Chicago Cubs could play it safe and shock nobody this offseason

Everyone expects the Chicago Cubs to steal headlines this offseason. But, there’s a significant difference between a ‘busy’ winter and a ‘blockbuster’ one.

Next week here at FanSided, we kick off our ‘Faux Winter Meetings.’ The site experts from the respective 30 big-league teams all play GM for a few days and most of us end up looking dumb a couple years from now. Those who don’t usually avoid making star-studded deals.

Could the Chicago Cubs pursue such an avenue this offseason?

We’ve heard from the front office themselves: the Cubs will be busy this winter, looking to reload for another run at a title in 2018. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to break the bank overpaying for guys and blowing the long-term plan to pieces.

Instead, what if the team played it smart and simply shored up the club’s weaknesses? Added a few bullpen pieces and added the necessary starters to piece the rotation back together? Let’s explore how such a course of action could look.

(Beware: it’s not the sexiest plan you’ll read about. But it just might work).

Eye-popping moves unnecessary with Cubs’ position core

Everyone remembers the moves that make headlines. This winter, if the Miami Marlins manage to unload Giancarlo Stanton, it’ll be the trade everyone remembers five years from now. But those moves don’t always equate to a championship – or even a postseason appearance.

The Cubs enjoy an enviable core. Headlined by the likes of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, Chicago is set – and even has chips to trade. Around the horn, Rizzo and Bryant join a middle infield of Addison Russell and Javier Baez. Of course, one of those guys could be dealt and Ian Happ could get a full-time role after an impressive debut campaign.

But let’s assume the team holds onto their main pieces this winter. What does the club need to do to be competitive in 2018?

A core group ready to win

To be blunt, not much when it comes to position players. A backup catcher, perhaps someone like Rene Rivera, would be nice. Then again, Theo could risk it and stay in-house with Victor Caratini backing up Willson Contreras, as well.

The outfield, as it currently stands, lines up with some combination of Kyle Schwarber, Happ, Albert Almora and Jason Heyward. Ben Zobrist, of course, sees reps in there on a regular basis, as well. You might go after another center fielder to platoon with Almora, but at a certain point, you have to take the training wheels off.

Caratini can back up Rizzo at first and, just like that, the Cubs are set. See how easy that was?

Harder to do – let’s fix the bullpen

The Chicago Cubs pitching staff imploded in October. Their self-inflicted wounds led to fatal wounds at the Los Angeles Dodgers stomped all over the reigning World Series champs in the NLCS.

As a staff, the Cubs walked 53 batters in 87 2/3 innings. Relievers alone issued 27 free passes in 37 2/3 frames (en route to a 1.650 WHIP and 6.21 ERA). The only guy you had any faith in during the postseason was closer Wade Davis, who departed for free agency at season’s end. So, suffice to say, there’s a lot of work to do here.

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First, let’s see what we have coming back. Longtime bullpen staples Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon both return. Strop comes off another strong year – while Rondon hopes he can figure out what went wrong in a disastrous 2017 campaign.

Justin Wilson, who was supposed to be the team’s big deadline acquisition last summer, was a dumpster fire for pretty much his entire Cubs’ tenure. New pitching coach Jim Hickey will no-doubt focus on getting the left-hander right ahead of 2018. Do that and Chicago boasts an impressive weapon they sorely lacked late this year.

Two moves could fix the pen

Justin Grimm and Carl Edwards will both be back in the mix, as well. After a white-hot start, it seemed fatigue caught up to Edwards in the second half. Another year of experience should help him better prepare. Grimm, meanwhile, suffered through the worst season of his Cubs career and is a question mark heading into 2018.

As for outside help, the pen could be shored up with a couple moves. First, I don’t see any way around it. Bringing back Davis to close things out has to be a top priority for Chicago. Pairing him with another free agent like Brandon Morrow could well prove to be enough to fix things.

The Cubs don’t need an ace – let’s quit acting like they do

Kyle Hendricks is a true top-of-the-rotation arm. Just because he doesn’t pitch with as much flair and drama as other starters doesn’t mean he’s less valuable. Every time his team needed him, he answered the call in the last two postseasons.

So pencil him in as the Opening Day starter. The middle of the rotation is a bit less defined, but has plenty of talent regardless. Jon Lester comes off a grind of a year, in which his earned run average skyrocketed from his Cy Young runner-up campaign of 2016. Jose Quintana, who came over in a deadline deal from the White Sox, pitched effectively in the second half and slots in in the three-spot.

That’s what you’re bringing back from last year’s team. Jake Arrieta and John Lackey both enter the offseason as free agents. While the former will likely price himself out of the Cubs’ price point, Lackey could still be an answer at the back of the rotation. Initially believed to be retiring, he recently announced he plans to pitch in 2018.

Back-end fixes at a fair price

So assume the team takes a one-year flyer on Lackey. Who fills that last spot? By any indication, Alex Cobb is ready to sign on the dotted line. Bring him in on a three or four-year deal and you’re set for years to come as far as the rotation goes.

Again, nothing too flashy – but you address the holes and avoid shelling out $30 million a year for a guy to take the mound every five days. Remember, the Cubs already have that guy in Jon Lester.