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Finding fixes for the biggest holes in MLB

The performance of Pedro Strop and the rest of the Cubs' bullpen needs to improve for Chicago to get back to the playoffs. Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

Ideally, teams fix whatever holes they have in the offseason through signings and trades and bringing up young players to replace the departed and ineffective. Baseball doesn't always work out that way, though. Sometimes injuries strike in spring or right as the season begins. Sometimes, those minor league free agents signed with the hope of winning a job in spring training just don't work out. And sometimes, all the boxes on the offseason checklist just don't get checked off and teams end up with Tyler Naquin and Greg Allen as starting corner outfielders.

A few contenders still, or already, have holes to fill as the season begins, so let's take a look at a few of those teams and what options they might have this early on.

Chicago Cubs
Hole: Bullpen