Chicago Cubs: Breaking down needs heading into the winter

October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs manager

(70) motions to the bullpen in the second inning against the New York Mets in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

After a thrilling, but ultimately disappointing season, the Chicago Cubs have work to do this winter if they hope to return in 2016 to make a deep postseason run.

While we all wanted, and hoped for, the Cubs to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945, we wound up settling for the team’s first NLCS appearance in over a decade – with postseason series wins over division-rival Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

It would be easy to simply return as much of the roster from this season and maintain the status quo in hopes of returning to the postseason in 2016, but it’s going to be the moves Chicago makes in the offseason that decide this club’s fate.

With Dexter Fowler set to become a free agent and multiple questions regarding the team’s starting rotation, this winter will no-doubt feature plenty of Chicago Cubs rumors and hot stove rumblings.

But what moves do Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer need to make to help get their team over that final hurdle and back to the Fall Classic?

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