The MLB offseason has been dominated by the juggernaut acquisitions of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the fervent flurry of trades made by the Atlanta Braves. There has been activity across the board around the league, whether it be free agent signings or trades. Still, one team stands alone for not adding a player to the Major League roster via either means: the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs’ keynote move this offseason was the hiring of Craig Counsell as their new manager. Counsell signed a record $40 million deal to manage at Wrigley, disgruntling plenty of fans of Milwaukee, but showing that the Cubs were serious about rebuilding themselves as a contender. At the time of the move, I wrote about what could be next for the Cubs, but unfortunately, nothing notable has happened for them since the hiring of Counsell. Yes, the Cubs have made minor league moves, but nothing has necessarily inched the needle toward contention to replace their weak spots.

It may not be for lack of trying though. The Cubs have been connected to numerous top-tier free agents in rumors as well as coveted trade targets, but nothing has quite materialized. Before signing with the San Francisco Giants, the Cubs had been heavily interested in KBO star Jung-Hoo Lee. They had also been connected to the likes of Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani but nothing materialized as Soto was traded to the New York Yankees and Ohtani signed a landmark deal with the Dodgers. Understandably, there could be some frustration in the Cubs’ front office due to a lack of movement and ability to add to their roster. Still, one name remains that could be their top priority still.

Cody Bellinger enjoyed a resurgent season in Chicago en route to a Comeback Player of the Year Award after batting  .307./356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 130 games. Bellinger likely sits as one of the more premium bats on the market and he knows that. He’s been connected to the likes of the Los Angeles Angels, Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays as well as the Yankees. While he could still land in at least two of those spots, the Cubs are known to be heavily invested in the idea of bringing him back into the fold. It was reported recently by Jon Heyman of the New York Post that Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras were hoping to reach or surpass a $200 million contract. Bellinger returned to form but $200 million is still a risky gamble for a player that has struggled more than been successful the past few years. That price tag could prove to be an obstacle for the Cubs to bring back Bellinger. His versatility to play all three outfield positions along with first base would give them plenty of options to keep both him and the outfield fresh in some sort of rotation, but that is still an awful amount of money to commit to one player that still has question marks about him.

The Cubs have also been focused on trying to improve their corner infield options. Jeimer Candelario left in free agency and signed a three-year $45 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs had expressed no interest in a reunion, but it still leaves them with few options to bolster their offense and defense at the same time. Should the team wish to make a big splash, Matt Chapman is still available and while he will likely hit for a .240 AVG he can provide some pop and has a long track record of stellar defense at the hot corner. The team has also expressed interest in Cleveland first baseman Josh Naylor. The 26-year-old hit .308/.354/.489 with 17 homers over 495 plate appearances last season, marking his second straight year of quality production. It was also reported early in the offseason that Christopher Morel would get some reps at first base with the potential to slot in their full-time. The fact of the matter is that the Cubs are trying to improve at the corners, but aren’t having much luck.

There is also a matter of trying to improve the starting rotation one way or another after the departure of Marcus Stroman. There haven’t been many rumors of their connections to the starting pitching market, but one can assume they have at least checked in on some of the top options remaining as well as the mid-tier market options. Their rotation has some solid options in Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, and even Jameson Taillon, but they may be missing another starter to put them over the edge.

It’s been a disappointing offseason for the Cubs due to the sheer lack of movement. The hiring of Counsell signaled a move to brighter days in 2024 but nothing else has occurred to instill confidence in the Cubs faithful. They indeed have a solid core already, but at the moment it feels like they are still missing pieces. The NL Central is always up for grabs and the Cubs haven’t done much to add to the roster. If they want to get back to the postseason and make a run, they are going to have to get the lead out and start getting active. They weren’t just a manager away from another championship. There are plenty of moves to be made and considered. Eventually, the Cubs will have to be the top suitor rather than becoming a wallflower and watching their top targets head elsewhere. The future is bright for the Cubs and victory is well within reach if they can act in urgency to bolster their roster heading into 2024.