Coming off two straight losing seasons, the Chicago Cubs weren't expected to compete for a spot in the 2023 MLB Playoffs.
But with just over three weeks remaining in the regular season, following a stretch in which they won 14 of 20, the Cubs were right there in the mix. At 76-64, the Cubs were 1.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central but held the second NL Wild Card slot, sitting 3.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins and four games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Unfortunately for the North Siders, they won just seven of their final 22 games and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on the second-to-last day of the season, ultimately finishing one game behind the World Series-bound Diamondbacks for the No. 6 seed.
Despite the late-season collapse, an 83-79 campaign should still be seen as a success for David Ross & Co. But with success comes pressure the following year, and Cubs fans will undoubtedly expect their team to contend again in 2024.
With that said, Jed Hoyer and the Ricketts family will have some decisions to make once MLB free agency begins. While the Cubs may be looking to bring in some new blood, they've also got several players from the 2023 roster who either will be unrestricted free agents or have options to hit the market.
And that's where we'll put our focus today. So, let's take a look at three Cubs free agents who won't call Wrigley Field home in 2024 and two who will.
Cubs free agent who won't be back in 2024: Michael Fulmer, RHP
This is an absolute guarantee. Michael Fulmer will not play the 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs.
Okay, that's a bit of a copout as the right-handed reliever won't be playing for anyone next year as he recently underwent UCL revision surgery, which brings with it roughly the same recovery time as Tommy John surgery.
But even if Fulmer, who turns 31 in March, were healthy, it's doubtful the Cubs would have brought him back, not after a season in which he went 3-5 with a 4.42 ERA, the second-worst clip of his career.
Since that was a touch too easy, we'll give you a bonus player and say that soon-to-be 35-year-old righty reliever Shane Greene won't be back either.
Cubs free agent who will be back in 2024: Yan Gomes, C
The Cubs were never going to get the kind of power numbers they were used to seeing from Willson Contreras when they brought Yan Gomes in ahead of the 2022 campaign.
All they could have hoped for was a veteran presence behind the plate with a solid bat who could be a true leader both on the field and in the clubhouse. And that's precisely what they've gotten.
In 116 games for the North Siders in 2023, Gomes slashed .267/.315/.408 with 20 doubles, 10 home runs, and 63 runs batted in. Not bad for a guy who turns 36 next summer.
The Cubs hold a $6 million club option on Gomes for the 2024 campaign, and they'd be wise to exercise it. The catcher position is often the most difficult to replace, and there's no need for Chicago to attempt to do so in free agency, not when they've got such a cost-effective option already in place.
As the Cubs will have to spend large chunks of change elsewhere to remain competitive, six million bucks isn't that much -- at least not in today's market -- to lock down a key component, even if only for a year.
Cubs free agent who won't be back in 2024: Brad Boxberger, RHP
The Cubs will undoubtedly need to improve their bullpen during the offseason, and that means moving on from right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger.
Before missing nearly four months of action with an injured forearm, the 2015 All-Star wasn't sharp in the slightest, posting a 5.52 ERA in 17 appearances. He pitched decently when he finally made his return in mid-September, giving up just two runs in five outings, but finished the season back on the disabled list as the forearm apparently wasn't fully healed.
The 35-year-old veteran carries a $5 million mutual option for 2024, and there's absolutely zero reason for the Cubs to exercise their side of things. Sure, it'll cost them an $800,000 buyout, but that's the road they need to take here.
Boxberger will certainly find a home for next season, but it won't be in Chicago -- well, not on the North Side of town anyway. Not only will the Cubs have better options from which to choose once free agency begins, but they'll have plenty of cheaper ones as well.
Cubs free agent who will be back in 2024: Jeimer Candelario, INF
Reacquired by the Cubs in a deadline deal with the Washington Nationals, Jeimer Candelario, who was just 16 when Chicago first signed him in 2010, got off to a blistering start in his return to the Windy City this summer.
In his first 12 games with the Cubs in 2023, he slashed .409/.469/.591 with an OPS+ of 183. Candelario cooled considerably as the season progressed, but back troubles undoubtedly factored into his late-season slide, troubles that ultimately landed him on the disabled list.
Simply put, the soon-to-be 30-year-old should be a high priority for the Cubs this offseason. For one, they really don't have an everyday third baseman on the roster for next season. And while there will be other options out there in that regard, Candelario will likely be considerably cheaper.
Will he command more than the roughly $5 million he earned in 2023? Absolutely. Spotrac estimates his AAV at $11.6 million moving forward. But paying that amount on a two- or three-year deal might just be worth it, especially seeing as how he can also play first base when necessary. The fact that he's a switch-hitter also ups his value.
Let's also not forget that Candelario had the best power-hitting season of his career in 2023, hitting 22 home runs with 70 runs batted in. He also seems to love playing at Wrigley Field. This is a great fit for both parties and I see a deal getting done.
Cubs free agent who won't be back in 2024: Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
As much as the Cubs and their fans would love to bring back Cody Bellinger, it simply seems unlikely that they'll be able to afford him. Let's not forget he's a Scott Boras guy, which always makes things a bit more complicated.
Last offseason, as Bellinger was coming off three consecutive down years with the Dodgers, Chicago was able to snag him for $12 million, which turned out to be a bargain.
Despite missing an entire month with a knee injury, the 2019 NL MVP still hit 26 home runs and led the club with 97 runs batted in while slashing .307/.356/.525. Bellinger also stole a career-high 20 bases and showed some versatility on the defensive side of things, starting 81 games in center field and another 44 at first base.
Such a season will certainly make him one of the most coveted players on the market if he chooses to decline his side of the $12 million mutual option on his contract for 2024, which he undoubtedly will.
Jed Hoyer has already stated his desire to bring Bellinger back, and the two-time All-Star has stated how much he enjoyed playing for the Cubs. But we all know that at the end of the day, the money will talk, and Chicago just might not be willing to spend the $22-$25 million per year that Bellinger will likely command.
While not out of the realm of possibility, Cody Bellinger being in blue pinstripes in 2024 doesn't seem likely.
