{"id":130038,"date":"2025-12-13T14:57:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T14:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=130038"},"modified":"2025-12-13T14:57:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T14:57:50","slug":"the-almost-signed-list-two-more-blockbuster-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=130038","title":{"rendered":"The Almost-Signed List: Two More Blockbuster Targets."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

1. Cody Bellinger (OF\/1B)<\/h3>\n

Cody Bellinger is the most obvious \u201calmost-signed\u201d player, representing a ghost of a successful past the Cubs were unable to secure for the long term.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Status<\/strong><\/td>\nDetails<\/strong><\/td>\nWhy the Cubs Almost Got Him<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Current Status<\/strong><\/td>\nFree Agent (after opting out of the final year of his deal with the Yankees).<\/td>\nThe Cubs signed him to a one-year, opt-out deal in 2024<\/strong> and helped him resurrect his career, winning NL Comeback Player of the Year.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Near-Miss<\/strong><\/td>\nAfter his successful 2024 season, the Cubs were believed to be the frontrunners to re-sign him. He ultimately went to the Yankees on another short-term deal.<\/td>\nThey failed to finalize the long-term deal his agent (Scott Boras) was seeking, letting him walk despite a mutual desire for a reunion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2026 Rumor<\/strong><\/td>\nThough the Yankees are the favorites, the Cubs are still vaguely linked<\/strong> as a team that could swoop in, especially if they lose out on other offensive targets.<\/td>\nBringing him back would be a massive PR win and immediately upgrade the defense and offense.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Bellinger represents the team\u2019s greatest success story of the last two years, but his failure to sign a long-term deal with the Cubs continues to symbolize the front office\u2019s aversion to massive free-agent contracts.<\/p>\n

2. Kyle Schwarber (DH\/OF)<\/h3>\n

Kyle Schwarber is the fan-favorite power hitter who represents the type of raw, prodigious slugger the Cubs\u2019 current lineup desperately lacks.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Status<\/strong><\/td>\nDetails<\/strong><\/td>\nWhy the Cubs Almost Got Him<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Current Status<\/strong><\/td>\nFree Agent (after opting out of his deal with the Phillies).<\/td>\nSchwarber\u2019s power is exactly what the Cubs need. He is coming off a monster 56-HR season in 2025.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Near-Miss<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Cubs were heavily rumored to be in the mix to sign Schwarber last winter before he re-signed with the Phillies for five years.<\/td>\nThe Cubs declined to match the Phillies\u2019 offer, prioritizing the development of younger players, a decision that led to severe power struggles in the lineup.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2026 Rumor<\/strong><\/td>\nHe is the perfect DH\/First Base<\/strong> solution. Though he is expected to return to the Phillies, the Cubs are reportedly the NL Central rival<\/strong> most likely to make a surprise, massive offer.<\/td>\nSigning the former World Series hero would inject instant nostalgia, power, and clubhouse energy back into Wrigley Field.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Schwarber is the pure, unadulterated power the Cubs have lacked since 2020. His potential return symbolizes the Cubs finally committing to offense over development.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1. Cody Bellinger (OF\/1B) Cody Bellinger is the most obvious \u201calmost-signed\u201d player, representing a ghost of a successful past the Cubs were unable to secure for the long term. StatusDetailsWhy the Cubs Almost Got HimCurrent StatusFree Agent (after opting out of the final year of his deal with the Yankees).The Cubs signed him to a \u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":130039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Almost-Signed List: Two More Blockbuster Targets. - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=130038\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Almost-Signed List: Two More Blockbuster Targets. - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"1. 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