MLB Off-season Rumours: Cubs expecting quiet winter?
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Follow along for all the latest news and rumours from around the Major League Baseball off-season.
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Cubs not planning to swing big?
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on the Fair Territory podcast alongside Alanna Rizzo that the Chicago Cubs are not expected to be involved in any of the big free agents available this winter.
Rosenthal notes that the Cubs are trying to trade outfielder Cody Bellinger, who is heading into the second year of a three-year, $80 million deal that carries a player option for the final year. But beyond their return in a potential deal, they are not expected to make any major acquisitions this off-season.
Rosenthal also points out that the National League Central division is "eminently winnable" since the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds are also not expected to make moves at the top of the free agent market.
The Cubs' payroll stood as the ninth-highest in MLB at just over $213 million on Opening Day last season. According to Spotrac, they finished 2024 with a $229.5 million payroll, ranked seventh-highest in the league.
Kim nearing posting agreement?
Infielder Hyeseong Kim left for Los Angeles Friday afternoon to prepare for his move to MLB via posting, reports Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News.
Yoo adds that no posting date has yet been set, and Kim's Korea Baseball Organization team, the Kiwoom Heroes, said they are in talks with Kim's agency at CAA.
The 25-year-old slashed .326/.383/.458 with 11 homers and 75 RBI in 127 games with Kiwoom last year, his eighth professional season.
He is ranked as the No. 42 free agent on TSN's Top 75 list unveiled earlier this month. TSN Blue Jays Reporter and TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips described Kim as having a "a speed and defence profile."
Kim profiles as a utility player and has even less power than Ha-Seong Kim, who hit 30 bombs in his final KBO season but has maxed out at 17 here. Hyeseong’s KBO high is 11.
Interest in ex-Jays outfielder
A handful of clubs have expressed interest in outfielder Socrates Brito, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Brito played parts of four big league seasons before joining the KBO's Kia Tigers from 2022 on.
He slashed .310/.359/.516 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 140 games this past KBO season, building on impressive campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
Brito appeared in 17 games with the Jays during the 2019 season, hitting .077 with two RBI. He played parts of the 2015, 2016 and 2018 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks.