Chicago Cubs: Free agents to target for a 2026 bench rebuild

The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season has to be seen as an overall success. They made the playoffs for the first time since the abbreviated 2020 season and won their first postseason games since 2017.

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Although their postseason run ended on a sour note with a Game Five loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, the team did manage go further than many thought they would. They took the Wild Card Series from the San Diego Padres and battled back from an 0-2 deficit in the series with the Brewers before being eliminated.

As they labored through the playoffs, however, it became obvious that their clearly defined weaknesses would eventually be their downfall.

First and foremost among team weaknesses was pitching depth, both in the starting rotation as well as the bullpen.

Chicago Cubs: Building a championship bench

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A secondary weakness, though, was the Cubs’ bench, which was a weak spot all season and forced the team’s starters to work themselves to the bone with little to no rest over the course of the year. Specifically, people have blamed the second-half decline of Pete Crow-Armstrong on the fact that he was tasked with playing almost every inning of center field play over the first part of the season.

With that in mind, the Cubs need to focus on the building of a bench that is more than the window dressing it was in 2025, burdened with a 40-year-old Justin Turner who couldn’t really play any position, a revolving door at third base, and no viable fourth outfielder or backup middle infielder for most of the year.

Chicago needs to take their bench seriously if they want to be in a position to make a serious playoff run, especially with Kyle Turner likely to be gone and the likelihood of regression from those who had career years in 2025.

Fortunately enough for the Cubs, there will be several quality bench players available via free agency who should be obtainable at a reasonable budget-friendly price.

Acquiring a quality utility infielder

Paul DeJong, at least on the surface, appears to be the most perfect of fits for the Cubs’ needs.

The veteran has played with six different teams over the course of his 9-year career and can play all four infield positions. He’s hardly a defensive superstar, but he’s adequate everywhere he plays. He also brings good pop from the right side of the plate, although his 6 home runs in an injury-hampered 2025 with the Nationals and a general downward trend in production may say otherwise. In 2024, he hit 24 home runs with the White Sox and Royals.

In terms of money, he should be a relative steal. He’s projected to go for a one-year deal at somewhere between $1 and $2 million. Slotted into the Cubs’ roster, he could be a reasonable backup to Matt Shaw at third and an occasional sub for Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch at the three other infield spots.

If DeJong can’t be had, the Cubs could go after quality utility men Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Kike Hernandez, or Jorge Mateo, all right-handed bats who can play multiple positions. Hernandez and Mateo can also play some outfield. If Chicago wanted to be really daring, they could even roll the dice on former White Sox starter Tim Anderson, who’s fallen on hard times but still may muster some juice on a last-chance contract with the North Siders.

A fourth outfielder

When it comes to the outfield, the Cubs definitely need a legitimate fourth outfielder who can spell the three starters without too much of a drop off. Kevin Alcantara just may not cut it in that role. A post-Kyle Tucker right field left to Seiya Suzuki and rookie Owen Caissie may need special reinforcement.

The Cubs might be wise to target a veteran like Starling Marte for the fourth outfielder slot.

Marte made over $20 million in 2025, in the last year of his contract with the New York Mets. At 37 and after three consecutive injury-ridden seasons with downward-trending production, the 14-year veteran won’t be getting anything close to that as a free agent in 2026. Spotrac estimates his market value at about $7.8 million and that’s probably being a bit generous.

The Cubs could also kick the tires on Michael A. Taylor, another former White Sox player who could fit in nicely on the bench. The 12-year veteran will be 35 by opening day, but he can still play all three outfield positions, run a little, and can occasionally surprise with the long ball. In 2023, with the Minnesota Twins, he hit 21 home runs in 388 plate appearances.

It’s easy to overlook the bench when putting together a team. The Cubs can’t afford to do that again if their goal is a deep playoff run in 2026.

The post Chicago Cubs: Free agents to target for a 2026 bench rebuild appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-free-agent-bench-dejong-marte-2026