Report: Cubs contact agents of star free-agent shortstops

It appears the Chicago Cubs are set on making a big splash this offseason.

The Cubs have already been in contact with the agents of shortstops Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, and Xander Bogaerts, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Chicago currently has Nico Hoerner penciled as the starting shortstop entering the 2023 campaign.

The Cubs reportedly showed strong interest in Correa last offseason and appear primed to make another aggressive pursuit of him or one of the other elite shortstops on the open market.

After a disappointing 74-88 record this season, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts emphatically stated that the club would be aggressive in improving the roster in the offseason.

"We will be active in free agency and have the necessary resources available to substantially supplement our current roster," Ricketts wrote in a letter to fans in October.

"As (president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer) has demonstrated, we will be driven by intelligent decision-making as we build a roster that can win games in the postseason – year in and year out."

The Cubs were also aggressive last offseason, handing outfielder Seiya Suzuki and right-hander Marcus Stroman deals worth a combined $135 million.