The 2016 World Series feels like a lifetime ago for some Chicago Cubs fans. Last year could be considered a step in the right direction, as the Cubs finished the 2022 campaign very strong.
Now that the offseason is in full swing, and free agency doors are open, fans are wondering whether or not their team will finally spend big again.
The Cubs have erred on the cheap side of things for a few years now. Since winning the title, it has seemed as though the front office is satisfied. Winning one World Series in over 100 years was enough for them, so why try to win another? That’s the attitude fans have felt, and it’s rang loud and clear through the moves they have made in the past couple of seasons.
But, it appears as though the Cubs are finally ready to spend big. According to the latest reports, the Cubs are going hard after a few big names: shortstops Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.
Are the frugal, selling days finally over with for the Chicago Cubs?
The North siders have gotten rid of just about every major name from that World Series run, trading away guys like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez. They have let plenty of others walk in recent offseasons, too.
But finally — finally — it looks like the Cubs want to be winners again.
Sure, it’s only been six years — but it’s been a long six years. Since that title, the Cubs have never been the same. Now, Tom Ricketts and Jed Hoyer look like they’re ready to spend a whole lot bigger than recent offseasons.
Correa would, of course, be one of the biggest prizes of this free agency group. The Cubs would have to pay him far more than the other three, but he would be worth it. Last season, Correa posted his best batting average in five years, notching .291. He also posted his best OBP since 2017 at .366 to go with 22 home runs.
Turner would be another huge get for the Cubs, after he slashed .298/.343/.466 last season, scoring 101 runs, driving in 100 RBI, and hitting 21 homers.
Correa, 28, and Turner, 29, could flip the script for the Cubs. These guys are set to sign massive deals and would stick around for quite a few years at their age. Each have plenty of baseball in front of them and are in the thick of their primes.
For the sake of the Cubs’ future, signing one of these two could give them a whole lot more appeal to fellow free agents wanting to find new homes. Let’s hope the front office can get one of these guys in Cubbie blue and red, and as soon as possible.
