Cubs actually aren’t blocked from adding top free agent this winter.

Despite their dismal team performance, the Chicago Cubs can still take some positives from their 2024 season, even though they are not expected to qualify for the postseason.

The performance by Busch has maybe come as the greatest surprise of all. Busch outperformed expectations when he was acquired by the Cubs from the Los Angeles Dodgers in an offseason deal. The Cubs had anticipated Busch to be a productive player for them.

The 26-year-old starts the fight on Friday by slashing.249/.335/.430, making 137 appearances, finding a home at first base, with 17 home runs and 56 RBI.

Busch has excelled at first base, ranking in the 84th percentile in OAA according to Baseball Savant. However, because of his versatility, the Cubs may be able to consider signing Pete Alonso, one of the best free agents available this offseason, as reported by Jon Heyman of the NY Post.

Cubs 1B You have to ask yourself if Pete Alonso fits in there right now, given how good Michael Busch is playing both ways. Heyman noted, “One possibility is that they move Busch to 2B because of his excellent defensive skills.”

Due to his defensive versatility, Michael Busch might allow the Cubs to sign Pete Alonso

First basemen are rarely moved to the keystone, but Busch was raised mostly as a second baseman through the minor league system. His 241 minor league appearances at second base are by far the most of any position he has played in. Busch has actually only played first base in eighteen minor league games, but in the majors, he has excelled at the position.

Because Busch can play second base and even third base if necessary, the Cubs can investigate the idea of signing a big bat like Alonso in free agency. As of this writing, Chicago is 21st in the majors in home runs, so they clearly need more power, especially after they lost Christopher Morel around the trade deadline.

In addition to hitting 30+ home runs in each of his five full seasons (2020 excluded), Alonso in particular is a good fit for the Cubs because he has a strong track record at Wrigley Field, where he has slashed.271/.405/.729 with eight home runs and 18 RBI in just 17 games.

Even though he’s having a rough year in 2024, Alonso has hit 31 home runs as of Friday’s games, even though he plays in one of the major league parks that is most pitcher-friendly. Alonso is the kind of difference-maker who might help this Cubs team overcome adversity and return to the postseason for the first time in a full season since 2018 (not counting 2020). He will undoubtedly be looking for a big contract.