Cubs Have Discussed Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts with Scott Boras

I know it might seem like I’m just doing this for all those sweet, sweet clicks, but I honestly forgot to add this additional info into an earlier piece and didn’t want to ninja edit for fear that it’d go unnoticed. Jed Hoyer and Scott Boras seem to be on the same page when it comes to the Cubs’ plan, and that’s not just a matter of the agent speculating. Gordon Wittenmyer confirmed that the two sides actually met Tuesday night in Las Vegas, the day before Boras lauded the Cubs for wanting to spend again.

Boras also said teams have not asked him about either of his top shortstop clients moving to another position, indicating the Cubs would be comfortable with Xander Bogaerts or Carlos Correa playing there for at least one season. Signing either player would mean shifting Nico Hoerner to second base, which might actually result in a huge defensive improvement given the new shift restrictions.

A good deal of Hoerner’s defensive value came while playing on the right side as part of a shift, plus he could always move back as needed down the road. That future might be pushed a little further out here soon as the Cubs look to move quickly on the extension front. Hoerner has long seemed like the most likely candidate for a long-term deal and Hoyer said recently that he’d like to have extension talks completed prior to spring training.

Optimism that the Cubs are serious about landing a monster free agent had been tempered at the outset of the GM Meetings, but more recent information has shifted that sense again. So pretty much like every offseason that doesn’t involve the owners locking the players out.