Chicago Cubs Last Season Performance
The Chicago Cubs posted their second straight losing season in 2022 under manager David Ross. However, the team showed much promise down the stretch and won 39-31 in the second half of the season.
Their late-season surge was a surprise considering the Cubs didn’t bite on any significant moves at the trade deadline and used the tools they already had to turn things around.
We learned a lot from the Cubbies last season, including that SS Nico Hoerner may be a legit superstar in the making. The 25-year-old broke out in his first full season in the bigs with a .281 batting average and a WAR of 4.5. He is a fantastic defender and was a big reason for the Cubs’ second-half surge.
Another potential key player to emerge from the 2022 season was pitcher Brandon Hughes (2-3). The 27-year-old rookie posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 57.2 innings.
Off-Season Changes
Key Additions
The Cubs were one of the busiest big-spenders during the offseason, with $305.5 million spent on nine free agents. The lion’s share of the loot goes to Dansby Swanson and his seven-year $177 million contract. Chicago also addressed their subpar rotation by signing Jameson Taillon. Other additions of note include Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini, and Eric Hosmer.
Key Losses
Chicago held on to most of its key components, with the only significant free agents to leave being Wade Miley and Wilson Contreras. Jayson Heyward was cut after spending the last seven years in Chicago with one year left on an eight-year, $184M deal.
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Manager: David Ross
Chicago’s manager David Ross is on the hot seat after the Cubs finished 74-88 last season. Ross has a record of 174-205 in his time with the Cubbies. The 2022 campaign wasn’t terrible, but if Ross fails to improve with all the money Chicago spent, there is a good chance this team will move on.
Strengths:
While their rotation isn’t that impressive on paper, the group performed well down the stretch, and it’s reasonable to expect them to continue to play better in 2023.
The Bellinger deal may be the move that turns things around if the 2019 MVP can get back into the groove at the plate. He hit .210 last season in his sixth and final year with the Los Angeles Dodgers with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs. It was an improvement on his 2021 .165 BA, but not by much. Belliger’s talent is undeniable, and a chance of scenery may be just what he needs to get back on track. With a .364 average at Wrigley last season and a .404 mark in his previous four seasons, Chicago may be the perfect landing spot for Bellinger. .444
Weaknesses:
Despite all the money spent in the offseason, the Cubs still need a true No. 1 starter to lead their rotation. This became less of a problem in the second half, with the Cubs ranking third in combined ERA. It remains to be seen which Cubs rotation will appear on opening day.
Another major issue the Cubs need to rectify is their need for more success at the plate when runners are in scoring positions. At season’s end, Chicago ranked 27th in RLISP/game with 3.53. Clutch hitting is hard to pin down, but the Cubs need to do better in 2023 if they hope to finish with a winning record.
Predictions for 2023 Season
The Cubs are in a good spot to earn their first winning season since going 34-26 in 2022 after breaking the bank on several quality additions. The team picked up the pace across the board at the end of last season, thanks to a couple of breakout campaigns. A winning record is very possible, but Chicago will need to do better with runners in scoring position and hope their bullpen holds together.
