Chicago Cubs: 2019 letter grades for each player
By Bill Felber
Chicago Cubs: Reliable Position Players
Willson Contreras, Grade: B. Delivering a .272 batting average and 24 home runs in 105 games, Contreras earned a second All-Star Game start, making him arguably the National League’s best catcher. The two knocks on him are his pitch-framing capabilities and his tendency to tail off as the season wears on. In 2019 Contreras hit .262 – 10 points off his season average – following his return from an injury in September…although his slugging average actually improved slightly. He will rate an A when he puts together a consistent, full season of more than 120 games.
Kris Bryant, Grade: B. Like Contreras and Baez, Bryant’s game has matured to a predictable production level. In 2019 he batted .282 with 31 home runs, 77 RBIs and a 131 OPS+. While it doesn’t measure up to the National League’s best – Anthony Rendon’s OPS+ was 153 – you would absolutely take it year in and year out at a reasonable price. The question, of course, is whether the price will remain reasonable. Bryant is a 4th-year arbitration case (that might net him $25 million) and free agency is not far off. All of which ratchets up trade discussions.
Ian Happ, Grade: B. Happ’s mortal sin was taking spring training too lightly, earning himself a demotion to Triple A. He languished there most of the season before being recalled in late July. Suitably chastened, he showed the potential the Chicago Cubs have always believed he had.
In 58 games, he batted a career-best .264 with a 126 OPS+. Stretched over a full season, Happ projected to top 30 home runs and 90 RBIs. He will enter the 20-20 season still just 25 years old, so he will be an interesting test case for new manager David Ross.