Cubs: Ranking the top 5 offseason needs for Chicago

The good news? The Cubs will avoid losing 100 games for just the fourth time in franchise history. The bad? Chicago has understood its fate as far as the postseason goes for months now, as the front office continues to replenish a farm system that was largely devoid of impact talent when Jed Hoyer assumed the reins from his mentor Theo Epstein nearly two years ago.

Slated for a strong position in next year’s MLB draft, Hoyer will have the opportunity to continue to add to his farm system next summer but, in the meantime, this offseason is shaping up to be one where the Cubs flex their financial muscle for the first time in years.

There are plenty of needs when you look at this roster – but here are the top 5 offseason needs for the Cubs as the 2022 regular season winds down and we start looking to the months ahead.

Ranking the top 5 offseason needs for the Cubs: #5 – Established relievers

Cubs relievers rank 22nd in terms of ERA this season. Of course, the front office jettisoning the team’s top relief arms at the trade deadline for the second consecutive year did them no favors, but if Chicago wants to start turning the corner next year, the bullpen will need some reliable, established arms.

There’s going to be a large group of returners from this year’s team, but almost all of them are in the early years of their careers. Assuming Keegan Thompson swings back to the pen, he’s a lock as the long man there, while Brandon Hughes has really stepped up and shown  what he’s capable of.

The organizational pitching depth is dramatically improved over year’s past, but introducing some guys who’ve been in those big spots and know what it’s like to grind out an entire 162-game season while competing for a postseason spot will only help those young guys develop and take the next step.

Ranking the top 5 offseason needs for the Cubs: #4 – A first base answer

Earlier this week, I looked at the Cubs’ situation as it relates to first base, assuming Matt Mervis is going to have the inside track heading into camp next spring.

After all, Mervis hasn’t just been one of the best-performing prospects in the Cubs organization this year, but in all Minor League Baseball. The only reason we didn’t see him in Chicago here in September is the fact the team is facing a 40-man crunch and Mervis didn’t need to be protected from this year’s Rule 5 draft – unlike so many others.

Frank Schwindel’s brief tenure on the North Side drew to an unceremonious end recently and Alfonso Rivas has been inconsistent at the big league level, with his power totally evaporating. In other words, adding a proven commodity here wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

Anthony Rizzo reunion tour, anyone? Don’t hold your breath there. But I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see the Cubs go out and add a veteran bat, likely one with some power, to pair with Mervis at first as an insurance option. It won’t break the bank and will shore up a position the Cubs, frankly, need more from in 2023.

Ranking the top 5 offseason needs for the Cubs: #2 – Frontline starting pitching

The emergence of Justin Steele this season (not to mention Thompson, who we talked about earlier) were two big signs of the Cubs’ longstanding efforts to develop homegrown arms starting to pay dividends. Of late, Hayden Wesneski, acquired in the Scott Effross trade this summer, has also looked sharp – another promising development.

But if you’re looking ahead to 2023, aside from Steele and Marcus Stroman, there’s not much terms of sure things as far as the starting rotation is concerned. Kyle Hendricks, whose year ended early due to injury, is coming off back-to-back lackluster seasons and can no longer be counted upon to be the stabilizer he once was.

Wade Miley and Drew Smyly will both hit free agency at year’s end, although a reunion with the latter can’t be totally ruled out for a variety of reasons. Regardless of which young arms break through and have strong showings in Arizona next spring, this team needs an ace.

The good news for Chicago is there’s a myriad of ways they could address that need, ranging from a trade for someone like Shohei Ohtani to a major free agent signing of someone like Jacob deGrom or Carlos Rodon. There’s even a super-intriguing Japanese arm, Kodei Senga, who’s reportedly looking to come to the big leagues.

Regardless of how they go about do so, adding an ace is a must this offseason.

Ranking the top 5 offseason needs for the Cubs: #1 – Badly needed star power

Given the class of likely free agent shortstops this winter, there is no reason Chicago shouldn’t come away with their top choice. The club has next to no long-term payroll obligations and desperately need a big bat and some star power in the mix next season.

So, take your pick, Cubs fans. Is it Carlos Correa, who was incessantly linked to the team last winter in free agent rumors – and was even gifted his very own Christmas carol by the Wrigleyville faithful? How about a potential opt-out candidate like Xander Bogaerts? Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson are both also available – giving Chicago plenty of options to pair with Nico Hoerner up the middle.

Given where attendance and payroll both sit, adding a superstar back into the mix on the North Side makes all the sense in the world. And if you really want to get wild, as I noted when talking about the rotation, a trade for Ohtani not only gives you your ace, but also adds one of the most potent bats in the league into the equation.

A long shot? Absolutely. One that can be completely ruled out? Definitely not.