3 burning questions for the Chicago Cubs to answer in the offseason
By Kevin Henry
2. What will the Cubs do at shortstop?
When discussing which teams could be actively chasing one of the big names expected to be available in this offseason’s shortstop market, the Cubs are at or near the top of that list.
There have already been connections made between Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner and the Cubs for the 2023 season, and the timing could be perfect with Turner’s one-year, $22 million deal with Los Angeles expiring at the end of the season.
Turner joins a shortstop class that could include Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson as the biggest names. Any would be a fit at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs have made clear that they will spend to acquire the right talent.
If the Cubs make a splash at shortstop, Nico Hoerner could slide over to second base, a move Hoyer acknowledged as a possibility in some of his postseason remarks.
“We have total confidence in Nico’s ability to play shortstop, and he proved that this year,” Hoyer said. “But the game is about to trend more athletic. Getting rid of the shift will force that; some of the baserunning rules will force that.”
Who will be the Cubs shortstop in 2023? That’s a burning question that Cubs fans are ready to have answered.