Predicting Chicago Cubs' Next 2 Moves After John Lackey Signing During Rest of Winter Meetings

The Chicago Cubs didn't end up making too much noise with elite arms like David Price or Zack Greinke, but that's OK. As close as the team was last year with such a young group, they're only going to improve, and shoring up a few key spots can get them to where they want to go. John Lackey was a good signing, but they're still a few pieces away from completing the roster. Below are predictions for the Cubs' next two offseason moves for the last couple of days of Winter Meetings.

As most Cubs and MLB fans and analysts know, starting pitching and center field were the two biggest areas -- if not the only ones -- that Chicago needed to address during the 2015 offseason.

During the postseason, the lack of starting pitching depth behind Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester made a definite impact on their ultimate fate in the NLCS. Bringing in Lackey is a great start, but Theo Epstein and his front office aren't taking any chances this year -- they want a dominant team. The rumors have been flying about who they might bring in starting with Jeff Samardzija (signed with the San Francisco Giants already) and now moving toward trade opportunities for guys such as Shelby Miller or one of the Tampa Bay Rays' rotation (as they are reportedly talking about a deal with them).

While Miller may be off the table according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, a trade with the Rays is still very much alive. They seem to be mightily interested in Javier Baez, and they have a couple of pitchers such as Chris Archer or Drew Smyly who they're shopping.

Obviously, from the Cubs' perspective, Archer would be a prize here and is available.

Odds are, Baez and a top prospect would be able to nab him. The question is, are the Cubs willing to make that type of deal? Epstein obviously loves his prospects, as so many have panned out for this team so far. However, I'm the Cubs, I'd do all I could to bring in a talent like Archer.

The 27-year-old has ace-like stuff. Adding him to the top of the rotation with Arrieta and Lester would create a dynamic trio, with the veteran Lackey and young Kyle Hendricks rounding out the five. That would be the ideal move here for another starting pitcher.

As for center field, much has been discussed as well. Clearly, Dexter Fowler is still in the fold as an option to be re-signed, however, if he signs with another team, the Cubs would get their first-round pick. That's something the Cubs are considering with caution.

Other players available are Jason Heyward and Denard Span. While Heyward is clearly the better of the two players, he could cost nearly $200 million more. Odds are, that's way too much.

Instead, the veteran Span is seemingly a perfect fit for the Cubs. He's a solid athlete and terrific contact hitter. The 31-year-old would be an even better leadoff hitter than Fowler and provide at least the same level of defense out in center. While he's coming off an injury from last year, in the 61 games he did play, he batted .301 with a .365 OBP and stealing 11 bases (caught zero times). Because of the injury, his deal could be extremely team friendly, just like Lackey's was. It's expected he could be signed for just three years, $39 million.

Best-case scenario -- and you better believe Epstein will make that the priority if he can -- the Cubs will trade Baez and a prospect or two for Chris Archer and sign Denard Span. Thus, Fowler will in all likelihood be picked up by another team, providing the Cubs another first-round pick to draft another prospect.

The combination of Lackey, Archer and Span will no doubt make the Cubs the most complete team in the league, and set them up in a position to win their first World Series since 1908.