TEAM SCHEDULES INSIDE!
e d i Gu
2021
Around the Horn
This season’s Spring Training sees a lot of new faces BY ETHAN GRENI Staff Writer
S
pring has �inally come back around, which means Major League Baseball isn’t far behind. It’s a special time of year for the Valley, as baseball fans across the country usually make their annual migration to the desert. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s mostly likely not going to be the case. The uncertainties of the 2020 season are behind us, though, and it’s time for ballplayers to get back to work. Spring Training begins Feb. 28, and we’ve got everything you need to know about all 15 Cactus League teams in 2021.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 2020 record – 25-35
The D-backs �inished last in the NL West in last year’s truncated season, missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. That being said, there were some positives to take away from 2020. Buckeye-raised right �ielder Kole Calhoun �inished top 10 in the NL in home runs and RBIs — 16 and 40, respectively — in his �irst year playing for his hometown team. With one more year on his contract and a club option for 2022, the 33-year-old will certainly look to keep his production near that level in 2021.
First baseman Christian Walker showed improvement in his second full season in the majors, batting a careerhigh .271 and �inishing third in the NL with 18 doubles. Despite committing three errors, he was top 5 among NL �irst basemen in assists (28), double plays turned (40) and �ielding percentage (.990). Coming into 2021, the D-backs core is largely the same as last year. A couple of notable departures are out�ielder Jon Jay, and former Arizona State pitcher Mike Leake. Jay, a career .283 hitter, struggled in his second stint as a Diamondback, batting .160 in just 50 plate appearances. Leake, who opted out of the 2020 season, posted a 3-3 record in 10 starts with a 4.35 ERA for the Dbacks after being acquired midseason in 2019. Arizona’s biggest offseason acquisition was veteran reliever Joakim Soria, signing him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The 6-foot-3 Soria, who turns 37 in May, had a 2.82 ERA in 22 appearances with the Oakland Athletics last season, and is considered a top contender for Arizona’s closing spot in 2021.
Chicago Cubs: 2020 record – 34-26
After winning the NL Central, the Cubs are still just four years removed from their World Series title. They had
David Peralta. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/ Arizona Diamondbacks)
a chance to make a deep playoff run in 2020, and drew a seemingly favorable matchup in the Wild Card series against the 31-29 Miami Marlins, who hadn’t been to the postseason since 2003. Unfortunately, the Cubs’ bats dried up as they managed to score just one run in the series and were swept in two games. A few notable players will not be returning to the Windy City this season, including fan-favorite out�ielder Kyle Schwarber, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Nationals. The Cubs also traded veteran right-hander Yu Darvish to the San
Diego Padres, landing pitcher Zach Davies and several prospects. Darvish was named to the All-MLB First Team after the season. By far, the biggest acquisition for the Cubs this offseason was free agent left �ielder Joc Pederson, who signed a one-year, $7 million deal in February. Pederson, fresh off his �irst World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is just two years removed from a 36-home run, 74-RBI season in 2019 that also saw him hit .249, all career bests.
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