MLB Postseason Contenders or Pretenders?
2nd Place. NL Central. Chicago Cubs. 6. player. 9.
Like they’ve been doing for most of the past century, Chicago Cubs fans are looking forward to next year. Many fans and baseball analysts have circled 2016 for the Cubs to be not only playoff contenders, but even possibly even a World Series team.
Yet through the first 28 games of the 2015 season, things are ahead of schedule.
The lineup is very good. As a team, the Cubs are hitting .255/.331/.388, and are second in the NL with 28 stolen bases. Anthony Rizzo (.341/.474/.593 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI) is already a star, and rookies Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell all have star potential. Starlin Castro has hit well (.296/.321/.361, 16 RBI), Miguel Montero is a solid offensive catcher, and Dexter Fowler provides good speed at the top of the lineup.
There is certainly room for improvement on the pitching staff (the Cubs 4.00 team ERA ranks in the bottom third of the National League), but Jake Arrieta (3-2, 2.84 ERA) has been great and Jon Lester (2-2, 4.04), Jason Hammel (2-1, 3.73) and Travis Wood (2-1, 4.40) have been decent with the ability to be even better. The bullpen has hovered close to the NL average in ERA and BAA, and closer Hector Rendon has been very good (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 saves in 12 appearances).
But one thing to consider is that the Cubs have one of the best farm systems in Major League Baseball, even after Bryant, Russell and Soler have emerged as starters at the big league level. Players like Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, C.J. Edwards, Billy McKinney and Albert Almora would not only make very good future Cubs, but they may also help Chicago trade for other pieces in July.
You don’t want to mortgage the future by moving top-notch prospects, but with a firm foundation already set at Wrigley Field, moving one or two top prospects could make the Cubs a full-fledged postseason contender in 2015…not next year.
The Cubs are a: Contender
Next: San Diego Padres