Cubs Pursue Japanese Pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara

The Chicago Cubs are actively pursuing improvements to their pitching staff this offseason, having recently signed Matthew Boyd and showing interest in Japanese free agent Shinnosuke Ogasawara. While they previously met with Roki Sasaki, they are not favorites to sign him, but Ogasawara has garnered attention, with the Cubs among the teams interested in his services. Ogasawara, who has a solid track record in Japan, is expected to fill a swingman or relief role in MLB. Additionally, despite speculation, the Cubs are unlikely to pursue star slugger Pete Alonso due to financial constraints and a strong first base option in Michael Busch. The Cubs are also exploring trades for established pitchers like Pablo Lopez from the Minnesota Twins, highlighting their commitment to bolstering their rotation. Overall, the Cubs are making strategic moves to enhance their roster while maintaining financial flexibility.