The Chicago Cubs are remaining in the picture on some prominent free agent hitters, even if they haven't shown any interest in bringing back Kyle Tucker.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Cubs are more interested in finding a third baseman.
Alex Bregman, a free agent from the Boston Red Sox, would fit that spot.
So too would Bo Bichette, the shortstop from the Blue Jays who is expected to be moved off that position sooner rather than later.
The Athletic's latest report indicates that the Cubs are in on both guys, adding that the Red Sox are, too.
"Adding either player would create the potential for the Cubs to trade second baseman Nico Hoerner and move Matt Shaw from third to second," The Athletic writes. "The Cubs also could keep Hoerner and make Shaw a superutility player, an alignment that would give them a better chance to win unless they dealt Hoerner for a quality starting pitcher."
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It seems a number of teams want to move Bichette to second base, not third base, but it's not totally clear what the player himself might prefer.
The Hoerner situation also complicates matters for the Cubs.
"A better idea for the Cubs might be to extend Hoerner, who is coming off his best season and beloved in their clubhouse," The Athletic writes. "The team has only $39 million committed for 2027 – $28 million for shortstop Dansby Swanson, $6 million for reliever Phil Maton, the rest in potential buyouts."
The Cubs could also just get outbid for Bregman and Bichette by other teams, anyway. There are a lot of directions this free agent period could go before it's over.
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