MESA, Ariz. — The offseason game is nearing its conclusion.

Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office know that.

“I mean, the closer’s definitely warming up at this point,” Hoyer said in his opening press conference at Sloan Park as Spring Training began with the first pitchers and catchers workout Wednesday.

But the game is by no means over. Hoyer, general manager Carter Hawkins and the Cubs understand there’s still an avenue to improve their roster, even as the team ramps up preparation for the 2024 season.

“There’s a lot of good free agents out there,” Hoyer said. “Certainly, it’s been a really late evolving offseason. Every day, we’re in contact with different free agents and we may well add one or more players to the roster.

“But at this point, as we sit down and think about it, I mean, it is February 14, it is day one of Spring Training, and we’re trying to focus on the guys who are here.”

That’s where new manager Craig Counsell comes in. With Spring Training underway and the first full-squad workout just days away, Hoyer and Hawkins will continue to focus on ways to improve the roster and Counsell will oversee the players already at the Cubs’ facilities.

“Sure, I’ll go out there and watch a few bullpens and things like that, but ultimately, our job is more behind the scenes,” Hoyer said. “We’re always talking to agents this time of year, there’s always players still left on the market, so that’s nothing new. But again, I’m not out there every day with the players.”

The biggest name available that fans and media are concerned about is Cody Bellinger. Hoyer was asked about the lefty multiple times, answering in generalities about free agents and providing a nearly identical answer as he has since last season ended.

“I’ve said, you know, dozens of times I think at this point — I have nothing but admiration for him,” Hoyer said.

The Cubs players, though, haven’t been afraid to show how they feel about Bellinger.

“I mean the guys that played with Belli last year obviously want him here again,” Cubs ace Justin Steele said. “He was just such a great friend, great teammate, clubhouse presence for us and obviously what he did on the field was really special. I would say pretty much everyone that played with him last year is the same.

“It’s a wide known consensus that we would like to play with him again.”

Steele’s voice carries weight, but he won’t be the one pressing Hoyer and the Cubs, demanding they bring back Bellinger.

“I don’t think I am [the person to tell them],” Steele said. “I’m sure there is somebody. But speaking for myself, I don’t think I’m in that spot yet.”

Cubs camp opened with Bellinger’s return as the biggest question mark — but at the end of the day, the beginning of Spring Training meant the players’ biggest task is improving their own game, not trying to pitch free agents.

“I think our job is to get together with the guys that are in there right now,” veteran catcher Yan Gomes said. “Whether we add or don’t, we are excited with what we have. Now that’s not up to us to make any kind of those decisions, that’s those guys up top. But we’re extremely happy with the experience, the veterans that we have on this team.

“If we add, it’s only gonna be a plus.”