The Chicago Cubs are already going full-throttle into their offseason plans with several key free-agent targets and trade candidates currently being linked to the team at the present moment. We're here to dissect some of that with our Cubs Rumors Roundup for the weekend ending 11/8.
Alex Gordon, Jason Heyward Targeted By The Cubs
The Chicago Cubs' search for an impact bat in the outfield has connected them to the top two names on the current free-agent market -- Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward.
Per Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago, "the top corner outfielders that the Cubs have interest in are Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward. Gordon will turn 32 in February, and he’s a four-time Gold Glove winning left fielder. Heyward will turn 27 in August. Like Gordon, Heyward is strong defensively, with two Gold Gloves to his name. Both players have rockets for arms."
Gordon has six days left to accept or decline a one-year, $15.8 qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals. He declined his player option days after Kansas City closed out the 2015 World Series.
Gordon has a similar slash line to St. Louis Cardinals OF Jason Heyward, except Hayward provides more future home run potential and a more consistent base-stealing threat. Both players will likely command five-year deals on the free market.
Is Starlin Castro The Cubs' Preferred Trade Chip?
The Cubs have a conundrum to deal with in the middle infield, with Javier Baez and Starlin Castro both vying for the team's second baseman slot next to uber-prospect Addison Russell.
According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Castro will likely be the team's preferred trade chip going forward.
Per Rosenthal, Castro "yielded to Addison Russell at short; now he must yield to Javier Baez at second. The good news for the Cubs: Castro rebuilt his value by hitting well and adapting to second base in the final two months."
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