4 areas of need the Chicago Cubs must invest in this winter

3. The bullpen needs proven veterans

After the bullpen ran out of gas toward the end of 2023, there was hope that the Cubs would address the need with more surefire options in 2024. However, Jed Hoyer employed the same strategy and it once again blew up in their face early in the season. Early injuries to Adbert Alzolay and Yency Almonte combined with the struggles of Hector Neris, among other things, created an unstable situation that took most of the season to iron out.

While the bullpen has flipped the script with help from Porter Hodge (1.70 ERA), Jorge Lopez (2.19 ERA), and Tyson Miller (2.34 ERA), the Cubs still have the ninth most blown saves at 23. They can't afford another season waiting for things to fall in place and giving up crucial wins early. They'll still have a wealth of high-upside and/or optionable talent available through guys like Nate Pearson, Daniel Palencia, Luke Little, and Michael Arias, but with how volatile relievers can be, some certainty is vital.

One move they can make is re-signing Lopez. Hoyer pounced on the chance to pick up the right-hander after the Mets jettisoned him and he's looked comfortable pitching with Chicago. It's unlikely that the front office will change its tune about pursuing pricier, multi-year arms, but that doesn't mean they can't sign a couple of arms in or around the Neris bracket (1-year, $9 million) at least. There's always the trade market if they dare to use their wealth of prospects to go big-game hunting for someone like Mason Miller, however unlikely that is.