MLB Hot Stove: Cubs Sniffing Around on a Few Names

Monday marks an off day for the Chicago Cubs, but the stove is starting to heat up. It's not a secret that the Cubs are in need of another bat and more production from the catching position.

According to multiple reports over the weekend, it appears that Elias Diaz of the Colorado Rockies and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays are on Jed Hoyer's radar. Reports indicate the Cubs are speaking with the Rockies about Diaz while "internal" discussions are being had about a possible Guerrero Jr. acquisition.

Elias Diaz

Elias Diaz isn't a long-term solution behind the plate, but he would be a welcome addition given the team's lacking production at the position. Miguel Amaya has struggled, slashing .198/.262/.290 while enduring some follies behind the plate. As for veteran Yan Gomes, he's slashing an abysmal .155/.182/.250 . Neither catcher is getting it done behind the plate or at the dish.

Enter Diaz, who's slashing .305/.353/.442 with five home runs and 28 driven in. The veteran, who's set to hit free agency after the season, could be the perfect rental addition for the Cubs to beef up the catching position. Additionally, Diaz is elite by most standards defensively, so some of the Cubs' pitfalls at the position would be addressed as well.

There's little indication of what the price would be to acquire Diaz. Nonetheless, a player with an expiring contract shouldn't cost a package that causes the Cubs to scoff at the idea.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be a massive addition to the Cubs' lineup. The slugger has one year of control remaining after 2024, entering arbitration 4 with super 2 status. In simpler terms, Guerrero Jr. will likely make about $22-25 million in arbitration for next season.

Price tag aside, an impact bat is something the Cubs are severely lacking. The first baseman is slashing .292/.383/.424 this season with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 65 games. Although his home run numbers are down, he still has 12 doubles and clearly isn't being given opportunities to drive in runs considering the Blue Jays' record. Regardless, he's still very much an intriguing hitter .

Enter the concern highlighted above in the post from Optimistic Cubs Fan. The Blue Jays are playing much better baseball lately and are still in striking distance for an American League wild-card spot. The new playoff format keeps more teams in the race longer, so the Cubs might have to wait if they want to add Guerrero Jr., catcher Danny Jensen, or both from Toronto. The Rockies on the other hand are very much out of the race, supplying more common sense to the discussions about Diaz.

Guerrero Jr. would be quite the investment for the Cubs, likely requiring at least one top-10 prospect going the other way. However, getting him in the building sets up the possibility of extending a quality young player for years to come, rather than trying to bid on older players in free agency, such as Pete Alonso.

In the end, there are more roadblocks at play with a possible Guerrero Jr. addition. The Blue Jays might not be selling soon, and he's a player that will cost a bit of capital given his age, contract, and production. The Blue Jays want to extend Guerrero Jr. per reports, so this isn't a simple transaction by any means.

Kicking the tires on the deal makes sense for the Cubs, but Diaz seems to be a more likely target than Guerrero Jr. in the near future.

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