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.