This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here . And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs successfully constructed a playoff team last season, but the stated goal by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been to create a group primed for a sustained period of October runs. That makes this an important winter for building on a roster that fell one win shy of reaching the National League Championship Series.

One of the reasons behind Chicago’s playoff exit was that the rotation had taken multiple hits by that stage, making depth in that area a must for this offseason’s to-do list. Chicago also needs to build up its bullpen corps and perhaps see if there could be an impact hitter out there

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