By james art It’s only a matter of time before the Chicago Cubs reveal their spending plan to the baseball world.
With an important offseason for the future of this franchise, the Cubs should spend with some of their best.
While spending money is often the best way to go, Chicago also has a chance to trade prospects this winter and improve its roster.
No matter what they do, they must take the necessary steps to begin competing with the best teams in Major League Baseball.
Everyone knows all the top targets on the market as the Cubs have been linked to them numerous times. In addition to those guys, Chicago will have the opportunity to sign under-the-radar guys or players coming back from injuries.
Among the players who fit that description is Shane Bieber, a former Cy Young Award winner.
Bieber, once considered one of the best pitchers in the league, has dealt with several setbacks over the past few campaigns.
He underwent Tommy John surgery at the start of the year, which caused him to miss almost the entire season.
While that’s rightfully concerning, his price may be so low that the Cubs are willing to see him.
Jim Bowden of Athletic recently predicted his contract, writing that it will be a low base salary with incentives.
“Shane Bieber would probably be my top signing this offseason because of his upside. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, he finished fourth in the voting in 2019 and seventh in 2022. He is a two-time All-Star and former Gold Glove winner. He made just two starts this year before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which will keep him out until at least next summer as a second-half pitcher.”
If Bieber is willing to sign for a low base salary loaded with incentives, that would be the perfect outcome for Chicago.
Besides, there won’t be much risk. If those incentives were 150.0 innings and, say, 150 strikeouts, he’d either be worth the money he’d make in those incentives, or they wouldn’t be spending much on him.
The right-hander seems to have been forgotten. Maybe that’s fair because of his lack of availability lately, but it’s important for the Cubs to remember the arm he once was.
If there’s any hope of him getting back to it, Chicago needs to look at him.