3 Chicago Cubs Gold Glove candidates for the 2024 season

These three Chicago Cubs have a strong chance to win a Gold Glove this winter.

Oakland Athletics v Chicago Cubs
Oakland Athletics v Chicago Cubs / Matt Dirksen/GettyImages
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With the 2024 season approaching its conclusion, the Chicago Cubs are set to miss the playoffs after a disappointing year, which was always circled on the calendar to be the year the team competes once again. How the team can improve is a topic for another time, but for now, it's still fun to acknowledge who has had a superb season and who may be set to receive an award. These three Chicago Cubs are all candidates to win a Gold Glove.

3 Gold Glove candidates - 3. Ian Happ

Ian Happ is in line to potentially win his third consecutive Gold Glove this offseason after putting together a stellar season in left field. Though he only has one out above average, his ten defensive runs saved lead all left fielders in the league, and those go along with an immaculate .997% fielding percentage. In 1,167 innings in LF this season, Happ only has one single error all year, so compared to the two defensive runs saved last season and .98 FPCT, it's safe to say Happ has a strong shot at a third Gold Glove.

Happ has more than proven himself in the last few years in the outfield, and 2024 has been his best season yet. The Cubs corner infielder is signed for another two years. With Pete Crow-Armstrong in the mix and the possibility of Cody Bellinger sticking around, the team will again have a fantastic defense patrolling the outfield next year. Don't be surprised if Happ locks up another Gold Glove this year.

2. Pete Crow-Armstrong

Pete Crow-Armstrong is a lock for his first Gold Glove award. You've seen his athleticism and range when chasing down flyballs, and it's no wonder he leads all of MLB with 13 defensive runs saved among center fielders. Crow-Armstrong has a solid .99% fielding percentage in his 876.2 innings in CF this year, enough to qualify him to be eligible for the prestigious award.

We never expected anything less of him in the field, and the best part about him now is that he has been hitting more to close out 2024. Moving forward, he is a core piece of the Chicago Cubs, and even if he isn't hitting and stealing bases every day, he has about the highest floor a player can have with his elite everyday defense. At only 22 years old, we can expect many more years of his spectacular fielding at Wrigley.

1. Dansby Swanson


Although Dansby Swanson has had a down year offensively, his defense has rebounded increasingly as the season continues. Where his range was way down to begin the year, he has stepped up nicely, now having recorded 16 Outs Above Average and 12 runs prevented. That mark is second in the National League among shortstops, trailing only Francisco Lindor with 17/13. Swanson is a player who could easily take the lead in those two categories with the stellar defense he displays night in and night out.

Swanson's defense makes up for him not always being the best offensively, and like Crow-Armstrong before him, at least offers the Cubs best-in-the-league up-the-middle defense when he's not swinging it well. When he is hitting, though, he is a core member of the Cubs who can easily approach a 4.0 WAR season.

His slick fielding is some of the most impressive in all of MLB, and it wouldn't be surprising if he does beat out Lindor for the Gold Glove. According to Fangraphs, Swanson's .99% fielding percentage and five defensive runs saved marginally edge out Lindor's .98% and 3 DRS. It will be interesting to see who received the award this year.

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