Upgrading the Cubs bench could have a much bigger impact than you'd think

Cody Bellinger is returning for a third season with the Chicago Cubs and, while there are a lot of positives that come with a 29-year-old multi-positional player who possesses a plus hit tool, it does create a bit of a crowded picture with the starting lineup.

The expectation is Bellinger will take over full-time in right, with Seiya Suzuki becoming the everyday DH in 2025. The outfield trio of Bellinger, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ could be one of the best defensive groups in the league, but there's virtually no clear path to adding a major bat (outside of catcher) with Bellinger back in tow.

The Cubs will make moves to address the catcher position. But Bellinger's return doesn't mean that's the only way Jed Hoyer will shake things up this winter. Even with that $27.5 million on the books, there's a ton of money available - more than enough to add a front-line starter, address the bullpen and overhaul one of the worst benches in recent memory.

If you need proof of how important position player depth is, just look at the Los Angeles Dodgers, who overcame injury after injury all year long to win it all last week. That depth is something the Cubs, as currently constructed, lack in a big way.

Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, Miles Mastrobuoni and Mike Tauchman aren't going to cut it. Tauchman is a fine fourth or fifth outfielder who sees pitches, no doubt about it, but with a glut of outfield prospects knocking on the door at Iowa, he could be on his way out, as well.

There are a few ways Hoyer could go about this. One, he could let the kids play, building out a bench loaded with prospects like Matt Shaw, James Triantos and Owen Caissie. Depending who gets moved via trade this winter, I suspect at least one will fill such a role. But you need the veteran experience on the roster - and that's where the front office can look to free agency and the trade market to shore up the positional depth.

If the Cubs are serious about winning 90+ games on a yearly basis, this represents one of the most straightforward ways of raising their floor. Quit wasting at-bats with players who can't hit their way and set the team up to handle IL stints and the bumps and bruises that come with a 162-game grind. Empowering Craig Counsell with a more well-rounded bench could be a huge difference-maker for this team in 2025.