The Chicago Cubs have worked to improve in a number of areas this offseason, trying to fill holes and fortify a roster aimed at making the postseason for the first time since the abbreviated 2020 season.
They picked up a top talent in right fielder Kyle Tucker via trade. They added to the bullpen by acquiring closer Ryan Pressly and other bullpen assets such as Eli Morgan, Caleb Thielbar, and Ryan Brasier. They added to the starting rotation by picking up rehabbed lefty Matthew Boyd. They also added catcher Carson Kelly and utility man Jon Berti, among others.
The Chicago Cubs Defense Is Great– And Getting Better
In all the scramble to fill holes and add talent, though, one reality remains– the Cubs are an excellent defensive team and they are getting even better.
Mike Petriello of MLB.com recently crunched numbers and came up with that same assessment, naming the Cubs one of the three postseason contenders with the most improved defenses ahead of the 2025 season.
Using averages culled from projection systems ZIPS and The Bat X, Petriello assessed that Chicago improved by 16 runs over last season’s defense– a defense that finished in the top 10 among major league teams.
Per Petriello:
“Chicago already had a top-10 defense last year, and it was even better as the season went on; the Cubs were the best in September, for example. And despite that, we’re seeing a projected improvement – and it’s not hard to explain, either.
Step one is easy: Take a truly elite defender and give him more playing time. That’s what they’re planning to do in center field with Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the best defenders in the entire sport… He’s expected to play every day in center field in 2025 with Cody Bellinger now a Yankee.
Step two is easy to explain, too: Take below-average defenders and remove them from the field or the roster. That’s what happened with Christopher Morel, who proved unable to handle third and was traded to Tampa Bay last summer; it’s what will happen now with Suzuki, who is expected to be the team’s primary designated hitter in 2025.”
Addition By Subtraction?
There is definitely some addition by subtraction in the Cubs defensive improvement.
The team won’t have to watch the awkward, clunky Morel play third base like he was wearing a frying pan on his hand rather than a glove. Whatever Matt Shaw does at third will be an improvement over what the Cubs had there with Morel and Patrick Wisdom. They also won’t have to send the average-at-best, bad-at-worst Suzuki into right field.
Bringing Tucker aboard in right is a major addition, offensively and defensively. He now become one-third of the best defensive outfield in baseball, working alongside Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ. Kelly behind the plate will also help solidify the up-the-middle defense anchored by Dansby Swanson at shortstop and Nico Hoerner at second base.
Meanwhile, the Cubs feel that Michael Busch at first base could develop into a Gold Glove candidate.
Turning Defense Into Wins
No doubt, the Cubs are a great fielding team and could very well become the BEST fielding team in the majors this season. Defense is definitely the one area where the team needs no improvement– although Gold Glover Alex Bregman would’ve looked real nice at third base.
All in all, the Cubs defense will make their pitching staff stronger and more secure. And that, in turn, will take the pressure off the offense to force runs across the plate.
All of this is in theory, of course. When the actual season starts, the Cubs will work to put it in practice.
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