2013 payroll: $103 million
2012 finish: Fifth Place
Predictions
5th place: Chicago Cubs
2013 record: 71-91
Offense
The Cubs lineup definitely won't keep pitchers up at night. Ranking 28th in runs scored and 26th in batting average the previous season, it would take major roster changes to turn this teams fortunes around.
22-year old Starlin Castro regressed with 183 hits and a .283 average, compared to his 200+ hits and .300+ average in 2011. While he may bounce back to outdo his 2011 campaign, Castro needs to mature and improve his fielding at shortstop to go to the next level.
Even though bright spots may be few and far between, Anthony Rizzo is sure to be one of those bright spots. The talented 23-year old was a midseason call up last year and played in only 87 games. But in that time he hit at a .285 clip with 15 homers and a solid .342 OBP, so with an entire season ahead of him it's not too much of a stretch that he will hit 30 homeruns. Another solid performer last year was Alfonso Soriano, who whacked 32 homers and drove in 108 RBI in his best year as a Cub yet. Even though Soriano has been a disappointment in Chicago, it seems that he found his old self in 2012.
Pitching
As for the rest of the staff, the Cubs also signed other proven starters such as Scott Feldman and Scott Baker. Matt Garza has a career 3.84 ERA and is a previous 15 game winner that will help out the rotation.
And probably the best man on the staff is Jeff Samardzija. He pitched 175 innings last season and logged a 3.81 ERA.
Reality Check
It's a forgone conclusion that the Cubs are in rebuilding mode. When the teams only all-star is a 29 year old rookie and the two best prospects,(Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters) both bat under .180, it's not a good year. Unfortunately, the Cubs basically have the same team as they did last season.
The Cubs outfield is inexcusable. Soriano is a 36 year old, lazy player who has become a liability in left field. Dejesus and Schierholtz are mediocre players that can have their moments, but overall provide no pop to the lineup.
The pitching staff ranked 23rd in the league last year. Signing Jackson, Feldman, and Baker were solid moves that gives the team a slightly more favorable chance to compete, but none of those pitchers are dependable enough to get the Cubs over the hump. Garza didn't pitch the entire second half last season, and Samardzija could find himself as an above average pitcher, but there's no guarantee.
Theo Epstein has made some savvy moves by signing three quality pitchers, trading Maholm and Reed Johnson for top prospect Arodys Visciano, and landing Anthony Rizzo by giving up injury prone flamethrower Andrew Cashner. While Cubs fans like to think 2003 will repeat itself without Steve Bartman every year, they're going to have the trust Theo and realize that i could be awhile.
Savior
There virtually isn't any one player that can make enough of a difference to lead the Cubs to a winning record, but one player that's worth talking about on the team is first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The talented 23 year old lefty possesses raw power that produced over 30 homeruns in the minors and 15 longballs in the bigs last season. A solid .285 average and .342 on base, with a better-than-average glove for his age at first makes him the cornerstone of the Epstein era in Chicago.
Rizzo, if healthy this season, could easily hit 30 homers and bat at a clip above .280. So with a team in Chicago that once again won't be the most watchable or entertaining, Rizzo provides a bright spot that will help draw interest to the team.
