Cubs Rumors: Dansby Swanson expected to play fewer games in 2024
The Chicago Cubs blossomed after the All-Star break, only the finish the last couple weeks of the season like a wet fart. Chicago collapsed down the stretch for a number of reasons — injuries, inconsistency, plain bad luck — but the goal for 2024 will be to right the ship and build on the positive momentum of the last few months, rather than the embarrassment of the last couple weeks.
One potential solution could be resting Dansby Swanson more. The Cubs' All-Star played 147 games and put together a respectable overall stat line — .244/.328/.416 with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs — but his numbers dipped drastically after the All-Star break (.225/.306/.425).
Swanson has a reputation for playing a lot of games. He led the MLB with 160 games played in 2021 and 162 games played in 2022 with Atlanta. Still, the only undefeated figure in MLB history is Father Time. Swanson is far from old (29), but he's old enough to start changing his approach. According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the Cubs' front office is expected to suggest more rest days for Swanson next season.
Keeping their star fresh down the stretch could make the difference between a narrow postseason miss and a deep run. Chicago lured Swanson away from Atlanta with a pricey contract and aspirations of contention. The goal is for Swanson to reach the finish line, which could require more sacrifices in the early portions of the season.
Cubs Rumors: Jorge Soler reunion could assuage lineup concerns
Let's say the Cubs don't feel great about their chances at signing Shohei Ohtani or trading for another top-shelf hitter, but still desire an upgrade to the lineup. Well, Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has a stellar proposition for the front office: All-Star (and former Cub) Jorge Soler, fresh off the best season of his career with the Miami Marlins.
Soler has a player option for the 2024 season, which he is expected to decline in favor of a bigger paycheck. The 31-year-old made his first All-Star appearance this year and put together an impressive season at the plate, slashing .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and 75 RBIs in 137 games.
He's not Shohei Ohtani, but Soler is a strong presence in the middle of any lineup. He would add another layer of explosiveness to a Cubs team that generally keeps the ball inside the park. Chicago has a well-rounded group, but Soler addresses an area of need in the DH spot. The Cubs don't have a set-in-stone DH, so Soler wouldn't push any essential players out of the lineup.
Before long stints in Kansas City and Miami (with a brief pitstop in Atlanta), Soler began his career with the Cubs. In three seasons with the team, he slashed .258/.328/.434 with 27 home runs and 98 RBIs in 211 games. Those were the early days, before Soler developed into such a slugger, but the signs were always present. Both sides should embrace a reunion if the price is right.
The Marlins generally don't overspend and the Cubs are expected to operate aggressively in free agency. The stars could align.
Cubs Rumors: Chicago 'will have interest' in Juan Soto trade
Juan Soto enters the final year of his contract with the San Diego Padres shrouded in uncertainty about his future. The 24-year-old thrived in his first full season with the Padres, playing all 162 games and slashing .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a league-leading 132 walks. He is one of the most feared hitters in the sport.
The Padres' season, however, did not go to plan despite an expensive payroll and several marquee names on the roster. With Soto's contract entering arbitration and the Padres eager to clear cap space, Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation expects Soto to hit the trade market — and, per his sources, the Cubs will show "real interest" in the three-time All-Star.
Chicago could use another power hitter in the middle of the lineup. Few better options exist. Soto would immediately elevate the competitive floor and ceiling of a team that only barely missed the playoffs. It would require a sizable investment on the part of Chicago's front office, but Soto should have at least another decade of premium production left in the tank. He's a star the Cubs should feel comfortable trading for, then paying.
With up-and-comers like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alexander Canario making strong impressions, along with more established weapons like Dansby Swanson in place, the Cubs' lineup is in a good place moving forward. Soto would hike expectations up several notches and swiftly emerge as the crown jewel of a very competitive Chicago team.