4 reasons the 2024 Chicago Cubs are playoff contenders

If you haven’t been paying attention, the Chicago Cubs are crushing in Spring Training. Mostly, it’s the starters doing a lot of the work, but this organization has proved from top to bottom that it has vastly improved in the last couple of years. Now, the Cubs have all the making of a well-rounded team to make the postseason in 2024. Let’s go over four reasons this Cubs team is a playoff contender.

4 reasons the Cubs are playoff contenders - Cubs offense should rake 

Last season, the Cubs were one of the better offenses in the league. Granted, re-signing Cody Bellinger wasn’t a boost but rather a way to solidify the team's batting to be at least what it was a year ago, with the opportunity to have an even higher upside. Michael Busch looks ready to crush at the major league level, while Seiya Suzuki is probably your Cactus League Player of the Year in Spring training, if there was such a thing. 

Dansby Swanson had a down season offensively, as many predicted could happen after he came off a career season in 2022. The hope for Swanson is that he can find more consistency on offense in his second season with the Cubs. Elsewhere, if Christopher Morel keeps up his torrid home run pace of 39 per 162 games, as witnessed a year ago, this team will have no problem crossing the plate this season. The offense is probably their greatest strength heading into Opening Day. 

3. Bullpen is quietly a strength 

Last year, the bullpen was worn down to a nub at the end of the season. Still, the team’s three late-inning relievers, Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr., played vital roles that helped the Cubs attain as much success as they did in 2023. Alzolay recorded a career-best 2.67 ERA with 22 saves, while Merryweather (3.38) and Leiter Jr. (3.50) earned respectable marks.

Those three arms are still there, along with Hector Neris, who is fresh off a career year, and Yency Almonte, who had a down season last year but was elite a year prior. Other than that, Luke Little looks like he will be a critical piece for the Cubs before long, and the team will likely have Jose Cuas, who did well in his own right once he was traded to Chicago at the deadline in ‘23. 

2. Craig Counsell’s managerial skills 

I will say this with complete confidence: If Craig Counsell managed the Cubs last year, they would have made the playoffs. From his record in close games to expertise in matchup-to-matchup situations, Counsell has all the skills of a manager who can lead a team to the promised land. Although the Milwaukee Brewers have yet to make it very far in the playoffs, they have been there a staggering five times since 2018 with Counsell at the helm, which speaks for itself. 

Gone are the days when we scratched our heads and wondered what the manager was thinking late in games. Instead, we can rest assured that, night in and night out, Counsell will put the team in the best situation to win. After all the players signed by the Cubs this offseason, it may be Counsell who will be the number one free agent the team acquired over the winter.