The main question of the Cubs offseason has been answered and fans and players alike are rejoicing.

Cody Bellinger is back with the team, per reports, on a 3-year deal.

The deal comes nearly a week into full squad workouts at Spring Training and follows the Cubs’ first 2 Cactus League games in Arizona.

With Bellinger back in the fold, the Cubs offense looks very similar to the group that finished 6th in Major League Baseball in runs scored last season. But between the arrivals of some fresh players and the ascension of young prospects, new manager Craig Counsell has plenty of options at his disposal.

Here’s how one iteration of the lineup could look:

1. Nico Hoerner – 2B
2. Ian Happ – LF
3. Seiya Suzuki – RF
4. Cody Bellinger – CF
5. Dansby Swanson – SS
6. Christopher Morel – DH
7. Michael Busch – 1B
8. Yan Gomes – C
9. Nick Madrigal – 3B

There are a lot of variables that go into it that could change the lineup.

For example, if veteran Mike Tauchman makes the team, he could draw a start in center field and lead off against right-handed pitchers – a role he filled much of last season under manager David Ross. That would push Hoerner down to second in the lineup with Bellinger potentially third and Suzuki fourth. 

Morel has also been working out at third base this spring as the Cubs look to find him a defensive home. If they have confidence in his glovework at one of the most important positions on the diamond (especially for a Cubs pitching staff that induces a lot of groundballs), that opens up the DH spot for Busch or Patrick Wisdom or perhaps young players like Matt Mervis or Alexander Canario.

Then there’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, the organization’s top prospect. If he continues his hot start to camp, he could make the Opening Day roster and draw the majority of playing time in center field. That would push Bellinger to first base more often than not, moving Busch’s left-handed bat to DH or possibly third base.

While the Cubs were waiting for the Bellinger deal to take shape, they also reached an agreement with a pair of veteran left-handed bats on minor-league deals last week — first baseman Dom Smith and outfielder David Peralta. If either make the Opening Day roster, they could provide yet another wrinkle in the lineup conundrum, factoring in at DH or elsewhere around the diamond.

Either way, these are certainly good questions to have for the Cubs and new skipper Counsell. Bellinger is coming off his best season since his MVP year (26 HR, 97 RBI, .307/.356/.525 slash line) and instantly makes this offense significantly better.