The Chicago Cubs will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch out for this winter.
Chicago has made some noise lately and now is just 3 1/2 games out of a National League Wild Card spot. The playoffs still are unlikely right now, but the Cubs could end up surprising people.
No matter what happens down the stretch, the Cubs are expected to be active this winter in free agency. Chicago didn't hire manager Craig Counsell to a massive contract to sit around and rebuild.
Chicago likely will look to make a splash and FanSided's Thomas Erbe called the Cubs a "dark horse" option for New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto.
"The Chicago Cubs took the league's best manager away from the Milwaukee Brewers and were expected to cruise through a down-year in the National League Central," Erbe said. "Instead, the Brewers are dominating the division, and the Cubs are barely hanging around .500. What happened?
"The Cubs are in the top ten in spending but have not sniffed the playoffs since the COVID-shortened 2020. Their two claims to superstardom are outfielder Cody Bellinger and shortstop Dansby Swanson. Everyone else is homegrown or them taking a flyer, much like a small-market team."
Chicago has the means to afford Soto and certainly would be a much better team with him. The Cubs could use a major splash in the middle of the order and likely will at least be in the sweepstakes for Soto this winter.
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