Chicago Cubs: Building an all-decade starting lineup

Chicago Cubs: Some key pieces fall into place

Starting Pitcher: Jake Arrieta

Jake Arrieta came to the Cubs in 2014. He was a great addition to the team as they turned their focus to winning that title. In 2016 alone Arrieta pitched to an outstanding 3.10 ERA in 197 innings. That came on the heels of his historic 2015 run, which he capped by winning NL Cy Young honors.

Another moment for Arrieta was when he pitched a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers (and another against the Cincinnati Reds). Along with Arrieta the Cubs added Jon Lester ahead of their World Series run. Not only did he add his veteran experience, but he added his skill and knowledge of the game to help form a one-two punch atop the starting rotation.

Relief Pitcher: Pedro Strop

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

When Pedro Strop was added to this Cubs organization, fans had no idea who he was or why we should care. The right-hander joined the club in 2014 in the same trade that netted Arrieta and had an outstanding year with a 2.21 ERA with 71 strikeouts.

He quickly became the closer for the Cubs until they traded for Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees, But when Chapman quickly departed after Chicago’s World Series win and went back to New York, it was back to Strop.

That means Strop was back in the closer role for awhile. In his Cubs career, Strop has finished 95 games, working to a 2.90 ERA across 373 innings out of the pen.

Catcher: Willson Contreras

There have been many catchers throughout this decade that have been a huge part of the Cubs. for example, you have a longtime catcher Geovany Soto who played with the Cubs for a total of 555 games spanning eight years.

There was another catcher just after Soto named Welington Castillo who also was a decent catcher for the Cubs. In 2016 we saw a superstar take shape in the form of Wilson Contreras. To date, in his short four-year career, he has hit 67 home runs with 227 RBI, while batting .267 and showcasing a rocket of a arm behind the dish.

First Base: Anthony Rizzo

When Anthony Rizzo came to the Cubs via trade from San Diego, the front office hoped he’d be aa star. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer had all kinds of history with their former draft pick coming into it.

This three-time Gold Glove winner became a fan favorite for his spectacular catches along the tarps and sometimes into the stands. Somehow, he’s been with Chicago nearly a decade already, epitomizing consistency both offensively and defensively on an annual basis.

Second Base: Ben Zobrist

Ben Zobrist joined the Cubs in 2016, he wasn’t just going to a new team, he was rejoining his former manager in Maddon. Zobrist became the Cubs utility man, while sometimes playing either second base or shortstop to playing in the outfield. In his four years, he provided a gritty, ‘whatever it takes’ attitude that shone bright.

Chicago Cubs: El Mago, KB lead the charge on the left side

Shortstop: Javier Baez

El Mago himself became a superstar with his tremendous fielding ability and his quick tag reactions. Javier Baez joined an elite group as he made his way to the big leagues in 2014. This multi-position athlete has won in his young career, a share of the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, and a Silver Slugger award in 2018. Oh, not to mention a World Series ring.

Third Base: Kris Bryant

The other half of the home run duo Bryzzo, Kris Bryant has become a household name across all Cub fans. This three-time All-Star became one of the few Cubs to win an MVP award joining eight other legends in the organization like Sammy Sosa, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson. Injuries have marred his performance a bit of late, but he showed signs of being right back on track in 2019.

Outfielders: Dexter Fowler, Alfonso Soriano, Kyle Schwarber

The catcher-turned-outfielder Kyle Schwarber became a staple in the Cubs outfield due to his prodigious power. During his five years with the Cubs, he has smashed 110 home runs – including a career-high 38 last season, the most by a Chicago left-handed hitter since Billy Williams. Schwarber has the potential to be something great and we have seen that with him as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Alfonso Soriano played seven years with the Cubs, appearing in 889 games. Although he never replicated his 40-40-40 performance from his days in Washington, he maintained his presence as an above-average talent, especially at the dish. He only hit below .250 once in his time on the North Side.

Dexter Fowler only played for the team for two years (2015-2016), but in that time he was a regular in the outfield that helped them win that long-coveted championship.

Using his speed, he stole 33 bases and set the table for the team’s big bats those two years. Fowler is not only known for being a great teammate on and off the field but he is well known in Cubs fans’ eyes for hitting a leadoff home run in Game 7 in the World Series against the Indians.

Honorable Mention: Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Carlos Marmol, Hector Rondon, Addison Russell, Starlin Castro, Jason Heyward, Derek Lee, Geovany Soto, Welington Castillo