Chicago Cubs
2024 record: 83-79
Second place, NL Central
Team ERA: 3.78 (10th in MLB)
Team OPS: .710 (13th in MLB)
What Went Right
The Cubs played better than their so-so record indicates, as their pythagorean record based on run differential suggests they should have gone 88-74. Ultimately you got nothing for that, but it does suggest that more went right for the Cubs than you might think. Shota Imanaga was the “other” pitcher from Japan that signed in the offseason, but he was able to compile a 15-3 record, 2.91 ERA and 174/28 K/BB in a season that would make him a Rookie of the Year favorite in many seasons. He, Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele — when healthy — combined to give the Cubs a strong top-three in the rotation, with a solid season from Javier Assad behind them.
The offense wasn’t quite as good as the starters, but certainly had some bright spots as well. Seiya Suzuki was (somewhat quietly) an excellent option in 2024 with an .848 OPS, 21 homers and 16 stolen bases over 132 games. Ian Happ led Chicago with 25 roundtrippers and added 13 thefts, and Dansby Swanson added 16 home runs with 19 stolen bases while playing some of the best defense at the shortstop position. There wasn’t a superstar performance from the Cubs in 2024, but outside of a couple of positions at most, there was solid production throughout from a team that only has one regular on the other side of 30 (Swanson).
What Went Wrong
Even with some solid performances, the lack of a spectacular one or anything close made this a team without much margin of error, and it saw them fail to make the postseason for the fourth straight season. One of the biggest culprits was the bullpen, as the team blew 26 saves in 2024; the sixth most of any team in the sport despite some solid individual performances in the pen (more on that later). The team also got very little help from their starters behind those four aforementioned arms, and Kyle Hendricks was particularly bad with a 5.92 ERA and only 87 strikeouts in 130 2/3 frames. And while the overall offensive performance wasn’t atrocious, the team got nothing from the catching position and third base. The latter was particularly disappointing, as Christopher Morel hit just .199 with a .675 OPS before being traded to the Rays for Isaac Paredes, and Paredes was even worse with just a .633 mark in 212 plate appearances in his return to the Chicago organization.
Fantasy Slants
– There was some question about whether Imanaga would provide much…