Cubs' biggest strength in 2024 will still be a huge offseason focus

Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad both played key roles for Chicago

Jameson Taillon's rough start to his Cubs career is now little more than a distant memory. The veteran right-hander closed out 2023 on a high note and wasted no time carrying that trend throughout the 2024 campaign, making 28 starts and working to a 3.92 FIP that's perfectly in-line with his career mark of 3.93.

If all goes according to plan, Taillon will slot into the fourth or fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation next year, giving Chicago one of the deepest staffs in the league. He's capable of pitching in big-time games and having someone of his caliber toward the back of the rotation would bode well for the team's hope of winning its first division crown since 2020 - and first in a full season since 2017.

While he's certainly got a leg up on several of his teammates, Javier Assad feels best suited for a swingman role moving forward. He pretty evidently wore down as the year progressed, blowing past his previous career-high in innings as the team weathered a number of pitching injuries.

Assad reportedly has an 'inside track' on a rotation spot, pending the outcome of the front office's offseason moves - but no one (besides maybe Assad himself) would be upset if he got pushed out of the starting mix because Hoyer went out and added a pair of proven arms to slot in behind Imanaga, Steele and Taillon.