Jed Hoyer can address a quiet offensive flaw when replacing Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki this winter

Let me start off by saying the Chicago Cubs are, unquestionably, one of the league's top offensive teams. They have the best wRC+ in baseball, lead the league in home runs and total runs and hold an above .500 record in both one-run and extra-inning games.

That being said, with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki set to (potentially) depart in free agency, Jed Hoyer could add a new dimension to his team this winter with an eye toward manufacturing offense, as opposed to just relying on the long ball.

The loss, especially in the case of Suzuki, removes a key source of slug, but this thought exercise is more about acknowledging there's more than one way of replacing that offensive production and potentially safeguarding against some of the prolonged power outages and slumps we've seen from the Cubs in recent years.

Having an offense built around power isn't a bad thing. It's especially impactful when the engine driving the offense is Pete Crow-Armstrong, the soon-to-be National League MVP, who's enjoying the best offensive season in the 150-year history of the Cubs. But you can't bank on him playing at this level every year - it's just not sustainable.

Adding another dimension to the Cubs' offense could be a game-changer

Some of the best teams in baseball and a pair of World Series favorites in the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored via the home run - yet their pesky, disciplined type of baseball wreaks havoc on opponents. It would be nice to see the Cubs at least have that card to play, especially in extra-inning affairs or during those times where conditions at Wrigley aren't conducive to power.

Now, if Jed Hoyer falls short in his quest to address the pitching side of the equation, these adjustments around the edges on the position player group will be for naught. And, rest assured, the Cubs aren't about to completely jettison their focus on defense as they look for new corner outfielders. But if the newcomers can help manufacture some offense via small ball, baserunning and situational hitting, nobody will be mad about it.

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