2017 Chicago Cubs Top 10 Insider
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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: For the first time since 1908, the Cubs won the World Series. After posing the best record in baseball in the regular season—with 103 wins, a franchise-high since 1910—the North Siders staged a stirring ninth-inning comeback to eliminate the Giants, came back from 2-1 down to beat the Dodgers and won the last three games against the Indians to win the World Series in seven games.
HIGH POINT: Every clinch is special, especially clinching the World Series. The Cubs got to finish off the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field, though, winning their first pennant since 1945 in front of their home fans with a dominant 5-0 victory. Kyle Hendricks, who led the NL in ERA, out-dueled Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered, and the Cubs faithful got to celebrate at the friendly confines.
LOW POINT: In the season’s second game, at Arizona, 2014 first-round pick Kyle Schwarber chased a fly ball into the left-center field gap and collided with center fielder Dexter Fowler. Schwarber went down in a heap and wound up with torn ligaments in his left knee. He missed the rest of the regular season, but after he tested the knee in two Arizona Fall League games, the Cubs activated him for the World Series, and he went 7-for-17 with three walks and two RBIs.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Outfielder Albert Almora hit .277/.308/.455 in a part-time role and remains prospect-eligible for 2017. Contreras smacked 12 homers in the regular season while seeing time at catcher, left field and first base, and he played in every playoff game. Righthander Carl Edwards Jr. was one of Joe Maddon’s more trusted relief options and pitched in eight playoff games.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Fowler re-signed just as spring training was about to start and had a career-best .394 on-base percentage. The Cubs re-inforced their bullpen in July, first acquiring lefthander Mike Montgomery from the Mariners, then trading top prospect Gleyber Torres in a package to the Yankees for closer Aroldis Chapman.
DOWN ON THE FARM: The Cubs’ winning culture extends to the minor leagues, as domestic affiliates went 373-319, with a .539 winning percentage that ranked sixth in baseball. Four Cubs affiliates made the playoffs, with high Class A Myrtle Beach (Carolina) and short-season Eugene (Northwest) winning league championships.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $154,575,168 (7th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Eloy Jimenez |
| Best Power Hitter | Eloy Jimenez |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Mark Zagunis |
| Fastest Baserunner | D.J. Wilson |
| Best Athlete | Jacob Hannemann |
| Best Fastball | Dylan Cease |
| Best Curveball | Oscar de la Cruz |
| Best Slider | Thomas Hatch |
| Best Changeup | Jose Albertos |
| Best Control | Zach Hedges |
| Best Defensive Catcher | P.J. Higgins |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Carlos Penalver |
| Best Infield Arm | Jeimer Candelario |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Albert Almora |
| Best Outfield Arm | Eddy Martinez |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Willson Contreras |
| First Base | Anthony Rizzo |
| Second Base | Javier Baez |
| Third Base | Kris Bryant |
| Shortstop | Addison Russell |
| Left Field | Kyle Schwarber |
| Center Field | Albert Almora |
| Right Field | Eloy Jimenez |
| No. 1 Starter | Jon Lester |
| No. 2 Starter | Kyle Hendricks |
| No. 3 Starter | Mike Montgomery |
| No. 4 Starter | Oscar de la Cruz |
| No. 5 Starter | Trevor Clifton |
| Closer | Dylan Cease |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Felix Pie, of | Did not play |
| 2008 | Josh Vitters, 3b | Atlantic League |
| 2009 | Josh Vitters, 3b | Atlantic League |
| 2010 | Starlin Castro, ss | Yankees |
| 2011 | Chris Archer, rhp | Rays |
| 2012 | Brett Jackson, of | Did not play |
| 2013 | Javier Baez, ss | Cubs |
| 2014 | Javier Baez, ss | Cubs |
| 2015 | Kris Bryant, 3b | Cubs |
| 2016 | Gleyber Torres, ss | Yankees |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Josh Vitters, 3b | Atlantic League |
| 2008 | Andrew Cashner, rhp | Marlins |
| 2009 | Brett Jackson, of | Did not play |
| 2010 | Hayden Simpson, rhp | Did not play |
| 2011 | Javier Baez, ss | Cubs |
| 2012 | Albert Almora, of | Cubs |
| 2013 | Kris Bryant, 3b | Cubs |
| 2014 | Kyle Schwarber, c | Cubs |
| 2015 | Ian Happ, of/2b | Cubs |
| 2016 | Thomas Hatch, rhp (3rd round) | Cubs |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Kris Bryant, 2013 | $6,708,400 |
| Jorge Soler, 2012 | $6,000,000 |
| Mark Prior, 2001 | $4,000,000 |
| Kosuke Fukudome, 2007 | $4,000,000 |
| Albert Almora, 2012 | $3,900,000 |
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