After fading down the stretch in 2023, the Chicago Cubs look to establish themselves as a true National League contender in 2024. The core of the 2023 squad is still together, with the additions of manager Craig Counsell and Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga to offset the loss of right-hander Marcus Stroman.

The club is off to a 24-17 start on the year and is just behind the Milwaukee Brewers in a deep and competitive NL Central. Still, the team could make some improvements. Here are two trades the Cubs should look to make early in the season.

Cubs needs

A set-up man/closer

Adbert Alzolay was solid after taking over as the club's closer last year, converting 22-25 save opportunities while posting a 2.67 ERA. The Venezuelan hurler has been unable to carry over that success into 2024. Alzolay is just 4-9 in save opportunities this year, with six homers allowed in 17 innings and an increased walk rate.

Alzolay is currently on the IL with a forearm injury, joining another key late-inning arm in Yency Almonte. Add injuries to Daniel Palencia, Julian Mayweather, and Drew Smyly, and this bullpen looks thin. Due to injuries and underperformance, Hector Neris and Mark Leiter Jr. have been Chicago's only consistent arms out of the pen. Additions to the relief corps are much needed at Wrigley Field.

Catcher

Miguel Amaya is batting .195, Yan Gomes is hitting slightly better at .200, but neither has an OPS better than .600 nor have they demonstrated consistent defensive skills. Amaya is the better blocker and a decent pitch framer, while Gomes is more adept at catching potential base stealers. Overall, Cubs catchers are 22nd in MLB in WAR and neither has inspired much confidence this year

Third base

Christopher Morel is a great hitter, leading the Cubs with nine homers so far while Nick Madrigal is better with the glove — posting no errors to Morel's five. The club could easily move Morel to DH full-time while bringing in a more well-rounded player to hold down the hot corner.

Cubs trade proposals

SS Josh Rivera to the Oakland Athletics for RP Lucas Erceg

The Cubs boosted their bullpen on Wednesday with the addition of Tyson Miller in a trade with the Seattle Mariners after the Mariners surprisingly designated him for assignment last week. Miller has a 3.09 ERA on the year and has walked just one batter in 11.2 innings pitched. The right-hander helps solidify the Chicago pen, but the Cubs still need a dependable late-inning option.

Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller is the name most Cubs fans want, as the rookie has electrified at the MLB level, but A's set-up man Lucas Erceg has been just as good. The converted shortstop went nine straight appearances without allowing a run to end April during which opponents batted .036 while striking out 13 times in 9.2 innings. Lucas Erceg has been a consistent eighth-inning guy for Oakland this year, and with Hector Neris performing well as the closer for Chicago, Erceg can immediately slot in as a key high-leverage arm.

1B Haydn McGeary to the Atlanta Braves for Travis d'Arnaud

While the Braves are in win-now mode, this trade makes sense for Atlanta in several ways. Travis d'Arnaud is a free agent after this season and his playing time will drop drastically once Sean Murphy returns from the IL. The Braves also have the 26th-ranked farm system in MLB and should start looking to the future considering their MLB roster has few if any holes.

Travis d'Arnaud gives the Cubs much-needed pop at the catcher spot while providing solid defense at a position of need for Chicago.