Chicago Cubs: Creating the perfect lineup of the 2000s

Right Field: Sammy Sosa

Career Numbers with Chicago Cubs: 1,811 games, .284/.358/.569, 545 home runs, 1,414 RBI, 134 wRC+, 60.7 fWAR

While his career was filled with controversy, Sammy Sosa is almost inarguably the most productive offensive player in the history of the Chicago Cubs. He had ridiculous raw power and was a better contact hitter than most remember. Sosa was a stable for the Cubs in the middle of the lineup for many, many years.

Most remember Sosa for his incredible 1998 season. That year, Sosa battled Mark McGwire for the single-season home run record. It was an incredibly exciting season and baseball fans tuned in for every at-bat for both players.

However, his best offensive season actually came in 2001, where Sosa hit a ridiculous .328/.447/.737. with 64 home runs and 160 RBI. Sosa had a 186 wRC+ that season, which is the highest single-season wRC+ for any player in Cubs history. According to the numbers, Sosa’s 2001 offensive season was the best in the history of the Chicago Cubs. How could we possibly leave this guy off of this team?

Honorable Mention: Jason Heyward

Prior to the 2016 season, the Cubs signed Jason Heyward to an eight-year, $184 million free-agent contract. It was the biggest contract ever given out by the Cubs and that still remains to be the case today. Heyward’s lockerroom speech during the rain delay in Game 7 of the World Series is legendary and he is an elite defender in right field, but his offensive output has never matched his contract.

Heyward may have been worth the money based on his 2016 speech alone and besides Sosa, it’s not like there are many exciting right field choices available. Heyward deserves a mention here.

Other Players of Note: Kosuke Fukudome and David DeJesus