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 Sheraton Grand Chicago will be packed with baseball fans this weekend, as Cubs Convention returns with thoughts of summer at the ballpark amid the city¡¯s frigid conditions. Here are five storylines to follow throughout Cubs Con and with Spring Training around the corner.

1. Slammin¡¯ Sammy¡¯s return

One of the most anticipated aspects of this year¡¯s Cubs Con is the expected reunion between Sammy Sosa and the Cubs, following his public apology last month for ¡°mistakes¡± made in his playing career. The sides decided to move on from the past, and Sosa -- the Cubs¡¯ all-time home run king -- should get a memorable response from fans at the annual event.

¡°We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out,¡± Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said last month. ¡°No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody¡¯s perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs.¡±

In recent years, the Cubs have used their convention as a time to announce the coming year¡¯s inductees for the team¡¯s Hall of Fame. Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez got the nod in '24, with Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston being honored in '23. On Friday night, the Cubs are planning on revealing their class for '25.

Could the timing of Sosa¡¯s return mean he will be added to the team¡¯s Hall in a ceremony later this year? Based on his statistics and accolades, it would be an obvious choice. Sosa boasts the most homers (545) in team history, won the National League MVP in '98 and famously electrified crowds, along with Mark McGwire, in the pursuit of the single-season home run record that year.

2. Kyle Tucker¡¯s arrival

The marquee acquisition for the Cubs this offseason is Tucker, who will celebrate his 28th birthday amid Friday night¡¯s opening ceremonies at the convention. It will be his first experience with Cubs fans and their first look at an offensive star who could reshape the production out of the heart of the lineup.

Tucker -- reeled in from the Astros on Dec. 13 in exchange for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Top 100 prospect Cam Smith -- has put up 21.2 bWAR with a 145 OPS+ and .888 OPS over the last four years combined. In that span, he has hit .280/.362/.527 with 112 homers, 115 doubles, 360 RBIs, 307 runs, 248 walks and 80 stolen bases.

3. Matt Shaw¡¯s path to Chicago

The Tucker trade removed Paredes from the Cubs¡¯ third-base plans and, as of right now, a vacancy remains at the hot corner. While Chicago could still look to the open market for a possible fit, the team currently has a wide-open path for top prospect Shaw (No. 22 on Pipeline¡¯s Top 100 list) to seize the job this spring.

Shaw is among the prospects listed for attending Cubs Con this weekend, so there will be an opportunity to hear his take on the opportunity at hand. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, the 23-year-old infielder hit .284/.379/.488 with 21 homers, 19 doubles, 71 RBIs and 31 steals in 121 games. He then helped Team USA to a bronze medal in the Premier12 tournament by hitting at a .412 clip with a tourney-high 14 RBIs and 24 total bases.

4. Checking in with Swanson, Hoerner

Both shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner are listed among the planned attendees for Cubs Con this weekend. It will be a chance to catch up with both after their respective procedures after the season. In October, Swanson had core muscle surgery and Hoerner underwent flexor tendon surgery (right forearm). It will be important to get a sense of their timelines with camp looming next month.

5. What¡¯s next for the roster?

The Cubs have made a growing list of additions (trading for Tucker and Eli Morgan, and signing Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Caleb Thielbar and Colin Rea, among other moves), but the question is whether president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has more in mind. There is still a case to be made for finding more pitching, while third base and the bench remains a work in progress.