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Cubs CHC

202034–26 (0.567)Made Playoffs
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President of baseball ops: Theo Epstein · GM: Jed Hoyer

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2020, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$183M
Surplus $M
-71
Win %
0.567
TAB
+0.4
WAB
+4.3
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
14.8
Dead money %
49%
Depth Players
1.0
Dead WAR
-2.2

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2020 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RWillson Contreras41
BVictor Caratini22
RJosh Phegley4

1B

LAnthony Rizzo57
BVictor Caratini3
RHernán Pérez2
RPatrick Wisdom2
BIan Happ2
LJason Kipnis1
RDavid Bote1
RKris Bryant1
RJosé A. Martínez⇄1

2B

RNico Hoerner37
LJason Kipnis36
RDavid Bote7
BIldemaro Vargas⇄5
RHernán Pérez1

3B

RDavid Bote33
RKris Bryant27
RNico Hoerner6
BIldemaro Vargas⇄1

SS

RJavier Báez56
RNico Hoerner10

LF

LKyle Schwarber48
BIan Happ28
RKris Bryant4
RCameron Maybin⇄3
RSteven Souza Jr.3
RHernán Pérez1
RJavier Báez1
RNico Hoerner1

CF

BIan Happ51
RAlbert Almora Jr.28
BBilly Hamilton⇄13
RCameron Maybin⇄2
RNico Hoerner1

RF

LJason Heyward50
RCameron Maybin⇄11
BIan Happ7
RSteven Souza Jr.6

DH

RWillson Contreras18
BVictor Caratini18
RJosé A. Martínez⇄10
LKyle Schwarber9
LJason Kipnis6
RJosh Phegley6
RDavid Bote3
RKris Bryant2
RCameron Maybin⇄2
BBilly Hamilton⇄1
BIan Happ1
RHernán Pérez1
RJavier Báez1
RSteven Souza Jr.1

Starters

RYu Darvish2.9 WAR
RKyle Hendricks1.9 WAR
RAdbert Alzolay0.5 WAR
RTyler Chatwood0.4 WAR
LJon Lester0.2 WAR
LJose Quintana0.2 WAR
RAlec Mills0.1 WAR
RColin Rea-0.0 WAR
RTyson Miller-0.1 WAR

Bullpen

★ RJeremy Jeffress8 sv
RRowan Wick5 h
LKyle Ryan4 h
RRyan Tepera3 h
RCraig Kimbrel3 h
RDan Winkler1 h
RDuane Underwood Jr.1 h
RJason Adam0 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 2019)

PlayerfWAR
Jason Kipnis0.4
Ryan Tepera0.3
Billy Hamilton0.2
Jeremy Jeffress0.2
Cameron Maybin0.2
Josh Osich0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 2019)

Player2019 fWAR
Cole Hamels2.5
Nick Castellanos1.8
Addison Russell1.0
Brandon Kintzler0.9
Steve Cishek0.2
Robel García0.1

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 2020; everyone else is shown as a 2020 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Yu Darvish 2020 +2.9 +45.9 22.0 +23.9 $7.5M 1.96× Extension · 2023–2028 · $18.0M AAV
Ian Happ 2020 +2.0 +19.2 0.2 +18.9 $0.1M 1.22× Extension · 2024–2026 · $20.3M AAV
Kyle Hendricks 2020 +1.9 +22.4 12.0 +10.4 $6.4M 1.49× –
Willson Contreras 2020 +1.7 +10.2 4.5 +5.7 $2.7M 0.76× Free Agent · 2023–2027 · $17.5M AAV
Adbert Alzolay 2020 +0.5 +4.3 0.0 +4.3 $0.1M 1.02× –
Rowan Wick 2020 +0.5 +2.6 0.2 +2.4 $0.4M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $0.9M AAV
Nico Hoerner 2020 +0.5 +2.2 0.2 +1.9 $0.4M 0.56× Extension · 2027–2032 · $23.5M AAV
Jason Kipnis 2020 +0.4 +1.7 0.1 +1.6 $0.3M 0.56× –
Billy Hamilton↔ 2020 +0.2 +1.4 0.1 +1.3 $0.4M 0.83× –
Jeremy Jeffress 2020 +0.2 +1.9 0.8 +1.1 $4.7M 1.34× –
Alec Mills 2020 +0.1 +1.2 0.2 +1.0 $1.5M 1.02× –
Victor Caratini 2020 +0.3 +1.1 0.2 +0.9 $0.8M 0.52× Free Agent · 2026–2028 · $7.0M AAV
Ryan Tepera 2020 +0.3 +1.7 0.9 +0.8 $2.8M 0.67× –
Jason Adam 2020 +0.1 +0.5 0.1 +0.4 $1.1M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $6.7M AAV
Josh Osich↔ 2020 +0.1 +0.6 0.2 +0.4 $1.7M 0.67× –
Ildemaro Vargas↔ 2020 +0.1 +0.3 0.0 +0.3 $0.2M 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.2M AAV
Cameron Maybin↔ 2020 +0.2 +1.1 0.8 +0.2 $5.2M 0.83× –
Matt Dermody 2020 +0.0 +0.1 0.0 +0.1 $0.5M 0.67× –
Brailyn Marquez 2020 -0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.2 – 0.67× –
Colin Rea 2020 -0.0 -0.0 0.1 -0.2 – 0.67× Extension · 2027–2027 · $6.5M AAV
David Bote 2020 +0.2 +0.7 1.0 -0.2 $6.1M 0.58× –
Hernán Pérez 2020 -0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 – 0.56× –
James Norwood 2020 +0.0 +0.0 0.2 -0.2 $29.1M 0.67× –
Patrick Wisdom 2020 -0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.2 – 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Dillon Maples 2020 -0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 – 0.67× –
Duane Underwood Jr. 2020 -0.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Rex Brothers 2020 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.6 – 0.67× –
Brad Wieck 2020 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.8 – 0.67× –
Andrew Chafin↔ 2020 -0.0 -0.2 0.8 -1.0 – 0.67× –
Tyson Miller 2020 -0.1 -1.1 0.0 -1.1 – 1.02× –
Casey Sadler↔ 2020 -0.2 -1.1 0.1 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Dan Winkler 2020 -0.1 -0.5 0.8 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Josh Phegley 2020 -0.2 -1.1 0.2 -1.3 – 0.69× –
Steven Souza Jr. 2020 -0.1 -0.7 1.0 -1.7 – 0.83× –
Albert Almora Jr. 2020 -0.1 -0.9 1.6 -2.5 – 0.83× –
Kyle Ryan 2020 -0.4 -1.9 1.0 -2.9 – 0.67× –
Kyle Schwarber 2020 +0.5 +3.5 7.0 -3.5 $13.2M 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2030 · $30.0M AAV
Jason Heyward 2020 +1.6 +15.9 21.0 -5.1 $12.9M 1.22× –
Javier Báez 2020 +0.7 +3.4 10.0 -6.6 $14.5M 0.61× Free Agent · 2022–2027 · $23.3M AAV
Jose Quintana 2020 +0.2 +0.9 10.5 -9.6 $63.2M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $6.0M AAV
Tyler Chatwood 2020 +0.4 +3.4 13.0 -9.6 $31.1M 1.02× –
Anthony Rizzo 2020 +1.0 +4.3 16.5 -12.2 $17.2M 0.56× –
Craig Kimbrel 2020 +0.1 +0.5 16.0 -15.5 $158.7M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Kris Bryant 2020 +0.1 +0.6 18.6 -18.0 $141.3M 0.58× Free Agent · 2022–2028 · $26.0M AAV
Jon Lester 2020 +0.2 +1.8 20.0 -18.2 $90.4M 1.02× –
Ian Miller 2020 +0.0 +0.0 0.0 -0.0 – 0.83× –
José A. Martínez↔ 2020 -0.5 -2.8 – – – 0.69× –
Total—+15.1+141.0182.5-38.9—

Trades

Every graded 2020 deal involving the Cubs — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 8 total.

2020 · TBR / CHC
TBR · Erik Neander +$3.2M
Pedro Martinez
CHC · Theo Epstein −$3.2M
José Martínez
TBR came out ahead by $3.2M
2020 · CHC / DET
CHC · Theo Epstein +$8.0M
Cameron Maybin
DET · Al Avila −$8.0M
Zack Short
CHC came out ahead by $8.0M
2020 · CHC / BOS
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.0M
Travis Lakins
BOS · Chaim Bloom +$0.0M
Jhonny Pereda
Even trade
2020 · CHC / ARI
CHC · Theo Epstein +$4.0M
Andrew Chafin
ARI · Mike Hazen −$4.0M
Ronny Simon
CHC came out ahead by $4.0M
2020 · SDP / CHC
SDP · AJ Preller +$42.4M
Víctor Caratini, Yu Darvish
CHC · Theo Epstein −$42.4M
Owen Caissie, Yeison Santana, Zach Davies, Reginald Preciado, Ismael Mena
SDP came out ahead by $42.4M
2020 · OAK / CHC
OAK · Billy Beane +$15.2M
Tony Kemp
CHC · Theo Epstein −$15.2M
Alfonso Rivas
OAK came out ahead by $15.2M
2020 · LAD / CHC
LAD · Andrew Friedman +$0.8M
Clayton Daniel
CHC · Theo Epstein −$0.8M
Casey Sadler
LAD came out ahead by $0.8M
2020 · CHC / BOS
CHC · Theo Epstein +$0.8M
Josh Osich
BOS · Chaim Bloom −$0.8M
Zach Bryant
CHC came out ahead by $0.8M

Current & Historical Payroll

2020 payroll
$182.7M
2021 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2020, 2020–2026. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2020; 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 (12)

PlayerAgeSvc2020202120222023202420252026
Yu Darvish338.000$22.0MFREE AGENT
Jason Heyward3010.000$21.0MFREE AGENT
Jon Lester3613.075$20.0MFREE AGENT
Anthony Rizzo307.168$16.5MFREE AGENT
Craig Kimbrel328.161$16.0MFREE AGENT
Tyler Chatwood308.039$13.0MFREE AGENT
Jose Quintana317.133$10.5MCLUBFREE AGENT
Steven Souza Jr.316.000$1.0MFREE AGENT
Jeremy Jeffress326.090$850kFREE AGENT
Cameron Maybin3310.059$844kFREE AGENT
Jason Kipnis338.069$100kFREE AGENT
Billy Hamilton296.028$77kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (14)

PlayerAgeSvc2020202120222023202420252026
Kris Bryant284.171$18.6MARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Hendricks305.081$12.0MFREE AGENT
Javier Báez274.089$10.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Schwarber274.086$7.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Willson Contreras283.108$4.5MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Albert Almora Jr.263.073$1.6MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Tepera324.008$900kARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Chafin305.020$812kFREE AGENT
Dan Winkler304.063$750kARB 3FREE AGENT
Josh Phegley325.087$210kFREE AGENT
Josh Osich313.119$200kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hernán Pérez295.056$100kFREE AGENT
Rex Brothers324.091$83kARB 3FREE AGENT
José A. Martínez314.000—ARB 3FREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (21)

PlayerAgeSvc2020202120222023202420252026
Kyle Ryan282.139$975kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
David Bote271.100$960kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Happ252.036$231kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Victor Caratini262.051$219kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brad Wieck280.125$212kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Rowan Wick270.114$212kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alec Mills280.097$211kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nico Hoerner230.021$209kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Duane Underwood Jr.250.044$209kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James Norwood260.070$209kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Colin Rea292.140$134kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jason Adam280.147$109kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Sadler291.035$75kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Adbert Alzolay250.019$37kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dillon Maples280.117$25kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ildemaro Vargas281.028$17kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Dermody290.100$9kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Patrick Wisdom280.044$6kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ian Miller280.029$6kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyson Miller240.000$6kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brailyn Marquez21–$3k

Graphs

How each 2020 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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