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Cubs CHC

201792–70 (0.568)Made Playoffs
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President of baseball ops: Theo Epstein · GM: Jed Hoyer

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2017, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$172M
Surplus $M
-24
Win %
0.568
TAB
+6.3
WAB
+6.6
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
43.9
Dead money %
17%
Depth Players
8.0
Dead WAR
-1.9

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2017 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RWillson Contreras108
LAlex Avila⇄28
RRené Rivera⇄20
BVictor Caratini12
LKyle Schwarber4
RTaylor Davis1

1B

LAnthony Rizzo157
BVictor Caratini8
LAlex Avila⇄7
BBen Zobrist5
RWillson Contreras5
RJavier Báez4
RKris Bryant2
RTaylor Davis2
LMiguel Montero⇄1
LKyle Schwarber1
BJeimer Candelario⇄1
LTommy La Stella1

2B

BBen Zobrist81
RJavier Báez80
BIan Happ44
LTommy La Stella21
LAnthony Rizzo10
LMike Freeman⇄6

3B

RKris Bryant144
LTommy La Stella18
RJavier Báez8
BIan Happ4
RTaylor Davis2
LAnthony Rizzo1
RWillson Contreras1

SS

RAddison Russell101
RJavier Báez73
LMike Freeman⇄10
BBen Zobrist5

LF

LKyle Schwarber110
LJon Jay64
BBen Zobrist36
BIan Happ29
RWillson Contreras4
RKris Bryant2
LAnthony Rizzo1
RAlbert Almora Jr.1
LLeonys Martin⇄1
BVictor Caratini1

CF

RAlbert Almora Jr.104
BIan Happ54
LJon Jay54
LJason Heyward13
LLeonys Martin⇄7
RKris Bryant2

RF

LJason Heyward120
BBen Zobrist32
LJon Jay19
BIan Happ14
RKris Bryant7
LLeonys Martin⇄6
RMark Zagunis4
RWillson Contreras2
RAlbert Almora Jr.1
RJavier Báez1
BVictor Caratini1

DH

LKyle Schwarber8
LJon Jay2

Starters

LJon Lester3.2 WAR
RJake Arrieta2.6 WAR
RKyle Hendricks2.3 WAR
LJose Quintana⇄2.0 WAR
LMike Montgomery1.5 WAR
RJohn Lackey0.6 WAR
REddie Butler0.5 WAR
LBrett Anderson⇄0.2 WAR
RJen-Ho Tseng-0.1 WAR

Bullpen

★ RWade Davis32 sv
RCarl Edwards Jr.25 h
RPedro Strop21 h
RKoji Uehara14 h
LBrian Duensing13 h
RHector Rondon10 h
RJustin Grimm4 h
RFelix Pena1 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 2016)

PlayerfWAR
Jose Quintana2.0
Ian Happ1.8
Jon Jay1.2
Wade Davis1.1
Brian Duensing0.7
René Rivera0.7

Key subtractions (gone from 2016)

Player2016 fWAR
Dexter Fowler4.3
Jason Hammel1.8
David Ross1.5
Aroldis Chapman1.3
Chris Coghlan0.6
Jorge Soler0.4

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 2017; everyone else is shown as a 2017 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Kris Bryant 2017 +7.0 +80.0 1.1 +78.9 $0.2M 1.43× Free Agent · 2022–2028 · $26.0M AAV
Anthony Rizzo 2017 +4.4 +42.4 7.0 +35.4 $1.6M 1.20× –
Kyle Hendricks 2017 +2.3 +27.3 0.8 +26.6 $0.3M 1.49× –
Javier Báez 2017 +3.1 +26.9 0.6 +26.3 $0.2M 1.07× Free Agent · 2022–2027 · $23.3M AAV
Jake Arrieta 2017 +2.6 +40.0 15.6 +24.4 $6.1M 1.96× –
Jon Lester 2017 +3.2 +49.4 25.0 +24.4 $7.9M 1.96× –
Jose Quintana↔ 2017 +2.0 +23.5 3.1 +20.5 $1.5M 1.49× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $6.0M AAV
Ian Happ 2017 +1.8 +17.8 0.4 +17.4 $0.2M 1.22× Extension · 2024–2026 · $20.3M AAV
Addison Russell 2017 +2.3 +16.3 0.6 +15.6 $0.3M 0.89× –
Willson Contreras 2017 +2.3 +13.9 0.5 +13.4 $0.2M 0.76× Free Agent · 2023–2027 · $17.5M AAV
Mike Montgomery 2017 +1.5 +7.8 0.6 +7.3 $0.4M 0.67× –
Kyle Schwarber 2017 +1.1 +7.4 0.6 +6.8 $0.5M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2030 · $30.0M AAV
Albert Almora Jr. 2017 +1.1 +7.2 0.6 +6.7 $0.5M 0.83× –
Carl Edwards Jr. 2017 +1.0 +5.2 0.6 +4.6 $0.6M 0.67× –
Eddie Butler 2017 +0.5 +4.4 0.2 +4.2 $0.4M 1.02× –
Tommy La Stella 2017 +0.8 +3.4 0.3 +3.0 $0.5M 0.56× –
René Rivera↔ 2017 +0.7 +2.8 0.5 +2.4 $0.7M 0.52× –
Wade Davis 2017 +1.1 +12.2 10.0 +2.2 $8.8M 1.34× –
Brian Duensing 2017 +0.7 +3.9 2.0 +1.9 $2.7M 0.67× –
Justin Wilson↔ 2017 +0.2 +1.8 1.0 +0.9 $5.5M 1.34× –
Alex Avila↔ 2017 +0.3 +1.2 0.6 +0.6 $2.1M 0.52× –
Koji Uehara 2017 +0.6 +6.6 6.0 +0.6 $9.8M 1.34× –
Dillon Maples 2017 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.4 $1.1M 0.67× –
Brett Anderson↔ 2017 +0.2 +1.9 1.6 +0.3 $7.0M 1.02× –
Pierce Johnson 2017 +0.0 +0.1 0.0 +0.1 $0.3M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $6.5M AAV
Victor Caratini 2017 +0.1 +0.3 0.2 +0.1 $3.0M 0.52× Free Agent · 2026–2028 · $7.0M AAV
Jon Jay 2017 +1.2 +7.8 8.0 -0.2 $6.9M 0.83× –
Pedro Strop 2017 +1.0 +5.3 5.5 -0.2 $5.5M 0.67× –
Rob Zastryzny 2017 -0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 – 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.9M AAV
Jack Leathersich↔ 2017 -0.1 -0.4 0.0 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Seth Frankoff 2017 -0.1 -0.4 0.0 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Jen-Ho Tseng 2017 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 – 1.02× –
Jeimer Candelario↔ 2017 -0.1 -0.6 0.0 -0.6 – 0.56× –
Taylor Davis 2017 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.6 – 0.56× –
Dylan Floro 2017 -0.1 -0.6 0.0 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Matt Szczur↔ 2017 -0.1 -0.9 0.1 -1.0 – 0.83× –
Mark Zagunis 2017 -0.2 -1.1 0.0 -1.1 – 0.83× –
Mike Freeman↔ 2017 -0.3 -1.4 0.0 -1.4 – 0.61× –
Félix Peña 2017 -0.2 -1.2 0.2 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Leonys Martin↔ 2017 -0.0 -0.3 1.5 -1.8 – 0.83× –
Héctor Rondón 2017 +0.4 +2.0 5.8 -3.8 $15.8M 0.67× –
Justin Grimm 2017 -0.4 -2.3 1.8 -4.1 – 0.67× –
Miguel Montero↔ 2017 +0.6 +2.6 8.1 -5.5 $14.0M 0.56× –
John Lackey 2017 +0.6 +4.6 16.0 -11.4 $28.4M 1.02× –
Ben Zobrist 2017 +0.1 +0.6 16.5 -15.9 $125.3M 0.56× –
Jason Heyward 2017 +1.0 +6.7 28.2 -21.5 $28.0M 0.83× –
Zac Rosscup↔ 2017 +0.0 +0.0 0.0 +0.0 $2.8M 0.67× –
Total—+44.1+423.5171.6+252.2—

Trades

Every graded 2017 deal involving the Cubs — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 9 total.

2017 · CHW / CHC
CHW · Kenny Williams +$64.0M
Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease, Bryant Flete, Matt Rose
CHC · Theo Epstein −$64.0M
Jose Quintana
CHW came out ahead by $64.0M
2017 · SEA / CHC
SEA · Jerry Dipoto +$5.6M
cash / PTBNL
CHC · Theo Epstein −$5.6M
Leonys Martín
SEA came out ahead by $5.6M
2017 · DET / CHC
DET · Al Avila +$34.4M
Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes
CHC · Theo Epstein −$34.4M
Alex Avila, Justin Wilson
DET came out ahead by $34.4M
2017 · CHC / COL
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Matt Carasiti
COL · Jeff Bridich +$0.0M
Zac Rosscup
Even trade
2017 · ANA / CHC
ANA · Billy Eppler +$12.0M
Félix Peña
CHC · Theo Epstein −$12.0M
cash / PTBNL
ANA came out ahead by $12.0M
2017 · SDP / CHC
SDP · AJ Preller +$0.0M
Matt Szczur
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Justin Hancock
Even trade
2017 · CHC / KCR
CHC · Theo Epstein +$7.2M
Alec Mills
KCR · Dayton Moore −$7.2M
Donnie Dewees
CHC came out ahead by $7.2M
2017 · CHC / COL
CHC · Theo Epstein +$3.2M
Eddie Butler
COL · Jeff Bridich −$3.2M
James Farris
CHC came out ahead by $3.2M
2017 · CHC / TOR
CHC · Theo Epstein +$12.0M
cash / PTBNL
TOR · Mark Shapiro −$12.0M
Miguel Montero
CHC came out ahead by $12.0M

Current & Historical Payroll

2017 payroll
$171.6M
2018 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2017, 2017–2023. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2017; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Guaranteed / signed (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Jason Heyward277.000$28.2MFREE AGENT
Jon Lester3310.075$25.0MFREE AGENT
Ben Zobrist369.134$16.5MFREE AGENT
John Lackey3814.095$16.0MFREE AGENT
Wade Davis317.032$10.0MFREE AGENT
Miguel Montero3310.031$8.1MFREE AGENT
Jon Jay326.134$8.0MFREE AGENT
Koji Uehara428.000$6.0MFREE AGENT
Brian Duensing347.055$2.0MFREE AGENT
Brett Anderson298.000$1.6MFREE AGENT
Alex Avila307.061$625kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (10)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Jake Arrieta315.145$15.6MFREE AGENT
Anthony Rizzo274.168$7.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Héctor Rondón294.000$5.8MARB 3FREE AGENT
Pedro Strop325.156$5.5MFREE AGENT
Jose Quintana284.133$3.1MARB 3FREE AGENT
Justin Grimm283.170$1.8MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Leonys Martin294.078$1.5MARB 3FREE AGENT
Justin Wilson294.035$955kARB 3FREE AGENT
René Rivera335.070$473kFREE AGENT
Tommy La Stella283.000$348kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (26)

PlayerAgeSvc2017201820192020202120222023
Kris Bryant251.171$1.1MPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Hendricks272.080$760kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Addison Russell231.167$644kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Javier Báez241.089$609kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Montgomery271.089$570kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Schwarber241.086$566kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carl Edwards Jr.252.000$556kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Albert Almora Jr.230.073$552kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Willson Contreras250.108$544kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Happ220.000$415kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Félix Peña270.045$248kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Victor Caratini230.000$219kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Eddie Butler261.074$193kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rob Zastryzny250.045$102kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dillon Maples250.000$91kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Davis270.000$79kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Szczur271.134$69kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jen-Ho Tseng220.020$56kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Freeman290.038$39kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dylan Floro260.040$38kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jeimer Candelario230.006$27kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Zagunis240.000$23kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Zac Rosscup292.105$16kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Leathersich260.091$9kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Pierce Johnson260.000$9kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Seth Frankoff280.000$6kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2017 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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