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

A pitcher turned ace and an All-Star slugger: both are vital, which was more valuable to the Chicago Cubs this season?

The Chicago Cubs won 97 games in 2015, receiving major contributions among countless players. Among two of the more notable figures were star-turned ace Jake Arrieta and first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

Both players’ careers began with other organizations around Major League Baseball, but have blossomed since becoming members of the Cubs – a statement that has never been more true than it was in 2015.

We knew going into 2015 that Arrieta could be a very good starting pitcher, after going 10-5 in 2014 with a 2.53 ERA.

Meanwhile Rizzo, one of the more veteran players around the Cubs and seen as the slugger to build around, turned his potential into production. He was a centerpiece for an offense that came up second in runs scored and runs batted in during the second half of the season in the National League.

Both players are among the best at their positions in Major League Baseball. Which was the best on the 2015 Cubs?

Next: Rizzo shows he's the real deal with breakout season

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

Jake Arrieta Becomes An Ace

Jake Arrieta was a pitcher coming into the season who looked to slot in as a nice second or third starter behind ace Jon Lester.

Instead, he went 22-6 en route to the first Cy Young award of his big-league career, setting himself up for a major payroll when he hits free agency in the not-so-distant future.

Looking beyond the numbers, Arrieta became the ace, posting a historical second half. He finished an MLB-best 12-1 after the All-Star break to go with an MLB-best 0.75 ERA – the best earned run average ever in the second-half in big league history. He allowed only two home runs, while hitting two of his own. So, basically, he’s pretty good.

Arrieta’s spectacular season, including the no-hitter that culminated a 6-0 August and an ERA of 0.43 for the month, all led to his winning the Cy Young.

He also had four complete games, three shutouts and his hit rate (5.9 H/9) and home run rate (0.4 HR/9) were the best in all of baseball. His 0.86 WHIP was also No. 1 in MLB.

Next: Rizzo the epitome of consistency for Cubs

Anthony Rizzo Most Consistent Cub

Anthony Rizzo was arguably the 2015 MVP of the Cubs for the entire season. He only hit two home runs in April, and he was hit an absurd 30 times, but he also did his fair-share of hitting opposing pitchers.

Rizzo posted a .478 OBP for April, and finished with at .387 for the season – 31 points above his career average.

The Cubs first baseman hit .324 for April, .314 in May, slipped to a .269 June average but still maintained a .538 SLG%, leading his Chicago teammates for the month.

Though Chicago struggled a bit offensively at times during the season, it was no surprise that the spike in production seemed to correlate with Rizzo getting hot again, when he put up seven homers, 21 runs driven in for the month of August.

He posted 17 RBI in September, helping him get to 100 for the first time in his career, and becoming the only Cub in 2015 to eclipse the 100 mark – although Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant narrowly missed with 99 driven in.

Next: You can't look past the Cy Young