NEWSLETTER
Okay, so the first day of the Winter Meetings weren’t great (you just take your sweet time, Shohei, we’ll be ready when you are). But at least there is a fresh(ish) rumor directly involving the Chicago Cubs tonight. And that rumor touches on not one, not two, but THREE free agents: Matt Chapman, Rhys Hoskins, and Cody Bellinger.
Check it out via Jon Heyman at the New York Post.
The Cubs are looking at Matt Chapman and their own Cody Bellinger, but waiting on Ohtani first.
The Cubs also have interest in Rhys Hoskins since Pete Alonso probably isn’t going anywhere.
Okay, so a few things here before we talk about the players in the headline.
(1) I said the rumor was only newISH because there has been speculation about the Cubs and Matt Chapman/Rhys Hoskins before. Still, it’s mostly been loose, and the fact that this is coming out on Monday night of the Winter Meetings makes it all feel a little fresher/more current, especially on Matt Chapman.
(2) HOWEVER, you must consider the potential source of this information and who it serves. Notably, all three of the free agents in that rumor (Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Rhys Hoskins) are represented by Scott Boras. That’s quite the coincidence. Er, well, no, it isn’t. This sure seems like it’s coming from the agent side, and so you should adjust yourself/your reaction through that lens.
(3) And that goes triple for Bellinger, whom I really don’t see as a genuine Cubs target until later in the offseason (if and when his reportedly significant asking price drops).
Okay, all that aside, yeah, this is a fun rumor. I like the idea of adding Hoskins almost no matter what else happens on the market. He has a chance to be his own version of the Cody Bellinger deal last year. A little floor-raising play (with an upside) at a position of need, available for money and looking for a one-year deal. And he also makes sense for this roster, no matter what else happens at DH or third base.
Chapman, by contrast, has to be more of a focused fit. I already outlined his flaws in detail about a month ago, and that’s all still true (including my conclusion that he’s probably not the right fit for the Cubs at this time). He’ll also cost a lot more to sign than Hoskins, in both years and dollars. Don’t get me wrong, there is still stuff to like (and it’s not like there is NO contract price that wouldn’t make sense), but that’s where I landed. Again, we did a whole post on this, so go check it out. There’s caveats and upsides and all kinds of stuff.
The fact remains, however, that if the Cubs are able to land a DH (be it Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, or someone else), then Christopher Morel will be squeezed out if Matt Chapman is at third base. So that’s sort of a very different path for the Cubs. All of which is to say, I guess, I buy the Rhys Hoskins stuff a LITTLE more than the Chapman stuff. At least, for now.
Interesting rumor for Monday night. I hope tomorrow is a little more exciting.
