We Hit Dingers: MLB Offseason Preview

Monday, December 5, 2016

Chicago Cubs

National League	Central Division
103-58 Won Division	Won World Series 4-3 against the Cleveland Indians
Manager: Joe Maddon	GM: Jed Hoyer President: Theo Epstein
AAA Affiliate Iowa Cubs	AA Affiliate Tennessee Smokies

Traded UT Arismendy Alcantara to Oakland for UT Chris Coghlan
Traded P Paul Blackburn and 1B Dan Vogelbach to Seattle for P Jordan Pries and P Mike Montgomery
Traded OF Rashad Crawford, OF Billy McKinney, SS Gleyber Torres, and RP Adam Warren to the Yankees for CP Aroldis Chapman
Traded P Jesus Castillo to the Angels for RP Joe Smith

Although there are at least five players on the Cubs roster who could be name the team's MVP, anytime one of the players wins the league's MVP award, he's the one who has to win the team's version. In this case, it is third baseman Kris Bryant. In Bryant's first two seasons, he has lived up to his potential and the hype that surrounded him and then played above them. In his two seasons he has won the NL Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards, falling just one first place vote shy of winning the MVP Award unanimously as he did the Rookie of the Year. He has now become the first player in baseball history to win the Golden Spikes Award (college baseball's Heisman), Minor League Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and MVP in successive seasons. He became a better hitter in his second season, raising his batting average by 17 points, lowered his strikeouts, and further developed his power swing, hitting 13 more home runs this season than in 2015. With how well Bryant has developed in his very brief career so far, perhaps the debate of who is the best player in baseball should shift from Trout vs Harper to Trout vs Bryant, although Trout is still the best.

Success - This is pretty obvious isn't it? They reached the World Series for the first time since 1945 and won their first World Series since 1908. Even without the Cubs' history of let downs in the playoffs, winning the World Series for any team is a successful season. The 2016 Cubs did everything that has been expected of this group of players, just maybe a season early. Team president Theo Epstein has further proven that he is the best executive in baseball history, overcoming the two longest World Series droughts with the Red Sox and Cubs. They had an incredible pitching rotation that was comprised almost entirely of pitchers aged 30 and above. Their lineup was basically the opposite of their rotation, with only two regular starters above 30.

I think that the Cubs need to go out and sign a starter for the back end of their rotation to replace Jason Hammel unless they are confident in Mike Montgomery. They will also have to determine if they want to go after a closer or if they feel comfortable relying on Hector Rondon in 2017. I question what Epstein's plan is with their rotation considering John Lackey and Jake Arrieta are both free agents after next season. Lackey will probably be looking at either a really short contract or will retire, while Arrieta could be in line for a contract similar to that of Max Scherzer. I think at some point the Cubs may want to consider trading some of their young position players for a young and controllable pitcher to help bridge the gap until any pitching prospects they have are ready to be called up. They have been included in the Chris Sale trade talks and have been linked to free agent Tyson Ross. The question regarding the future of the Cubs has nothing to do with 2017, where they will almost certainly be the favorites to win the World Series again, but in the seasons beyond in what they do with their rotation and how many of their position players they are able to sign once they reach free agency.

*All stats and information come from baseball-reference.com, fangraphs.com, rosterresource.com, baseballamerica.com, and spotrac.com