Chicago Cubs: 3 critical keys to success heading into 2022

Somewhat surprisingly, the Chicago Cubs offseason started rather well before the MLB lockout took hold. So where do things stand now for the team? After the Marcus Stroman signing, it became apparent that things were changing for the better as Jed Hoyer was showing his more aggressive side with rumors beginning to swirl regarding Carlos Correa and the Cubs potentially getting together on a deal.

For now, we just have to patiently wait until the lockout is over and free agency can proceed. In the meantime, every team in the league has ample time to devise the best possible strategy for their respective needs moving forward. For the Cubs, they’ve patched up the starting rotation enough to where it can feasibly be productive With Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks and Wade Miley at the top.

Even with their modest improvements, the Cubs are – to me – a middle-of-the-pack team. It’s painfully apparent that there’s not enough offensive weapons on this roster.  Even with Ian Happ’s second-half resurgence along with the emergence of Frank Schwindel and Patrick Wisdom, the Cubs offense ranked 20th overall at 4.35 runs per game. Pair that bottom-third offense with poor starting pitching and it’s not hard to see where things went wrong in 2021.

The Chicago front office definitely has its work cut out for it once the lockout ends and we look ahead to the 2022 campaign. With that being said, let’s take a look at three keys to success for the Chicago Cubs in 2022.

Chicago Cubs: 3 critical keys to success – #3: Sign Carlos Correa in free agency

By now, we are all well aware of the Cubs’ reported interest in Carlos Correa. The rumors had just began picking up steam when the clock struck midnight on December 2 as the collective bargaining agreement between the MLBPA and the league expired. Clearly, Correa has his eye on Chicago, as well, as he warmly responded to the love shown to him by the Wrigleyville faithful.

Correa is a perennial All-Star-caliber shortstop with the bat and the defense to help put any team on the map. What this means for Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal remains to be seen, but if you can sign Correa regardless, you have to pounce and figure out the rest later. Correa’s bat in the heart of the order, in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field no less, has the potential to significantly increase the offensive potency of this team for years to come.

Correa is phase one of a three-fold plan the Cubs can utilize in revitalizing the team as soon as next season. The former Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and this year’s Platinum Glove recipient will certainly put fans in the seats, something that Tom Ricketts wants desperately.

The Cubs chairman must realize how important it is to pay up for Correa now as there isn’t much to get excited about in next years free agent class, which ultimately could delay the Cubs’ chances of competing for another two years if they don’t spend now.

Chicago Cubs: 3 critical keys to success – #1: Buying at the 2022 trade deadline

If the Cubs properly execute and both sign Correa (or at least a very strong offensive weapon of that caliber) and add those two to three key arms in the bullpen, there is a strong reason to believe that they can compete again as soon as next year. Along with the critical fixes the starting rotation needed, the offense could be in a much strong position, as well.

Even those improvements could put the Cubs very much in the thick of things in the NL Central, where several teams have stood pat – or even gotten worse in the case of the Reds. Odds are the division will be tight as the summer months hit, which makes being aggressive at the deadline and separating oneself from the pack more important than ever.

Even with a Correa on the books, there’s money to be spent here. They can utilize their financial standing to make moves in-season and address any shortcomings that arise during the first half of the season. With the long-term payroll flexibility Hoyer has created for himself, there will be opportunities to get aggressive come July.

This makes it all sound incredibly simple. But adding some star power back to the mix and shoring up the bullpen, paired with an already-improved rotation, should put the Chicago Cubs back on the map in 2022 and in a position to be a major player down the stretch.