What Is 2014 Chicago Cubs baseball team

Overview

The 2014 Chicago Cubs were in the midst of a multi-year rebuilding effort following a last-place finish in 2013. Under first-year manager Rick Renteria, the team showed flashes of promise but ultimately struggled with consistency over the 162-game season.

The Cubs played their home games at the historic Wrigley Field and focused on integrating young talent into the major league roster. Despite a losing record, the season was pivotal for long-term development, setting the foundation for future success.

• Record: The team finished with a 73–89 win-loss record, a slight improvement from 66 wins in 2013.
• Division Standing: They placed fourth in the National League Central, ahead of only the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Manager: Rick Renteria took over as manager after the Cubs parted ways with Dale Sveum following the 2013 season.
• Home Field: All home games were played at Wrigley Field, the team’s home since 1916.
• Rebuilding Focus: The front office prioritized player development over immediate wins, investing heavily in the minor leagues.

Player Roster and Performance

The 2014 roster combined veteran presence with emerging young talent, though offensive production lagged behind league averages. Several key players delivered above-average performances despite the team’s overall struggles.

• Starlin Castro: The shortstop led the team with a .292 batting average and 13 home runs over 147 games.
• Anthony Rizzo: First baseman Rizzo hit 23 home runs and drove in 88 runs, emerging as a cornerstone of the offense.
• Junior Lake: Showed power potential with 12 home runs but struggled with consistency and a .228 average.
• Edwin Jackson: Started 27 games but posted a 5.22 ERA, reflecting pitching staff instability.
• Travis Wood: Led the rotation with 13 wins, though his 3.75 ERA indicated room for improvement.
• Jeff Samardzija: Traded mid-season to the Oakland Athletics after posting a 4.34 ERA in 16 starts.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2014 Cubs compared to recent seasons and division rivals:

The table illustrates the Cubs’ upward trajectory, with 2014 serving as a transitional year between losing seasons and a dominant 2016 World Series championship. The improvement from 2014 to 2015 was fueled by the arrival of manager Joe Maddon and the MLB debuts of Kris Bryant and Addison Russell.

Why It Matters

The 2014 season was a crucial link in the Cubs’ journey from perennial underachievers to World Series champions. While the record was unremarkable, the organizational focus on youth and analytics laid the groundwork for future success.

• Player Development: The Cubs promoted top prospects like Javier Báez, who made his MLB debut in August 2014.
• Front Office Strategy: President Theo Epstein continued to reshape the roster through trades and draft investments.
• Managerial Transition: Renteria’s single season paved the way for Joe Maddon’s arrival in 2015.
• Minor League Pipeline: The 2014 season saw strong performances from Triple-A Iowa, feeding future core players.
• Stadium Upgrades: The Ricketts family continued renovations at Wrigley Field to modernize the century-old ballpark.
• Cultural Shift: The emphasis on data-driven decisions marked a departure from traditional baseball operations.

The 2014 Chicago Cubs may not have made headlines for on-field success, but the season was instrumental in building the foundation for one of the most dramatic turnarounds in MLB history.