Cubs’ Meetings to-do list starts with bullpen

CHICAGO — While Cubs fans fulfill their holiday shopping lists with World Series-themed T-shirts and mugs, the front office is assessing what it needs to do to repeat as champions.

Heading into the Winter Meetings, which open Monday, the Cubs are focused on finding complements for their young players, which include National League Most Valuable Player Award winner Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Chicago already added one such player in free-agent center fielder Jon Jay, who signed a one-year, $8 million contract on Tuesday and joined the team’s deep crop of outfield options.

• Cubs aim to build around nucleus at Winter Meetings

“It says a lot about our team, being so young and being able to win a World Series this year,” Bryant said. “Knowing that we’re going to have this core together for a handful of years, there’s a lot of opportunity in front of us. And it’s up to us to make the most of it.”

MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington, D.C. Fans can watch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 8 at 8 a.m. CT.

What’s on the Cubs’ to-do list?

Club needs

Closer: With Aroldis Chapman leaving via free agency, the Cubs have a few in-house options as closer. They could put Hector Rondon back in that role or look at Carl Edwards Jr. for the ninth inning. Rondon went 14-for-18 in save opportunities in the first half of this past season, compiling a 1.72 ERA. He missed time because of a tight triceps, and posted a 6.41 ERA in 22 games after the All-Star break. Whether Edwards is ready to handle a more stressful workload and more innings is still to be …

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