CHICAGO _ The Cubs are banking on their offense rebounding from a second-half skid that resulted in an abrupt elimination from the playoffs. Most of that faith is in a young core of batters whose performances, with the exception of Javier Baez, dipped in some form last year.
With Addison Russell serving a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic-abuse policy, the immediate focus is on these five players and their need to shore up the following issues:
