Chicago Cubs players notice this major difference from the 2023 team

The goal of any front-office executive in Major League Baseball should be to never make the same mistake twice.

It would seem that Jed Hoyer has followed that mindset with the moves that he has made this off-season.

Prior to the 2023 season, the Cubs had two major question marks with the construction of their bullpen and their wishful thinking that Trey Mancini, Eric Hosmer, and Matt Mervis could be the answer at first base.

The Cubs believe Michael Busch will be the long-term answer at first base and the team has the pitching depth this season that they lacked during last season.

After Carl Edwards Jr opted out of his minor-league deal with the Cubs, the bullpen picture is starting to come into focus for the Cubs.

The backbone of the Cubs' bullpen includes Adbert Alzolay, Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather, and Hector Neris. The Cubs still think highly of 2023 trade deadline acquisition Jose Cuas and Yency Almonte could be an unsung hero if he returns to his 2022 form.

The depth of the Chicago Cubs pitching staff is not lost on the players.

What failed the Cubs last season was the early injuries and ineffectiveness of Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer followed by the injuries and struggles of Alzolay and Leiter during the final month of the season.

It's a realization that many Cubs players had last season but is also one the team feels has been addressed this off-season. Drew Smyly, who will open the season in the bullpen, told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic that the depth of the pitching staff is something that the team can rely on in 2024.

The Cubs may not have household names in their bullpen in 2024 but they have a plethora of arms capable of getting three outs if needed at the Major League level. The same sentiment could not have been said of the 2023 team.

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