Chicago Cubs: Decade’s top five single season performances

Chicago Cubs: Davis was historically good for the club

It was a month after the Cubs won the 2016 World Series when Theo Epstein traded away Jorge Soler for Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis. The Aroldis Chapman closing days were always going to be brief, so they needed someone new for 2017. Davis was one of the best closers in baseball and he showed he still had more in the tank in 2017.

Not only was he the Cubs lone representative in the 2017 mid-summer classic, he was key in their stretch run in the regular season and the postseason. His regular season saw him finish with a 2.30 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 12/1 K/9, and converting 32/33 save opportunities. The one blown save was against Milwaukee in September, which ended a great run of converting saves on the season. Fans felt comfortable in the ninth inning knowing he could lock it down.

Davis was also a primary reason they made it within three wins of another pennant. He grinded through those final innings in Washington in the winner-take-all game 5 of the NLDS. Striking out Bryce Harper to end the series capped off a crazy and exhausting night. His multi-inning save in game 4 of the NLCS helped the Cubs avoid a sweep against the Dodgers.

While he was only a Cub for one year, his impact for the team will be remembered for a while.