Chicago Cubs: Five players who need big seasons in 2017

Albert Almora, OF

Albert Almora is just 23 years old. The youngster has been with the Cubs since 2012 when he was taken in the first round of the MLB draft.

At just 22 years of age, Almora made his big league debut. In 47 games for the Cubs in 2016, Almora slashed .277/.308/.455 with three home runs and 14 RBI. While those numbers were good for a young rookie, Almora’s play defensively has made him a valuable piece to the Cubs outfield in 2017.

That defensive ability was on display last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As you can see, Almora can play defense. The only thing that is concerning for Cubs fans and coaches are his offensive numbers.

Promising start in small sample size

In a small sample size of 47 games last year, Almora had a strikeout rate of 17.9 percent. That is not bad considering Almora is hitting over .400 so far this season. It is an insanely small sample size of just 13 at-bats, but Almora is slashing .462/.533/.538. So far, Almora is stepping up to help fill the void left by Dexter Fowler.

The Cubs will need Almora to have a breakout year at the dish. Don’t expect him to hit 30 home runs, but 15 to 17 home runs is possible. Couple that with what Cubs fans hope will be a high OBP and great defense, and Almora should be a breakout star for the Cubs in 2017.

A breakout season will be just what the doctor ordered for Almora, who is looking to step into the full-time center fielder’s role at some point in the near future. For now, Almora is splitting time with Jason Heyward and Jon Jay in center field. If he can have a good season in 2017, he will earn the majority of the reps in center moving forward.

Brett Anderson, SP

In January, the Cubs signed left-hander Brett Anderson to a one-year deal. He was brought in to compete for a rotation spot after the departure of Jason Hammel. Anderson won the spot in the rotation, and will need to be solid for the Cubs in 2017.

Anderson missed much of the 2016 season while a member of the Dodgers due to back surgery. As a result of that operation, Anderson made just three starts for Los Angeles last season.

Chicago Cubs

The 29-year-old Anderson tossed 180 1/3 innings in 2015. That was the high water mark for the lefty’s career, as he made 30+ starts in a season for only the second time in a big league uniform.

Two starts into the 2017 season, and so far Anderson is making Joe Maddon look even more like a genius. Anderson is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and six strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings.

So far, so good for Brett

Right now, Anderson seems like the right choice in the rotation. Mike Montgomery, Anderson’s biggest competition for the spot this spring, has walked five batters in six innings.

Brett Anderson needs to have a good season for many reasons. First off, it would put him back on track in his career, and possibly earn him another deal with the Cubs after the 2017 season. Secondly, Chicago needs him to step up and fortify the back-end of their starting rotation.

If Anderson can approach 200 innings this season, and keep the ball in the ballpark, he can be a good option for the Cubs moving forward after they lose John Lackey, and possibly Jake Arrieta at season’s end.

Javier Baez, IF

Javier Baez is an electric player who can play all over the infield. Baez can play second base, third base, shortstop and even first base from time-to-time.

Due to his solid play in 2016, Baez has earned a shot to have a bigger role in 2017. He has played in 10 of the Cubs’ 12 games thus far, all at second base. That will likely be Baez’s primary position in 2017, as the return of Kyle Schwarber will limit the need for Kris Bryant to play in the outfield.

With a chance to play more, Baez needs to take advantage of his extended role. In 2016, Baez struck out 24 percent of the time. That is concerning, but that seems to be forgotten when he gets a hold of a pitch and hits a moonshot out of the ballpark.

Strikeouts are the biggest challenge

Thus far in 2017, Baez’s strikeout rate does not seem to be going away. In 31 plate appearances, Baez has struck out nine times. That equates to a 29 percent strikeout rate, which means if he gets 450 plate appearances in 2017, like he did last season, he could strikeout 131 times.

In an era where the strikeout rate of a player doesn’t seem to carry much weight, this may not be concerning. It becomes even less concerning when Baez has the talent to hit 25 or more home runs and be a well-above average defender.

Ignoring his strikeout problem, Javier Baez looks like a good player. Due to his ability to play many different positions, he will be in the lineup for much of the 2017 season.

A 25-home run season from Baez would squash the worries about his strikeout rate. Many Cubs fans hope that 25 home run season comes in 2017, as Ian Happ starts to put pressure on the 24-year-old Baez.

Kyle Schwarber, OF

Kyle Schwarber is one of the most feared leadoff hitters in baseball. The guy is a beast and can hit the ball a long way. The baseball that currently rests atop the video board in right field is a testament to Schwarber’s power at the plate.

Last season was supposed to be Schwarber’s coming out party. He was primed to split time behind the plate and in left field, while hitting in the heart of the Cubs order. Instead, Schwarber tore up his knee in the third game of the 2016 season. Schwarber returned during the World Series, and hit .412 with two RBI.

If anyone needs a big season in 2017, it is Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber has not yet played a full season in a big league uniform after logging 69 games with the Cubs in 2015, and just two a year ago.

That Balls Outta Here

Schwarber has the ability to hit 40 home runs, but so far this season, it is his patience at the plate that is bringing him success.

The 24-year-old has drawn nine walks in 11 games so far this season. That is a big reason why Schwarber has a .365 OBP while sporting just a .214 batting average.

Some Cubs fans think putting Schwarber in the leadoff spot is a waste of his RBI-producing talent. Right now, his talent for getting on base is keeping the critics quiet.

OBP is king for leadoff man

Schwarber needs a big season in 2017 to show that he has fully bounced back from his knee injury a year ago. 30 home runs is not out of the question for Schwarber this season. Expect only about 80-85 RBI out of the lead-off spot, but an OBP north of .350 will make-up for the low RBI total.

This season will serve as Schwarber’s formal coming out party after he shocked Cubs nation in the postseason last year. Schwarber needs a big season, and with his abundance of talent, he will get it in 2017.

Jason Heyward, OF

When this list started, many could imagine the end of it. Jason Heyward had one of the worst seasons a player could have at the plate in 2016. He played in 142 games for the Cubs in 2016, and slashed .230/.306/.325 with seven home runs and 49 RBI. That horrible effort came after Heyward hit .293 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals the year prior.

Heyward has taken measures to improve upon his terrible season in 2016. His hands now start a touch lower, and he has been able to hit the ball with more authority thus far in 2017.

The 27-year-old Heyward has five RBI so far in 2017, and an OBP north of .350. The Cubs are looking for his numbers to come back up to 2015 levels in 2017. They will need his bat in the bottom half of the order to balance out Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo at the top.

Will the offense match the defense?

One area that fans need not worry about with Heyward is the field. Heyward won his third straight Gold Glove in 2016, and fourth of his career.

If Heyward can have an OBP of .330 with 13-15 home runs and 55-60 RBI to go along with more great defensive plays, many Cubs fans will be happy.

A bounce back season for Heyward will be welcomed with open arms. If he can get hot and stay hot, Heyward can lengthen the Cubs’ lineup and make it scarier than it is now.

The Chicago Cubs sport one of the best rosters in the major leagues. With the success of the five players listed here, the Cubs become even more potent than the club that won it all a year ago.

Albert Almora is the center fielder of the future for the Cubs, and will need a good 2017 to cement his name on the position for the next decade.

The Cubs shelled out a franchise-record deal for Heyward. So far, they’re paying the outfielder for defense – with no expectations at the dish. To be sure, that needs to change, and soon. This season could be the year that it does as he looks better at the plate early in the season.

Javier Baez will be with the Cubs for many years if he can solve his strikeout problem. If not, the Cubs have some interesting options behind him, but expect Baez to have a breakout season now that he can play more.

Brett Anderson was brought in on a one-year deal, and is impressing fans so far. If he can stay healthy, then good things are in store for the lefty.

Finally, Kyle Schwarber needs to get his career back on track after injury forced him to miss much of 2016. Schwarber possess’ great talent and power that he will be able to channel for a full season. Expect many long balls.

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