(670 The Score) While all the attention remains on the possibility of the Cubs re-signing first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, the front office also has its eyes beyond 2024.
To achieve the success they desire, the Cubs know they’ll need to continue to produce and develop talented homegrown prospects and graduate them to the big league level. That process goes hand-in-hand with free agency to give any team flexibility in building a contender. In the case of the Cubs, bringing back a player of Bellinger’s caliber would be crucial for their chances to compete now and would give them the luxury of bringing their young talent along on their own terms and timeline. On the other hand, a strong homegrown crop of players means the Cubs won’t be at the mercy of free agency as much in the future, a roster-building path that can be high-risk.
That’s something Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer understands well.
“This is not a very good free-agent class, period,” Hoyer said on Inside the Clubhouse last weekend. "So the idea of having a big offseason (by signing free agents) with one of the thinner free-agent classes we have ever had was not counted on. As far as being aggressive and winning more with more additions, there is the right time in our future to be aggressive. You have to have the players in that marketplace to do that. At some point, that will be the right move. But we just can't force it.”
The Cubs have the fourth-rated farm system in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. They have both hitters and pitchers who are in line to be big league contributors soon.
The 21-year-old Pete Crow-Armstrong is viewed as the Cubs’ center fielder of the future, and he may land the starting job to open the 2024 season depending on how the rest of the team’s offseason moves play out.
Crow-Armstrong was hitless in 14 at-bats in limited action following a call-up last September, but that didn’t dampen the Cubs’ enthusiasm in any way.
“Craig Counsell said that when a young player makes it to the major leagues, you should expect him to struggle,” Hoyer said. “Knowing Pete may be one of the three best outfielders already in baseball … and he does it at the highest possible level, we may put him in center field before his bat is ready knowing that. I think he will be a really good hitter in the big leagues. I think his defense is ahead of that. The challenge for us is to work through that.”
Infielder Matt Shaw, 22, was the Cubs’ first-round pick last summer. He quickly made a strong impression, hitting .357 with eight homers and a 1.018 OPS in 38 games split between rookie ball, Class-A and Double-A in 2023.
Shaw has been a shortstop the past two years but has taken almost all of his reps at third base this offseason, he said at Cubs Convention. With Dansby Swanson locked in at shortstop and Nico Hoerner at second base, manning third base will be Shaw’s quickest path to the big leagues, and he doesn’t seem too far off. MLB Pipeline projects him to reach the big leagues in 2025.
Owen Caissie, Alexander Canario and Kevin Alcantara are three outfielders in the Cubs’ system who are waiting for an opportunity at the MLB level or who could be used in trades.
Two young pitchers whom the Cubs believe can help them in 2024 are 22-year-old right-hander Cade Horton and 24-year-old right-hander Ben Brown. By midseason, both could be supplying innings for the Cubs.
Horton is considered the best pitching prospect the Cubs have had since Dylan Cease. He needs to refine his ability to throw strikes, but once he does, a rotation spot will await him. Horton posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 21 starts across three minor league levels in 2023, when he also struck out 11.9 batters per nine innings.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.