After a disappointing Wild Card Series against the Miami Marlins, the Chicago Cubs will be grabbing the golf clubs way earlier than expected. Along with the unexpected loss, the Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, is not expected to extend his contract with the club past the 2021 season. The future of the Chicago Cubs is uncertain, and the direction the club is taking won’t be known until after Epstein departs. The 2021 season becomes even more important for the organization and the core starters that were expected to do more damage than just one run at a championship.
The loss of these key Cubs players could mean the end of an era for the 2016 World Champions.
3B Kris Bryant:
The 2016 NL MVP has been on a steady decline since the World Series. Bryant was sidelined by many injuries in the past three years and it felt like he could never stay in the lineup long enough to find a batting rhythm. Bryant’s batting average dropped to .206 in the 2020 season, which was a significant decrease from his combined average of .260 in the six seasons in the league. The 28-year-old has faced criticism over the past year, and there was even speculation of a trade during last year’s arbitration negotiations. Now that he is entering the final year of his contract, the once MVP is now trying to prove he is worth the money. Whether it will be in a blue pinstripe uniform or with another team, the 2021 season will be a make or break season for Kris Bryant.
2B/SS Javier Baez:
The 2020 season was the first time Javier Baez struggled at the plate since he made an offensive splash in 2015. The 28-year-old announced his batting troubles could be correlated to the recent banning of using tablets to watch in-game footage in the dugout. Baez reportedly relied on the tablets to make in-game adjustments for his next at bats. This could be a strong case for his unexpected setback in the short season since he only batted .203 with 24 RBIs. Depending on which route the front office decides to take after Theo Epstein leaves, it would still sting to not sign the 2x All-Star. An important 2021 season lies ahead for Baez and the organization. Depending on his final season, it could affect the direction the team decides to take.
OF Kyle Schwarber:
The power of Kyle Schwarber is what caught the eye of the Cubs in the first round of the 2014 draft. The heavy hitter put up 38 homers while batting .250 in the 2019 season, and the Cubs were pleased with his progress then. Schwarber hit a roadblock in the 60 games by only batting .188 and contributing just 11 homers. The lack of production wasn’t the story of Schwarber’s season, though. First-year manager David Ross bumped heads with the outfielder a few times, and Kyle Schwarber was even benched on National TV for a lack of effort during a play back on Sept. 20 against the Minnesota Twins. 2021 may be the last season we see of NO.12 in a Cubs uniform, and if Schwarber has a poor season, the decision to move on from the power hitter will be easy to make.
Honorable Mention – 1B Anthony Rizzo:
The 31-year-old first baseman who captured the hearts of many Cubs fans now also finds himself one year away from an expiring contract. Rizzo has been one of the most consistent hitters for the Cubs, and his unbelievable defense has earned him nine gold gloves in 10 seasons. Rizzo batted .222 with 24 RBIs and 11 homers in just 60 games. The Cubs are able to pick up his $16.5 million team option for the 2021 season, but whether they want to pay the steep price is up to the club. It’s hard to picture the Cubs without Anthony Rizzo, and for the right price, I am sure the Cubs would need his veteran presence no matter what team the North Siders face.
The 2021 season could be the last opportunity for the Chicago Cubs to make a championship run. Theo Epstein built this team and once he leaves, the key players of the Cubs might be on their way out the door as well.
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