Theo Epstein implies Cubs will not be signing major free agent hitter

Comments made by Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein on Thursday imply that the team will not be looking to sign one of the major free agent hitters this offseason.

Epstein spoke with reporters after the Cubs made several changes to their coaching staff. According to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, Epstein talked about the offseason plans said there is “no one hitter” the Cubs are looking at that will transform the offense. He also made it seem like they will stick with their current players, believing that they are talented enough to win.

Theo Epstein: "No one hitter, especially in the seas where we're fishing, is going to transform the offense. It's going to be a continued evolution of what I think is a group of really, really talented position players that stumbled badly in the second half of last year."

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) December 6, 2018

Epstein made clear after the season his dissatisfaction with former hitting coach Chili Davis, who emphasized an approach where players hit to the opposite field. Epstein preferred to have the players focus on getting the ball in the air to create home runs. In other words, they have enough good players as is, they just need to be doing what the Cubs want them to in order to see successful results.

This is a continuation of what has been the belief all along — the Cubs are unlikely to make a play for Bryce Harper or Manny Machado.