Fixing the Chicago Cubs offense in five steps

This one is a bit of a no-brainer. Harper is going to be the best offensive free agent this fall and winter. The Cubs need to go all in to sign the right fielder.

Jason Heyward's contract is too big to dump completely, but he simply cannot play a corner outfield spot anymore. The addition of Harper will allow Harper to play right field and Heyward can move to center field. This will make Almora or Happ, or both decent bats and gloves off the bench.

No, Dexter Fowler probably isn't coming back, but he was the last real leadoff hitter the Cubs had. Since his departure, the spot has been a revolving door with varied degrees of success and quite a bit of failure. If the Cubs offense wants to fix what ails it, they are going to need to find an actual leadoff hitter who can do it 150+ times a year.

It was pretty clear that even after Kris Bryant returned from the DL he wasn't 100 percent. It was also clear he wasn't 100 percent well before he went on the DL. Whether it's rest or surgery, the Cubs need to make sure Bryant is 100 percent healed when 2019 starts.

Addison Russell was also banged up this season. That's likely not the entire reason he was so bad at the plate. Russell is suspended for the season's first 40 games. but the Cubs should cut ties for the entire season. Javier Baez can move over to shortstop but Chicago needs a new second baseman. That's not Ian Happ, nor David Bote or Tommy LaStella. The Cubs should look outside the organization to boost the middle infield.