Chicago Cubs need to do more than piece together a bullpen

With more questions than answers right now, the Chicago Cubs have to do more than mix and match next season when it comes to the bullpen make-up.

This time last year, we knew the Chicago Cubs had more questions than answers when it came to the bullpen. Despite even casual fans’ knowledge of this fact, Theo Epstein did very little in terms of adding impact arms to the relief corps – and it cost his team in 2019.

Now, we find ourselves in perhaps an even more dire situation. Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Brandon Morrow and David Phelps are all free agents. Craig Kimbrel, who struggled mightily in his first year with the team, seems like far from a sure thing heading into 2020. So where do the Cubs turn from here?

The first – and perhaps oversimplified answer – is a look in the mirror. Despite plain-stated concerns over payroll and trying to spend their way back into contention, Chicago can’t hope to find diamonds in the rough again this offseason.

Over the last 12 months or so, Epstein found some gems, including Kyle Ryan, Rowan Wick and Brad Wieck. But this team needs more firepower – period.