DALLAS \u2014 On the last day of winter meetings, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer avoided making promises about the Cubs\u2019 ongoing trade talks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have done this too long,\u201d Hoyer said Wednesday. \u201cI always say, it\u2019s not just about getting in the end zone. It\u2019s about, literally, you have to kick the extra point before you feel like that six [points] is actually real. \u2026 I never feel comfortable as you\u2019re negotiating. I don\u2019t ever get to a place where you feel like you have a deal. There\u2019s competition, there\u2019s medical processes, there\u2019s so many things that go into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cubs went into the winter meetings Monday with plenty of feelers out to potential trade partners. And three days of baseball executives cloistered in Dallas helped expedite the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve moved the ball down the field on a bunch of things and had a bunch of good conversations,\u201d Hoyer said, continuing the football metaphor. \u201cWhere these meetings really help is, it\u2019s just three days, it\u2019s condensed, people get back to you quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like a lot of times when you start talking about trades or different things when you\u2019re not here early in the off season, it could be like a week. You throw a proposal out, or a concept, and like a week later you hear back. And when you\u2019re here, it\u2019s more in the hours, usually. People are in the room together, they\u2019re doing stuff. There\u2019s a sense of alacrity.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Hoyer predicted on Monday, the Cubs used the week to lay the groundwork for trades that they hope to finalize after leaving Dallas. They also neared an agreement to sign veteran catcher Carson Kelly. But the Cubs would need to clear a spot on their 40-man roster, with the selection of infielder Gage Workman from the Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft Wednesday bringing it to capacity,<\/b> before making roster additions.<\/p>\n
Some teams have balked at the Cubs\u2019 high starting point in trade talks about second baseman Nico Hoerner, per league sources. They could still work toward a deal, but the Cubs are focused on improving their team for next year. With that goal in mind, it doesn\u2019t make sense for them to send out a player who consistently contributes four wins above replacement for a prospect package that would only strengthen the Cubs\u2019 future outlook and hamstring them in 2025.<\/p>\n
Hoerner also underwent forearm surgery in October. And though he isn\u2019t expected to miss significant time, and his reputation for a strong work ethic has helped combat concerns for some, there will be more clarity once he returns to the field. The upside of the surgery is that, as long as Hoerner\u2019s recovery and rehab go smoothly, it maintains his ability to play high-level shortstop if needed at the higher profile position.<\/p>\n
The trade conversations that generated more traction in reports out of the winter meetings this week revolve around the Cubs\u2019 crowded outfield. Could Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker become the impact bat the Cubs need to elevate their offense? Will they move outfielder Cody Bellinger, who has another opt-out in his contract after the season, adding a bit of a wrinkle to the assessment of his trade value?<\/p>\n
Hoyer at least made one thing clear after agent Joel Wolfe said Cubs right fielder\/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki could be open to waiving his full no-trade clause in the right circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, he\u2019s a really good player,\u201d Hoyer said. \u201cI expect him to be a Cub.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cubs have also submitted an initial presentation for 23-year-old right-handed hurler Roki Saski, who was posted to MLB teams on Monday. Wolfe, who also represents Sasaki, said they hope to begin meeting with teams next week.<\/p>\n
Hoyer described the current roster as \u201ca great foundation,\u201d but he\u2019s motivated to keep pushing for improvement. Between the Cubs\u2019 pursuit of Sasaki and continued trade negotiations, the baseball operations department still has a busy schedule ahead.<\/p>\n
Could a trade be on the horizon? Hoyer isn\u2019t taking this week\u2019s progress as a surefire sign.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen so many deals fall apart in the 2-yard line,\u201d he said, \u201cthat I don\u2019t believe in optimism on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
How could Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker fit into the Cubs\u2019 plans?<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Maddie Lee<\/p>\n
You know why he\u2019s worth it? Because someone says he is.<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Rick Morrissey<\/p>\n
Joel Wolfe, Sasaki\u2019s agent, said they hope to begin meeting with teams next week.<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Maddie Lee<\/p>\n
The winter meetings wrapped up Wednesday in Dallas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n