As the MLB offseason continues to move at a glacial pace, with big names like Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Alex Bregman still waiting on their next destination, there’s at least one key date on the horizon that could shake things up-January 15, when the international free agent signing period officially opens.
That’s when teams across the league will begin locking in deals with the next wave of international talent. And while the Chicago Cubs aren’t expected to make a major splash, they are linked to one intriguing name: 17-year-old Dominican infielder Yadier Muñoz, who checks in at No. 37 on Baseball America’s top 50 international prospects list.
Muñoz is the kind of player who doesn’t jump off the page physically-he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds-but scouts have taken notice of his high baseball IQ and polished approach at the plate. A right-handed hitter, he’s more about contact and gap-to-gap power than lighting up radar guns with raw pop. Defensively, he’s expected to stick in the middle infield, likely at either second base or shortstop, depending on how his frame and tools develop.
For a Cubs organization that’s thin on infield depth at the upper levels of its farm system, this is exactly the kind of move that makes sense. Their top infield prospect, Jefferson Rojas, is still projected to arrive in the majors around 2027. That leaves a bit of a gap between what’s coming and what’s currently on the roster.
Right now, Dansby Swanson is locked in at shortstop through 2029, but second base is a much murkier picture. Nico Hoerner is entering the final year of his contract and could hit free agency next offseason. On top of that, his name has already popped up in trade rumors this winter, adding another layer of uncertainty to the Cubs’ infield outlook.
Zooming out, the Cubs are facing a broader roster crossroads after 2026. Hoerner is just one of several key players with contracts expiring after the season.
That list includes Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Jameson Taillon, Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner, and catcher Carson Kelly, who has a mutual option. Lefty Matthew Boyd and reliever Caleb Thielbar are also on mutual options, while the team holds club options on Jacob Webb and Colin Rea for 2027.
In short, this team could look very different a year from now. That makes the international market-and prospects like Muñoz-all the more important.
The Cubs are working with a $6.68 million international bonus pool this cycle, which puts them in the middle tier among MLB clubs. It’s not a king’s ransom, but it’s enough to make some strategic bets on upside and projection.
And while Muñoz may not be the kind of prospect who grabs national headlines right away, he fits the mold of a smart, long-term investment. For a franchise that’s trying to build a sustainable core beyond its current window, these are the types of moves that can quietly pay off down the line.
The Cubs may not be headlining this year’s international signing period, but their approach reflects a front office thinking beyond the immediate headlines and toward the bigger picture-one where depth, development, and flexibility are going to matter more than ever.
