MLB insider asks the biggest question for the Chicago Cubs this offseason.

Times are tough for Chicago Cubs fans. Fans were hopeful that they’d add one of Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, or Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With Yamamoto signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, the Cubs struck out this offseason.

Now, heading into 2024, they have more questions than answers. Could a reunion with Cody Bellinger be in the works? Do they believe they can even compete by adding a piece or two? These are all questions that must be answered.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com notes that the biggest question for Chicago this offseason is who’s going to play center field next season.

“The easy answer here would be Cody Bellinger, who was one of baseball’s best comeback stories in 2023. The issue, of course, is that Bellinger is arguably the top free-agent position player available now that superstar Shohei Ohtani is off the board,” writes Bastian.

“Bellinger is understandably seeking a hefty payday. If Bellinger is not re-signed by the Cubs, then the North Siders have a puzzle to solve in center field. Chicago has center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong — MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs prospect and the No. 12 prospect in baseball — but the club also does not want to rush him before he’s deemed ready. Mike Tauchman offers an experienced in-house option, and the Cubs could explore other short-term alternatives on the open market.”

Perhaps the front office believes that they’re the favorite to land Bellinger. However, it’s not a promising sign that they haven’t finalized a deal yet. If they don’t, the Cubs might have to bring Pete Crow-Armstrong up earlier than expected.