Chicago Cubs Players Question If Club Improved from Last Season
As the Chicago Cubs get underway during Spring Training, they have questions to answer. The front office made moves during the offseason, but there certainly feels like there was more that needed to be done for a team that has aspirations of winning the NL Central.
The Cubs were in the mix for a playoff spot all season before ultimately falling short.
As a result, they hired Craig Counsell, landed a massive Japanese signing in Shota Imanaga, and made other moves to better the team. Getting Imanaga was important for more than one reason as he's an elite talent and signing international prospects needs to be a priority moving forward.
While the Imanaga and Counsell moves were needed and made the team better, the lack of offensive additions is a concern.
Jeimer Candelario left in free agency, Cody Bellinger hasn't re-signed, and they haven't made a move for a player like Matt Chapman.
It's fair to say that Chicago might be worse than they were in 2023 due to the way their lineup is currently constructed.
Nico Hoerner enters the season wondering if Chicago is better than they were last season, saying the following, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
"All of us are asking that question individually and as a group, and it's up to us to answer that as the season plays out," he said.
The best way to prove that this group is a different team than they were last season is by playing better. In a favorable NL Central, they still have a chance to win with how this roster is currently constructed.
Re-signing Bellinger and landing Chapman would go a long way but that's not in the players' control.
