CHICAGO _ After a humbling exit from the National League Championship Series, a daunting but expected mission has arrived for Cubs President Theo Epstein and his staff.
"We knew the 2017-18 offseason would be one of our most challenging," Epstein said while answering questions for more than one hour, one day after the Cubs were knocked out of the playoffs in five games by the Dodgers. "We've know that for a long time. There are maybe more opportunities presented next offseason."
Epstein relishes the challenge where expectations are greater than they were when he took over a wallowing franchise six years ago and transformed it to the point where there's a tint of disappointment after not winning a second consecutive World Series.
In an effort to bolster the Cubs' chances in 2018, Epstein will address the Cubs' needs _ primarily starting pitching _ through all avenues that include trades and free agency, with the latter option more delicate.
"You don't want to make a living or habit out of trying to solve your problems with high-price pitching free agents because over the long run there's so much risk involved that you can really hamstring your organization,' Epstein said. "But we have a lot of players who have reasonable salaries who contribute an awful lot who might put us in a positon to consider it going forward and in the future.
"It's not our preferred method. We'd prefer to make a small deal and find Jake Arrieta, but you can't do that every year, either."
Closer Wade Davis and Arrieta are the Cubs' two primary free agents Epstein would like to re-sign, but he's mindful of the costs. Epstein said he hadn't spoken with starter John Lackey, 38, a free agent who seems destined toward retirement.
And after building a perennial postseason contender once through veterans and then by prospects, Epstein acknowledged the reality of trading a major league player to address a need.
"It stinks to give up a good player," Epstein said. "But if you think that way, you'll never make any trades and you have to focus on what you're getting back.
"The flip side is that trades (are) really hard to make."
The Cubs may have no choice but to trade at least one of their young outfielders to acquire a pitcher. Left-handed hitter Kyle Schwarber could be a perfect fit for an American League team, but Epstein spoke optimistically of his 24-year-old slugger's upside.
"The fact he hit 30 bombs in a bad year is a good start," Epstein said. "But power is not everything. He fell into more of becoming of a slugger than a hitter."
Versatile switch hitter Ian Happ, 23, also attracted scouts, but Epstein marveled over Happ's relentless desire to improve as a hitter and defender.
"He wants to be great," Epstein said.
Epstein was blunt about the need for the bullpen to reduce its high walk rate that haunted them.
"Come on, we have to be a lot better than that," said Epstein, adding that he might seek "pure strike throwers."
The Cubs managed more than five runs a game without a full-time leadoff hitter during the regular season, but the lack of seasoned at-bats surfaced during the NLCS as the Dodgers held the Cubs to a .156 batting average and hitless in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
"More important than identifying one guy as leadoff hitter is the arc the young hitters are going to lead us to a place where we have consistent, tough at-bats, team at-bats, grinding at-bats where we perform well with situational hitting, runners in scoring position, a dependable two-strike approach where we're no fun to pitch against, and elite pitchers feel the same way," Epstein said.
During several exit interviews with players, Epstein made a distinction about their physical and mental state that started with a short offseason and became more challenging with a draining five-game NL Division Series followed by a 12-hour odyssey to Los Angeles to open the NLCS.
"Fatigue is not a primary factor, and it's not an excuse," Epstein said. "But admittedly it was a trying season."
