Cubs are a bigger threat for a different Mets free agent than Pete Alonso

Rumors of the Chicago Cubs having interest in Pete Alonso as a trade target or free agent before he even got there are a tale as old as time. Their first base situation has been murky since Anthony Rizzo was traded. Michael Busch turned in a solid performance this past year, but a position change for him could always open the door for those past speculations about them having eyes for Alonso to return.

The steam on those rumors have been mostly absent this offseason, possibly in part because of Alonso’s down year. Don’t sleep on the Cubs snagging a different Mets free agent, though.

Previous reports have the Cubs searching for top of the rotation help. This seems to describe who Sean Manaea became this past year.

The Cubs are a serious threat to sign Sean Manaea away from the Mets

Chicago has already started a purge of their rotation. Kyle Hendricks has already officially joined the Los Angeles Angels, not that he is the top of the rotation arm he once was. The team still has a somewhat loaded rotation headlined by Shota Imanaga who exceeded expectations this past season. Jameson Taillon lived up to expectations he has had for a decade. Justin Steele continues to bud while Javier Assad is growing into one of those reliable starters as well.

Adding one more starter to the mix can give the Cubs five-strong in the rotation. Manaea isn’t in the top tier of free agent starters. A shorter deal with a fair AAV is likely what he’d get. Despite being in the Chicago market, the Cubs haven’t committed to any outrageously long or expensive contracts with the lone exception being Dansby Swanson.

The Cubs should have money in the future, and lots of it, to pay players. Multiple position players see their contracts end after the 2026 season. Taillon’s contract expires then as well.

Exactly what is this team planning? They spend money yet not to an extreme or nearly enough to be seen as a true World Series contender. It’s almost as if they’re trying to compete within the NL Central only and then get lucky in the playoffs. A big time bat or two could benefit them. So, too, could an arm like Manaea who won’t need to be on the books for more than about four years.

If not Manaea, the Cubs should be a match for fellow Mets free agents Luis Severino and even Jose Quintana—the latter as more of a flier on a one-year deal.