Chicago Cubs
2016: 103-58, first place, World Series champions Manager: Joe Maddon (third season) He’s here: RHP Wade Davis, OF Jon Jay, RHP Koji Uehara, LHP Brett Anderson, LHP Brian Duensing, RHP Eddie Butler.
LF Kyle Schwarber (missed nearly all of last season due to left knee injury; .246, 16 HRs, 43 RBIs, .842 OPS in 69 games as rookie in 2015), 3B Kris Bryant (.292, 39, 102, NL MVP), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.292, 32, 109, Gold Glove), 2B Ben Zobrist (.272, 18, 76) or Javier Baez (.273, 14, 59), SS Addison Russell (.238, 21, 95), C Willson Contreras (.282, 12, 35), RF Jason Heyward (.230, 7, 49, Gold Glove), CF Albert Almora Jr. (.277, 3, 14 in 47 games) or Jon Jay (.291, 2, 26 in 90 games with Padres)
Rotation: LH Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA, 197 Ks), RH Jake Arrieta (18-8, 3.10), RH Kyle Hendricks (16-8, MLB-best 2.13), RH John Lackey (11-8, 3.35), LH Brett Anderson (1-2, 11.91 in 4 games with Dodgers)
Outlook: The Cubs are in great shape as they try to become baseball’s first repeat World Series winner since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 19982000. Montgomery likely will get a few starts to help keep Anderson healthy and lessen the load on the rest of the rotation. Chicago also will be cautious with Schwarber and his powerful left-handed swing after he missed most of last year following major left knee surgery. Davis replaces Chapman as the closer after the lefty signed with the Yankees in free agency. The 6-foot-5 Davis was limited to 43⅓ innings last year with the Royals because of a forearm injury, but Rondon and Uehara also have closing experience.