2020 was another great year for North Side fans, as the Cubs won their third NL Central Division title in the past five years despite the abbreviated and wacky schedule. That accomplishment, coupled with three NLCS appearances and a World Series victory in the past six years, makes it clear that this six-year stretch from 2015-2020 is one of the most successful runs in the 145-year history of the franchise.
It's been fifty years since the last six-year stretch of over-.500 finishes (1967-1972), and it's been almost a hundred since the Cubs regularly saw postseason play (four World Series appearances from 1928-1938, another four from 1906-1910, and five 1st place finishes from 1880-1886).
Simply put, we're living through a golden era of Cubs baseball.
Having said that, this season went out with an (offensive) whimper as the Cubs' offense scored a total of one run over their two Wild Card round losses to the Marlins despite quality starts from both Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish. The lack of offensive production was a recurring concern throughout the 2020 season, and will hopefully play a big role in the front office's offseason roster moves.
This offseason has the potential for a roster shakeup for another reason as well: some staples of the Cubs' recent success are approaching contract crossroads:
- Jon Lester: $25M club option or $10M buyout for 2021
- Anthony Rizzo: $16.5M club option or $2M buyout for 2021
- Tyler Chatwood: unrestricted free agent for 2021
- Jose Quintana: unrestricted free agent for 2021
- Javier Baez: unrestricted free agent for 2022
- Kris Bryant: unrestricted free agent for 2022
- Kyle Schwarber: unrestricted free agent for 2022
But, with one of the best one-two punches in baseball at the top of the rotation in Darvish and Hendricks, along with an apparently back-on-track Craig Kimbrel at the end of the bullpen and Willson Contreras behind the plate, the Cubs should be far from being in rebuilding mode. Instead, with an offseason focus on adding some offensive pop, the 2021 season should be another fun one at Wrigley.
Pitchers and catchers will report to spring training around February 17, public health concerns permitting. We'll see you back here next spring!
Go Cubs go!
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