Cubs need to start spending money to fix the issues in Chicago for 2020

The Chicago Cubs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 in 2019. They went on a streak starting in 2015 of making the playoffs, even winning a World Series in 2016.

For a long time, the Chicago Cubs were the but of every joke. They were the laughing-stock of baseball. They were the lovable losers. In 2016, it seemed like the whole world besides their opponents and rivals wanted the Cubs to win their first World Series since 1908. Now, only four years later, they are seeming to close their window faster than many expected.

Bringing David Ross in to be the Cubs’ new manager was a risky decision from the start. A young manager taking over a veteran team that knows how to win isn’t their best choice. Firing Joe Maddon will go down as a big mistake, mark my words. There was no good reason to fire him.

All of the Cubs’ fans are rooting for Ross to do well. The concern is, why haven’t the Cubs gone out and fixed their problems? They need to figure out if they’re going to lock up Kris Bryant for a long contract or if he is done with Chicago. If he is done, the Cubs need to send him off and get at least two solid relief pitching prospects and a starting utility guy or pitcher. The pitcher obviously isn’t going to be Clayton Kershaw good, they just need someone to fill up the fourth or fifth role.

Losing Cole Hamels in the offseason to the Braves is a big blow to the pitching staff. There is now a big hole in the rotation that needs to be fixed. If the Cubs are still in this “win now” mindset, they have to go out and make moves.

If the Cubs are looking to spend money, left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is available. The former Dodger and 32-year old pitcher had a rocky finish to 2019. His team still won the NL West so chances are, he still has something left in the tank. Right now, the White Sox are one of the top front-runners to sign Ryu. If they are seriously interested in adding a weapon to their pitching staff, he needs to be signed before the new year.

Dallas Keuchel is still a free-agent going into 2020. The Cubs have reportedly been one of the teams interested in Keuchel. If the rumors are true, he would be a great addition to the Cubs’ pitching staff. Last season, Keuchel posted an 8-8 record with a 3.75 ERA. These numbers aren’t great but he did play on a great Braves team last year. Their post-season dreams were crushed but that doesn’t mean Keuchel isn’t done just yet. At 31-years old, he still has a few solid years left.

The Cubs’ bullpen is an issue, not only do they need another starting pitcher, they need at least two relief/closing pitchers to fix up the mess. The Cubs blew a lot of games last year because of their inconsistent bullpen. They do have some talent there, they just aren’t consistent. Though the whole bullpen isn’t terrible, guys like Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, and Brandon Kintzler aren’t getting any younger. They are towards the end of their careers. All three have hit the open market. It’s very unlikely to see all three players come back for 2020.

The Cubs parted ways with Addison Russell when the season ended. That was a positive and respectable move by the Cubs’ front office. Even though Russell was a big part of the 2016 World Series team, he was a distraction in the locker room and had his off-field issues. The abusive allegations towards his ex-wife were enough to turn the city of Chicago on him. It’s understandable, my question is, why did it take the Cubs so long to get rid of him?

That gives the second-base role wide open for the Cubs. Youngster Nico Hoerner played well in his rookie season. At 23-years old, he has a bright future. It’s fair to expect him to play a lot more this season. Hoerner only took 78 at-bats in 2019. He had a .282 batting average. There is a lot of excitement when it comes to him.

One player to look at is Starling Castro. Bringing him back to play second base would be exciting for him and the city of Chicago. He was expected to be a young star for the Cubs before he was traded to the Yankees. Now, he hasn’t had a great career, which will help the team save money by signing him. Losing Ben Zobrist in 2019 due to personal reasons showed how important second base is. Getting a 29-year old like Castro could benefit the Cubs.

If the Cubs don’t fix these holes and spend money in the offseason, they’re setting Ross up for failure. The team still has time to grow and win. They need to re-sign Bryant before making too many moves. The most important is finding a fifth pitcher and adding depth to the bullpen. If they can add a guy like Castro, that will benefit the Cubs in September and October.