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Cubs Still Have Sense Of Urgency At Winter Meetings: 'The Future Does Arrive'

(CBS) A day after trading three-time All-Star infielder Starlin Castro to the Yankees and signing super utilityman Ben Zobrist to a four-year deal, the Cubs aren't yet done with notable offseason moves, general manager Jed Hoyer said.

Because the Cubs know their time to win is now.

"What we sought out to build when we got here was a team that can be good for a long time," Hoyer said in an interview on the Spiegel and Goff Show on Wednesday. "I think we said the expression 'sustained success' ad nauseam. We think we can be good for a long time, but we also know we're good right now. I think we always talk about the difference between what we know at this moment and what we think we know about 2020, 2021. It's really difficult, because the future does arrive. And I think teams that just ignore the future and go for it now, you have to pay those bills at some point, but like I said, we know we're good right now. We're a good team. We have a great manager, great coaching staff. I think this team really believes in itself, and I think we have a lot of upside. So we have to act with urgency to make this team better, but we have to do it in a way that doesn't hurt us long term."

Atop Chicago's to-do list appears to be the addition of an outfielder -- and ideally someone who can play center field. That could mean free agent Jason Heyward, who will command a long-term deal perhaps around $25 million annually. Some have even surmised Heyward, 26, could draw offers of 10 years in length.

The Cubs have also expressed some interest in Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon, according to reports.

Big-name corner outfielders remain in the picture as well. The Cubs are eyeing Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, 670 The Score's Bruce Levine reported, though a sticking point is his injury history. Alex Gordon remains on the free-agent market as well, capable of playing left or right field at the highest of levels.

"Center field is certainly an area we're looking," Hoyer said. "No doubt. We're spending a lot of time looking at center field options. We'll keep doing that.

"Our team's not finished. We're going to continue to look at a lot of different avenues."

The Cubs were thrilled to be able to sign right-hander John Lackey last week to a two-year, $32-million deal, Hoyer said, in part because it was a shorter-term commitment in a time when the price for pitching is skyrocketing despite doctors continuing to be confounded by an influx of arm and elbow problems that make long-term commitments risky.

"We've retained some flexibility with our moves so far," Hoyer said.

Listen to Hoyer's full interview below.

Jed Hoyer on the Spiegel & Goff Show

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