Chicago Cubs: Who was more valuable – Anthony Rizzo or Jake Arrieta?

Anthony Rizzo Breaks Out

Anthony Rizzo had a breakout season in 2015. He set career-highs in RBI (101), walks (78), stolen bases (17) and put up his second consecutive year of at least 30 home runs (31). He was top five among the NL in on-base percentage (.387) and top seven in all of baseball. He finished sixth in the NL with 300 total bases, as well.

Rizzo led the team in games played (160), was second in runs scored (94), first in hits (163), first in doubles (38), first in home runs (31), first in RBIs (101), first in average (.278), on-base percentage (.387), slugging percentage (.512) and finally OPS (.899).

Making his second All-Star team in 2015, Anthony Rizzo finished fourth in the MVP voting for the NL — Arrieta finished sixth. While those results are certainly debatable, the Cubs first baseman showed that he’s a legitimate threat to take the league’s top honors – something he’ll hope to build on in 2016.

Next: Promise turns to performance in Arrieta