2024 season: Eradicated on Sept. 21, 2nd in NL Central
Let’s check out the season that was for the 2024 Chicago Cubs, the questions the crew should deal with this winter and the early outlook for 2025.
Learn extra:2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s subsequent for the White Sox, Reds, Angels and extra?
Issues that went proper
The Cubs had been led by their beginning pitchers this yr, as Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad and Justin Steele had been all efficient throughout greater than 20 begins. Imanaga was particularly spectacular, main the crew in wins, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. The 31-year-old additionally proved to be sturdy, as he stayed off the injured listing all through the season. Steele’s efficiency was additionally notable, as he overcame a pair of IL stints to log an ERA within the vary of three.00 for the third straight yr.
Though the highest offensive performances had been much less notable, each Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ deserve credit score for productive seasons. Suzuki continued to succeed in base at a excessive price whereas surpassing the 20-homer plateau for a second straight yr. He additionally diversified his offensive sport by recording his first double-digit steals complete. In the meantime, Happ produced career-best marks in homers, RBI and runs scored.
Issues that went unsuitable
Just a few veteran place gamers endured disappointing seasons in 2024. Cody Bellinger was the headliner of that group, as his year-over-year OPS dropped by greater than 100 factors. A decrease BABIP and small modifications to his barrel price had been among the many contributing elements to his decline. Dansby Swanson additionally struggled, and his decline was primarily associated to decreased energy manufacturing. That mentioned, Swanson deserves credit score for persevering with to play robust protection at shortstop. Nico Hoerner was the third veteran who took a step again. Like Bellinger, he was primarily felled by a decline in batted-ball luck.
The reduction corps fared effectively total, however the crew struggled to decide on its main choices. Adbert Alzolay blew a save on Opening Day and wound up giving the crew six inconsistent weeks earlier than being shut down attributable to a forearm harm that ultimately required surgical procedure. Julian Merryweather was one other late-inning reliever who adopted a profitable 2023 season by fighting accidents and ineffectiveness this yr. Héctor Neris did his finest to fill in because the nearer however was removed from dominant and was ultimately launched in August.
Offseason plans
With many veterans signed via subsequent season and loads of prospects on the verge of constructing their debut, the Cubs will head into the offseason in a great place.
The infield is about. Michael Busch had some ups and downs throughout his first full season within the majors however confirmed sufficient potential to open 2025 as the primary baseman. He shall be joined by center infielders Hoerner (second base) and Swanson (shortstop). Isaac Paredes arrived from Tampa Bay on the commerce deadline to deal with third base and supply energy from the center of the lineup. Miguel Amaya confirmed improved offensive talent within the second half, which has propelled him to being the crew’s No. 1 catcher.
The standing of the outfield will rely on Bellinger, who can choose out of the ultimate two years of his contract. The guess right here is that Bellinger will keep on with the Cubs, as his market wasn’t robust final winter and gained’t be any higher now that he’s coming off a mediocre season. Assuming he stays, Bellinger will play proper area, with Happ in left. Former elite prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong made vital strides within the second half and would be the crew’s heart fielder. Suzuki completed the season because the DH however can play proper area if vital.
The rotation is in glorious form, as Imanaga, Steele, Taillon and Assad all stay below contract. There are additionally loads of choices for the ultimate beginning spot, headlined by Ben Brown, who missed a lot of 2024 attributable to a neck harm however had some robust outings when wholesome. Jordan Wicks and Hayden Wesneski are additionally intriguing rotation choices who’ve but to succeed in their primes.
The bullpen is the one space that can need assistance from exterior the group. Porter Hodge emerged as an efficient high-leverage possibility in the course of the second half of the season and must be an enormous a part of the 2025 puzzle. Whereas there are different relievers who confirmed potential, none of them may be trusted to open subsequent season with a late-inning function.
General, this can be a crew that has loads of depth however lacks star energy. Staff president Jed Hoyer and common supervisor Carter Hawkins may take into account packaging a mixture of stable veterans and notable prospects with a purpose to add one among baseball’s finest hitters to the lineup.
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Prospects on the horizon
The Cubs have a deep group of prospects who’re able to contribute subsequent season. Matt Shaw, the crew’s 2023 first-round draft choose, has progressed to Triple-A and will maintain an infield spot at Wrigley Discipline sooner or later subsequent season. Shaw has a balanced offensive profile, with a stable mix of energy, velocity and on-base skill. Defensively, he can play second base, shortstop or third base. Shaw may very well be joined within the infield by James Triantos, who’s a burner on the basepaths and provides himself loads of probabilities to point out off his wheels by limiting strikeouts. Triantos primarily performed second base in 2024 after beforehand taking part in the new nook.
Owen Caissie may very well be nearer to the majors than Shaw, as he has a full season in Triple-A below his belt. The 22-year-old has a robust arm in proper area, and he ought to change into somebody who hits for energy and reaches base repeatedly within the majors. Caissie is joined in Iowa’s outfield by Kevin Alcántara, who gives the bonus of having the ability to play heart area.
Moises Ballesteros is arguably the membership’s most unusual prospect. A catcher who’s 5-foot-7, Ballesteros has a stocky construct and might want to present that he can deal with the pains of baseball’s hardest defensive place. As a catcher, he’s a terrific offensive prospect. As a primary baseman, he wouldn’t have as a lot attraction.
The Cubs have fewer pitching prospects knocking on the door, however Cade Horton stands out as somebody who may quickly be part of the rotation. The seventh total choose within the 2022 MLB Draft, Horton threw simply 34 1/3 innings in 2024 attributable to a proper lat pressure. His lack of improvement this yr implies that he’ll open 2025 in Triple-A, however Horton may very well be a consider Chicago by the summer time.
Objectives for 2025
It’s simple to see that the Cubs can win the NL Central subsequent yr. In spite of everything, with all due respect to the Brewers, Chicago’s roster has simply as a lot expertise. This crew may take a step ahead just by having a few of its veterans bounce again from disappointing seasons, and the Cubs will tremendously enhance if a few of their premium prospects spark the offense subsequent summer time. The membership additionally has loads of rotation choices, and there are methods for administration to bolster the bullpen in free company. The NL Central is large open, and the Cubs have nearly as good of an opportunity as anybody of seizing the division.
MLB playoffs 2024 tracker: Comply with alongside because the postseason image comes into focus
Fantasy focus
The fantasy panorama for Cubs gamers mirrors the real-life state of affairs, because the crew has stable depth however few stars. Imanaga and Steele will seemingly be the primary Chicago gamers to return off the board, as fantasy drafters search for a No. 2 starter who can present useful ratios and a strikeout per inning.
The place gamers profile as mid-round picks who will present glorious depth however gained’t lead their groups to victory. Hoerner, Bellinger, Swanson, Suzuki, Happ and Crow-Armstrong all match that profile, with Hoerner and Crow-Armstrong the 2 who’re far more helpful in roto codecs than factors leagues, attributable to their base-stealing skills.
