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Cubs CHC

201984–78 (0.519)
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President of baseball ops: Theo Epstein · GM: Jed Hoyer

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2019, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$218M
Surplus $M
-82
Win %
0.519
TAB
+1.1
WAB
-4.6
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
41.6
Dead money %
24%
Depth Players
11.0
Dead WAR
-5.6

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2019 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RWillson Contreras99
BVictor Caratini59
RJonathan Lucroy⇄24
RTaylor Davis6
RMartín Maldonado⇄4
LKyle Schwarber1

1B

LAnthony Rizzo146
BVictor Caratini23
BIan Happ7
RJonathan Lucroy⇄3
RKris Bryant3
RWillson Contreras2
LDaniel Descalso1
RTaylor Davis1

2B

RAddison Russell63
RDavid Bote50
LDaniel Descalso45
BBen Zobrist32
LTony Kemp⇄24
BRobel García18
BIan Happ13
RNico Hoerner1

3B

RKris Bryant115
RDavid Bote67
BIan Happ8
LDaniel Descalso3
BVictor Caratini2
RJavier Báez1

SS

RJavier Báez129
RAddison Russell21
RNico Hoerner17
RDavid Bote9
BBen Zobrist1

LF

LKyle Schwarber140
RKris Bryant23
BIan Happ15
LTony Kemp⇄11
LCarlos González⇄8
BBen Zobrist6
BRobel García5
RNick Castellanos⇄4
RMark Zagunis2
RWillson Contreras1

CF

RAlbert Almora Jr.125
LJason Heyward84
BIan Happ13
LTony Kemp⇄7
RNico Hoerner1

RF

LJason Heyward105
RNick Castellanos⇄47
RKris Bryant27
BBen Zobrist13
BIan Happ8
LCarlos González⇄7
RMark Zagunis6
RWillson Contreras2
LTony Kemp⇄2
RDavid Bote1
LJames Adduci1
BRobel García1

DH

RKris Bryant3
RJavier Báez2
LDaniel Descalso2
LKyle Schwarber2
BBen Zobrist1
BRobel García1
RWillson Contreras1

Starters

RKyle Hendricks4.2 WAR
LJose Quintana3.2 WAR
LJon Lester3.1 WAR
LCole Hamels2.5 WAR
RYu Darvish2.3 WAR
RTyler Chatwood0.7 WAR
RAlec Mills0.4 WAR
LDerek Holland⇄-0.2 WAR
RAdbert Alzolay-0.3 WAR

Bullpen

★ RCraig Kimbrel13 sv
RBrandon Kintzler17 h
LKyle Ryan14 h
RSteve Cishek11 h
RPedro Strop6 h
RRowan Wick5 h
RDavid Phelps⇄5 h
RBrad Brach⇄0 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 2018)

PlayerfWAR
Nick Castellanos1.8
Rowan Wick0.8
Kyle Ryan0.7
Nico Hoerner0.4
Brad Brach0.3
Brad Wieck0.2

Key subtractions (gone from 2018)

Player2018 fWAR
Jesse Chavez1.1
Justin Wilson0.6
Jorge De La Rosa0.5
Daniel Murphy0.3
Anthony Bass0.2
Tommy La Stella0.1

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 2019; everyone else is shown as a 2019 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Kyle Hendricks 2019 +4.2 +73.0 7.4 +65.6 $1.8M 2.19× –
Javier Báez 2019 +5.6 +67.3 5.2 +62.1 $0.9M 1.51× Free Agent · 2022–2027 · $23.3M AAV
Jose Quintana 2019 +3.2 +49.4 10.5 +38.9 $3.3M 1.96× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $6.0M AAV
Kris Bryant 2019 +4.4 +43.6 12.9 +30.7 $3.0M 1.25× Free Agent · 2022–2028 · $26.0M AAV
Anthony Rizzo 2019 +3.6 +34.7 12.3 +22.5 $3.4M 1.20× –
Jon Lester 2019 +3.1 +49.1 27.5 +21.6 $8.8M 1.96× –
Kyle Schwarber 2019 +2.1 +20.7 3.4 +17.3 $1.6M 1.22× Free Agent · 2026–2030 · $30.0M AAV
Willson Contreras 2019 +2.4 +14.8 0.7 +14.1 $0.3M 0.76× Free Agent · 2023–2027 · $17.5M AAV
Nick Castellanos↔ 2019 +1.8 +17.3 3.4 +14.0 $1.9M 1.22× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
David Bote 2019 +1.7 +11.5 0.6 +10.9 $0.3M 0.85× –
Cole Hamels 2019 +2.5 +29.7 20.0 +9.7 $8.0M 1.49× –
Yu Darvish 2019 +2.3 +27.5 20.0 +7.5 $8.7M 1.49× Extension · 2023–2028 · $18.0M AAV
Ian Happ 2019 +1.0 +6.9 0.6 +6.3 $0.6M 0.83× Extension · 2024–2026 · $20.3M AAV
Victor Caratini 2019 +1.1 +4.7 0.6 +4.1 $0.5M 0.52× Free Agent · 2026–2028 · $7.0M AAV
Rowan Wick 2019 +0.8 +4.1 0.3 +3.8 $0.3M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $0.9M AAV
Jason Heyward 2019 +2.4 +23.4 20.0 +3.4 $8.3M 1.22× –
Kyle Ryan 2019 +0.7 +3.5 0.6 +3.0 $0.8M 0.67× –
Nico Hoerner 2019 +0.4 +2.1 0.1 +2.0 $0.1M 0.61× Extension · 2027–2032 · $23.5M AAV
Alec Mills 2019 +0.4 +1.9 0.1 +1.8 $0.4M 0.67× –
Brad Wieck↔ 2019 +0.2 +1.3 0.1 +1.2 $0.3M 0.67× –
Addison Russell 2019 +1.0 +4.3 3.4 +0.9 $3.6M 0.56× –
Robel García 2019 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.4 $1.5M 0.56× –
Brad Brach↔ 2019 +0.3 +1.6 1.3 +0.3 $4.2M 0.67× –
Danny Hultzen 2019 +0.1 +0.3 0.1 +0.2 $1.3M 0.67× –
James Norwood 2019 -0.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.2 – 0.67× –
Brandon Kintzler 2019 +0.9 +4.6 5.0 -0.4 $5.9M 0.67× –
David Phelps↔ 2019 +0.1 +0.8 1.5 -0.7 $20.5M 1.34× –
Taylor Davis 2019 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.7 – 0.52× –
Dillon Maples 2019 -0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.8 – 0.67× –
Randy Rosario↔ 2019 -0.1 -0.4 0.4 -0.8 – 0.67× –
Carlos González↔ 2019 -0.1 -0.9 0.0 -0.9 – 0.83× –
Mark Zagunis 2019 -0.1 -0.4 0.6 -0.9 – 0.83× –
Tim Collins 2019 -0.0 -0.1 0.8 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Martín Maldonado↔ 2019 -0.2 -0.9 0.1 -1.0 – 0.52× –
Xavier Cedeño 2019 -0.0 -0.2 0.9 -1.1 – 0.67× –
Allen Webster 2019 -0.1 -0.6 0.6 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Tony Barnette 2019 -0.1 -0.5 0.8 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Tony Kemp↔ 2019 -0.2 -1.0 0.2 -1.3 – 0.56× –
Carl Edwards Jr.↔ 2019 -0.1 -0.3 1.4 -1.7 – 0.67× –
Jonathan Lucroy↔ 2019 -0.2 -1.0 0.9 -1.9 – 0.52× –
Adbert Alzolay 2019 -0.3 -2.4 0.1 -2.5 – 1.02× –
Derek Holland↔ 2019 -0.2 -1.0 2.5 -3.4 – 0.67× –
Mike Montgomery↔ 2019 -0.5 -2.8 1.5 -4.3 – 0.67× –
Albert Almora Jr. 2019 -0.6 -3.8 0.6 -4.4 – 0.83× –
Steve Cishek 2019 +0.2 +1.8 6.5 -4.7 $38.2M 1.34× –
Pedro Strop 2019 +0.0 +0.4 6.2 -5.9 $168.0M 1.34× –
Daniel Descalso 2019 -1.3 -5.6 1.5 -7.1 – 0.56× –
Tyler Chatwood 2019 +0.7 +3.9 12.5 -8.6 $17.3M 0.67× –
Ben Zobrist 2019 -0.0 -0.2 12.5 -12.7 – 0.56× –
Craig Kimbrel 2019 -1.1 -11.3 10.0 -21.3 – 1.34× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Duane Underwood Jr. 2019 +0.0 +0.1 0.1 -0.0 $6.2M 0.67× –
James Adduci 2019 -0.1 -0.6 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+41.8+469.4218.9+251.6—

Trades

Every graded 2019 deal involving the Cubs — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 7 total.

2019 · SFG / CHC
SFG · Farhan Zaidi +$6.4M
cash / PTBNL
CHC · Theo Epstein −$6.4M
Derek Holland
SFG came out ahead by $6.4M
2019 · CHC / TOR
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
David Phelps
TOR · Mark Shapiro +$0.0M
Thomas Hatch
Even trade
2019 · CHC / KCR
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Donnie Dewees
KCR · Dayton Moore +$0.0M
Stephen Ridings
Even trade
2019 · CHC / HOU
CHC · Theo Epstein +$5.6M
Tony Kemp
HOU · Jeff Luhnow −$5.6M
Martín Maldonado
CHC came out ahead by $5.6M
2019 · CHC / SDP
CHC · Theo Epstein +$3.2M
Brad Wieck
SDP · AJ Preller −$3.2M
Carl Edwards
CHC came out ahead by $3.2M
2019 · KCR / CHC
KCR · Dayton Moore +$2.4M
Mike Montgomery
CHC · Theo Epstein −$2.4M
Martín Maldonado
KCR came out ahead by $2.4M
2019 · CHC / DET
CHC · Theo Epstein +$8.8M
Nick Castellanos
DET · Al Avila −$8.8M
Alex Lange, Paul Richan
CHC came out ahead by $8.8M

Current & Historical Payroll

2019 payroll
$218.5M
2020 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2019, 2019–2025. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2019; 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 (21)

PlayerAgeSvc2019202020212022202320242025
Jon Lester3512.075$27.5MFREE AGENT
Yu Darvish327.000$20.0MFREE AGENT
Cole Hamels3512.143$20.0MFREE AGENT
Jason Heyward299.000$20.0MFREE AGENT
Tyler Chatwood297.039$12.5MFREE AGENT
Ben Zobrist3811.134$12.5MFREE AGENT
Anthony Rizzo296.168$12.3MFREE AGENT
Jose Quintana306.133$10.5MCLUBFREE AGENT
Craig Kimbrel318.066$10.0MFREE AGENT
Steve Cishek337.143$6.5MFREE AGENT
Pedro Strop347.156$6.2MFREE AGENT
Brandon Kintzler347.003$5.0MFREE AGENT
Derek Holland3210.000$2.5MFREE AGENT
Daniel Descalso328.016$1.5MFREE AGENT
David Phelps326.156$1.5MFREE AGENT
Brad Brach336.063$1.3MFREE AGENT
Jonathan Lucroy338.136$896kFREE AGENT
Tim Collins298.000$850kFREE AGENT
Martín Maldonado326.156$95kFREE AGENT
Carlos González3311.000$33kFREE AGENT
James Adduci346.000—FREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (11)

PlayerAgeSvc2019202020212022202320242025
Kris Bryant273.171$12.9MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Hendricks294.081$7.4MARB 3FREE AGENT
Javier Báez263.089$5.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Addison Russell253.167$3.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Schwarber263.086$3.4MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nick Castellanos275.029$3.4MFREE AGENT
Mike Montgomery293.089$1.5MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Carl Edwards Jr.274.000$1.4MARB 3FREE AGENT
Xavier Cedeño325.003$900kFREE AGENT
Tony Barnette353.000$750kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Danny Hultzen294.023$69kARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (20)

PlayerAgeSvc2019202020212022202320242025
Willson Contreras272.108$684kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Allen Webster290.170$619kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Albert Almora Jr.252.073$616kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Happ241.141$604kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Victor Caratini251.051$570kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Bote260.100$562kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mark Zagunis260.044$556kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Ryan271.139$555kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Randy Rosario250.132$386kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rowan Wick260.031$257kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tony Kemp271.098$233kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Taylor Davis290.058$207kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Robel García260.000$173kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alec Mills270.052$134kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dillon Maples270.072$134kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Duane Underwood Jr.240.001$125kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James Norwood250.044$78kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brad Wieck270.020$72kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nico Hoerner220.000$63kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Adbert Alzolay240.000$57kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2019 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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