs are keen to enter 2024 with out the 2019 MVP and that this can be very unlikely the group modifications its stance on providing a large deal — particularly contemplating the plan was at all times to transition to Crow-Armstrong in middle. A shorter time period stick with choose outs is at all times a chance although, because the Cubs need to stay versatile as its younger gamers mature into massive leaguers.

However even when a Bellinger reunion by no means occurs, the Cubs may additionally use the companies of free agent third baseman Matt Chapman, and so they’ve been linked to Miami Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo as a possible commerce match — so additions aren’t out of the query.

However it’s getting late, and time could also be operating out. Hoyer mentioned final month that they had been solely within the fourth or fifth inning of their offseason maneuvering, however he gave an replace this previous week that “the nearer is warming up at this level.”

If the door does shut on a noteworthy last-minute free agent addition, Counsell will probably be counted on as the largest difference-maker for the season forward.

Extensively considered the most effective managers, if not the most effective, within the sport, Counsell takes over a group that missed the playoffs regardless of a plus-96 run differential. His influence may be sufficient to restrict the dangerous stretches — just like the one on offense in Could or the string of September sequence losses — that had the Cubs watching from dwelling in October.

Early-season projections have Chicago on the skin of the playoffs once more, however perhaps these programs cannot measure the mix of a brand new supervisor and a younger hungry group with a number of gamers seeking to break by. And if Counsell is ready to try this — deliver collectively a younger roster and make it just a little bit higher — then maybe no one will keep in mind the strikes the Cubs did not make this winter.

“In my expertise, the best way groups overachieve and have particular seasons is by having guys do issues they weren’t projected to do,” Counsell mentioned. “We’ve got various guys on this camp which have an opportunity to exceed expectations and make that step. That is how you find yourself having a particular season.”