Chicago Cubs: Breaking down an offseason to-do list

Step Four: Bring in arms to add depth, power to the bullpen

Yesterday, it was reported that former Baltimore Orioles reliever Darren O’Day was receiving plenty of interest throughout the entire league and left last week’s GM Meetings with multiple offers in-hand.

Of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers are among those heavily interested in the submarine-style right-hander – and with good reason. The relief corps is one of that team’s biggest holes outside of the dilemma on whether or not to bring Greinke back long-term.

The Chicago Cubs are in a similar situation.

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They have plenty of offense. Sure, it’s strikeout-prone, but both Chicago and the Houston Astros proved last year that such lineups can wreak havoc and make it into October. While a completely different take on lineup construction won it all in the Kansas City Royals, don’t expect too much tinkering on that front at Wrigley.

The Mets, who steamrolled Chicago in the NLCS, meanwhile, made their living on pitching. While the Cubs lack such a dominant, young rotation – they have the chance to take a major step in the right direction by signing Zimmermann and bringing in a top-tier relief arm, such as O’Day or possibly the Yankees’ Andrew Miller.

Both will fetch a steep price, one in money – the other in prospects and money – but there are few better at their respective roles. These two options, for example, give the Cubs long-term control, which makes them far superior to someone like Aroldis Chapman, for example.

Chicago has found plenty of internal success down that left-field line in recent years, but you can never have enough pitching – and the open market has plenty of options this offseason. Take your pick.