Who are the top players available this winter, and what will it take to get them? Here's our rundown of the 2023-24 free-agent class.

If the Chicago Cubs want to add a star player after falling one win short of the postseason, they have a variety of options to pursue in the coming weeks. A big-market team such as the Cubs should be involved when top players reach free agency or are available in a trade. Shohei Ohtani's hush-hush courtship continued Wednesday, the final day of the winter meetings. The Cubs remain among the teams in the mix for the superstar.

Cody Bellinger is back where he was one year ago: a free agent on the MLB market. This time, he’s going in with a lot more gravitas. Last offseason, Bellinger was looking for somewhere he could rejuvenate his career. After winning MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he recorded three straight lackadaisical seasons. But he found his bounce-back...

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly out on the bidding for Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to a report from The Athletic. Will Sammon reported earlier the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and the Mets, plus two more unidentified clubs are in on Yamamoto. “Yoshinobu Yamamoto has generated so much interest from both...

During the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville, reports surfaced about Christopher Morel’s name being brought up in trade talks for Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. Those rumors were quickly debunked. Newly minted Cubs manager Craig Counsell took to defending Morel’s production following the rumors. “He’s put himself in a position where he needs to be in the lineup,” Counsell said at...

Outfielder Jason Heyward and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their $9 million, one-year contract on Wednesday. The 34-year-old hit .269 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs with the Dodgers, who signed Heyward for the $720,000 minimum after the Chicago Cubs released Heyward from an $184 million, eight-year contract signed before the 2016 season. Chicago was responsible for the bulk of Heyward's $22 million salary.

Former Chicago Cubs Top Prospect Signs With AL Powerhouse The Chicago Cubs thought they had something with one of their prospects before his career got derailed. Now he's looking to get his career back on track with another organization. Author: Brad Wakai Publish date: Dec 6, 2023 12:13 PM EST In this story: Chicago Cubs International free agency is a good way for clubs to get some young talent into their organization and develop them using their own resources. The Chicago Cubs have done a good job of that over the years, finding some promising players and having them climb their farm system to either make their MLB roster or be used in trade packages. In 2015, they signed Brailyn Marquez out

Former Phillies Slugger Receiving Interest from Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in a signing former Philadelphia Phillies star slugger to a deal this offseason. Author: Jon Conahan Publish date: Dec 6, 2023 11:00 AM EST In this story: Philadelphia Phillies With the moves that the Philadelphia Phillies have to make within the next few months, one of them is certain. The front office has made it clear that Rhys Hoskins will not return. Earlier in the offseason, Dave Dombrowski said he spoke to Hoskins about the decision to have Bryce Harper play first base moving forward. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported the following: "Dave Dombrowski said he spoke with Rhys Hoskins to

Here's a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along. 1877 - William Hulbert is reelected president of the National League. The Hartford Dark Blues are dropped from the league. 1879 - The American College Baseball Association is founded in Springfield, MA.

“Yeah, we met with him,” the Los Angeles Dodgers manager said Tuesday at the winter meetings, making Roberts' club the first to publicly admit a sit-down with the unique two-way player likely to break baseball's salary record. Officials on other teams danced meticulously around the question as if choregraphed by Bob Fosse. Toronto general manager Ross Atkins, who sparked speculation of a possible meeting by holding his Monday media availability on Zoom rather than at the winter meetings hotel, had this to say: "Some meetings that occur, that don’t occur, I’m not going to get into the specifics of.”

Former Chicago Cubs catcher turned manager David Ross relived the magic of the 2016 World Series championship for a large crowd of avid fans Sunday at the Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum lecture series. “I've got stories for days,” Ross told former MLB pitcher Dan Plesac in their conversation on stage. “The buzz in the city when we won the World Series was palpable,” Ross said. Plesac asked if that's what makes catchers such good managers.

The Chicago Cubs have filled one of the top openings in their front office. The Cubs are promoting vice president of player development Jared Banner to assistant general manager, a source confirmed to the Tribune. Jeff Greenberg's departure last year for the Chicago Blackhawks — before he took over as the Detroit Tigers general manager in September — and Craig Breslow's hiring as the Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer last month had left the Cubs front office with one only assistant GM, Ehsan Bokhari, under president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins.

Lou Piniella's only World Series title as a manager came in 1990 with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Giants are believed to be among MLB teams still in the Shohei Ohtani bidding as negotiations reportedly wind down.

The Chicago Cubs have already been linked once this offseason to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow, but another report indicates that they are serious about potentially acquiring the strikeout machine.

Former outfielder Andre Dawson was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo in the Class of 2010. Recently, he requested a switch.