The 2022 Chicago Cubs predictably had a really nice finish

There is no doubting that the Chicago Cubs are one of the worst teams in the National League. However, there is a lot of optimism surrounding this team and rightfully so. There is a lot of young talent in the organization that is developing very nicely. There is also some money to be spent.

They also had a very nice finish to the season. With just a few weeks left in the year, it was predictable that they could go on a nice little run as their schedule was incredibly soft to end the campaign. Most of it was made up of the few teams that are actually worse than them.

One of the only formidable foes that they played in mid-September or later was the Philadelphia Phillies who they swept. Those Phillies ended up ending their long playoff drought after that which should make the Cubs feel very good about themselves.

In the season finale, the Cubs smoked the Cincinnati Reds 15-2. That made it where they were 8-2 over their final ten games which is really good no matter who it is they are playing. They finished the season 74-88 which isn’t as bad of a record as anyone would have predicted at the All-Star break.

The Chicago Cubs are ending with a belief that they can be good again soon.

There are some things for the Cubs to figure out this off-season. Do they go for a huge free agent like Trea Turner, Carlos Rodon, or Carlos Correa (if he opts out)? Do they make a big trade for someone like Shohei Ohtani? What is Willson Contreras going to do?

All of these things are pressing questions that need to be figured out relatively quickly. All of those outcomes will determine how good the Cubs can be in 2023. If all of those things go well for them, they could absolutely fight for the top spot in a declining National League Central division.

There are also players on the current team (with all different contract situations) that have to prove that they can consistently be impact players. Guys like Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki amongst others are hoping to have productive offseasons that help them get even better.

Again, finishing strong in a bunch of meaningless games against the nobody teams of the National League doesn’t mean they will be world beaters next year but there is clearly optimism that they can put together a solid team. No matter how you look at it, they need to have a smart off-season.