Cubs Target Areas For 2024 Roster Upgrades

The Chicago Cubs are very likely going to miss the 2023 MLB Playoffs, putting an end their dream that seemed unrealistic at the beginning of the season.

After being under .500 during the summer, they pulled a major turnaround and were a Wild Card team for the majority of the second half of the year.

Then, the wheels fell off at the very end.

The Cubs are now one-and-a-half games out of the final Wild Card spot with two games remaining. They'll need some major help to be playing postseason baseball.

That help is most likely not on the way and Chicago will spend another year watching the MLB Playoffs from home.

While it's a disappointing end to the season, stepping back and analyzing the situation provides context that maybe this was an overachievement to actually be in the playoff race this late.

The Cubs spent big last offseason to give themselves a shot, but they also viewed themselves as a rebuilding ballclub in a sense.

Manager David Ross has said, "We learn from our failures, not our success. You learn from the moments that set you back."

So what will Chicago learn from this situation?

For one, they have to do a deep dive into their pitching situation.

Getting high leverage arms out of the bullpen should be a major target of the front office moving forward. Relying on their rotating arms down the stretch due to fatigue and injury was not sustainable for a team lacking top end talent, which negatively impacted this season.

They likely won't need to bring in starting pitching, which should help them acquire more bullpen pieces.

Marcus Stroman is now expected to opt-in to his contract, Jameson Taillon was signed to a multi-year deal last offseason and they have three young starters in Justin Steele, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks to build around.

Another question they have to answer, how much money are they willing to shell out?

Cody Bellinger, their best hitter this season, is going to get a big contract in free agency.

The Cubs need to decide if they're going to be part of that chase.

If they are, that likely limits the other additions they make, but also sures up their defense and keeps a producing bat in their lineup.

If they aren't, they need to target an everyday third and first baseman to add to the roster.

Young prospects are also waiting for their call-ups to get a chance at the Major League level.

Chicago could go the youth route, but then would need to have realistic expectations they might not be a playoff team in 2024 as these players grow.

There are a lot of questions that Jed Hoyer and his front office must answer before they attack the offseason, but there are blatant areas on this roster that they need to upgrade.