Don't Sleep On The Cubs Pursuing Pete Alonso Just Yet

Before the Chicago Cubs could reach an agreement with free agent Cody Bellinger, no one was really sure what to expect. They seemed to be putting a dangerous amount of stock in the youth and prospects coming through the system. But after Bellinger signed, the narrative changed drastically.

That's a credit to what Bellinger brings to the table. But it also reflects how close the Cubs were to feeling like a real threat. Only a couple of holes on the roster remain to be adequately filled, but that can be found in-house easily.

The injury to Jameson Taillon stings, but the Cubs have plenty of help that can suffice in the meantime. Drew Smyly and Hayden Wesneski are familiar with starting and coming out of the bullpen and can keep the Cubs afloat for a month. Of course, signing an available free agent like Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell would put the rotation over the top. In the long run, though, the Cubs don't necessarily need to spend this money. (We can argue big-money markets should spend all day, but I'm just being realistic with who's paying the money.)

Third base remains a question. His bat needs to stay in the lineup, but the Christopher Morel experiment defensively has not gone well. Morel, Nick Madrigal, and Patrick Wisdom will be the three rostered to start the season with third base responsibilities. However, do not rule out seeing prospect Matt Shaw step up before the season's end.

First Base Is Michael Busch's To Lose

This brings us to first base, but not many questions remain. The Cubs traded with the Los Angeles Dodgers to acquire Michael Busch and insert him into the lineup. There has not been an everyday first baseman for the home team at Wrigley Field since Anthony Rizzo was traded in 2021. The Cubs are hoping Busch is that for them.

Busch played first base in college, but that was the last time he was focused on that primarily. Although developing back into that craft, the Cubs are very public about their intentions for him to be the first baseman of the future. He's been up to the challenge thus far, but there is a lot of pressure entering into his rookie season.

Busch has Cody Bellinger and Patrick Wisdom to back him up should things go array, but they aren't the only option. There is not just one path to get to this point, but the Cubs could still very much be the long-term landing spot for Pete Alonso.

Pete Alonso To The Cubs Is Still A Possibility

Since before the 2023 deadline, we have heard about the possibility of New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso being moved. His contract with the Mets expires at the end of 2024, and they have yet to agree to an extension. The Mets have said they want Alonso to be a Met for life, but it's borderline unlikely at this point.

The Cubs have been at the top of the rumor mill for Alonso with their obvious need at first base. The volume turned down significantly after the trade for Michael Busch and the signing of Cody Bellinger. But if you get into the weeds of those deals, you realize Alonso is still a real option for them.

Bellinger's deal is for three years, but he has an opt-out after every season. So if he feels there's a chance he can make more than $30 million per year elsewhere, he'll take it. This opens the door for the Cubs' top prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong, to claim center field as his own. It also leaves the Cubs without a sustainable backup plan for Busch at first base.

Alonso is a candidate for a trade or a signing, even with how the roster is constructed. Busch is a better third base option defensively than Christopher Morel. He could take third, with an incoming Alonso taking first. Adding Alonso's bat to the lineup would be an immediate upgrade, regardless of how the dominos fall around him. If the Mets make him available, don't count the Cubs out of making a move. And if he's a free agent, the Cubs will be in talks with him about a deal.