Cubs Holiday Wish List: 3 must-dos for the team before spring

Los Angeles Angels v Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Angels v Chicago Cubs | Christian Petersen/GettyImages
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1: add another SP on a low-cost, short-term deal / 2: left-handed power bat / 3: explore the trade market

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone. With winter weather and snow gripping much of the country, it feels like we have a lifetime to wait until the dark green ivy covers the Wrigley Field walls and clear blue skies herald another summer of Chicago Cubs baseball.

The offseason has been fairly eventful for the team to this point - including handing former All-Star and Gold Glove winner Dansby Swanson the second-largest contract in franchise history and adding Jameson Taillon, Cody Bellinger and Tucker Barnhart to the mix. That being said, there's still work to be done and here's my holiday wish list when it comes to the Cubs and the rest of the offseason.

3 Cubs holiday wishes: #3 - Add more starting pitching depth

Lost in the excitement of the Swanson signing this week was a report that made Kyle Hendricks' role on next year's team seem very much up in the air, while also mentioning him as a potential trade candidate.

With or without Hendricks in the mix, Chicago could still use another veteran starting pitcher as a rotation insurance policy. Jed Hoyer did well in bringing back Drew Smyly on a two-year deal after the left-hander worked to a 2.83 ERA in 11 second-half starts, but I still wouldn't mind another veteran option on a one-year deal.

Corey Kluber would be nice, but I suspect he'll land a shorter multi-year deal somewhere. Perhaps a Michael Pineda, Chris Archer or Carlos Martinez? We'll see what the front office has in mind, but we know one thing for sure: you can't ever have too much pitching.

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