CHICAGO -- A soon-to-be 42-year-old righty (Koji Uehara), a platoon outfielder (Jon Jay), a closer coming off an injury (Wade Davis), another pitcher with elbow problems in 2016 (Brian Duensing) and a Rule 5 lefty (Caleb Smith): It doesn’t sound like the makings of an offseason for a contending team -- let alone one vying to repeat as world champion. But those players are exactly who the Chicago Cubs have acquired this winter at a time when easy choices were set aside for difficult ones.
Think about it.