Before Major League Baseball went into a lockout for 99 days, the Chicago Cubs had an interest in top free agent shortstop Carlos Correa. After the lockout ended, it was reported that they were listed as one of the favorites to sign Correa but didn't want to offer him $300M.
The current situation at shortstop for the Cubs is Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal who may play some shortstop and will play second base, and newly signed Andrelton Simmons, who was signed to a 1-year deal worth $4 million.
Hoerner slashed .302/.382/.369/.751 (14.7K% and 10.0 BB%) BABIP of .360 and according to Fangraphs, Hoerner only had 4 defensive runs saved last year.
Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in Major League Baseball, and the Cubs didn't sign him for his bat, .223/.283/.274/.558 and his BABIP was .256. On the defensive side, Simmons was 2nd in defensive runs saved with 15.
The Cubs need to replace Javier Baez somehow, and Hoerner and Simmons aren't going to cut it. Jed Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins have money to spend, and they should spend it on a free agent shortstop, out of the remaining free agent shortstops, there is only one true option.
Trevor Story
If not Correa, then Trevor Story. Story is 29-years old, which is older than Correa who is 27, but he'd be cheaper. With that money they'd have to give Correa, Hawkins can go out and sign Kris Bryant, and Kyle Schwarber. He slashed .251/.329/.471/.800 with 595 plate appearances, his BABIP was .293, and his K% 23.4 and BB% 8.9. He hit 24 home runs, 75 runs batted in, and his WAR was 3.5 in 2021. On the defensive side of things for Story, his fielding percentage was .979, and he had 9 defensive runs saved. Prior to the lockout in December, this little piece of info was thrown out by Chris Henderson, who has close relationships around MLB.Hoyer and Hawkins give Story a blank check and let him fill it out to come to be the next shortstop of the Chicago Cubs.
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