Cubs' season in review: Shota shines, lessons loom

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CHICAGO -- The Cubs expected to be planning for a playoff series at the end of September, not making plans for how to tackle the offseason. This year did not follow the anticipated script, as Chicago could not recover from a first-half slump that made a postseason chase improbable.

With the Brewers claiming the National League Central crown and the Cubs unable to run down an NL Wild Card spot, manager Craig Counsell said the goal for the North Siders needs to be building consistent 90-win teams. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer did not argue with that assessment.

“Listen, the standings don't lie. You are what you are,” Hoyer said. “And I think when you look at the standings, there's a big gap in the standings. There's a big gap to the rest of the division. And I think we do have to -- all of us, from me on down -- we have to look at it and say, ‘OK, what do we have to do this offseason and going forward to get to that place consistently?’”

Here is a snapshot of the Cubs’ 2024 season:

Defining moment

On Sept. 4, a trio of pitchers combined for the first Cubs no-hitter at Wrigley Field since 1972. It was fitting for this '24 season that the historic night began with rookie sensation Shota Imanaga on the mound for the North Siders. Imanaga was one of the bright spots of the year, and this game served as his signature moment.

Imanaga spun seven hitless innings to open the 12-0 rout of the Pirates. Nate Pearson (a mid-season trade acquisition) handled the eighth and rookie Porter Hodge (an unexpected source of stability in the bullpen this year) finished the job. The game also put catcher Miguel Amaya’s in-season progress on full display.

What we learned

The Cubs hoped that 2024 would be the year they pushed up the standings after last season’s disappointing September fade and 83-win finish. Even with the successful offseason additions of Imanaga and rookie first baseman Michael Busch, plus Counsell joining the fold, there proved to still be a “big gap” between Chicago and the division-winning Brewers. The task this winter for the Cubs’ decision-makers will be finding ways to close that separation, both with on-field moves and behind-the-scenes changes.

Best development

By all accounts, the 23-year-old Hodge was not necessarily deemed ready for the big leagues when he was promoted from Triple-A Iowa in late May. The move was out of necessity, but the Cubs soon saw a pitcher whose confidence grew with each outing. In 37 appearances, Hodge logged a 1.98 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks, limiting batters to a .138 average (.471 OPS) in his 41 innings. The big righty also collected seven saves, filling in as the closer at times down the stretch. Hodge’s arrival was a big development with the 2025 bullpen in mind.

Area for improvement

During the 2023 season, several bullpen issues were ironed out with the emergence of Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr. as a trusted late-inning trio. But bullpens are known to be volatile, and '24 proved that once again for the Cubs. Alzolay and Merryweather were limited to 33 games combined due to injuries, and Chicago’s position at the Trade Deadline led them to deal Leiter to the Yankees for a pair of prospects.

The Cubs found ways to get their bullpen in order as the season progressed. Hodge provided a promising internal development story, for example, while Jorge López, Tyson Miller and Pearson were solid external additions. Overall, though, it was a patchwork situation throughout the season that is unlikely to be sustainable. Adding more volume of relief options over the winter will be a must.

On the rise

The Cubs gave rookie center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong ample runway to work through struggles as he grew into an everyday role this season. Through his first 66 games, he had a .180/.230/.292 slash line, and his confidence had admittedly taken a hit. Over the final two-plus months, though, Crow-Armstrong turned a considerable corner.

From July 27 through Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia, Crow-Armstrong had a .292/.342/.482 slash with seven homers, eight doubles, three triples, nine stolen bases and 35 runs scored in 54 games. In that span, he posted north of 2.0 WAR (via Fangraphs). Combined with his defense and speed, the rookie’s strong finish offensively offered extreme promise for his potential in 2025 and beyond.

Team MVP

Without an obvious choice among the hitters, the pick here is the clear story of the season for the Cubs: Imanaga. Signed to a four-year, $53 million deal in January, the Japanese lefty has pieced together a season that will undoubtedly garner votes in both the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year races.

Imanaga began his season by setting a record for the lowest ERA (0.84) through a pitcher’s first nine career starts. Through 29 starts (the lefty might still have one more outing on the final weekend), Imanaga has gone 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, 174 strikeouts and 28 walks in 173 1/3 innings. The Cubs have gone 23-6 in the games he pitched.