Cubs have money for free agents, but will spending be 'significant?'

Free agents can start signing with MLB teams five days after the World Series ends.

The Cubs figure to be factors, but it's still too murky to determine if they'll be major players.

"We will be active in free agency and have the necessary resources available to substantially supplement our current roster," owner Tom Ricketts wrote in a letter to season-ticket holders after the Cubs ended the season with a 74-88 record.

Sounds promising, but president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer tapped the brakes a bit in his season-ending meeting with the media.

"I have total confidence, if we get to a place where we ask for a significant amount of money to sign one player or several players, that we'll have (Ricketts') blessing," Hoyer said. "And I have no doubt the resources will be there. To me, intelligent spending involves making decisions that make sense for the 2023 season but also aren't going to hinder what we're trying to build.

"The nature of baseball contracts is challenging that way. We've all seen contracts of certain lengths that can really bog a team down."

Contracts like the eight-year, $184 million deal the Cubs gave to Jason Heyward before the 2016 season that ranks as one of the worst in MLB history.

While the Cubs still have to pay Heyward $22 million for next season after releasing the outfielder, they do have money to spend if Hoyer deems it's not stupid.

An interesting target is first baseman Jose Abreu, who is headed for free agency after playing his first nine seasons with the White Sox.

While he could return to the Sox, Abreu is much more likely to hit the market. That would allow the White Sox to move Andrew Vaughn from the outfield to first base, his natural position.

Abreu had a down season from a power perspective this year, hitting a career-low 15 home runs.

He did finish tied for fifth in the American League with a .304 batting average and was second on the White Sox behind Vaughn with 75 RBI.

Abreu, who will be 36 in January, said he definitely wants to keep playing.

"Of course," he said. "I love baseball. I love the game even more now than when I started."

The Cubs went with Frank Schwindel and Alfonso Rivas as their primary first basemen this season and neither performed well.

Schwindel was released in September and Rivas didn't do much damage while hitting .235/.322/.307 with 3 home runs and 25 RBI in 101 games.

Abreu would be an instant upgrade for the Cubs, and his cost would not be exorbitant.

If the Cubs want to "substantially" increase their payroll - which ranked 16th in MLB at $91.5 million this season - there are some big-time shortstops on the market.

Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson are all going to be available and none of them will come cheap.

Nico Hoerner is the Cubs' current shortstop and he's a solid all-around talent. The 25-year-old Hoerner is also versatile enough to play second base if the Cubs decide to spend.

As for the rotation, which posted a stellar 2.89 ERA in the second half of the season, Hoyer might already have his future starting five out of a group that includes Marcus Stroman, Adrian Sampson, Justin Steele, Javier Assad, Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson.

If the Cubs' GM is looking for an upgrade, will he go back to Japan?

After signing outfielder Seiya Suzuki before the 2022 season, Hoyer is reportedly interested in right-hander Kodia Senga. The 29-year-old starter has pitched in Japan for 11 seasons and was 11-6 with a 2.31 ERA this year.