Chicago Cubs fans are sitting around idly waiting for the team to make a big splash at the 2025 Winter Meetings in Orlando.

The first big deal of the meetings sent Kyle Schwarber back to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract.

Advertisement

Schwarber is obviously a former Cub and a fan favorite. I’ve long thought he would be a perfect addition to the team as a cheaper way to replace the offensive production that will be lost with Kyle Tucker leaving in free agency.

Cubs fans wanted him back too, but that ship has now sailed, and the restlessness waiting for a big-time free-agent signing is growing by the hour.

But I wouldn’t hold my breath. As we now sit here almost two full days into the Winter Meetings, it is looking to me more and more like a splash by the Cubs would come in the trade market before it does in free agency.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN recently wrote that “trade winds continue to swirl in Orlando,” with the Cubs as one of three teams that “could make a deal soon.”

Advertisement

Many of the Cubs’ top targets and their current focuses in free agency are not players who seem bound to sign anytime soon.

Despite being teased about Zac Gallen by Bob Nightingale’s incorrect report, Gallen was getting married when the fake story broke. That deal is not close at the moment, and fresh off his wedding, Gallen may not be in a rush to make such a big decision about his future.

There has been a little activity regarding the posted Japanese players. That includes right-handed starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who is starting to gain more and more traction as a potential signing for the Cubs, but won’t even begin taking meetings with teams until next week.

He’ll have until after the new year to negotiate a new contract, and there isn’t much smoke surrounding a deal coming in Orlando.

Advertisement

Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez may realistically wait until more of the market settles for big bats. Pete Alonso is the next logical domino to fall, and interest from the Boston Red Sox could leave Bregman on the board for at least a few more days.

None of this is to say that the Cubs won’t make a big free-agent signing. I still feel fairly strongly that they will.

But there’s been a lot of buzz at this year’s meetings about an active trade market and teams being more willing to exchange big-league talent than ever before. With the Cubs reportedly actively involved in trade talks, if there’s a big move on the table for them at the Winter Meetings, it’s probably coming from something unforeseen.