The Cubs have a lot of work to do this winter, and one area of need is a bullpen that simply didn’t have enough weapons to hold up down the stretch. Jed Hoyer’s only outside addition at the deadline was sidewinder José Cuas, who ended up being pressed into almost daily duty in September. The Cubs didn’t have much balance in the ‘pen either, relying primarily on righty Mark Leiter Jr. to serve as their lefty specialist to injuries or lack of performance.
As such, Hoyer may need to swim in deeper waters when it comes to building out a relief corps with more than just spare parts and hope.