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With spring training just around the corner and the new year being rung in, it feels like the MLB offseason is over. However, for the Chicago Cubs, like most other teams in the league, there is still some work to be done. Even though the bulk of Chicago’s offseason moves have likely already been made, it will still look to improve its 2015 roster.

What moves the front office manages to pull off over the next month and a half will largely help determine if the Cubs are just an improved team or a contender in 2015. Here are some holes they could look to still fill as well as players who could fill those holes.

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Through their signing of Jon Lester, trade for Miguel Montero and other various moves this offseason, the Chicago Cubs have made one thing clear: They plan to compete starting in 2015. Whether they’re truly competitive this upcoming season remains to be seen, but for the first time in several years, the team actually has an expectation of success.

They’ve done plenty this offseason already, but before the dust settles and pitchers and catchers report to spring training in February, a lot more could be done. Here are three more questions that need answers for the Cubs before they break camp and head toward their bright future.

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The Chicago Cubs have been very active this offseason after starting off slow, adding catcher Miguel Montero via trade and pitchers Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Jason Motte via free agency. While all of these moves should majorly improve the Cubs in 2015 and beyond, one move qualifies as the biggest steal. 

That move was the Montero trade, which gets overlooked since it was made around the same time as the team signed Lester to his megadeal. 

The Cubs sent minor league pitchers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the deal. While Mejia, who went 2-4 with a 2.48 ERA in the rookie league last season, has some upside, he was well worth dealing for Montero. Godley recorded 15 saves in Class-A ball last season, but he’s already 24 years old.

Money was the biggest factor in this deal. The Cubs took on Montero‘s three years and $40 million remaining on his contract, so the Diamondbacks didn’t need much in return. Mejia and Godley both are low-level pitchers who could pan out, but as of now, neither of them is close to being major league-ready.

Chicago benefited by being willing and able to pay Montero, while Arizona wanted to shed salary. He will replace current catcher Welington Castillo, who could be traded by the end of the offseason, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (h/t D.J. Short of Hardball Talk). That’s because the team could sign veteran and Lester favorite David Ross, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, the team likely feels prospect Kyle Schwarber can step in once Montero‘s contract has expired.

Montero is an upgrade offensively from Castillo, who had another disappointing, injury-riddled season in 2014. The former D-backs backstop hit .243 with 13 homers and 72 RBI last season, while Castillo hit .237 with 13 homers and 46 RBI. 

Clearly, the areas in which these two are separated are their ability to drive in runs and their ability to get on base. In terms of average and power, the two had almost identical numbers. However, Montero had a .329 on-base percentage, while Castillo’s was .297. Also, with the same amount of home runs, Montero drove in 26 more runs.

Perhaps more importantly, Montero is a left-handed bat. That will give the Cubs’ righty-heavy lineup some more balance.

While they’ve made several nice moves this offseason, the Cubs’ biggest steal so far was their trade for Montero. It gets overlooked, but having his bat in the lineup is going to be a major boost. They didn’t have to give up top prospects and aren’t really paying a ridiculous salary.

When it’s all said and done, this could be one of the moves people look at as a reason for the Cubs becoming competitive somewhere down the line.

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After being disappointing for most of the offseason by missing out on a couple coveted free agents, the Chicago Cubs made their first major free-agent splash in five years. That splash, of course, was the six-year, $155 million contract they signed ace Jon Lester to at the winter meetings.

The craziest thing about this signing is how drastically it potentially changes the Cubs’ offseason plan. Now that they have their ace, they may feel as though they can compete in 2015 and pursue a big bat to solidify themselves as contenders this upcoming season, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

This doesn’t mean the team is going to go crazy and completely abandon its plan, but it does mean the Cubs are likely to be more aggressive for the remainder of the offseason. Whether that means making a few minor moves or one major one, the Cubs likely aren’t stopping at Lester.

So What’s Next?

There are a couple smaller moves that may come after the Lester signing. The first one is signing catcher David Ross because of his veteran presence and history with Lester in Boston. He would likely be the catcher whenever Lester is on the mound. Signing Ross would also make Welington Castillo tradable since the team traded for All-Star catcher Miguel Montero at the winter meetings.

Another player the Cubs could add is veteran outfielder Jonny Gomes. He, like Ross and Lester, has history in Boston and could be brought in as a platoon/fourth outfielder. His veteran presence and ability to get on base (since 2011, his on-base percentage has been at least .093 better than his batting average every year) make him a very attractive option.

If he instilled his professional plate approach to the young, free swingers in Chicago, he could help the team with more than just his play.

Another name that hasn’t come up yet but could make a lot of sense is Brewers outfielder Gerardo Parra. Milwaukee acquired him last offseason but could be shopping him this offseason, according to Rosenthal. At a projected $6.4 million in arbitration this offseason, the Cubs could more than afford the plus-defender.

Parra has a decent bat, hitting .261 with nine home runs and 40 RBI while swiping nine bases in 2014. He can also plug into right field for the team because of his incredible throwing arm. Over the last three seasons, he has an astounding 38 outfield assists. Don’t underestimate the value of someone with that arm in right field.

One major splash the Cubs could still potentially pursue is Justin Upton. However, the chances of them landing the Braves‘ outfielder are very slim. For starters, the Cubs are one of four teams on his no-trade list. He could lift that trade block if he feels more comfortable going to Chicago now, but there aren’t definitive indications he will do that at this time.

Additionally, the prospect package the Cubs would have to send to Atlanta could be costly. If they had to give up any elite prospects rather than a package of pretty good ones, there’s almost no way the Cubs will pursue a trade. However, if the price is right and things fall into place, the Cubs could try to make a second major splash to go all-in for the 2015 campaign.

Whether they make a few minor moves or one major move over the rest of this offseason, this should be the most exciting season on the North Side in at least five years. With Lester going up against Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals on MLB‘s Opening Night from Wrigley Field, the excitement will be there from the start. Unlike the past several years, the Cubs are hoping to keep that excitement going through October. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While the Chicago Cubs are still trying to make key signings on the free-agent market, when the front office makes its way to the MLB winter meetings Monday, it will also be looking to make some trades. The Cubs have already been linked to several deals this offseason and could be interested in several more.

With an infield surplus, the team figures to find at least one of its talented young infielders expendable. If one of them is moved, expect the Cubs to net an ace in return. However, until the Cubs know whether Jon Lester has decided to sign with them, they likely won’t aggressively pursue a trade for an ace. 

Once they know Lester’s decision, and possibly even before, here are five players they could target next week at the winter meetings.

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Coming into the offseason, it seemed like the Cubs were building momentum. They were seemingly connected to every major free agent, and fans were starting to get hyped about what potential stars they could sign. However, the team hasn’t made any significant moves yet as the MLB‘s winter meetings get ready to begin.

Even though they haven’t done anything so far, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to do anything all winter. In fact, expect rumors to heat back up this offseason as soon as the winter meetings begin. Here are five things to look for from the Cubs as they try to become more competitive for 2015 and beyond.

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Even though they missed out on catcher Russell Martin in free agency, the Chicago Cubs still have plenty of targets left in play. Most free agents they currently have an interest in would be more of role players, with the exception of ace Jon Lester. Any other elite pitching they pursue this offseason could be in the form of a trade.

However, before they consider any trades, they have to see how Lester and other pitchers respond to their offers. Given its extreme youth in the outfield, the team could also go after a veteran outfielder to platoon with one of the youngsters.

Based on how free agency has gone so far and how well each player could fit in with the Cubs in their current state, here are updated odds on the team landing their remaining top five free-agent targets.

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Linked to major free agents this offseason like Jon Lester and Russell Martin, the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a big splash this winter in one way or another. Signing free agents is surely a way to improve the team quickly, but teams can also do that via trade.

Even though it’s hard to know which rumors to listen to, the Cubs have already been linked to trade scenarios involving Cole Hamels and Jordan Zimmermann (although the Zimmermann report was later discredited).

There are plenty of other trade possibilities out there for the North Siders to pull off before the offseason fun is over. These three trades in particular would make the Cubs considerably better without sacrificing the vision president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have worked over the last three years to create.

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The Chicago Cubs entered the 2014 season with a very strong farm system and somehow ended the year with an even stronger one. Several key prospects have found their way to the major leagues this season, but a lot of top-level talent still remains in the farm system.

For the sake of argument, no player that has been called up by the team this season will be included as a top prospect, even though a few late call-ups and September call-ups like Jorge Soler and Arodys Vizcaino would’ve made this list. Based on their performance this season and how they project in the future, here are the Cubs’ top 10 prospects to end the 2014 season.

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The Chicago Cubs took clear steps forward this season and have built up momentum moving into 2015. When they get some more prospects at the big league level and some top line pitching in free agency, this team could compete. 

Several things are still up in the air for next season, such as potential free-agent signings, but the future certainly looks bright. Based on indications the team has given and how their current roster has performed, here is the projected 25-man roster for the Cubs on Opening Day next season.

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