(Audacy) The Cubs made an important – if long-awaited – move Tuesday by reaching an agreement on a deal with Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga. In the wake of that, Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman believes a flurry of position player additions could now potentially be forthcoming for the Cubs.
Across MLB, the pitching market has been more active and lucrative than the market for hitters. Only a handful of position players have inked multi-year deals in free agency, leaving top options like outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger and third baseman Matt Chapman still available.
On the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning, Heyman explained that a reunion between Bellinger and the Cubs remains on the table, and he expects the team to make a push for Chapman and first baseman Rhys Hoskins as well.
“(Signing) all of them would be quite a coup, but I would say at this point you've got to figure they’re going to get at least one of them,” Heyman said. “Certainly they do like the idea of defense and Bellinger provides that, Chapman provides that. They do feel like they need a first baseman, at least it feels like from a distance, so certainly looking at Hoskins.”
Bellinger was fantastic on his one-year prove-it deal with the Cubs in 2023, and his ability to play both in the outfield and first base is a plus for them.
Chicago was weak at third base last season before trading for Jeimer Candelario, who signed with the Reds this offseason. Chapman, despite his propensity for striking out, would give the Cubs a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman with a competent bat.
Hoskins didn’t play at all last season after tearing his ACL in spring training. He has a decent glove and can hit for power, and he likely could be had for less than he otherwise would have had he not missed all of 2023.
“Chapman we’ve heard probably more with the Giants, but I’m not going to be surprised if it’s the Cubs," Heyman said. "If they can combine him with Dansby Swanson, that’s the best left side of the infield defensively in baseball.
“Obviously Bellinger did a great job there last year. They’ve obviously also been apart on the contract and talking to other teams. Whether they work it out, can’t say. It is quite unusual to see it go on for two months and then eventually figure it out with that team, but I can’t put it past them. We don’t know what the other teams are offering, for that matter we don’t know what the Cubs are offering, but at this point I can’t say it’s any slam dunk they get Bellinger back.
“But certainly they’re in on all three, I wouldn’t be shocked if they got two of them, I would be shocked if they didn’t get at least one of them.”