According to Jon Heyman of CBSsports.com, Scott Boras is said to be looking for a 100 million plus contract for outfielder Shin-Soo Choo.
One player the Chicago Cubs are expected to check in on is Shin-Soo Choo. Choo has been a member of the Reds this season after being traded this past off-season.
The main reason the Cubs have been linked to Choo is because he’s a left-handed outfielder and has a high on-base percentage. The Cubs are in need of another left-handed hitter and another outfielder. Plus, the Cubs are not good in getting on base and Choo is a great on-base guy. He ranks second in the National League of getting on base behind teammate Joey Votto.
With that said, how much interest could the Cubs have in Choo? The Cubs will oblivious check in on Choo and talked to his agent Scott Boras. But the contract would have to make sense and a deal right for the future. Choo could be looking for at least a 90+ million contract. Heyman asked a current unnamed general manager and he said 90 million seems right for Choo. If that’s the case, Choo’s price will come no where to the Cubs price range. The Cubs are said to not have money and that contract would no where fit into their plans. Especially for a 31-year old outfielder. The Cubs may want to sign Choo to a 3-year contract, but nothing more than that. If Boras gets his wish and the unnamed general manager is correct, Choo will not be wearing a Cubs uniform next season. The contract and money would just not work into the Cubs current and future plans.
We have seen Boras in the past talk his clients out of a lot of money. As a team made a good offer, but it wasn’t good enough and the team looked elsewhere. So at the end, the player couldn’t get a better deal or even close and had to settle for a lower deal. A low ball deal in which was a 1 or 2 year contract. If that’s the case, we could see the Cubs back in the Choo race if they didn’t fill out the vacant spot.
The Cubs have been linked to Jacoby Ellsbury as well, but he’s looking for a 100 plus million dollar contract as well. With his injury concerns and the high priced demand, the Cubs will not sign Ellsbury. Another name to keep an eye out for is Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. The Cubs are expected to make a run at Gonzalez this off-season (per Cubs Den) and the Rockies are expected to take offers for him. I can totally see Gonzalez coming to the North Side this Winter.
I’m not going to mention Miami Carlos outfielder Giancarlo Stanton as a possibility because a trade will not happen due to the steep price and his knee problems.
As you can see, the Cubs are determined to sign or trade for a left-handed hitting outfielder in the off-season.
Another aspect that may affect a trade or a signing is if the Cubs sign Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. He will cost a lot of money and if the Cubs were to sign Tanaka, most of their money will go towards him. As he can be an ace in the majors and that’s what the Cubs need. Plus, Tanaka is the Cubs number 1 priority this off-season.
If Scott Boras and the unnamed general manager are correct, Shin-Soo Choo’s price will be out of the Cubs range and he will sign elsewhere.
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