The Chicago Cubs have been ‘active’ this offseason. They signed former National League MVP Cody Bellinger. Whether his signing pays off is still to be determined, but betting on the 27-year-old, left-handed, power-hitting, plus defender is the exact low-risk, high-reward move that the Cubs should be making.

They also shelled out $68 million to right-hander Jameson Taillon. The former #2 pick found consistency in the Yankees’ rotation the past two seasons following his second Tommy John surgery. Last year, Taillon won 14 games while posting a sub-4.00 ERA. He adds depth to the Cubs’ starting rotation, including Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, and Justin Steele, with the 5th starting spot up for grabs.

Those two moves should help the ballclub, but signing Bellinger and Taillon won’t be enough to push the Cubs into postseason contention. Add in letting fan favorite Willson Contreras leave for nothing – and then sign with the rival St. Louis Cardinals, and a lot of Cubs fans have been left wanting, and expecting more this offseason.

With several premier free agents already signed elsewhere, the Cubs must re-make their Christmas wish list, and check it twice, if they want to make a run at the National League Central title in 2023.

Sign Shortstop Carlos Correa To Mega-Deal

The Cubs need to make a big splash and none would be more significant than signing Carlos Correa. The 28-year-old shortstop is a top-tier defender in the prime of his career. He has six 20+ home run seasons on his résumé and he led all shortstops with an OPS of .833 (tied with Xander Bogaerts) last year. He was second among shortstops with 61 walks, though he’s not a base-stealing threat (zero in the past three! seasons.) Correa won a Gold Glove in 2021, his last season with the Houston Astros. His baseball IQ is off the charts and Correa is a player that the Cubs can build around at the most crucial infield position.

Cubs Should Sign Correa For $200 Million Over Six Years

You read that right. In an era where shortstops Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts each received 11-year deals worth more than $280 million dollars ($300 million in Turner’s case), Correa’s six-year, $200 million dollar deal from the Cubs would pay him nearly six million more per season than Turner. The length of the deal protects the Cubs from a career-altering injury. Throw in an opt-out after year two, giving Correa another chance for a nine-figure payday at his age 30 season. What’s not to like?

Cubs Sign Carlos Rodón For $160 Million Over Five Years

Ho Ho Ho – this is where the Cubs’ wish list just turned greedy. After signing the top position player in Correa, the Cubs then sign the top remaining starting pitcher, left-hander Carlos Rodón for $32 million per season over the next five years. Rodón bet on himself, signing a 2-year $44 million dollar contract with the San Francisco Giants last offseason. His deal included an opt-out clause if he pitched 110 innings. After pitching a career-high 178 innings and leading Major League Baseball with 12 strikeouts per 9 IP, the former south sider returns to Chicago, calling Wrigley Field his new home.

Carlos & Carlos Highlight Cubs Holiday Wish List

Adding Rodón to the top of the starting rotation and Correa to the middle of the Cubs lineup and infield would be the holiday wish that Cubs fans are hoping for this year. Let’s hope that the grinch doesn’t steal them out from under the Cubs’ Christmas tree, or menorah, this holiday season.