Notable Additions: Hector Neris, Shota Imanaga, Michael Busch
Notable Losses: Marcus Stroman, Jeimer Candelario, Michael Fulmer
Go Cubs Go. The Cubs came just short of making the playoffs, going 83-79. With the Brewers regressing, this is where the Cubs will strike and take back the NL Central for the first time since 2020. So, what does the outlook for the 2024 Cubs look like?
Projected Starters
C: Yan Gomes
1B: Michael Busch
2B: Nico Hoerner
3B: Patrick Wisdom
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Ian Happ
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Seiya Suzuki
DH: Christopher Morel
The Cubs hitting in 2023 was pretty good. They ranked 8th in OPS and 6th in OBP as a team in 2023. All eight of their qualified hitters last season had an OPS above .700. Even Mike Tauchman had a .739 OPS. Four of the eight had an OPS above .790, including Ian Happ, Christopher Morel, Seiya Suzuki, and Cody Bellinger. The only addition the Cubs made to their batting lineup is taking a chance on Michael Busch. Worst case, he’s an average hitter. In the best case, he gets comfortable in a new setting like Cody Bellinger and has a great 2024 season. I give the Cubs hitting a 7/10.
Projected Starting Rotation
Justin Steele
Shota Imanaga
Kyle Hendricks
Jameson Taillon
Jordan Wicks
The Cubs’ pitching ranked 14th in ERA as a team in 2023. Justin Steele was a huge part of this Cubs rotation, and they are fortunate to have him back in 2024. More on him later. Losing Marcus Stroman hurts, but Shota Imanaga is a very good replacement. He had a 3.18 ERA with 1,021 strikeouts in his NPB career. Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon are solid veterans to have in the 3 and 4 slots. Overall, I give the Cubs’ pitching a 6/10.
The Cubs bullpen was led by Adbert Alzolay in 2023, who had 22 saves and a 2.67 ERA. It is good to see him doing well in the closer role. Hector Neris is a fantastic setup addition. Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr. are also solid pieces. Overall, I give the Cubs bullpen a 6/10.
Sock’s 2 X-Factors
Cody Bellinger: Cody Bellinger bet on himself in 2023 with the Cubs, and both benefited. Cody got paid, the Cubs got him back to normal, and they could fill their center field need. His swing closer resembled what it was when he won MVP in 2019. Last season, he hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and a team-leading 134 WRC+. He hasn’t walked much in his career, but his OBP was the second-best OBP he had last season. His strikeout percentage was the lowest in his career as well. Whatever the Cubs did to help him regain his confidence, it worked.
Justin Steele: Finishing 3rd in Cy Young voting in 2023, Justin Steele established himself as an Ace for the Chicago Cubs. Last season, he had a 3.06 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 176 strikeouts. His calling card is how well he can control his pitches. He ranked in the 93rd percentile in walk percentage. He’s a groundball pitcher and may even have 200 strikeout potential. However, I worry about arm fatigue.
Sleeper: Christopher Morel: He may not walk a lot and strike out his fair share, but Christopher Morel can hit the baseball. When he finds his pitch, it’s gone. Last year, he hit .247/.313/.508 with 26 home runs and a 119 WRC+ in 107 games. During a full season, he can easily eclipse 30 home runs.
Prospects to Look Forward To
Pete Crow-Armstrong: He may get called up this year, and that is certainly not a bad thing. Acquired in the Javier Baez trade, PCA has been tearing up in the minors. When he was called up in 2023, he went 0-14 with 7 strikeouts, but they weren’t bad at-bats. He’s got more power since joining the Cubs and will show to be a solid outfielder if he is called up this year.
Cade Horton: Another potential man getting called up is Cade Horton. Selected 7th overall in the 2022 MLB draft, Horton had a great 2023 minor league campaign, posting a 2.65 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 88.1 innings. He is 22, and his mechanics are pretty well-developed. He may see big-league action if he starts hot again in 2024.
GM for a Day:
The Cubs are well-positioned in an underwhelming NL Central. They are one big-game pitcher away from being a 90-win team. Trade for a guy like Shane Bieber, sign Jordan Montgomery and retake control of the NL Central.
Projected Finish: 86-76, 1st in the NL Central, 3rd Seed in the NL
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