Chicago Cubs: 2017 MLB season preview

Now that the Chicago Cubs have finally won the World Series, the question on everyone’s minds is whether they can win it again.

In a word: Yes.

By the end of the 2016 season the Cubs were struggling to stay healthy and manager Joe Maddon wasn’t left with a lot of options, especially with a bullpen dealing with multiple injuries. This year the entire roster has been beefed up and the Cubs depth looks great. If key players can get some relief this season thanks to utility players like Javier Baez, it’s quite possible the team will stay healthy longer and make an even more dominant push to the postseason.

As of this writing the Cubs are 9-11 in Cactus League play, putting them 5.5 games behind first-place Pittsburgh (16-7). The Cubs have been playing with a split squad as several players, like Baez, have been representing their home countries in the World Baseball Classic. Baez will represent the Cubs as he plays for Puerto Rico in the WBC championship game on March 22.

The Cubs shored up some of their weaknesses, mostly targeting their pitching rotation and bullpen, which will see a new closer this year. The addition of some veteran free agents in both areas should make a big difference overall.

Mar 14, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; (EDITORS NOTE: caption correction – Brewers player misidentified in original) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Brett Anderson (37) throws in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Pitching

The Cubs rotation will feature several familiar faces and one key newcomer who is projected to offer some veteran leadership in the rotation.

Returning to the pitching rotation in 2017 are Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey, and Mike Montgomery (who was a reliever last year). Brett Anderson is the new face in the starting rotation.

Anderson comes to the Cubs in a $3.5 million free agency deal after Anderson spent 2016 with the Dodgers. He was limited in 2016 by a stint on the disabled list following back surgery and a blister that gave him some trouble late in the season.

Over his eight season career Anderson has played with the Oakland A’s, the Colorado Rockies and most recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers. His career numbers are middle of the road, 127 games, 38-43 record and a 3.86 career ERA over 685.2 innings of work.

John Lackey was a big part of the team’s Cactus League win against Team Japan, and he’s not looking too far ahead right now. “I’ve got a plan and I’m trying to execute some things, work on a few things. Who’s in the [batter’s] box is kind of irrelevant right now,” he said, speaking of his five innings of work against Japan. He feels good about this year and maybe next year, but again, he’s not looking too far down the line in terms of when he might retire, though his teammates think he can go a lot longer.

Oct 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs players Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Lineup

As it was with the pitching rotation, the lineup for the Cubs will look very similar in 2017. Javier Baez has been making a lot of noise for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, and looking to continue the momentum he created last year.

There’s also a change this season with Kyle Schwarber set to start in the outfield, but at this point it isn’t clear where he’ll land. Maddon has been moving the outfield around a bit, and while Schwarber is projected to land in left field and earn an early spot in the batting order, he has also played several consecutive games in right field. Regardless, plan to see a lot of Schwarber this season after his clutch performance for the Cubs in the postseason.

If the 2017 Cubs season started tomorrow, the lineup would look like this:

Catcher: Willson Contreras (2016 Stats: .282 AVG, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 2SB, .845 OPS)

1B: Anthony Rizzo (2016 Stats: .292 AVG, 32 HR, 109 RBI, 3 SB, .928 OPS)

2B: Ben Zobrist (2016 Stats: .295 AVG, 14 HR, 84 RBI, 13 SB, .881 OPS)

3B: Kris Bryant (2016 Stats: .292 AVG, 39 HR, 102 RBI, 8 SB, .939 OPS)

SS: Addison Russell (2016 Stats: .238 AVG, 21 HR, 95 RBI, 5 SB, .738 OPS)

LF: Kyle Schwarber (2016 Postseason: .412 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, .971 OPS)

CF: Albert Almora Jr. (2016 Stats: .277 AVG, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, .763 OPS)

RF: Jason Heyward (2016 Stats: .230 AVG, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 11 SB, .631 OPS)

The two major differences in this lineup is the addition of Schwarber in left field and the absence of Dexter Fowler in center. Schwarber will step-in to the leadoff role, offering more power but less speed and is not a switch hitter. Will he leadoff against lefties? Only Joe Maddon knows. The Cubs will have great depth again this season and keeping guys healthy with solid relief in many of the positions will be key in staying consistent all season long.

Mar 9, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Wade Davis (71) gets ready to pitch in the fifth inning during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Bullpen

Another significant change for the 2017 Cubs is the addition of new closer Wade Davis. Despite their World Series win, the Cubs bullpen was suffering by the end of the season. Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop were dealing with injuries (both should be good to go in 2017) and the team lost Aroldis Chapman in free agency to the Yankees in the offseason.

Davis had a banner year in 2016, with 27 saves and an ERA of 1.87 in 43.1 innings of work. He was a key player during the Royals’ 2015 championship season, logging 17 saves in 18 save opportunities. His experience with the postseason will no doubt bring some stability in clutch situations.

Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop are fully healed and will return to the Cubs bullpen this season along with Justin Grimm and Carl Edwards Jr. Newcomers to the bullpen include Caleb Smith, Koji Uehara, and Brian Duensing.

Caleb Smith was a Rule 5 selection who has shown some great progress in Spring Training, throwing 6 strikeouts in 6 innings of work with an ERA of 4.50. Maddon calls Smith “interesting” and says he’s definitely a possibility for 2017. “He’s in the running. His stuff is good, nice fastball, really good changeup, breaking ball is there. I like the movement, like the angle. We’ll see.”

Koji Uehara (2016: 3.45 ERA, 47 IP, 63 SO, WHIP 0.96) came to the Cubs in December from the Red Sox in a $6 million contract deal designed to provide more depth to the bullpen. He will mostly be used for relief with the Cubs, but he has two seasons of experience as the closer for the Red Sox.

Brian Duensing landed a one-year contract with the Cubs in December. Duensing, who spent 2016 with the Orioles, has some solid career numbers: 4.13 ERA with 438 strikeouts in 662.2 innings of work. He’ll also provide relief this season.

Mar 11, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) looks on prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Manager

Joe Maddon returns to the helm after the magical 2016 season that saw the Cubs curse finally broken. Maddon has helped guide the Cubs to 200 wins in his remarkable two seasons with the club, keeping things loose at the right time. Maddon was heavily criticized for the way he used his bullpen, Aroldis Chapman specifically, in the World Series. But, it worked out. Had it not, Maddon would be under a lot more scrutiny for curious decisions at best at the worst possible time.

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Maddon has a strong connection with his team after their journey together in 2016 and that’s likely to be part of the reason the Chicago Cubs will be a dominant force this year. He knows how hard he can push his players, and this year he has enough depth yet again to spread the work around when necessary. With his leadership, the 2017 Cubs can return to the World Series.

Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

X-Factor

This 2017 Cubs team is stacked. It’s hard to say that the Cubs have any single element that could be considered an X-Factor. The team is largely the same as last year, the pressure to break the curse is gone, they have depth, and they’re healthy.

The X-Factor this year is the health of the pitching rotation and bullpen. Lester, Lackey, Arrieta, and Davis have a lot of wear and tear on the arms the last couple of seasons. Whether or not they can hold up for another October run will most likely determine the Cubs 2017 fate. Adding some depth along the way to the rotation and bullpen may be necessary to stay strong throughout the season and playoffs. The Cubs have the young talent to get any piece they want via trade.

Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs fans celebrate and wave W flags after game six of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction

The Cubs have everything they need for consecutive World Series championships. With the pesky curse out of the way, the Cubs just need to focus on the season and if they play the way they did last year they’ll make the postseason for the third straight year. It might sound simple, but the Cubs already know how to play together, so keeping that team first attitude will be huge in making it through the 162-game grind once again.

If they do land in the postseason once again healthy, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they don’t find themselves defending their title at the 2017 World Series.