Cubs star shortstop interest doesn’t stop with Carlos Correa this offseason

The Chicago Cubs have previously been connected to Carlos Correa, but they have reported interest in another shortstop as well.

The Chicago Cubs need to improve upon their 74-88 campaign of last year and make some significant additions this offseason to get back on track. Lucky for them, there are any number of game-changing free agents available this winter with seismic changes to come across MLB depending on where players sign.

Already, the Cubs have been connected to another midwest staple, Carlos Correa. Correa is favored by some to head back to the Minnesota Twins this offseason, but one insider suggested the Cubs were the favorite to land him.

But Correa is not their top priority, according to new information reported by Bob Nightengale. That would be Xander Bogaerts, incumbently of the Boston Red Sox.

"“The Chicago Cubs, who have boldly said they plan to build a contender, significantly raising their payroll, have Bogaerts as their top priority. Yet they are also exploring the market for Correa. The Cubs jumped into the Correa sweepstakes late in February before he signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, and opted out after the season.”"

Cubs appear poised to add a start shortstop, just a matter of who it is

The Cubs have been directly linked to now two of the star shortstops available in free agency. While they could also make attempts at Trea Turner, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be the front-runners there (with the San Diego Padres surprisingly coming forth as contenders as well according to Nightengale).

So, if Chicago is to add a star shortstop, which it seems as though they’re determined to do, it’s likely to be Correa or Bogaerts.

The trouble is that according to Nightengale, Bogaerts has, “about nine teams,” all vying for his services. Chicago, being a legacy team in a large market, might have some edge over smaller-market teams in the running, but it’s hard to see Chicago making a case given some questions about how they’ll go from a languishing team to a competitor, even if they add a star like Bogaerts.

The Red Sox and Cubs have similar fanbases, playing in relic stadiums with plenty of heritage and history behind the franchises. In that regard, Chicago would feel like home for Bogaerts.

The Winter Meetings are starting, and chaos is sure to ensue. Where Xander ends up is one of the major questions.