3 Cubs roster holes and how the team should fill them
By Tim Boyle
2. Cubs roster hole at second base: Sign Carlos Correa, fill it with Nico Hoerner
Contrary to many of the Cubs rumors out there, they don’t really need a shortstop. Nico Hoerner was one of their best players last year. He should continue to grow into a productive big leaguer. The problem is there aren’t too many great second basemen out there in free agency or available in trades worth what it would cost. The shortstop market is much different.
To fill the hole at second base, the Cubs should simply slide Hoerner across the bag from shortstop and sign Carlos Correa.
Correa might not be everyone’s choice to play shortstop for the Cubs. If you’d rather have Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner, or even Dansby Swanson then that’s okay, too. Correa is just one of the options. His age, experience, and number of years the Cubs can have him around and producing are what might have him stand out a little more.
Second base alternatives are unappealing for what the Cubs should be looking to achieve. They’re rebuilding a little more slowly than some others. This isn’t a San Diego Padres plan where they go out and spend like drunken sailors and then come to regret it soon after. Chicago is looking for some sustainability.
Correa and Hoerner up the middle is a solid plan. With Bellinger as a rebound candidate, the Cubs are suddenly looking much better. How do they fill one last major hole on their roster over at first base?