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Cubs CHC

201261–101 (0.377)
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President of baseball ops: Theo Epstein · GM: Jed Hoyer

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2012, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$83M
Surplus $M
-40
Win %
0.377
TAB
-16.5
WAB
-18.7
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
15.6
Dead money %
36%
Depth Players
3.0
Dead WAR
-10.3

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2012 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RGeovany Soto⇄52
LSteve Clevenger51
RWelington Castillo49
BKoyie Hill11
RAnthony Recker⇄8
LBlake Lalli4

1B

LAnthony Rizzo85
LBryan LaHair58
RJeff Baker⇄20
LSteve Clevenger9
RJoe Mather2
LBlake Lalli2
RAnthony Recker⇄1
RWelington Castillo1

2B

RDarwin Barney155
LAdrian Cardenas12
LLuis Valbuena5
LBlake DeWitt4

3B

LLuis Valbuena82
LIan Stewart52
RJosh Vitters29
RJoe Mather18
LAdrian Cardenas1
LSteve Clevenger1

SS

RStarlin Castro162
RDarwin Barney3

LF

RAlfonso Soriano145
RJoe Mather25
LTony Campana11
RDave Sappelt4
LAdrian Cardenas3
LDavid DeJesus3
LBryan LaHair2
LBlake DeWitt1

CF

LTony Campana55
LDavid DeJesus50
LBrett Jackson39
RJoe Mather28

RF

LDavid DeJesus100
LBryan LaHair34
RDave Sappelt20
RJoe Mather14
LTony Campana4

DH

RAlfonso Soriano6

Starters

RJeff Samardzija2.6 WAR
RRyan Dempster⇄1.7 WAR
LPaul Maholm⇄1.0 WAR
RMatt Garza0.7 WAR
LTravis Wood0.7 WAR
RJustin Germano⇄0.3 WAR
LChris Rusin0.2 WAR
RJason Berken⇄-0.1 WAR
RChris Volstad-0.1 WAR
RRandy Wells-0.2 WAR
RCasey Coleman-0.3 WAR
LBrooks Raley-0.4 WAR

Bullpen

★ RCarlos Marmol20 sv
RShawn Camp18 h
LJames Russell13 h
RManny Corpas6 h
RRafael Dolis3 h
RMichael Bowden⇄2 h
RAlberto Cabrera1 h
LJeff Beliveau1 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2011)

PlayerfWAR
David DeJesus1.8
Anthony Rizzo1.6
Luis Valbuena1.1
Paul Maholm1.0
Dave Sappelt0.7
Travis Wood0.7

Key subtractions (gone from 2011)

Player2011 fWAR
Aramis Ramirez3.3
Sean Marshall2.6
Carlos Pena2.5
Doug Davis0.5
Andrew Cashner0.0
John Gaub0.0

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Cubs. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2012; everyone else is shown as a 2012 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Jeff Samardzija 2012 +2.6 +40.2 2.6 +37.5 $1.0M 1.96× –
Starlin Castro 2012 +3.1 +29.6 0.6 +29.1 $0.2M 1.18× –
Alfonso Soriano 2012 +3.2 +40.8 18.0 +22.8 $5.6M 1.60× –
David DeJesus 2012 +1.8 +17.9 4.2 +13.6 $2.3M 1.22× –
Ryan Dempster↔ 2012 +1.7 +19.9 8.0 +11.9 $4.8M 1.49× –
Darwin Barney 2012 +1.9 +12.2 0.5 +11.7 $0.3M 0.82× –
Anthony Rizzo 2012 +1.6 +10.3 0.5 +9.8 $0.3M 0.81× –
James Russell 2012 +0.7 +7.2 0.5 +6.7 $0.8M 1.34× –
Paul Maholm↔ 2012 +1.0 +8.2 3.1 +5.1 $3.1M 1.02× –
Travis Wood 2012 +0.7 +5.5 0.5 +5.0 $0.7M 1.02× –
Luis Valbuena 2012 +1.1 +5.0 0.5 +4.5 $0.5M 0.58× –
Reed Johnson↔ 2012 +0.8 +5.2 0.7 +4.5 $0.9M 0.83× –
Dave Sappelt 2012 +0.7 +4.8 0.5 +4.4 $0.7M 0.83× –
Tony Campana 2012 +0.7 +4.6 0.5 +4.2 $0.7M 0.83× –
Shawn Camp 2012 +0.4 +4.5 0.6 +3.9 $1.3M 1.34× –
Welington Castillo 2012 +0.7 +2.9 0.5 +2.4 $0.7M 0.52× –
Bryan LaHair 2012 +0.6 +2.6 0.5 +2.2 $0.8M 0.56× –
Geovany Soto↔ 2012 +1.1 +4.4 2.3 +2.1 $2.1M 0.52× –
Brett Jackson 2012 +0.2 +1.5 0.2 +1.4 $0.7M 0.83× –
Chris Rusin 2012 +0.2 +1.2 0.1 +1.1 $0.8M 1.02× –
Anthony Recker↔ 2012 +0.1 +0.3 0.2 +0.1 $2.4M 0.52× –
Jaye Chapman 2012 +0.1 +0.3 0.5 -0.1 $7.7M 0.67× –
Alberto Cabrera 2012 +0.0 +0.3 0.5 -0.2 $10.1M 0.67× –
Miguel Socolovich↔ 2012 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Scott Maine↔ 2012 -0.0 -0.2 0.3 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Michael Bowden↔ 2012 -0.0 -0.2 0.5 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Jairo Asencio↔ 2012 -0.1 -0.7 0.2 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Jeff Baker↔ 2012 -0.0 -0.1 0.9 -1.0 – 0.56× –
Jason Berken↔ 2012 -0.1 -0.7 0.4 -1.1 – 1.02× –
Lendy Castillo 2012 -0.2 -1.1 0.5 -1.6 – 0.67× –
Blake Parker 2012 -0.3 -1.4 0.4 -1.7 – 0.67× –
Adrian Cardenas 2012 -0.3 -1.5 0.5 -2.0 – 0.56× –
Casey Coleman 2012 -0.3 -1.7 0.5 -2.2 – 0.67× –
Jeff Beliveau 2012 -0.4 -2.1 0.5 -2.5 – 0.67× –
Blake DeWitt 2012 -0.4 -1.6 1.1 -2.7 – 0.56× –
Steve Clevenger 2012 -0.5 -2.3 0.5 -2.7 – 0.52× –
Ian Stewart 2012 -0.2 -0.9 2.2 -3.1 – 0.58× –
Manny Corpas 2012 -0.6 -3.0 0.2 -3.3 – 0.67× –
Chris Volstad 2012 -0.1 -0.8 2.7 -3.5 – 1.02× –
Matt Garza 2012 +0.7 +5.7 9.5 -3.8 $13.6M 1.02× –
Randy Wells 2012 -0.2 -1.1 2.7 -3.8 – 0.67× –
Brooks Raley 2012 -0.4 -3.4 0.5 -3.9 – 1.02× Free Agent · 2025–2026 · $1.9M AAV
Kerry Wood 2012 -0.3 -1.7 3.0 -4.7 – 0.67× –
Carlos Marmol 2012 +0.1 +1.2 7.0 -5.8 $64.5M 1.34× –
Josh Vitters 2012 -1.4 -6.5 0.5 -7.0 – 0.58× –
Marlon Byrd↔ 2012 -0.9 -6.0 1.8 -7.8 – 0.83× –
Joe Mather 2012 -1.2 -7.8 0.5 -8.3 – 0.83× –
Rafael Dolis 2012 -0.7 -8.0 0.5 -8.5 – 1.34× –
Alex Hinshaw↔ 2012 -0.6 -3.1 – – – 0.67× –
Blake Lalli 2012 -0.5 -1.9 – – – 0.52× –
Justin Germano↔ 2012 +0.3 +2.6 – – – 1.02× –
Koyie Hill 2012 -0.4 -1.8 – – – 0.52× –
Rodrigo Lopez 2012 -0.0 -0.3 – – – 0.67× –
Total—+16.0+178.883.7+100.1—

Trades

Every graded 2012 deal involving the Cubs — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 10 total.

2012 · CHC / TEX
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Barret Loux
TEX · Jon Daniels +$0.0M
Jake Brigham
Even trade
2012 · CHC / SDP
CHC · Theo Epstein +$174.4M
Anthony Rizzo, Zach Cates
SDP · Josh Byrnes −$174.4M
Andrew Cashner, Kyung-Min Na
CHC came out ahead by $174.4M
2012 · CHC / BOS
CHC · Theo Epstein +$2.4M
Jair Bogaerts
BOS · Ben Cherington −$2.4M
Chris Carpenter, Aaron Kurcz
CHC came out ahead by $2.4M
2012 · CHC / OAK
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Anthony Recker
OAK · Billy Beane +$0.0M
Blake Lalli
Even trade
2012 · CHC / DET
CHC · Theo Epstein +$4.0M
Marcelo Carreno
DET · Dave Dombrowski −$4.0M
Jeff Baker
CHC came out ahead by $4.0M
2012 · CHC / ATL
CHC · Theo Epstein +$10.4M
Jaye Chapman, Arodys Vizcaíno
ATL · Frank Wren −$10.4M
Reed Johnson, Paul Maholm
CHC came out ahead by $10.4M
2012 · CHC / TEX
CHC · Theo Epstein +$189.6M
Christian Villanueva, Kyle Hendricks
TEX · Jon Daniels −$189.6M
Ryan Dempster
CHC came out ahead by $189.6M
2012 · CHC / BOS
CHC · Theo Epstein +$9.6M
Michael Bowden, Hunter Cervenka
BOS · Ben Cherington −$9.6M
Marlon Byrd
CHC came out ahead by $9.6M
2012 · MIA / CHC
MIA · Larry Beinfest +$6.4M
Carlos Zambrano
CHC · Theo Epstein −$6.4M
Chris Volstad
MIA came out ahead by $6.4M
2012 · CHC / TEX
CHC · Theo Epstein +$7.2M
Jake Brigham
TEX · Jon Daniels −$7.2M
Geovany Soto
CHC came out ahead by $7.2M

Current & Historical Payroll

2012 payroll
$83.4M

What the front office was committed to as of 2012, 2012–2018. Pre-2015 has no contract-terms data — forward italic $ are realized actuals (hindsight, not commitments known then). Control labels (ARB/FA) are point-in-time.

current $ guaranteed $ actual $ (hindsight) arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent

Guaranteed / signed (10)

PlayerAgeSvc2012201320142015201620172018
Alfonso Soriano3611.079$18.0M$11.1MFREE AGENT
Ryan Dempster3513.063$8.0MFREE AGENT
David DeJesus327.146$4.2M$2.9MFREE AGENT
Paul Maholm306.037$3.1MFREE AGENT
Kerry Wood3513.169$3.0MFREE AGENT
Marlon Byrd348.045$1.8MFREE AGENT
Reed Johnson358.145$734kFREE AGENT
Shawn Camp366.170$550k$1.4MFREE AGENT
Rodrigo Lopez3612.000—FREE AGENT
Justin Germano298.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (12)

PlayerAgeSvc2012201320142015201620172018
Matt Garza284.149$9.5MARB 3FREE AGENT
Carlos Marmol295.084$7.0MFREE AGENT
Randy Wells293.016$2.7MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Volstad253.076$2.7MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Geovany Soto294.096$2.3MARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Stewart274.171$2.2MARB 3FREE AGENT
Blake DeWitt263.048$1.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeff Baker315.049$895kFREE AGENT
Joe Mather294.000$490kARB 3FREE AGENT
Manny Corpas294.076$250kARB 3FREE AGENT
Koyie Hill335.006—FREE AGENT
Alex Hinshaw294.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (31)

PlayerAgeSvc2012201320142015201620172018
Jeff Samardzija272.028$2.6MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Starlin Castro221.150$567kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James Russell262.000$512kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Wood251.039$505kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Darwin Barney261.053$500kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luis Valbuena262.032$495kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Campana260.135$483kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Bryan LaHair290.100$482kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steve Clevenger262.123$480kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rafael Dolis240.010$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Vitters220.060$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lendy Castillo230.000$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Anthony Rizzo220.066$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Coleman240.162$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Welington Castillo250.064$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brooks Raley240.000$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jaye Chapman25–$480k
Adrian Cardenas24–$480k
Jeff Beliveau250.000$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dave Sappelt250.086$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alberto Cabrera230.093$480kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Bowden252.030$454kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Berken282.110$384kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Blake Parker270.000$367kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Scott Maine270.165$336kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Miguel Socolovich251.085$240kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Anthony Recker280.037$196kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jairo Asencio290.049$192kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brett Jackson230.060$157kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Rusin250.000$115kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Blake Lalli290.000—Pre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2012 acquisition stacked onto Cubs's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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