Obviously, we wish this year’s Cubs would have done better. But there were still some performances to celebrate.
As they did in 2023, the Cubs dug themselves a deep hole early on this year, went on a pretty good run and were briefly in a wild-card spot, then couldn’t hold on to it in September.
They did finish 83-79, the same record as last year, but after July 3 went 44-31, which is a .587 winning percentage equivalent to a 95-win season.
With some improvements in specific areas, I believe this team can and should be a postseason contender in 2025. I’ll deal with that and have some thoughts about team management in another article later on, but for today, let’s look back at the 2024 Cubs players and how they did.
Here are my final season grades for Cubs players this year. In putting this together, I’m going to grade those who were on the active roster when the season ended, as well as players who weren’t but did play a significant number of games during the season. Overall there are comments on 40 different Cubs from this season.
Position players
Miguel Amaya: C
After a horrid start to his 2024 season, Amaya made some adjustments to his batting stance and had a very good run starting in early July. From July 7 through the end of the season, Amaya batted .282/.331/.468 (44-for-156) with six home runs in 54 games. That was enough to bring his final season numbers pretty close to what they were last year. So offensively, he is who he is, I’d think. Cubs pitchers are said to love throwing to him. One area he needs to improve: Throwing out runners. He threw out only 19 percent of runners trying to steal this year.
Michael Busch: B+
Busch did everything he was asked to do this year: Hit and hit for power and play well at first base. In fact, he might have played well enough at first base to be in contention for a Gold Glove.
Here’s a play he made back in April against the Dodgers to wrap up a win [VIDEO].
Nico Hoerner: B-
Nico didn’t hit well for most of the year, but a strong September push put his final numbers pretty close to his career averages. He also led National League second basemen in Outs Above Average and Defensive Run Value and very well could win another Gold Glove.
Nico has been a guy about whom many fans say, “Trade him!” He’s under contract for two more years at a reasonable rate and has had his third straight season of 3+ bWAR. You don’t replace that easily. I doubt he’s going anywhere.
Dansby Swanson: C+
Like Amaya and Hoerner, Swanson hit well enough in September so if you squint, you can see “about career average” performance from him offensively for 2024. Swanson had some defensive struggles early, but led all MLB shortstops in Outs Above Average and Defensive Run Value and I’m reasonably certain he will also win another Gold Glove this year.
You’ll remember this play from just last Saturday that sealed the Cubs’ win after review [VIDEO].
Isaac Paredes: C-
It became a fun parlor game after the trade that brought Paredes to the Cubs for Christopher Morel (and others) to compare the two — neither did much for his new team. Until September, that is, when Paredes hit a bit better and wound up with a .633 OPS with the Cubs, while Morel wrapped his time with the Rays with an OPS of .547.
Paredes is clearly a better defensive player and I think in the end this deal will work out well for the Cubs.
Ian Happ: B+
Happ is another guy many Cubs fans like to yell, “Trade him!”
At age 30, Happ is who he is — a guy who will hit 20+ home runs, mash a lot of doubles, post an OPS just shy of .800 and play excellent defense in left field. Happ again led the National League in outfield assists this year (11), and while his overall defense wasn’t quite as good as last year, he will also contend for a Gold Glove.
He posted a 4.0 bWAR season and, like Hoerner, is under contract for two more years at a reasonable price. You don’t trade that.
Pete Crow-Armstrong: C+
Watching PCA play, you can see he might be just on the cusp of a real breakout season in 2025. Early on, there were far too many strikeouts, but from July 27 through the end of the season he batted .289/.337/.469 (56-for-194) with eight doubles, three triples and seven home runs in 57 games, about a third of the season.
If he can do that for a full season — and I am pretty sure he can — that’s near All-Star level production at the plate. Cut down on the strikeouts and he’s one of the best offensive players in the league.
Then there’s his defense in center field. He still makes the occasional misplay and whoever’s playing left and right field needs to learn to get out of PCA’s way, but even this year without playing a full season, he led all center fielders in Fielding Run Value, was among MLB leaders in Outs Above Average, and Fangraphs’ Defensive Value number had him topping Jacob Young of the Nationals for the lead among all center fielders. He’s going to win a lot of Gold Gloves in his career and just might win one this year. (Imagine that — the Cubs possibly winning four or even five Gold Gloves in 2024. Could happen.)
Here’s his inside-the-park home run Aug. 23 against the Marlins [VIDEO].
Seiya Suzuki: B
Suzuki set career highs in home runs, stolen bases and OPS this year, but it became clear by midseason that he was becoming a liability in right field.
So Craig Counsell made him the team’s fulltime DH starting Aug. 16. From then to the end of the season Suzuki played 36 games at DH, only one in right field and batted .326/.433/.500, which is well above his usual norms and definitely All-Star level performance. He set career highs in 2024 in home runs, OBP and OPS.
I’d pencil him in as the fulltime designated hitter for 2025.
Cody Bellinger: C+
Bellinger was injured twice this year, in April when he ran into the Wrigley Field wall chasing a fly ball, and then in July when he suffered a broken finger on a pitched ball in Baltimore.
He wound up playing 131 games, exactly one more than last year. All of his numbers were down from 2023, and I’m guessing the injuries kept him back, particularly the broken finger.
A 2.2 bWAR season isn’t bad, but it isn’t really that great, either, and in my view this will have Bellinger not opting out of his contract for 2025, making him a Cub again next year. This will complicate any efforts to sign an outfielder as a free agent.
Could be wrong, I suppose, but I see Bellinger coming back next year and trying to have a better year and head to free agency after 2025.
Mike Tauchman: B+
Tauchman is what every team needs — a solid fourth outfielder who can start when needed and also be a good pinch-hitter. As a PH this year, Tauchman batted .300/.482/.350 — 6-for-20 with six walks. That’s a really good OBP for a pinch-hitter.
His bWAR dropped this year largely because his defense wasn’t quite as good as it was in 2023. Nevertheless, I’d absolutely like to see Tauchman back next year. His professional approach is something this team needs, and his experience can help mentor younger players. He won’t be expensive in his second arbitration season.
Patrick Wisdom: D
Wisdom didn’t really play enough to go on one of the power streaks that he had been known for earlier in his Cubs career. He hit just eight home runs in 75 games (158 at-bats).
The Cubs can likely do better in 2025 for a bench player who can play first and third base and a couple of outfield positions. Thanks to Patrick for some memorable home runs over his four years as a Cub.
Christian Bethancourt: B
Bethancourt was available to the Cubs for backing up Miguel Amaya because the Marlins let him go after he produced about the way Yan Gomes had for the Cubs before he was released.
Bethancourt did very well as a Cub, batting .281/.305/.509 (16-for-57) in 24 games, including one memorable seven-RBI game in Pittsburgh in late August [VIDEO].
All of that was worth 1.0 bWAR, which is pretty impressive for just 24 games.
For anyone who thinks Bethancourt can replicate that, think again. He turned 33 earlier this month and is a career journeyman. The Cubs have hinted they want an upgrade behind the plate to pair with Amaya.
I think we thank Bethancourt for the two months of good memories and wish him well elsewhere.
Luis Vázquez: Incomplete
It’s really hard to judge a guy who played briefly in 11 games and went 1-for-12. Like Bethancourt, he had a memorable game, May 28 in Milwaukee, when he scored the lead run in extras as a pinch-runner [VIDEO].
Vázquez might turn into a useful bench player, but there’s too little evidence to draw any definitive conclusions.
Kevin Alcántara: Incomplete
Called up in the season’s last week because of a minor injury to Suzuki, Alcántara played in just three games. He’s clearly a part of this team’s future.
Here’s his first MLB hit, last Wednesday in Philadelphia [VIDEO].
Miles Mastrobuoni: D-
He does lots of things, but not really any of them well except a bit of fielding and pinch-running. In 110 games and 255 PA as a Cub, he has a .550 OPS. He turns 29 next month.
The Cubs can do better for a bench player.
Nick Madrigal: D-
As is the case for Mastrobuoni, I think the Cubs need to move on from Madrigal. There really isn’t a spot for him anymore and he had a .616 OPS in 200 games (616 PA) as a Cub.
Shōta Imanaga: A+
What an outstanding signing by Jed Hoyer. Imanaga not only will get some downballot Rookie of the Year and Cy Young votes, he totally embraced the city of Chicago and Cubs culture — the latter, the very first thing he did after signing:
He’s so easy to root for and has been, by all accounts, a fantastic teammate.
And, he was part of a combined no-hitter over the Pirates in September [VIDEO].
The Cubs were 23-6 in games he started. So excited to see even better things from Shōta in 2025.
Justin Steele: B+
Steele was injured on Opening Day in Texas and missed five weeks, then came back and essentially had the same year he did in 2023, except for the individual win total, which dropped from 16 to 5.
Then he had some elbow issues in late August and missed some more time, but appears to have ended the season healthy. Here’s to bigger and better things in 2025.
Jameson Taillon: A-
Well now, this is the year everyone hoped Taillon would have in 2023.
Better late than never, Taillon also missed some time early in the year with back issues, but returned and made 28 starts, almost all of which were good-to-excellent. He ended the season with a 13-inning scoreless streak which gave him a 3.27 ERA for the year, second-best in his career. It was a 2.3 bWAR season and I’d look forward to more of the same in 2025.
Javier Assad: C+
The numbers don’t look too bad, even after a disastrous final start in Philadelphia. A 3.73 ERA and 1.6 bWAR are perfectly fine for a fifth starter, which is what we hope he will be in 2025 after the Cubs sign or trade for a TOR starter this offseason.
Assad also seems to be a great guy, and is easy to root for. At 27, he still has a chance to improve. 2024 was really his first full season facing MLB competition.
Kyle Hendricks: D-
I really hate to give The Professor that grade, but… that’s what the numbers say. He finished with a career-worst 5.92 ERA and -1.5 bWAR, though with a 2.89 ERA in five starts in September, he reminded us of what once was, including his final outing Saturday against the Reds, and of course you want to see his farewell again [VIDEO].
The Cubs and Kyle left the door slightly open for a return. At the right price, I could see it. The Cubs didn’t really have a multi-inning reliever this year, and could have used one on a number of occasions. Hendricks might be able to fill that role. If they decide not to do that, I’d really rather see Kyle retire than pitch for another team, and perhaps take a position in the Cubs front office.
When Kyle’s future plans have been determined, I’ll write a full article here about his meaning to the franchise.
Drew Smyly: C-
Smyly threw well for quite some time as a reliever this year — full-time in the pen, he didn’t make a single start for the first time since 2013 — but a disastrous stretch in early September made his full-season numbers look pretty mediocre (3.84 ERA, 1.398 WHIP, 0.0 bWAR).
He has a $10 million mutual option which the Cubs will almost certainly decline and instead pay him a $2.5 million buyout.
Porter Hodge: A
The Cubs have found their closer. Hodge has the stuff for it, the mound presence and seems to have the right attitude. Not everyone is suited for closer but Hodge appears to be.
Now, does that mean the Cubs shouldn’t have someone else to back him up, a setup man who can close if needed? Of course they should. But they should not spend big money on a closer.
Here’s his strikeout of Anthony Volpe on a nasty slider to defeat the Yankees [VIDEO].
The best news is that Hodge is just 23 and should have five more years of team control.
Tyson Miller: B+
I don’t know how he does it. Miller doesn’t throw hard — tops out at around 90 — and doesn’t have a huge pitch arsenal.
It must be that funky delivery and arm slot that fools hitters. There have been a handful of games where he got lit up, but mostly Miller has been an effective setup man. And the Cubs got him for essentially nothing (Jake Slaughter, a minor leaguer who is almost 28 and has yet to play in the big leagues).
I’ve heard some say “move on” from Miller, but I’d say he’s a useful reliever who will not be expensive next year.
Nate Pearson: B+
Another guy the Cubs got for essentially nothing (two minor leaguers who were likely getting let go at the end of the year), Pearson is a former first-round pick who just didn’t make it in Toronto.
He throws hard — can hit 100 — and was largely effective in 19 games for the Cubs (2.73 ERA, 0.987 WHIP, four walks and 23 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings, 0.5 bWAR). Walks were a problem for him in Toronto and if he can continue to throw strikes, the Cubs have another useful reliever in 2025.
Hayden Wesneski: C-
He will drive you crazy, and probably does that to the Cubs coaching staff.
He’ll throw several scoreless innings with strikeouts on nasty sweepers and sliders, and then in his next outing he’ll serve up a couple of home run balls. He allowed 12 home runs in 67⅔ innings this year, which is … not good.
Wesneski has talent, but I don’t think enough for the Cubs rotation. Perhaps they can turn him into a leverage reliever.
Keegan Thompson: C+
Thompson had his moments out of the pen this year, but also had some meltdowns.
Lastly, he left Sunday’s game with an injury, which we hope isn’t serious. He will turn 30 in March — it might be time for the Cubs to move on.
Caleb Kilian: C
Had one pretty bad MLB outing and one really good one this year, thus the middling grade. I remain convinced that he should be used in relief and not as a starter, he’s got great stuff and can dial it up to 98 miles per hour. He might very well have made the Opening Day bullpen if he hadn’t been injured in Spring Training, he was lights out in Mesa. Hoping the Cubs see him that way for 2025.
Ethan Roberts: B-
Roberts missed most of 2022 and all of 2023 with Tommy John surgery. On returning, his velocity hadn’t quite returned to pre-TJS levels, but he did have some effective outings and struck out 26 in 26⅔ innings.
Even though he eventually took the loss in Sunday’s season-ending game, it’s worth another look at the pickoff he made of the placed runner in the 10th inning [VIDEO].
Enoli Paredes: Incomplete
This waiver pickup from the Brewers pitched in only one game and retired all three batters he faced. He pitched reasonably well in Milwaukee, too.
He’s 29 and the Cubs might try to sneak him through waivers to open a 40-man spot, but he’s definitely worth a look next spring if the team can keep him in the organization.
Jack Neely: Incomplete
Neely came over from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade and came to MLB with a bit of fanfare in September. He did not pitch well, but is just 24 and has talent. The Cubs will certainly give him a long look next spring.
Now, on to some of the pitchers who finished the year injured.
Ben Brown: B
Brown threw very well when healthy. Here’s hoping for a healthy return in 2025.
Jordan Wicks: D+
Wicks had his moments, but the injuries were too much. Again, hoping for a healthy 2025.
Jorge López: B
López threw well after the Mets tossed him aside and the Cubs signed him. He’s a free agent but I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs brought him back, at the right price, of course.
Luke Little: B
Little also threw well and when he went out for the year, it left the Cubs with only one lefty in the pen. They’ll need Little to return to form in 2025.
Adbert Alzolay: Incomplete
I’m giving him an “incomplete” even though he pitched in 18 games this year, and not very well.
It seems likely that Alzolay was injured late in 2023 and never recovered. He had Tommy John surgery in August, and will likely miss most or all of 2025. It’s really a shame; Alzolay has talent and is easy to root for. Hoping for a comeback.
Julian Merryweather: D+
Merryweather threw well early, got hurt, tried to come back and got hit hard, then got shut down. As with some of the other injured pitchers, he has talent. He will be 33 next month and it might be time to move on.
Daniel Palencia: D-
High strikeout rate. Also, high walk rate. If he could cut down on the latter, he could have a MLB career. Otherwise, time to try someone else.
Yency Almonte: Incomplete
After a rough start, it looked like Almonte was going to be a useful setup guy and then… got hurt. He had shoulder surgery in June and his status for next year is uncertain.
Colten Brewer: F
Pitched poorly and then broke his hand on the dugout wall after a bad outing and missed the rest of the year. I expect the Cubs to non-tender him.
Shawn Armstrong, Hunter Bigge, David Bote, Alexander Canario, Garrett Cooper, Jose Cuas, Yan Gomes, Gavin Hollowell, Richard Lovelady, Mark Leiter Jr., Matt Mervis, Christopher Morel, Hector Neris, Tomas Nido, Jesus Tinoco and Trey Wingenter also played in at least one game for the Cubs in 2024.