The 2024 Chicago Cubs season was the 153rd season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 149th in the National League, and the Cubs' 109th season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were led by first-year manager Craig Counsell and played as members of Major League Baseball's National League Central division.
On September 21, the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season after losing to the Washington Nationals. The team finished the season with an 83–79 record, matching their record from the previous season. They finished the season in a tie for second place in the division with the St. Louis Cardinals, 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
Previous season The Cubs finished the 2023 season 83–79 to finish in second place in the Central division, nine games behind the Brewers. After being in position for a wild card spot through most of August and September, the Cubs finished one game out of the final wild card spot. It marked the third consecutive season they failed to make the playoffs.
Offseason
Coaching changes On November 6, 2023, the Cubs fired manager David Ross after four seasons. Craig Counsell, who had managed the Milwaukee Brewers for the previous nine years, was named the new manager on the same day in a surprising move. There had been no prior indications that the Cubs would fire Ross or were interested in hiring Counsell. The Cubs gave Counsell a contract for five years at $8 million per year, making him the highest paid manager in MLB history.
On January 2, 2024, the Cubs named Ryan Flaherty the team's bench coach. Other new coaches included Darren Holmes as the bullpen coach, Mark Strittmatter as major league field coordinator, and assistant hitting coach John Mallee, who had previously been the Cubs' hitting coach from 2015 to 2017.
Transactions October 2023 October 2Activated RHP Brad Boxberger from 15-day Injured List. Activated IF Nico Hoerner from 10-day IL. Recalled RHP Ben Brown, OF Brennen Davis, RHP Jeremiah Estrada, RHP Caleb Kilian, IF Matt Mervis, RHP Michael Rucker, and LHP Jordan Wicks from Iowa Cubs. Recalled RHPs Keegan Thompson and Hayden Wesneski from Arizona Complex League Cubs. Recalled OF Kevin Alcántara from Tennessee Smokies. Source
November 2023 November 2IF Jeimer Candelario, RHP Tyler Duffey, RHP Michael Fulmer, and RHP Shane Greene elected free agency.November 6OF Cody Bellinger, RHP Brad Boxberger, and RHP Marcus Stroman elected free agency. Activated RHP Codi Heuer, IF Nick Madrigal, LHP Brandon Hughes, and RHP Ethan Roberts. Traded LHP Brendon Little to Toronto Blue Jays for cash. Selected the contract of IF Luis Vazquez from Iowa. Sent RHP Nick Burdi outright to Iowa.November 8Signed freed agent IF Ronnyel Espinoza to a minor league contract.November 14Selected the contract of LHP Bailey Horn from Iowa. Selected the contract of RHP Porter Hodge from Tennessee. Selected the contracts of RHP Micheal Arias from South Bend Cubs.November 17RHP Codi Heuer, LHP Brandon Hughes, and RHP Ethan Roberts elected free agency.November 28Signed free agents C Ivan Cespedes and RHP Alberto Chala to minor league contracts.November 29Signed free agents LHPs Edwin Escobar and Jeremy Guzman to minor league contracts. Source
December 2023 December 2Signed free agent RHP Ethan Roberts to a minor league contract.December 14Signed free agents C Jorge Alfaro, C Joe Hudson, and LHP Thomas Pannone to minor league contracts.December 22Signed free agent RHP Colten Brewer to a minor league contract. Source
January 2024 January 5Claimed C Brian Serven off waivers from Colorado Rockies.January 11Signed free agent LHP Shōta Imanaga.January 15Signed free agents SS Fernando Cruz, 2B Enyel Rosario, OF Jesus Rodriguez, SS Ezequiel Pen, RHP Yander Maria, RHP Frailin Alejo, RHP Julian Duran, SS Juan Monso, OF Cesar Lugo, SS Isaac Moscote, #B Edgardo De Leo, C Diego Gonzalez, and OF Robin Ortiz to minor league contracts.January 16Signed free agent LHP Richard Lovelady to a minor league contract.January 31Signed free agent RHP Sam McWilliams to a minor league contract. Source
February 2024 February 1Signed free agent RHP Hector Neris. Designated RHP Michael Rucker for assignment.February 2Signed free agent LHP Blake Weiman to a minor league contract.February 6Signed free agent RHP Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league contract. Traded RHP Michael Rucker to Philadelphia Phillies for cash.February 7Signed free agent RHP JC Coronado to a minor league contract.February 9Invited non-roster LHP Brad Wieck, SS Matt Shaw, RHP Chris Clarke, C Pablo Aliendo, OF Owen Caissie, RHP Cam Sanders, 2B David Bote, 2B Chase Strumpf, RHP Riley Thompson, C Jorge Alfaro, and 2B Bryce Windham to spring training.February 19Signed free agent IF Jesus Meneses to a minor league contract.February 23Invited non-roster C Haydn McGeary to spring training. C Casey Opitz, RHP Connor Noland, RHP Nick Hull, SS Josh Rivera, RHP Frankie Scalzo Jr., RHP Joe Nahas, OF Cole Roederer, SS Jefferson Rojas, and RHP Hunter Bigge assigned to Chicago Cubs.February 24RHP Jose Romero, RHP Chris Kachmar, 1B Jonathon Long, OF Brett Bateman, RHP Jose Romero, RHP Yovanny Cabrera, RHP Yovanny Cabrera, and OF Ezequiel Pagan assigned to Chicago Cubs.February 25LHP Riley Martin, OF Christian Franklin, OF Bradlee Beesley, RHP Tyler Santana, 3B BJ Murray Jr., C Moises Ballesteros, RHP Cayne Ueckert, RHP Blake Whitney, RHP Sam Armstrong, and SS Hayden Cantrelle assigned to Chicago Cubs.February 26RHP Richard Gallardo, SS Jake Slaughter, RHP Luis Devers, OF Darius Hill, and OF Jordan Nwogu assigned to Chicago Cubs.February 27Signed free agent OF Cody Bellinger. Traded LHP Bailey Horn to Chicago White Sox for RHP Matthew Thompson. LF David Peralta, 3B James Triantos, RHP Matthew Thompson, and 1B Dominic Smith assigned to Chicago Cubs.February 28SS Reivaj Garcia assigned to Chicago Cubs. Source
March 2024 March 1Signed free agent RHPs Cesar Pierret and Jhon Rosario to a minor league contract. Signed free agent 1B Garrett Cooper to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.March 2SS Ed Howard and RHP Eduarniel Núñez assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 4SS Rafael Morel, SS Luis Verdugo, and OF Yohendrick Pinango assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 7RHP Jake Reindl assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 8LHP Chase Watkins and SS Cristian Hernandez assigned to Chicago Cubs. Optioned SS Luis Vazquez, OF Brennen Davis, OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, and OF RHP Ben Brown to Iowa. Optioned RHP Michael Arias, RHP Porter Hodge, and OF Kevin Alcántara to Tennessee.March 9OF Parker Chavers assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 10SS Liam Spence, SS Scott McKeon, CF Jacob Wetzel, SS Fabian Pertuz, CF Ismael Mena and 2B Juan Mora assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 13OF Jefferson Encarnacion and OF Cristian More assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 14SS Christian Olivo assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 15SS Leonel Espinoza and LHP Dalton Stambaugh assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 16OF Alfonsin Rosario, 3B Brian Kalmer, RHP Zac Leigh, and C Caleb Knight assigned to Chicago Cubs.March 17Optioned RHP Keegan Thompson and 1B Matt Mervis to Iowa.March 21Optioned RHP Daniel Palencia to Iowa. Assigned 3B Drew Bowser and RHP Porter Hodge to Chicago Cubs.March 22Assigned OF Andy Garriola, and C Ethan Hearn to Chicago Cubs.March 23Assigned RHP Hunter Viets to Chicago Cubs.March 24Released RHP Carl Edwards Jr and IF Dominic Smith.March 25Optioned OF Alexander Canario and RHP Hayden Wesneski to Iowa. Assigned SS Pedro Ramirez to Chicago Cubs.March 26Assigned C David Avitia and OF Kevin Alcatara to Chicago Cubs. Source
Regular season Opening Day starters Thursday, March 28, 2024, vs. Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Name Pos. Ian Happ LF Seiya Suzuki RF Cody Bellinger CF Christopher Morel DH Dansby Swanson SS Michael Busch 1B Nico Hoerner 2B Nick Madrigal 3B Yan Gomes C Justin Steele P
Game log
Legend Cubs win Cubs loss Postponement Eliminated from playoff raceBoldCubs team member
|-style=background:#fbb;" | 1 || March 28 || @ Rangers || 3–4 || Robertson (1–0) || Smyly (0–1) || — || 42,130 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb;" | 2 || March 30 || @ Rangers || 2–11 || Bradford (1–0) || Hendricks (0–1) || — || 37,570 || 0–2 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || March 31 || @ Rangers || 9–5 || Neris (1–0) || Leclerc (0–1) || — || 32,078 || 1–2 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 1 || Rockies || 5–0 || Imanaga (1–0) || Hudson (0–1) || — || 40,072 || 2–2 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 2 || Rockies || 12–2 || Assad (1–0) || Freeland (0–2) || — || 26,555 || 3–2 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 3 || Rockies || 9–8 || Alzolay (1–0) || Mears (0–1) || — || 25,900 || 4–2 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 5 || Dodgers || 9–7 || Smyly (1–1) || Miller (1–1) || Alzolay (1) || 34,981 || 5–2 || W5 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 6 || Dodgers || 1–4 || Yamamoto (1–1) || Wicks (0–1) || — || 41,040 || 5–3 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 7 || Dodgers || 8–1 || Almonte (1–0) || Stone (0–1) || Palencia (1) || 38,322 || 6–3 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 8 || @ Padres || 8–9 || Peralta (1–0) || Alzolay (1–1) || Suárez (4) || 33,864 || 6–4 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 9 || @ Padres || 5–1 || Smyly (2–1) || Musgrove (1–2) || ― || 35,171 || 7–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 10 || @ Padres || 2–10 || Cease (1–1) || Hendricks (0–2) || — || 39,048 || 7–5 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 12 || @ Mariners || 2–4 || Miller (2–1) || Wicks (0–2) || Stanek (2) || 33,500 || 7–6 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 13 || @ Mariners || 4–1 || Imanaga (2–0) || Hancock (1–2) || Alzolay (2) || 38,104 || 8–6 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || April 14 || @ Mariners || 3–2 || Assad (2–0) || Castillo (0–4) || Alzolay (3) || 32,423 || 9–6 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 15 || @ Diamondbacks || 3–2 || Thompson (1–0) || Jarvis (0–1) || — || 24,468 || 10–6 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 16 || @ Diamondbacks || 11–12 || Ginkel (1–0) || Smyly (2–2) || — || 26,426 || 10–7 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 17 || @ Diamondbacks || 5–3 || Wesneski (1–0) || Pfaadt (1–1) || — || 26,567 || 11–7 || W1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 18 || Marlins || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 20 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 19 || Marlins || 8–3 || Taillon (1–0) || Puk (0–4) || — || 29,595 || 12–7 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 20 || Marlins || 2–3 || Faucher (1–0) || Alzolay (1–2) || Scott (3) || 36,379 || 12–8 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 20 || Marlins || 5–3 || Imanaga (3–0) || Bender (0–1) || Neris (1) || 32,386 || 13–8 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 21 || Marlins || 3–6 || Cabrera (1–0) || Hendricks (0–3) || Scott (4) || 36,067 || 13–9 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 23 || Astros || 7–2 || Wicks (1–2) || France (0–3) || Almonte (1) || 30,643 || 14–9 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || April 24 || Astros || 4–3 || Taillon (2–0) || Arrighetti (0–3) || Neris (2) || 32,327 || 15–9 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || April 25 || Astros || 3–1 || Wesneski (2–0) || Montero (0–1) || Neris (3) || 29,876 || 16–9 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || April 26 || @ Red Sox || 7–1 || Imanaga (4–0) || Crawford (1–1) || — || 31,801 || 17–9 || W4 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || April 27 || @ Red Sox || 0–17 || Slaten (2–0) || Brown (0–1) || — || 35,169 || 17–10 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || April 28 || @ Red Sox || 4–5 || Jansen (1–0) || Leiter Jr. (0–1) || — || 32,052 || 17–11 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || April 29 || @ Mets || 3–1 || Leiter Jr. (1–1) || Díaz (0–1) || Neris (4) || 25,046 || 18–11 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || April 30 || @ Mets || 2–4 || Reid-Foley (1–0) || Alzolay (1–3) || López (2) || 22,880 || 18–12 || L1
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