To say the least, the Chicago Cubs haven't had the 2024 season they were hoping for.
Hopes were high that the Cubs could contend for a National League Central title this season. They signed manager Craig Counsell away from the rival Milwaukee Brewers, brought back star outfielder Cody Bellinger, and inked Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga to a four-year deal.
Unfortunately, it just hasn't worked out. The Cubs will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year, and there's plenty of blame to go around for their shortcomings.
Third base, in particular, has been a spot of bother for the Cubs this season. They began the year hoping Christopher Morel could take over the job despite not coming up through the minors as a primary third baseman. Then, they traded Morel for former Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes, who has failed to produce at a high level.
One local Chicago host believes the solution to the Cubs' third base woes was sitting right in front of them last winter. Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score said on Wednesday that the Cubs' failure to sign current San Francisco Giants star Matt Chapman cost them the playoffs.
"The Cubs are going to finish a star player out of the playoffs," Bernstein said. "Matt Chapman was right there."
Bernstein expanded on his point, saying that the Cubs are likely to finish five or six wins out of a playoff berth, while a star player like Chapman is worth five to six wins over the course of the season. Currently, Chapman has 6.8 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference.
A four-time Gold Glover, Chapman has had easily his best season since his 2019 All-Star campaign after signing with the Giants. He cashed in on his excellent production earlier this month, inking a six-year, $151 million extension to remain in San Francisco long-term.
It's worth remembering, though, that Chapman's value wasn't at its peak when the Giants signed him. He was one of the worst hitters in the league in the second half last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, and found himself getting benched at times in key moments.
Regardless, Chapman is out of the picture now, and the Cubs are still left wondering who their star is going to be in 2025. There could be a few answers to that question, but we won't know for sure if there is one until we see them on the field next year.
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