Tony DeMarco

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry still isn’t sure who his new bosses are going to be, but he is settling on his 2009 roster.

Kerry Wood is gone and Ryan Dempster has been locked into a four-year, $52-million deal, leaving Hendry with the key element to an offseason improvement effort that follows a bitterly-too-early postseason exit:

And that is adding a left-handed, power-hitting outfielder, or a top-of-the-order-hitting middle infielder.

Anything else, such as improving the starting rotation by trading for Jake Peavy or signing Randy Johnson, has to be a secondary option.

Fortunately for Hendry, there are several ways he can go to fill either need. The tricky question is, which one is best?

Left-handed power bat: The embarrassing division series sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers — when the Cubs were outscored 20-6 after posting a plus-184 regular-season run differential — convinced manager Lou Piniella this is what’s needed most.

So the prevailing idea is to platoon Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson in center field, and add a right-fielder. Even if Fukudome turns it back around and looks like the 2008 first-half All-Star again — and there aren’t many $48 million platoon players — he is a better fit in center than a corner outfield spot, where power is at a premium.

And for the first time in recent years, there are some payroll concerns in light of the still-unresolved ownership situation — now almost a two-year-old proposition.

It’s nothing serious, as the payroll is expected to rise a bit from its 2008 level of around $130 million. But Hendry doesn’t have a wide-open checkbook anymore, either. That’s the main reason why Wood is looking for a new home, even though he was a perfect fit in the city and the clubhouse.

All of which makes signing a high-priced free-agent such as Raul Ibanez, Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu a lesser possibility. Ibanez is the right fit — the combination of power and on-base percentage, plus he played for Piniella in Seattle. But again, at what cost — and he’ll turn 37 next June, although his production remains steady.

The other two have their deficiencies: Dunn the combination of low-average, high-strikeout and weak defense; Abreu declining numbers at age 35.

That leaves the trade option, and leading that speculation is a deal for the Royals’ Mark Teahen. He has nowhere near the power of Dunn or Ibanez — and in fact is below average for a corner outfielder. Nor does he possess Abreu’s combination of skills including speed and on-base percentage.

But Teahen just turned 27, should be heading into his peak seasons, and is a relatively cheap option as an arbitration-eligible player in the $4-million-per-year range.

The added bonus here would be versatility, as Teahen plays first and third base, and could turn out to be another Mark DeRosa-like option for Piniella, who likes to use different combinations.

Top-of-the-order middle infielder: Of course, DeRosa could take on more of that super-utility role if another top middle infielder such as Brian Roberts, Rafael Furcal or Orlando Hudson is acquired.

The Cubs are no strangers to Roberts, as they seriously discussed making a deal for him last season, so parameters already are in place.

Holding things up now is the Orioles’ desire to sign the All-Star second baseman to an extension (he has one year left at $8 million). If not, he will be shopped, so that process could take awhile.

The switch-hitting Roberts, 31, is coming off three similarly excellent seasons — .290, 10 homers, 56 RBI, 42 steals, .370 OBP cumulative averages.

Slideshow Hot Stove: Top hitters, pitchers on market

But is giving up a package of young talent from among Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Felix Pie and top minor-leaguers the better way to go than signing either Furcal or Hudson as free agents?

Furcal appeared to be over back problems when he returned late last season, but reportedly has a pricey three-year offer on the table. Hudson won’t be as expensive, but is nowhere near the stolen-base threat that Roberts or Furcal is.

Again, the money-or-young talent debate is one Hendry will have to decide upon.

Dempster (17-6, 2.96 in 2008) could have gone to either New York team or the Dodgers, among others, but wisely chose to stay where he had so much success at Wrigley Field, and where he is an established clubhouse leader.

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