As the Chicago Cubs reflect on their disappointing 2024 season, it's hard not to imagine how different things could have been with one more big bat.
There were a lot of things to like about the Cubs roster. The starting pitching was solid. The defense was excellent. There were even several above-average offensive seasons to take stock in.
However, no one on the Cubs hit more than 25 home runs, and the team as a whole hit just 170. That tied them for 20th place among the 30 Major League Baseball teams, and only one team that finished below them (Detroit Tigers) made it to the postseason.
The solution seems clear. For the Cubs to make it back to October, they need to add a bat that can pop some extra balls out of Wrigley Field. And one impending free agent stands out as a perfect solution.
Baltimore Orioles All-Star right fielder Anthony Santander is getting ready to hit free agency after a career-high 44 home run season. Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer specifically mentioned Santander as a fit for the Cubs in free agency on Thursday.
"The Cubs must rectify this situation during the winter," Rymer said, alluding to the team's lack of power. "If not by signing (Juan) Soto, then perhaps by going after Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman or Anthony Santander."
Santander, who turns 30 later this month, is a switch-hitter who can hold his own in right field thanks to his rocket arm. He may profile as a designated hitter due to the Cubs' overcrowded outfield, but his home run pop is just what teams look for in DH's these days.
Acquiring Santander won't come cheap for Chicago. He picked the perfect time to post a career year, and is projected to earn a five-year, $88.6 million contract by Spotrac. That initial number could always go higher if a bidding war ensues.
It's time for the Cubs to start winning some of those bidding wars. The playoffs are supposed to be the expectation in a big market like Chicago, and this team is only a couple tweaks away from getting there.
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