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Oh baby! The free agent market is buzzing with news of Trea Turner’s reported 11-year deal for $300 million with the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s not much of a surprise that Turner ended up with the Phillies, but 11 years? Not many in the game saw that long of a contract coming.
As for the Cubs, there was really one major connection to Turner. Late in the season I think it was David Kaplan, who said they liked Turner and left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon. And while the Cubs have been said to be in on the top-four (now three) free agent shortstops, we didn’t see much about the Cubs being “in” on Turner.
Speaking of the other shortstops, catch up on the latest about the Cubs and Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson here.
Cubs Interest in Corey Kluber
Back in November, Chicago baseball reporter Bruce Levine wrote about the Cubs interest in 36-year-old starting pitcher Corey Kluber. The right-hander made 31 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022, ending the season with a 4.34 ERA in 164 innings.
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Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma brought up the interest in Kluber again on Sunday.
Via The Athletic.
The Cubs have checked in on two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, who is close friends with Cubs catcher Yan Gomes and is more open-minded about Chicago after his recent free-agent decisions prioritized staying on the East Coast. Following the injuries that wiped out almost all of his 2019 and 2020 seasons, Kluber has made 47 starts (4.17 ERA) across the last two years with the Rays and New York Yankees. Kluber could also be an asset for an organization that’s trying to help a large group of young pitchers take the next steps in their careers.
Kluber, winner of the 2014 and 2017 Cy Young awards in the American League, probably deserved to have better numbers with the Rays in 2022 based on his expected stats. Nevertheless, he stayed healthy for an entire season, which was good to see after he missed time because of shoulder issues in 2021 with the Yankees.
The Cubs aren’t shopping at the top of the free agent pitching market, so Kluber does fit what they probably have in mind. At this point the Cubs may want to sign one older starter to a short-term, 2 or 3 three year deal and possibly add another mid-tier starter on a 3-4 year contract. The Cubs have been linked to Jameson Taillon, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker in recent weeks.
Kodai Senga was connected to the Cubs early on in free agency, but there hasn’t been much talk about him and the Cubs lately.
On Monday, MLB insider Jon Morosi mentioned a handful of teams that are still showing interest in Senga. Once again, the Cubs nowhere to be found.
A report out of Japan says Senga is headed back to the United States and could sign with a team this week.
Cubs Continued Interest in Christian Vázquez
Ken Rosenthal wrote about free agent catcher Christian Vázquez, who has a big market, including the Cubs.
Via The Athletic.
The market for free-agent catcher Christian Vázquez includes the Cubs, Cardinals, Padres, Guardians and Twins. The Astros also have interest in retaining Vázquez, but in more of a job share with Martín Maldonado.
Like Kluber, Vázquez has been linked to the Cubs before by a couple different sources. Bob Nightenagle reported the Cubs have been interested in him and The Athletic Cubs reporters were the first to say the team was looking at Vázquez.
Rosenthal adds that Vázquez is seeking a three-year contract.
More offseason news and rumors on the Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast.
