Chicago Cubs: Top things to keep an eye on heading into 2019 season

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There will be no shortage of storylines to focus on as the Chicago Cubs look to not only return to the top of the division but deep into October this year.

In today’s age, very much a bullpen-oriented era, it was smart for Theo Epstein and Co. to ink several low-cost, low-risk relievers despite the ownership’s repeated emphasis on not shelling out tons of money on key free agents. Needless to say, it wasn’t the exciting offsesaon Chicago Cubs fans had anticipated.

Among the new faces joining the Cubs this season are former All-Star Brad Brach, lefty Kyle Ryan, who has been impressive within the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate, Chicagoland native and two-time World Series Champion George Kontos and righty Tony Barnette, who enjoyed a solid 2018 season with a 2.39 ERA as a member of the Texas Rangers.

We’re not done there, either. Veteran southpaw Xavier Cedeno, coming off a 2.43 ERA between time with the White Sox and Brewers joins the mix. One of baseball’s best stories, 37-year-old former top pick, Luke Hagerty, is topping 99 mph on the radar gun and attempting to make a comeback a la The Rookie.

While Brach is certainly the most notable arm added, he will inhabit an already crowded bullpen. However, with a number of injuries and inconsistencies that bleed into the new season, it’s never a bad thing to have interchangeable options.

With Brandon Morrow sidelined, Brach likely joins Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Brandon Kintzler, Mike Montgomery and Carl Edwards Jr. as locks in the bullpen while several others will fight to earn a spot.

Edwards, who was once described as the future closer of the Cubs, has a knack of fading away during the most important times of the year and perhaps has fallen out of favor with the organization in terms of reliability. To combat this, the right-hander has worked to change his delivery, mimicking Kenley Jansen‘s in-delivery hesitation, in hopes gives him better command of the zone.

Brian Duensing, Randy Rosario, Alec Mills, James Norwood and Dillion Maples will all most likely see service time as fill-ins over the course of the season. In fact, those are just a few of the names we’ll see toe the rubber this summer given Triple-A Iowa’s tremendous pitching depth. But there’s a notable name we haven’t touched on yet who may prove to be the biggest dark horse this year.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Can Chatwood turn things around in year two?

When the Cubs signed Tyler Chatwood last offseason, it was met with perplexity due to the sizeable deal (three-year, $38M) for a pitcher coming off a 15-loss, near 5.00 ERA season. However, most chalked it up as perhaps another brilliant steal by Theo Epstein who’s career could see a turnaround reminiscent of Jake Arrieta.

It quickly became apparent that Chatwood was anything but consistent. To say he struggled with control might be the understatement of the century. He walked nearly as many batters as he struck out (a league-worst 19.6 percent walk rate.) It was a long season for the right-hander, who only pitched five times after July 26.

Chatwood was quickly cast aside as a bust and the contract, seen as a crippling deterrent to the Cubs making any notable moves, drew the ire of fans on the North Side.

Fast forward to this spring, Chatwood has turned heads in the Cactus League. In eight innings pitched, he compiled a 2.25 ERA and allowed just one walk. His command of the zone has notably improved – evidenced by multiple appearances without surrendering a walk – something he literally did not do last season.

While it’s certainly a small sample size and should be taken with a grain of salt, if Chatwood has figured it out, he could be a valuable asset to the team in as both a reliever and a spot starter. Personally, I’m not totally buying into Chatwood quite yet, but we could see a rejuvenated version of him that can provide much-needed flexibility to the Cubs pitching staff as a valuable swingman.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Question marks surround the team’s backstops

For one reason or another, the Cubs offseason did not focus on help behind the plate. While Willson Contreas is a great field general, it was apparent that he began to slow down toward the latter half of the season. In the aftermath, it’s been suggested that a heavy workload proved costly for the young backstop.

After hitting .276 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI in just 117 games in 2017, Contreas’ offense took a downturn in 2018. Despite playing in 21 more games and racking up nearly 100 more plate appearances, the majority of his offensive numbers took a downturn, especially after a dreadful second half.

Despite many options on the open market this offseason, Chicago opted to stay in-house in reinforcing Contreras behind the plate.

Twenty-four-year-old Victor Caratini seems to be the answer as the team’s backup catcher. This is due in large part to him being able to hold his own behind the plate, throwing out 28 percent of would-be base stealers. He also served as the personal catcher for Cole Hamels, who returned via a $20 million team option.

Another alternative from Caratini is 29-year-old Taylor Davis. He’s become known as a great clubhouse guy and a wiz in front of the camera, however, lacks much experience catching at the big-league level.

While the Cubs have options, the team needs to manage Contreas’ playing time with someone who can still produce in his absence in order to not burn out the former All-Star. If Contreas shows signs of fatigue and struggles as a result and the Cubs are in the hunt for October, look for the front office to change course and look to acquire a more suitable option to complement Contreas.

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Back and ready to silence his critics

After just eight games, Yu Darvish‘s 2018 season came to an end due to a stress reaction in his right elbow and a tricep strain. His underwhelming season resulted in a 1-3 record, a 4.95 ERA and 40 innings pitched – all to the tune of a whopping $25 million.

With fans already weary of his huge contract as well of his performance in the 2017 World Series, Darvish was quickly met with contempt in Chicago after he was shut down for the remainder of his first season on the North Side.

After arthroscopic surgery to clean up his elbow this offseason, Darvish has been determined to make it up, noting he doesn’t want to hear “boo’s” from the fans, but “Yu’s” instead.

His confidence has been boosted early this spring by his throwing the “best stuff in my life.”

Darvish has only faced 15 batters in 3 1/3 innings this spring but has pitched well, showcasing a lively fastball and a tight slider. Possibly the lone red flag thus far for Darvish is his surrender of five walks against just three strikeouts. For now, we could chalk this up to rust from not pitching competitively since last May but his attitude toward his health is certainly something to be upbeat about.

The Cubs managed to win 95 games last season, without really any help from Darvish at all, so if he can get back to his All-Star form, the team should still be touted as the favorites in the highly competitive National League Central division.

Chicago Cubs: Can they make Rizzo a Cub for life?

With question marks surrounding always the club, whether it’s injuries, job securities or performance, first baseman Anthony Rizzo has remained the constant. He led the team with consistent performances year-in and year-out. He is the glue to the core and the ultimate leader that finally brought a World Series championship back to Chicago.

While Rizzo still has club options following left on his deal, he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2022 season. By then, Rizzo will be 32 years old but stands to still warrant a sizeable deal on the market.

It may be in the best interest of the Cubs to offer a contract extension to the 29-year-old Rizzo sooner rather than later. The slugger has etched his name among the team’s all-time greats. The fact he hasn’t nudged the front office much for a new deal speaks volume to his character. It’s time for the organization to show their appreciation for everything he has done and offer him a very deserving extension – one that will, hopefully, someday end with his number 44 raised down the line on a Wrigley Field foul pole.

For the last five seasons, Rizzo has averaged 30 home runs and 100 RBI, winning two Gold Glove Awards, including the Platinium Glove (the best defensive player in MLB) in 2016. It’s time to lock him up for good.

Chicago Cubs: Uncertainty surrounds the Cubs skipper

Joe Maddon has done everything he was hired to do.

He has turned the once lowly lovable losers into perennial winners. He has taken the Cubs to four straight playoff appearances, something never done in the franchise’s rich 143-year history. The skipper has averaged 95 wins with the team during his tenure and lead the charge in capturing the Cubs’ first World Series in 108 years.

And yet, he’s on the chopping block.

Sure, Maddon has his quarks. His unique managerial style and decisions surely cause some chagrin from the fans and the upper brass of the organization but Maddon’s resume certainly does not warrant the team leaving him out to dry.

If the Cubs fail to do anything less than make the World Series, I fear Maddon will be out. You could make the case that if they fall short in the NLCS, he’d have a fighting chance. But with how the team has sent coaches through a revolving door, I doubt they would retain his services if the club failed to do so for the third time in five years.

Just writing that is ridiculous. The fact that Cub fans (and the front office) have gotten so jaded with this newly formed feeling of contending (a culture that Maddon has been a big part of), and yet we villainize the 64-year-old is preposterous.

(Getting off my soapbox now.)

I remain optimistic yet I fear that if we let Joe Maddon go, will have a domino effect and the winning culture we’ve become accustomed to will falter and cease to exist. We can only hope for a great season from the squad that will allow a new deal for Maddon to be possible but this will be one of, if not the most, talked about things throughout next season.

Chicago Cubs: You can expect the KB of old to return in MVP fashion

Kris Bryant has a chip on his shoulder.

After a less than stellar 2018 campaign that was riddled with injury and even rumors of a trade, the 2016 National League MVP is once again healthy and is determined to re-emerge as one of the top superstars in all of baseball.

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As a Scott Boras client, you almost expected Bryant to turn down a reported $200M extension. It was a sort of shade to the club that held out calling him up to start his career in order to retain his services under team control for another year, something that has become common in Major League Baseball.

Since then, we feared the ramifications of the day when Bryant becomes a free agent after the 2022 season. By then, he will be 30 years old and, with Boras, will be looking for the biggest deal possible.

As his offensive stats (and health) have dipped since his MVP season, Bryant has been the subject of being thrown in the category of “overrated” and a player “past his peak.” At just 26 years old, Bryant has been determined to prove that is not the case.

A fire has been lit under Kris Bryant, with already two towering home runs this spring, he’s trying to silence the critics and turn in a monster 2019 season.

Baez deserves to be the Cubs' starting shortstop - period. dark. Next

Of course, it will be a double-edged sword for the Cubs. A great offensive year will surely help the Cubs win ballgames, however, may further build a divide between any real chance at signing him after his deal is up.

We will just have to cross that bridge once we get to it in a few years, but fully expect the Kris Bryant to use that fire and have an MVP caliber season this year if he stays healthy. If he does that – we’ll be primed for another postseason on the North Side.

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