Cubs appear to be falling behind in pursuit of Ohtani
There wasn't much movement on the first official day of the MLB winter meetings in Nashville, unless you count the Cubs sliding out of the Shohei Ohtani race.
It's never over until it's over, but that was the buzz Monday, with the Los Angeles Dodgers remaining the favorite to sign the two-way star. Some believe Ohtani could still choose to remain with the Angels, while Toronto and the Cubs are thought to be more distant pursuers.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi didn't even mention the Cubs during a segment discussing Ohtani's next home. Many believe Ohtani, who won't pitch in 2024, could make a decision by the end of the week and his total contract value will exceed $500 million.
Will anything happen in the meantime or is Ohtani the first MLB domino waiting to fall?
If the Cubs move onto consolation prizes, they may focus on another Japanese free agent, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The right-hander is expected to land the largest contract for a pitcher leaving Japan. Yamamoto, 25, went 16-8 with a 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings for the Orix Buffaloes.
If the Dodgers land Ohtani, they'll likely drop our of the race for Yamamoto. But several deep-pocketed teams like the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox are expected to join the Cubs in pursuit.
The player most often mentioned with the Cubs this week is probably Tampa Bay pitcher Tyler Glasnow. The Rays are expected to move the 30-year-old right-hander, who has one year left on his contract worth $25 million.
Glasnow had Tommy John surgery and missed most of the 2022 season, then looked close to his old self while making a career-high 21 starts this season. Glasnow posted a 10-7 record and 3.53 ERA after making his return on May 27.
A pitcher on a one-year deal could be a nice fit for the Cubs, since they lost Marcus Stroman, who chose not to exercise an option year, and expect some of their homegrown pitchers to be moving into the rotation.
Cleveland's Shane Bieber has also been mentioned as a possible trade target, but there's less urgency. Bieber will make $10 million this season and won't be a free agent until 2025. The Cubs don't appear to be at the forefront of contenders for White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease, who began his career as a Cub draft pick.
If the Cubs miss out on Ohtani, they can focus on bringing back free agent Cody Bellinger. But that may not be as easy as it sounds. The New York Yankees figured to be the top competition, seeking a left-handed slugger built to hit in their ballpark.
But the Yankees appear to prefer a different left-handed hitter, Juan Soto, in a trade from San Diego. According to multiple reports, the two sides are not close to a deal.
This could be an issue for the Cubs because Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, may want to wait out the Yankees before agreeing to any sort of deal. Morosi mentioned Seattle as a potential suitor for Bellinger. The Mariners traded OF Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta on Sunday. The Angels will have money to spend if Ohtani chooses a new home.
So it's conceivable the Cubs could miss out on all of the above, which is why president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been trying to cover all bases, either with lower profile free agents or trade attempts at Toronto's Bo Bichette or the Mets' Pete Alonso.
If the Cubs are able to spend their free agent money, it makes Christopher Morel a valuable part of the lineup, since he tied Bellinger for the team home run lead this season and is under team control through 2029.
Hoyer mentioned Morel playing first base in the winter league, potentially filling a vacancy left by Bellinger. So far, Morel has played 71 innings at third base, 26 at shortstop and none at first base for Aguilas Cibaenas, according to baseball-reference.com.
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said on Marquee Network the Cubs have sent coaches to the Dominican Republic and have been working with Morel at both first and third base.
The Cubs signed two pitchers to minor league deals over the weekend - right-hander Ethan Roberts, who missed all of 2023 due to elbow surgery, and left-hander Edwin Escobar, who has spent the past seven years pitching in Japan.
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