Stand pat to improve? That’s Cubs’ plan with their lineup

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Cubs head into this week’s winter meetings with less urgent business than they’ve had during any winter in recent memory in which they’ve had championship aspirations.

It’s not just because they return much of their World Series roster. And it’s certainly not because they expect to repeat their 2016 success by showing up with the same mix.

Mostly, it’s because they think they have a lineup even more potent than the 808-run, second-in-the-National League group from 2016 – even with the free agent loss of leadoff man Dexter Fowler. It’s also because they might have a better collective set of fielders to prevent more runs – even before the addition of veteran job-share center fielder Jon Jay last week.

“Right now we can go play from an offensive standpoint and feel very good about our group,” general manager Jed Hoyer said just before traveling to the meetings, held just outside of Washington, D.C., starting Monday.

The Cubs plan to continue to spend most of their time looking for pitching depth, in particular working the trade market for controllable starters and the free agent market for bullpen help (Brad Ziegler?).

But their lineup could be getting better as they speak to agents and other teams about pitching.

Just count the ways:

1. Kyle Schwarber is the first, big, 230-pound, homer-hitting reason. The 2015 rookie playoff hero, who outdid himself with a dramatic World Series return from a “season-long” knee injury (7-for-17 with three walks in four games as a designated hitter), likely opens next season as the Cubs’ No. 2 hitter. The lefty slugger with on-base skills could share playing time in left field, but barring another injury should start most games and – judging from his recent return – should provide a major boost of firepower after missing all but two games this year.

Hoyer said the team is discussing the likelihood of sending Schwarber on a winter ball assignment to get much-needed at-bats now that he’s reached the significant eight-month mark since his reconstructive surgery.

“Just his presence matters, how everybody feeds off him,” manager Joe Maddon said. “All those ancillary benefits are hard to evaluate in advance, but I think you’re going to feel them next year.”

2. Willson Contreras takes over the starting catching duties, which upgrades the position offensively and defensively over 2016, as backup David Ross retires and former starter Miguel Montero assumes a backup/mentor role. Excluding Contreras, who debuted in June, the Cubs’ three other 2016 catchers hit .219 in 438 at-bats with 35 extra-base hits. Contreras as a rookie in 252 at-bats: .282 with 27 extra-base hits and an .845 OPS.

“He’s made progress in probably every area of the game,” said Maddon, who leaned on Contreras for five World Series starts. “He’s definitely the kind of a guy that’s going to handle a heavy workload behind the plate.”

3. The Cubs set a World Series record with six players in one game under age 25. One of them, Kris Bryant, won the National League MVP award. Another, Javy Baez, was the National League Championship Series MVP. A third, Addison Russell, was the NL’s starting shortstop in the All-Star game. You get the idea.

“I’m telling you, these guys are going to keep getting better,” Maddon said.

4. Jason Heyward will not be as bad offensively as he was this year. At least it wouldn’t seem possible.

The Cubs’ emotional linchpin for their Series-winning, 10^th-inning rally admitted late during his career-worst season offensively (.631 OPS) that he might have pressed under the weight of his desire to play well for the first team he was able to choose to play for. Despite the struggles, he won a Gold Glove in right field in the first year of his eight-year, $184 million deal. And he was scheduled to get with hitting coach John Mallee and rebuild his hitting mechanics.

“He’s a big part of our future,” Maddon said.

5. The addition of promising Albert Almora Jr. in center field (with Jay sharing time) should be a defensive upgrade at that position, adding to the upgrade the Cubs expect behind the plate and the upgrade anticipated with increased playing time for Baez at second base.

Who leads off? Assuming decent health and reasonable projections for most of the young guys, who cares? Maddon should have enough mix-and-match options.