3 glaring red flags that need addressed before the Cubs can be serious contenders

Hoyer has to pony up the dollars needed for proven relief arms

During both the Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer tenures, the Chicago Cubs have hit on a high number of reclamation projects and cast-offs from other organizations in their bullpen building. That can continue to be part of the approach, but it can't be the only way you go about assembling a relief corps.

Blown saves alone crippled the Cubs' playoff hopes over the last two months, with Adbert Alzolay eventually losing the ninth-inning job and veteran Hector Neris proving shaky, even when he manages to get the job done. Chicago hasn't had the necessary firepower at the back end in some time - and even when they've had capable arms in recent years, they've wound up trading them at the deadline.

Maybe one of the team's up-and-coming pitching prospects proves to be the answer in the ninth. Ben Brown certainly has the stuff, but has also excelled as a starter. But what this team needs is for the front office to seriously allocate funds to build out the back of the bullpen - and I don't mean looking to 35-year-old veterans like Neris whose best days are clearly behind them.

It's time for the Cubs to act like the big-market team they actually are

Last week offered the perfect juxtaposition of what a large market team can and should look like and what happens when you're focused on piecing together rosters without having serious star power. The Philadelphia Phillies, with the help of former Cub Kyle Schwarber, have established themselves as an annual postseason threat thanks to the work of a front office that embraces the high-risk game that is free agency.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are a team without a true star. Cody Bellinger is the closest thing to it and, without the power element of his game, he's far from a Bryce Harper-level presence, despite making roughly the same amount of money this year.

I'm tired of this value-obsessed approach. This franchise has the means and the ability to land any player it so chooses and needs to embrace that fact, rather than settling for always being the bridesmaid instead of the bride.

You want Soto in Cubbie blue? Go get it done. Corbin Burnes atop the rotation? Get out the checkbook. Cubs fans shouldn't have to settle for anything less - and suggesting it's smart to avoid these types of deals is foolish and will prevent the team from being legitimate contenders.