Chicago Cubs: Breaking down needs heading into the winter

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

Joe Maddon

(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?

Next: Pitching, pitching and more pitching

Adding starting depth key for Chicago

Now, the popular – and probably most prevalent – belief amongst Chicago Cubs fans is that if the front office doesn’t go out and sign David Price, they will have failed this winter.

To the people who believe that, good luck ever becoming an informed, intelligent baseball fan.

While Price, or even Zack Greinke, would take the Cubs rotation to an entirely new level, I personally believe that Epstein will target arms a tier below those two, in the likes of Jordan Zimmermann, Dillon Gee or Ian Kennedy – although I admit those three examples come with varying price tags and experience levels.

The biggest questions left in the Cubs’ five-man rotation come in the four and five spots. Now, don’t be surprised if they add a number three guy – which places Kyle Hendricks toward the bottom of the staff, which is where he’s best fit in all honesty. He’s a quality piece, but he’s not the guy you necessarily want firing after your aces in a best-of-five.

If Chicago can add a starting pitcher, or even two, one of the team’s most inconsistent (although ultimately solid) aspects will take a big step forward heading into 2016.

Next: Figuring out the center field question

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Fair or Fowler? Will Dex return for 2016?

As we touched on earlier this week in one of our end-of-year review pieces, while he didn’t launch light-tower homers on a nightly basis, Dexter Fowler was arguably the most important piece to the Cubs’ puzzle in 2015.

A catchphrase for the team in its postseason run regarding Fowler was, “You go, we go.” Sure, it was a catchy motivational slogan for Joe Maddon to use, but it was undoubtedly true.

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In Chicago wins, Fowler posted a slash-line of .271/.376/.463, good for an .839 OPS. However, in the Cubs’ losses this year, the center fielder batted just .216/.296/.329, which clocks in over 200 points lower in terms of OPS (.625).

Make no mistake: Fowler will have countless suitors this offseason as he tests the waters of free agency. Epstein made it clear he’d like to talk to his outfielder about returning to the North Side, but there’s a decent shot that doesn’t happen for one reason or another.

So, apart from Fowler, what options does Chicago have moving forward?

You could, hypothetically, trot out a combination of Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler and Chris Coghlan or Chris Denorfia, depending on the day – but that would leave the Cubs without a true leadoff man, a role Fowler executed well all year.

More likely, though, pieces like Denard Span or a back-up on this year’s club, Austin Jackson, would get long, hard looks as Fowler’s replacement. Both offer speed, which is something the Cubs need, and won’t fetch top-dollar on the open market, either, which is attractive.

Next: Shoring up the bullpen

Adding depth in the late innings

For the final time, in 2016 the Wrigley Field bullpens will be located down the left and right-field lines, respectively.

Just who will sit in them for the Chicago Cubs remains to be seen.

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.

Adding starting depth key for Chicago

Fair or Fowler? Will Dex return for 2016?

More from Cubbies Crib

Adding depth in the late innings

Schedule