Derrek Lee's 2009 season proves exactly what the current Cubs' roster is missing

Derrek Lee is still a popular name among Cubs fans, even though there is now a generation of young followers who did not witness him play on the North Side. From 2004-2010, he manned first base in Chicago and was one of the underrated sluggers in the National League. We have talked about his MVP-caliber 2005 season a lot, but his 2009 season was quietly one of the best offensive seasons by a Cub in a while.

Lee posted a .306/.393/.579 slash with 35 homers, 111 RBI, 150 wRC+, .972 OPS, and was a 5.2 fWAR player in 141 games in 2009.

To put it into perspective, Anthony Rizzo (no disrespect to a Cub legend) never hit .300, slugged over .544, posted an OPS above .928, or drove in more than 109 runs. Lee's OPS and wRC+ in 2009 were higher than Kris Bryant's (.939 OPS and 148 wRC+) in his 2016 MVP season. It's also worth noting Rizzo's career-high in fWAR was 5.3 in 2014, a tick above Lee's 2009 season.

Lee is one of two Cubs to post a wRC+ of at least 150 in a full (qualified) season over the past 20 years; him in 2005 (170) and 2009, and Rizzo (155) in 2014. That's it. Lee's 35 homers in 2009 have only been matched by Bryant (39) in 2016 and Kyle Schwarber in 2019 (38) since. There was no tilting of heads and/or squinting of eyes with Lee's offensive production, he just went out and HIT.

Today's Cubs team would love to have Derrek Lee's 2009 production

Boy, the current Cubs could use production like this. Ironically, the 2009 Cubs finished exactly how 2023 and 2024 ended with 83 wins. However, the 2009 Cubs suffered from injuries, regression, and aging. It was the beginning of the end of the near-decade-long Jim Hendry era. While frustrating, this current Cubs core has some guys in their prime and waiting in the wings. Adding Lee's production to this incarnation of the Cubs, in theory, takes them above 83 wins and then some. You would have a bonified run producer who possessed both gap power and 30+ home run power, something the Cubs have not had in years.

Unfortunately, there is no time machine to grab the 2009 version of Lee and bring him to the 2025 team. The Cubs will have to find a way to get that type of production either within or by acquisition. Looking back at what Lee did in 2009 is simply putting in perspective of what the Cubs are currently missing and what they once had even if it did not feel as appreciated at the time.