Ranking the 2026 Cubs defensively position-by-position heading into the season

Coming off winning the Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award in 2025, the Chicago Cubs look to have another great defensive team in 2026. The elite defenders from last year remain, with a big addition at the hot corner, but some uncertainty in a corner outfield spot.

1: Center Field

Key players: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcántara, Chas McCormick (NRI)

Pete Crow-Armstrong's defense is among the very best in baseball. He was tied for third among all players in OAA (Outs Above Average) and FRV (Fielding Run Value) at 21. Add in being a 15 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) defender and second in Statcast Jump (4.1 feet vs. average). There's only one centerfielder who is legit better in baseball, Boston's Ceddanne Rafaela.

If Chas McCormick makes the roster, he's a career 13 OAA defender in centerfield. Kevin Alcántara is primarily a center fielder by trade. The position is in great hands or, rather, gloves.

2.) Second Base

Key players: Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw

While Crow-Armstrong gets the deserved love as an elite defender, there is an argument to be made that Nico Hoerner is as sound a defender on the team as there is. The two-time Gold Glover was the Cubs' DRS leader (17) and the leader in OAA (14) and FRV (12) among all second basemen last year. It was not particularly close, either. Since 2023, he has boasted a cumulative 37 OAA and 30 FRV.

If not for Hoerner, Matt Shaw would be next in line to play there. He was very good at third base in the Majors last year, though he did not get much time (six innings) at second.

3.) Shortstop

Key players: Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner

Dansby Swanson's metrics did take a bit of a dip last year compared to seasons past: 7 DRS, 2 OAA, 3 FRV. With that said, he is still a great defender. He was a guy who was consistently near or at the 100th percentile in fielding range (85th in 2025) in the previous years. From 2023-2024 cumulatively, Swanson co-led baseball in OAA (37).

He is on the other side of 30 now, and his ability will diminish with age. One should still pencil him in as a plus defender at short, however. Even if the range is not quite the same, he can still make the plays of a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop. If he can't go, then Hoerner can.

4.) Third Base

Key players: Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw

In more than 9,500 innings at the hot corner, Alex Bregman is a career 27 DRS, 27 OAA, 29 FRV defender. He, like Swanson, is also on the other side of 30. Last year, he was still a 3 OAA and 83rd percentile fielding range defender at third. Even if he is not quite the fielder he has been, he should still be reliable.

If not Bregman on a given day, then it goes to Shaw. Last year in his rookie campaign, he posted an impressive 12 DRS at third. The range and arm strength metrics don't pop out (-1 OAA), but he can make really difficult plays around him on hard-hit balls and tricky hops.

5.) Left Field

Key players: Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Tyler Austin, Chas McCormick (NRI)

While the value of corner outfield does not quite hold up to the other positions, Ian Happ is very good out there. Last season he won his fourth career Gold Glove. Steven Kwan was metrically the best left fielder in baseball, but Happ led the National League in DRS (9) at the position. Simply put, you know what you are getting from Happ.

Suzuki last year played in left while Happ was on the IL for a stint, and he played the position respectably, all things considered. McCormick is a career 7 DRS, 9 OAA, and 5 FRV fielder in left.

6.) Catcher

Key players: Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly

The Cubs catching tandem grades out as pretty middle-of-the-road defensively. Carson Kelly was a 4 DRS, 3 FRV, 91st percentile blocks above average, and 90th percentile caught stealing above average catcher last year. Kelly's framing was in the 35th percentile, which is not amazing. The defensive numbers for him were solid, but to put it in perspective, Giants catcher Patrick Bailey was a 19 DRS and 30 FRV catcher last year.

If healthy there is some potential for Miguel Amaya, who was a 1 DRS and 1 FRV in a small sample (229 2/3 innings). Being a league leader in defensive and framing metrics is likely not in the cards, but hopefully he can grow a bit behind the dish.

7.) First Base

Key players: Michael Busch, Tyler Austin

As impressive as he was at the plate, Michael Busch wasn't anything special defensively last season. He was a 2 DRS, -1 OAA, and -2 FRV fielder in 2025. His range was in the 36th percentile. Nowhere near the top, though there are much worse fielders. Tyler Austin, who probably won't play much, is a career -2 OAA and -1 FRV fielder at first. Just need a serviceable enough glove, and Busch will provide his value in offense.

8.) Right Field

Key players: Seiya Suzuki, Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcántara, Chas McCormick (NRI)

This is the position you probably worry about the most (in terms of defense) as a Cubs fan. Seiya Suzuki is primarily a right fielder by trade, but the struggles in recent years got him bumped to DH duties upon Kyle Tucker's arrival last offseason. Shaw is now getting outfield reps, though it's hard to project how good he will be out there. McCormick in his career is a 7 DRS, 7 OAA, and 6 FRV fielder in right.

Time will tell how this plays out, but it feels like it will be a matchup-by-matchup basis if they want to give Moisés Ballesteros DH time and have Suzuki in the lineup regularly. Even if McCormick makes the roster, he won't be a regular out there.