This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian¡¯s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs pulled off a stunning trade to reel in star outfielder Kyle Tucker on Friday. That move had ripple effects not only on Chicago¡¯s roster, but on the next items on the team¡¯s to-do list for the remainder of the offseason.

Here¡¯s a look at what the North Siders need to tackle in the wake of the Tucker trade.

1. Solve the outfield logjam

The Cubs decided to go get their main target before worrying about how all the puzzle pieces will fit together. There was an outfield logjam before the Tucker trade and there is certainly one in the wake of the deal.

Chicago has Ian Happ in left and Pete Crow-Armstrong in center. For right field, the options are now Tucker, Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki. The designated hitter slot can help, as can Bellinger¡¯s ability to play center and first base, but the Cubs already have Michael Busch manning first. Don¡¯t forget about Top 100 prospects Owen Caissie (No. 34) and Kevin Alc¨¢ntara (No. 67), who are trying to break through to the MLB outfield in 2025.

Another trade seems inevitable.

¡°It¡¯s not something that we necessarily have to do,¡± Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said of making a trade to thin the crowd. ¡°There's different ways we can configure our roster that make sense with our current roster, and that's definitely an alternative that we'll consider.¡±

True, the Cubs could conceivably find ways to make this work. What feels more likely is that another trade is looming, and Bellinger has suitors. The Yankees, in particular, are a clear fit, especially after missing out on re-signing Juan Soto or trading for Tucker.

2. Keep building the bullpen

When injuries and subpar performances plagued the Cubs¡¯ bullpen early last season, the front office was left scrambling to find solutions. There were a few key moves during the year -- acquiring Tyson Miller and Nate Pearson, and promoting Porter Hodge -- that helped stabilize things and turned the relief corps into a strength in the second half.

One of the Cubs¡¯ stated goals this offseason was to build up more depth to create more in-house insurance in the event of setbacks with the MLB ¡®pen. On that front, Chicago has traded for Eli Morgan, claimed Rob Zastryzny and added Phil Bickford on a Minor League deal so far this winter.

The North Siders have to keep adding both to the big league bullpen and to the non-roster invitee inventory for Spring Training. The Cubs would benefit from getting an experienced lefty (names like A.J. Minter and Hoby Milner are among those on the free-agent market) and a late-inning arm would also be helpful (free agent Kyle Finnegan comes to mind).

3. Go get another starter

Adding lefty Matthew Boyd is a nice starting point to lengthen out a Cubs¡¯ rotation that features Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad. One more experienced addition to the MLB cast would really make the unit look even stronger, and Chicago could benefit from adding some depth behind the group, too.

The most intriguing name on the board is Roki Sasaki, though the list of suitors for his unique international free agency will be long. The Cubs have already submitted an initial presentation, but Sasaki¡¯s decision and signing process is expected to linger into January.

Beyond Sasaki, the free-agent market still has some potential fits -- Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler among them. The Cubs could also explore the trade market. Reports in recent days linked Chicago to Marlins lefty Jes¨²s Luzardo, for example.

4. Figure out the third-base plan

The Cubs sent Isaac Paredes to the Astros as part of the Tucker trade, removing the planned Opening Day third baseman from the roster picture. There is not an immediate replacement, so this will be something Chicago looks at in the coming weeks and months.

Hawkins noted that the Cubs will explore free agency for potential fits, but quickly added that the trade also created a potential path for a prospect. The obvious candidate would be Matt Shaw, Pipeline¡¯s top Cubs prospect and No. 22 on the Top 100. Shaw has swiftly climbed to Triple-A since the 2023 Draft, and has spent the bulk of the last year honing his skills at third.

If the Cubs decide that Shaw may not be the answer for Opening Day, the team could explore some short-term solutions in the interim. Maybe Busch could move to third temporarily. Perhaps Chicago looks for a free-agent who fits on a short deal, or who could be a platoon option for third base.