What Can Chicago Cubs Do in Free Agency to Avoid Another 100-Loss Season? Fan’s Take

The Chicago Cubs finished the 2012 MLB season with a 61-101 record. They'll enter the 2012-13 free-agency period with a lot of concerns on how to improve their roster for the short term and the long term. What can Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer do to avoid another season with 100-plus losses?

Starting Pitchers

The Cubs' 2013 Opening Day starting rotation should include Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood. This leaves two openings. Recently-acquired Arodys Vizcaino is coming off Tommy John surgery. A 100-inning pitch count is a possibility. Spring-training competitors may include Brooks Raley, Chris Rusin, Chris Volstad, Justin Germano, Jason Berken and any other additions.

How can the Cubs become competitive in 2013? Their best chance is by adding two starting pitchers. They need a legitimate ace pitcher and another mid-tier pitcher behind Garza and Samardzija (e.g. Anibal Sanchez or Paul Maholm). I'd expect that one mid-tier pitcher is added. They'll add their long-term ace pitcher with the second-overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. That happens in June.

Relief Pitchers

The Cubs must restructure their bullpen. They should keep James Russell as a left-handed reliever. After losing his closer job in the first half of the season, Carlos Marmol was much better when he reclaimed it. The Cubs may keep him for one more year. They need to make some moves to improve their middle-relief situation.

Third Baseman

The Cubs have a promising young infield that includes Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney. Welington Castillo also hit better toward the end of the season. The Cubs need all of these players to improve in 2013.

Third baseman is another story. The Cubs never replaced Aramis Ramirez's offensive production. Ian Stewart, Luis Valbuena and Josh Vitters were all liabilities in the Cubs' offense. Vitters should've never been promoted from Triple-A Iowa. Valbuena is more of a utility player off the bench. Stewart may get one more chance after wrist surgery.

Power-Hitting Outfielder

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What Can Chicago Cubs Do in Free Agency to Avoid Another 100-Loss Season? Fan’s Take