Cubs: 3 free agents to sign and 1 to avoid

Sep 24, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (16) celebrates with first baseman Frank Schwindel (18) after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of game 2 of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Steven Matz. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Chicago Cubs had a fire sale at the trade deadline but, as they try to rebuild for the 2022 MLB season, which free agents should be in their crosshairs?

After the Chicago Cubs lost 20 more games than they won last season, finished fourth in the NL Central and sent away Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant, among others, at the trade deadline, what the organization plans to do in free agency heading into the 2022 season will be truly fascinating.

There are multiple avenues through which the Cubs could go in free agency. They have plenty of money to spend if they want to quickly expedite a rebuilding process right away. On the other hand, they could look to try and sign shorter contracts to see what they’re able to find on the market and what they can get out of value decisions.

We don’t yet know which direction Chicago will choose but, looking at what we do know, let’s take a look at the free agency market and three players the Cubs should be targeting in addition to one that the club should avoid.

Cubs free agent to target: Steven Matz, SP

The most obvious need for the Cubbies in free agency is to bolster their starting pitching. Bolster is probably not even the right word as, frankly, Chicago needs to actually build a pitching staff given that Kyle Hendricks and newly acquired Wade Miley are the only two starters currently on the roster as of mid-November.

Building a pitching staff can be an art for an MLB front office and that means signing the right players to contribute. One player who could fit that bill is Steven Matz.

Fresh off his lone season with the Toronto Blue Jays, Matz delivered the best full-season performance of his career since his second year in the league. He finished the 2021 campaign starting 29 games for the Jays, posting a 14-7 record with a 3.82 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.

Matz isn’t going to be competing for an NL Cy Young should he sign with the Cubs in free agency but the 30-year-old would be a solid cog in the rotation alongside Hendricks and Miley. Given the team’s current utter lack of arms as it pertains to starters right now, it would make sense to add a player of his ilk.

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