Predicting Chicago Cubs' 2016 Record Going Into Spring Training

The 2016 Chicago Cubs are following the old New York Yankees‘ theory — if you can’t beat them, hire them. By signing St. Louis Cardinals‘ Jason Heyward and John Lackey in free agency, the Cubs hope that they can make themselves stronger and the Cardinals weaker at the same time. They also went out and signed Swiss army knife, Ben Zobrist, just in case.

The Cubs had a great offseason. While they made a splash by going after the Cardinals’ free agents, their better series of moves was solidifying the rest of the pitching staff. The Cubs made a pair of trades that will aid the bullpen and in a pinch the rotation as well. The Cubs traded a minor league pitcher to the Colorado Rockies for Rex Brothers, giving the Chicago a true lefty specialist in their bullpen. They also traded away second baseman Starlin Castro to the Yankees for Adam Warren. Warren was effective as both a middle reliever and a starter, making 17 starts in 2015. Add them to a solid bullpen and a rotation that now includes Lackey and the Cubs are in position to make a move in the regular season.

Aside from their pitching moves, the upgrade from Castro to Zobrist should prove to be the most beneficial to the Cubs. While Zobrist is a downgrade defensively at second from Castro, his switch-hitting bat along with that of Heyward’s will help to balance a Cubs offense that has Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler from the right side. Zobrist is also flexible enough that he can switch to the outfield once Javier Baez is ready to be the everyday second baseman.

The Cubs looked like a team a year away heading into spring training last year. Now they look like a team ready to make a splash. In 2016, the Cubs will go 99-62 and win the NL Central.