The Chicago Cubs will have plenty of new faces on their 2023 squad, but could any former North Siders return to Wrigley next season?
The Cubs continue to replenish the farm system, which has been their primary goal since Jed Hoyer took over to lead baseball operations. Chicago’s 2016 World Series team is in the distant past at this point, with very few players remaining from what most fans can now confidently say were the glory days.
Chicago avoided losing 100 games for just the fourth time in franchise history, but at the same time they remain far from postseason contention, and were among the first teams eliminated from that conversation. This team, as currently constructed, will not be the next great Cubs squad.
But could some familiar faces be on the way back to the North Side to help?
Cubs rumors: Could Jose Quintana return this offseason?
Jose Quintana had a brutal first stint on the north side of Chicago, as he was dealt in one of the worst crosstown trades in recent memory. The Cubs gave up an arm and a leg for Quintana, and he did not reward them in the slightest.
Since then, Quintana’s career path has been a complicated one. He took a turn for the worst, but signed on as a reclamation project in Pittsburgh, where he excelled. Last year, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline and proved to be an exceptional part of their starting rotation in a pennant chase. This offseason, he’s in line to get paid.
The Cubs lack rotation depth, as there isn’t much hope behind Jason Steele and Marcus Stroman. Quintana, who should be well within Jed Hoyer’s price range, would make for a reliable veteran arm David Ross could slot in the top half of his rotation in 2023. He can likely be had on a short-term contract, as well.
Quintana finished his 2022 season with a 2.93 ERA and 1.213 WHIP — easily his best campaign since his lone All-Star appearance in 2016 with the Chicago White Sox. If he’s open to a return to the Windy City, the Cubs should pounce.
Cubs rumors: Could Austin Romine provide catching depth?
Alright, you caught me. Austin Romine might not necessarily have the same flair as the other names on this list, but he could fill a major need for the Cubs this offseason.
Chicago seems unlikely to bring back Willson Contreras, at least at his current asking price. They’ve had multiple seasons to sign Contreras long term, and it simply hasn’t worked out.
With that in mind, who would replace Contreras behind the dish? There should be more than one answer to that question. If Contreras does leave, expect the Cubs to go with a by-committee approach. They signed Yan Gomes last offseason with the expectation that Contreras would leave. Gomes was their Contreras insurance, and they’ll use it wisely. But behind Gomes, there lacks much of a veteran presence. This is where Romine would come in.
Romine only played 28 games with the Cubs in 2021 and slashed a pedestrian .217/.242/.300, but he’s solid enough defensively to provide some catching depth behind Gomes. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if Chicago signs Romine to a cheap one-year deal with a spring training invite attached. It’s a low-risk, high-reward decision for a team that is in a good position to take a few flyers.
Cubs rumors: Could Aroldis Chapman return?
The Cubs bullpen ranked 22nd in all of baseball last season in reliever ERA, so it’s safe to say they need some upgrades. While the youngsters absolutely need to step up, signing a few established veterans will only help matters in the long run.
Cubbies Crib’s Jake Misener reflected upon this in a recent article outlining the Cubs offseason needs:
"“The organizational pitching depth is dramatically improved over year’s past, but introducing some guys who’ve been in those big spots and know what it’s like to grind out an entire 162-game season while competing for a postseason spot will only help those young guys develop and take the next step.”"
Chicago traded some top prospect capital — including Gleyber Torres — to aid their 2016 World Series run. It was worth the asking price, in part because Chapman pitched extremely well with the Cubs. In 28 regular-season appearances, Chapman had a 1.01 ERA.
A lot has happened since then, and Chapman is not the same pitcher. Just last season he fell apart for the Yankees and lost his closer role. Assuming the Cubs don’t ask him to take on that sort of role regularly, though, there’s little reason he can’t still contribute to a top-tier bullpen. This is especially true if Chicago’s coaching staff can help him restore his top-notch velocity to go along with what, at times, can be some lethal breaking stuff.
Signing Chapman is worth a shot. At best, he earns a spot in the back end of the bullpen.