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The Chicago Cubs, who fell one sport wanting the postseason final
fall, wasted little time initiating their offseason plan for 2024.
Not even one week after the World Collection ended, the Cubs acted shortly to make their largest splash — signing supervisor Craig Counsell away from the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers and awarding him the richest contract for a supervisor in MLB historical past.
That meant firing fourth-year supervisor David Ross, whose Cubs improved from 74 to 83 wins in 2023 but pale down the stretch to complete 9 video games behind the Brewers.
Apart from the addition of Counsell, who signed a 5-year, $40 million deal, workforce president Jed Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins additionally orchestrated some key on-the-field strikes that ought to put the Cubs in competition for his or her first NL Central crown since 2020.
Listed here are solutions to a number of the largest
questions going through the 2024 Cubs.
What number of video games are the Cubs projected to win
and what’s their season outlook?
In response to oddsmakers, Counsell is predicted to have a barely optimistic influence on the Cubs’ fortunes. FanDuel Sportsbook initiatives the Cubs to win 83.5 video games, making them nearly the identical workforce they had been a 12 months in the past. The one distinction is that their playoff odds (+100) favor them to make the postseason in 2024.
At +200, additionally they have the second-best
odds to win the NL Central behind the St. Louis Cardinals (+150). Plus, the Cubs
have the fifth-best odds to win the Nationwide League pennant, which might be
their first since their drought-busting World Collection championship in 2016.
When is Opening Day, and
who will begin the primary sport?
The Cubs’ 2024 season begins on
Thursday, March 28, in opposition to the World Collection champion Texas Rangers at Globe
Life Discipline in Arlington, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET, and
the sport shall be broadcast on ESPN.
All-Star left-hander Justin Steele, who was sixth in ERA (3.06) in 2023, will begin for the Cubs in opposition to the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi, who gained the decisive Sport 5 of the World Collection.
Notable offseason additions
Hiring Counsell and re-signing former
NL MVP Cody Bellinger, who had a powerful comeback season in 2023, had been arguably the
Cubs’ largest offseason strikes. However they had been additionally in a position so as to add some new faces
who might make an instantaneous influence.
Shota Imanaga: The Japanese left-hander was in excessive demand as soon as he was posted, however the Cubs emerged because the winner, signing him to a four-year, $53 million contract. Imanaga, 30, slots properly into the Cubs’ beginning rotation, which misplaced Marcus Stroman to free company however already contains Steele, Jameson Taillon and Kyle Hendricks. Generally known as “The Throwing Thinker,” Imanaga pitched eight seasons for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Skilled Baseball’s Central League, which he led in strikeouts final season. He’s already set to begin the Cubs’ dwelling opener on April 1.
Michael
Busch: The Cubs acquired Busch in January together with right-hander Yency Almonte in a commerce with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the left-handed hitting infielder is predicted to be the Cubs’ beginning first baseman on Opening Day. Busch, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the sport’s 51st-best prospect, made his main league debut final season,
hitting .167 in 27 video games. The Cubs are hoping Busch, who hits for energy (27 in
Triple-A in 2023), can reap the benefits of his alternative and set up himself
as an on a regular basis participant.
Hector Neris: The Cubs focused the bullpen
as an space of want, and so they helped solidify it with Neris, who signed a one-year,
$9 million deal. Neris, 34, has established himself as one of many sport’s most sturdy
setup males, and he’s coming off his finest season (1.71 ERA in 71 video games with the
Houston Astros). The ten-year veteran, who has a profession ERA of three.24, additionally has
playoff expertise, with 15 appearances over the previous two postseasons.
High storyline
from spring coaching
When will we
see Pete Crow-Armstrong?
The Cubs have already optioned their No. 1 prospect to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season, however he’s anticipated to return sooner or later in 2024.
Re-signing Bellinger nearly ensured Crow-Armstrong’s demotion, given
that the Cubs have loads of outfield depth and the 21-year-old outfielder may benefit tremendously from getting assured at-bats each day.
Crow-Armstrong, thought of MLB’s No. 16 prospect based on MLB Pipeline, is already a Gold Glove-caliber heart fielder who’s additionally been a dynamic offensive participant, though he went hitless throughout his preliminary 13-game MLB call-up final fall.
Every time the Cubs really feel he’s prepared and there’s a necessity on the main league
stage, there’s little doubt Cubs followers will look ahead to seeing “PCA” roaming the
Wrigley Discipline outfield.
Greatest
query going into 2024
Will the Cubs
be any higher below Counsell?
One can query how a lot of an influence a supervisor makes towards his workforce’s on-field success, however Counsell, 53, appeared like he was capable of extract each ounce of expertise from his rosters in Milwaukee, sufficient to win three NL Central crowns general and two over the previous three years.
Now that he has moved 90 miles south, the Cubs are banking on him
having the identical influence in Chicago. Final September, because the Cubs performed themselves
out of playoff competition, Counsell’s Brewers thrived down the stretch, successful
13 of their final 20 to run away with the division title.
Given the worth the Cubs paid to get Counsell, something wanting the
playoffs in 2024 can be seen as a significant disappointment.
Simply how
improved will the Cubs be?
Within the dugout and on the sector, the Cubs seem like higher and deeper
than the 2023 model. On the very least, they appear to be official contenders
in what is predicted to be a decent NL Central race with the St. Louis Cardinals and
the Cincinnati Reds.
Getting Bellinger again was key to the Cubs’ offense, which was sixth in
runs scored in 2023. The additions of Imanaga, Neris and Almonte might assist elevate
the Cubs’ employees that was solely 14th in ERA final season. Plus, the infusion of younger gamers like Busch, lefty pitcher Jordan Wicks, and PCA might present a much-needed spark.
Whereas the Cubs’ roster won’t be on the extent of the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs have the components to take a step ahead in 2024.
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