The 2021 Chicago Cubs season was the 150th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 146th in the National League, and the Cubs' 106th season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by David Ross, in his second year as Cubs manager, and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of Major League Baseball's National League Central.
The Cubs began the season at home versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 1 and finished the season on the road on October 3 against their rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. They finished the season 71–91 to finish in fourth place in the NL Central, 24 games out of first place. This marked only the second time the Cubs had failed to make the playoffs since 2014. The season also marked the first time since 2014 that the Cubs finished with a losing record and the first time since 2013 that the Cubs had lost 91 games.
The season marked the end of an era as the Cubs traded core members of the team that won the 2016 World Series (Javier Báez, Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo) at the trade deadline. The Cubs set an MLB record for most players used in a season by a single team as 69 different players appeared for the Cubs.
Previous season The Cubs finished the 2020 season, which was limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with a record of 34–26 to win the Central Division by three games, marking the fifth time the Cubs had made the playoffs in the previous six years. As the No. 3 seed in the newly expanded playoffs, the Cubs were swept in the Wild Card Series by the Miami Marlins.
COVID-19 effects on season On February 9, 2021, MLB announced that the protocols in place for the season due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rule changes The season was similar to the prior season in that the following rules would be used due to COVID-19:
Doubleheaders were two seven-inning games. In extra inning games, each team got a runner on second to start every inning. Active roster limit was limited to 26 and expanded to 28 in September. Each team was permitted to carry up to five additional taxi squad players on all road trips.
There was no universal designated hitter or expanded playoffs.
Television broadcasts On December 4, 2020, the team announced that longtime TV play-by-play broadcaster, Len Kasper, was leaving the broadcast booth to join the Chicago White Sox radio booth. Marquee Sports Network announced they would conduct a search to replace Kasper. On January 4, 2021, the Cubs announced that Jon "Boog" Sciambi would join color analyst Jim Deshaies as the play-by-play man in the Cubs booth. Due to Sciambi's national radio obligations, the team announced that Chris Myers, Beth Mowins, and Pat Hughes would act as fill-ins for Sciambi. On May 8, Mowins became the first woman to broadcast regular season games for the Cubs.
Offseason
Front office changes On November 17, 2020, President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein announced his resignation effective November 20. General manager Jed Hoyer took over Epstein's duties. Hoyer signed a five-year extension as the president of baseball operations on November 23. The Cubs promoted Jeff Greenberg and Craig Breslow to assistant general manager positions, but Hoyer announced the club would not hire a general manager prior to the 2021 season due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Transactions On December 3, the Cubs announced that they would not tender a contract to OFs Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. Schwarber later signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals. On December 28, the Cubs traded P Yu Darvish and C Víctor Caratini to the San Diego Padres for P Zach Davies and prospects.
October 2020 Activated LHP Brailyn Marquez, OF Albert Almora Jr, C Miguel Amaya, LHP Rex Brothers, RHP Colin Rea, RHP Rowan Wick, RHP Dillon Maples, RHP Tyson Miller, RHP Duane Underwood Jr., RHP Tyler Chatwood, 1B Jose Martinez, and LHP Justin Steele.Signed free agent RHP Juan Gamez to a minor league contract.Signed free agents LHP Angel Hernandez, SS Leonel Espinoza, IF Andrews Cruz, RHP Yohan Crispin, RHP Joandy Duran, OF Jerry Torres, LHP Marino Santy, RHP Jose Romero, RHP Waimer Fabian, C Jose Herrera, and RHP Jose Lopez to minor league contracts.Activated OF Mark Zagunis from the restricted list.Sent OF Mark Zagunis outright to Iowa.RHP Tyler Chatwood, IF Jason Kipnis, C Josh Phegley, LHP Jose Quintana, OF Cameron Maybin, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Billy Hamilton, and LHP Andrew Chafin elected free agency.Claimed IF Max Schrock off waivers from St. Louis Cardinals. Sent LHP Rex Brothers outright to Iowa.IF Daniel Descalso elected free agency Source
November 2020 Activated RHP Manuel Rodriguez, RHP James Norwood, and LHP Brad Wieck from the 60-day injured list.Traded SS Ronny Simon to Arizona Diamondbacks to complete Andrew Chafin trade.Signed free agents OF Rafael Ortega, RHP Jake Jewell, C Taylor Gushue, and LHP Jerry Vasto to minor league contracts.Signed free agent OF Ian Miller to a minor league contract.Selected the contract of RHP Cory Abbott and RHP Keegan Thompson from Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Selected the contract of 3B Christopher Morel from South Bend Cubs. Source
December 2020 RHP Ryan Tepera, LF Kyle Schwarber, CF Albert Almora Jr., and 1B Jose Martinez elected free agency. Claimed RHP Robert Stock off waivers from Boston Red Sox.Claimed RHP Gray Fenter off waivers from Norfolk Tides. Assigned RHP Samuel Reyes and RHP Nicholas Padilla to Cubs.Signed free agent RHP James Bourque.Signed free agent RHP Trevor Kelley.Signed free agent IF Matt Duffy.Signed free agent RHP Jonathan Holder.Claimed OF Phillip Ervin off waivers from Seattle Mariners.Signed free agent LHP Matt Dermody.Traded RHP Yu Darvish, C Victor Caratini and $0 to San Diego Padres for CF Ismael Mena, SS Yelson Santana, SS Reginald Preciado, RHP Zach Davies, and OF Owen Caissie. Source
January 2021 Signed free agent LF Nick Martini.Released RHP Colin Rea.Signed free agent 3B Patrick Wisdom.Agreed to terms with 3B Kris Bryant, SS Javier Báez, and C Willson Contreras. Signed free agent C Carlos Ramos, P David Olivo, C Moises Ballesteros, P Welington Quintero, SS Cristian Hernandez, P Adrian Martinez, P Kenneddy Delgado, OF Daniel Ferreira, OF Oferman Hernandez, C Fredy Montenegro, P Zhiorman Imbriano, SS Pedro Ramirez, P Gabriel Agrazal, P Ronny Corniell, and P Joel Sierra.Released LHP Matt Dermody.Signed free agent C Austin Romine.January 28Signed free agent RHP Kohl Stewart. Source
February 2021 Claimed SS Sergio Alcántara off waivers from Detroit Tigers. Signed free agent OF Joc Pederson, RHP Trevor Williams, LHP Andrew Chafin. Designated IF Max Schrock for assignment.Signed free agent C José Lobatón, P Shelby Miller, and P Adam Morgan. 1B Alfonso Rivas, C P. J. Higgins, IF Trent Giambrone, P Brendon Little, P Michael Rucker, P Trevor Megill, and P Tommy Nance assigned to Chicago Cubs. February 17Re-signed free agent RHP Jake Arrieta. Placed LHP Kyle Ryan on 10-day injured list.February 18Signed free agent RHP Brandon Workman. Designated Sergio Alcántara for assignment.February 20Signed free agent OF Jake Marisnick. Designated OF Phillip Ervin for assignment. Sent SS Sergio Alcántara to Iowa. Signed free agent OF Cameron Maybin.Signed free agent P Ben Holmes.Traded P Zach Bryant to Boston Red Sox. Signed free agent P Pedro Strop.Activated LHP Kyle Ryan from 10-day IL. Designated P Robert Stock for assignment. Source
March 2021 Assigned OF Brennen Davis, OF Cameron Maybin, C Taylor Payne, 2B Chase Strumpf, and 2B Andy Weber to Chicago Cubs. Signed free agent P Ryan Meisinger.Sent P Robert Stock outright to Iowa. Designated RHP Duane Underwood Jr. for assignment. Signed free agent RHP Ryan Tepera.Signed free agent 2B Eric Sogard.Traded Duane Underwood Jr. to Pittsburgh Pirates for 1B Shendrik Apostel. Assigned P Robert Stock to Chicago Cubs.Optioned P Cory Abbott, P Kohl Stewart, and P Tyson Miller to Iowa. Optioned P Manuel Rodriguez, SS Christopher Morel, and C Miguel Amaya to Tennessee Smokies. P Gray Fenter returned to Baltimore Orioles from Chicago Cubs.Optioned P Keegan Thompson to Iowa.Optioned RHP Justin Steele, RHP James Norwood, and LHP Kyle Ryan to Iowa. Optioned RHP Brailyn Marquez to Tennessee.March 20Assigned RHP Pedro Strop to Cubs.March 26Optioned LHP Brad Wieck to Iowa.March 27Released OF Cameron Maybin. Optioned SS Nico Hoerner to Iowa. Assigned P Ben Holmes to Cubs. Signed free agent C Erick Castillo.March 28Selected the contract of 2B Eric Sogard, 3B Matt Duffy, and LHP Rex Brothers from Iowa. Designated 2B Ildemaro Vargas for assignment. Released P Jerry Vasto.March 29OF Cameron Maybin and P Ryan Meisinger assigned to Cubs. Signed free agent SS Andrew Romine.March 31Signed C Tony Wolters. Designated P James Norwood for assignment. Sent 2B Ildemaro Vargas outright to Iowa. Source
Regular season Game log
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 1 || Pirates || 3–5 || Howard (1–0) || Hendricks (0–1) || Rodríguez (1) || 10,343 || 0–1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 3 || Pirates || 5–1 || Arrieta (1–0) || Anderson (0–1) || — || 10,343 || 1–1 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 4 || Pirates || 4–3 || Davies (1–0) || Keller (0–1) || Kimbrel (1) || 10,343 || 2–1 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 5 || Brewers || 5–3 || Williams (1–0) || Anderson (0–1) || Mills (1) || 10,343 || 3–1 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 6 || Brewers || 0–4 || Peralta (1–0) || Alzolay (0–1) || — || 10,343 || 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 7 || Brewers || 2–4 || Hader (1–0) || Workman (0–1) || Boxberger (1) || 10,343 || 3–3 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 8 || @ Pirates || 4–2 || Arrieta (2–0) || Anderson (0–2) || Kimbrel (2) || 7,749 || 4–3 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 10 || @ Pirates || 2–8 || Keller (1–1) || Davies (1–1) || — || 7,052 || 4–4 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 11 || @ Pirates || 1–7 || Brubaker (1–0) || Williams (1–1) || — || 6,851 || 4–5 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 3–6 || Peralta (2–0) || Alzolay (0–2) || Hader (1) || 11,209 || 4–6 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 13 || @ Brewers || 3–2 || Strop (1–0) || Suter (0–1) || Kimbrel (3) || 11,025 || 5–6 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 14 || @ Brewers || 0–7 || Burnes (1–1) || Arrieta (2–1) || — || 10,598 || 5–7 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 16 || Braves || 2–5 || Tomlin (2–0) || Davies (1–2) || Smith (3) || 10,343 || 5–8 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 17 || Braves || 13–4 || Williams (2–1) || Ynoa (0–1) || — || 10,343 || 6–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 18 || Braves || 4–13 || Wilson (1–0) || Hendricks (0–2) || — || 10,343 || 6–9 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 20 || Mets || 3–1 || Arrieta (3–1) || Walker (0–1) || Kimbrel (4) || 10,137 || 7–9 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 21 || Mets || 16–4 || Mills (1–0) || Peterson (1–2) || — || 10,196 || 8–9 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 22 || Mets || 4–3 || Winkler (1–0) || Díaz (1–1) || — || 10,343 || 9–9 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || April 23 || Brewers || 15–2 || Hendricks (1–2) || Anderson (2–2) || — || 10,343 || 10–9 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 24 || Brewers || 3–4 || Suter (2–1) || Chafin (0–1) || Hader (4) || 10,343 || 10–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 25 || Brewers || 0–6 || Woodruff (2–0) || Arrieta (3–2) || — || 10,343 || 10–11 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 26 || @ Braves || 7–8 || Morton (2–1) || Workman (0–2) || Smith (5) || 17,956 || 10–12 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || April 27 || @ Braves || 0–5 || Anderson (2–0) || Williams (2–2) || — || 17,603 || 10–13 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 28 || @ Braves || 0–10 || Ynoa (2–1) || Hendricks (1–3) || — || 18,709 || 10–14 || L5 |- style="background:#bfb;"