Cubs’ Infield Options: 5 Free Agents to Help Cubs Return to…

With the World Series having already begun, MLB free agency is getting closer and closer by the day.

One team that will certainly be active in the free agent market and looking to improve its team and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020 is the Chicago Cubs. Here are five potential targets for the Cubs to go out and sign.

Corbin Burnes 

The Chicago Cubs front office has made it known that its main priority this offseason is to sign a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and there is no better option than Burnes.

Coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Orioles in which he posted a 15-9 record and a 2.92 ERA, Burnes will be the most sought-after free agent pitcher on the market. Burnes signing with the Cubs would reunite him with his former manager in Milwaukee, Craig Counsell.

Signing Burnes would give the Chicago rotation a right-handed ace starting pitcher to go along with its two aces from the left side in Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga.

Anthony Santander

Santander was teammates with Burnes in 2024, and we know that the Orioles have never been known to give out big-money contracts in free agency, which means Santander will be one of the biggest names on the offensive side of the free agent market.

2024 was a career season for Santander, as he hit a career-high 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs. Chicago could certainly use a bat like this in its lineup to provide a little more power. The Cubs ranked 20th in MLB in home runs hit.

Santander sliding into the Cubs lineup all rides on the decision of centerfielder Cody Bellinger opting out of his contract. If Bellinger were to opt in, Chicago would not have room in its lineup to fit in Santander. Missing out on a big bat like Santander could be costly for Chicago.

Max Fried 

If the Cubs were to swing and miss on getting Burnes to be the ace of their rotation, Max Fried would be an excellent second choice.

Fried is a hard-throwing left-hander who would mix in well with Chicago’s other two left-handers Steele and Imanaga. While having three left-handers would seem like too many, the Cubs would certainly make it work to add an arm like Fried.

Fried (11-10, 3.25 ERA) posted his worst ERA since the 2019 season (4.02) but he has never had back-to-back bad seasons in his career. The Cubs will have to fend off the likes of the Braves, Dodgers and Mets to be able to sign Fried.

Tanner Scott 

Scott is a left-handed reliever who was one of the best relief pitchers in all of baseball last season. Scott posted a 1.75 ERA, which was fifth best for qualified relievers. Scott pitched for the Marlins and Padres in 2024.

Much like Burnes and Fried would do for Chicago’s starting rotation, Scott would add velocity from the left side to a Cubs bullpen that desperately needs that. Scott’s fastball averages 97.0, putting him in the 91st percentile.

Scott would immediately add more consistency to a Cubs bullpen that finished 12th in bullpen ERA in 2024.

Carlos Estevez

Estevez was a midseason acquisition by the Phillies and served as their closer throughout the second half of the season as well as in the postseason.

Estevez collected 26 saves on the season and posted a career-best 2.45 ERA, making him one of the top closers on the market.

Estevez could come in and immediately serve as the Cubs closer and look to fix the issue of Chicago converting just 38 of its 64 save opportunities last season.

While signing all five of these players isn’t realistic, the Cubs certainly have the money and the ability to go out and sign at least two of the five players here and get back to the playoffs..