Cubs know Dansby Swanson is going to be 'playing assistant GM' this winter

The Chicago Cubs need to be one of the busiest teams in the league this winter, with needs at the top of the rotation, in the bullpen and at both corner infield spots. Making fringe improvements won't be enough to get this team back in the conversation as a legitimate contender for the first time since 2019.

No one is more aware of that than the Cubs' All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson, the unquestioned leader of this team. And you can count on him to be very involved in the team's offseason plans. Chicago's president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed as much this week.

"“Certainly he’s going to be involved – he wouldn’t not be involved. I love that aspect of him being a winner. I know he’s going to be in our ear playing assistant GM.”"

- Jed Hoyer on Dansby Swanson

Swanson knows what a top-to-bottom winning roster looks like after spending the first chunk of his career with the Braves, winning a World Series with Atlanta in 2021. He didn't, as John Lackey once said, "come here for a haircut," and, while the Cubs improved over last season, being a .500 club isn't the end goal for Swanson or the front office.

Dansby Swanson knows the Cubs have work to do this offseason - both on the trade market and via free agency

Rumors have been flying nonstop around Mets first baseman Pete Alonso - and now, the Padres have left the door very much open on a potential trade of outfielder Juan Soto. While Shohei Ohtani isn't going to happen, a reunion with Cody Bellinger is very much in the cards after the former MVP turned in a monster return to form campaign in 2023.

Justin Steele emerged as a frontline starter, but the Cubs need to add another top-of-the-rotation arm to pair with him. The bullpen fell to pieces late in the year and adding reliable pieces there will be key, even with a pipeline of young pitching working its way to Wrigley.

There were a lot of positives this year. But there were definite areas of need - and you can bet Swanson is going to be pushing hard to get the front office to spend and add where needed.