MLB free agency rumors: Cubs among the favorites for Carlos Correa

One team who is very much in the mix to sign free agent Carlos Correa is the Chicago Cubs.

With MLB free agency reopening, the Chicago Cubs are among the favorites to land Houston Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa this offseason.

Jon Paul Morosi of the MLB Network reports, “The Cubs were among the teams that had the heaviest dialogue with Correa’s camp in the hours before the lockout began in early December, and there is every reason to believe those conversations will resume.”

While the Cubs were not seen initially as a major player in the Correa sweepstakes, increased payroll flexibility gives them an opportunity to pay the big bucks to an undeniable superstar like the Astros shortstop. After unloading players from the previous core in Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Chicago is in a far better spot financially to spend big this winter if they want to.

With Jason Heyward playing on a moveable contract, the only player on the Cubs’ books beyond the 2023 campaign is recently acquired starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Perhaps Correa could be the star infielder the Cubs are in dire need of after blowing the whole thing up last summer?

Carlos Correa free agency rumors: Chicago Cubs are a potential landing spot

While there is a decent chance Correa returns to Houston, there does not appear to be as many teams in the market to sign him as once suggested. The lowly Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in him, but teams like the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers no longer feel like viable landing spots for him. It could come down to the Astros, the Cubs or even the New York Yankees.

Ultimately, Correa and Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman are the two biggest names yet to put pen to paper. Once either of these players inks a new deal, one should anticipate the floodgates to open up in the second wave of MLB free agency. It may be hard to see a ton of movement this late into the offseason, but the Cubs have a real shot at landing Correa it seems.

If Correa does go to the Cubs, it means Chicago will not be embarking on as thorough of a rebuild.