3 Cubs offseason decisions that already look genius

Jed Hoyer catches plenty of flak for the Chicago Cubs' lackluster showing during his tenure, much of it deserved, although Tom Ricketts' penny-pinching ways do him few favors. But it hasn't all been bad, evidenced by three moves from last winter than have directly contributed to the team's 12-9 first-place start.

Colin Rea has turned in two brilliant starts filling in for Justin Steele

He's not a headliner or an ace - probably not someone whose jersey Cubs fans are flocking to buy at the Cubs Store on Gallagher Way - but Colin Rea has been huge for the team of late.

After it was announced Justin Steele was done for the year with an elbow injury, panic quickly set in. But Rea has done his part to help the team level off and keep plowing ahead in its quest to return to the postseason in 2025. The veteran right-hander carries a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings of work and has been nails in two starts.

He held the Dodgers and Diamondbacks to just one run each, keeping the ship afloat as the Cubs weather the April storm. If he can be a stable presence and Javier Assad can add further insurance, it will buy Hoyer and the front office time to pull off that blockbuster to shore up the rotation.

Catcher Carson Kelly is playing out of his mind and leading the offense

Improving year over year is about identifying weaknesses on your roster and turning them into strengths - or, at the very least, less of a weakness. Hoyer and Carter Hawkins certainly did that behind the plate with the offseason signing of Carson Kelly, who is playing the best baseball of his life to start the season.

Splitting time with Miguel Amaya, Kelly has put up an otherworldly .419/.578/1.097 in 31 at-bats across 11 games. It's not like Amaya has been slacking either (he carries a .770 OPS, an above-average mark) - but it's been Kelly who continues to steal the show.

His heroics played a key role in Friday's unbelievable win against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field - and while this ride may not last forever, it's sure been a fun one to be on to start the year.

The Cubs look smart for snagging Matthew Boyd early on

Chicago headed into the winter in need of a legitimate ace and, instead, moved on oft-injured left-hander (not to mention one of the nicest human beings in the game) in Matthew Boyd.

The move was met with immense skepticism given his checkered health history, but the early returns have been jaw-dropping. Boyd carries a 2.01 ERA in four starts and has been masterful at limiting hard contact since joining the Cubs. Obviously, the question moving forward is what his final workload looks like, but he's pitched like an ace.

That performance has definitely helped the Cubs weather the loss of Steele, giving Craig Counsell an experienced southpaw to slot in alongside Shota Imanaga atop the rotation. It wasn't the sexiest move in the world, but it's certainly looked smart through the first few trips through the starting rotation here in April.