Editing Chicago Cubs (section)

====2015–2019: Championship run====
On November 2, 2014, the Cubs announced that [[Joe Maddon]] had signed a five-year contract to be the [[List of Chicago Cubs managers|54th manager]] in team history.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/100210426/chicago-cubs-hiring-joe-maddon-to-replace-rick-renteria |title = Cubs bring in Maddon, let Rentería go |work = [[MLB.com]] |date = November 2, 2014 |access-date = November 2, 2014 |archive-date = November 2, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141102053942/http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/100210426/chicago-cubs-hiring-joe-maddon-to-replace-rick-renteria |url-status = dead }}</ref> On December 10, 2014, Maddon announced that the team had signed free agent [[Jon Lester]] to a six-year, $155&nbsp;million contract. Many other trades and acquisitions occurred during the off season. The opening day lineup for the Cubs contained five new players including center fielder [[Dexter Fowler]]. Rookies [[Kris Bryant]] and [[Addison Russell]] were in the starting lineup by mid-April, along with the addition of rookie [[Kyle Schwarber]] who was added in mid-June. On August 30, [[Jake Arrieta]] threw a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>{{cite news |title = Cubs' Jake Arrieta throws no-hitter vs. Dodgers |url = http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/920216/cubs-jake-arrieta-throws-hitter-vs-dodgers |work = Chicago Sun-Times |access-date = August 31, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150902155409/http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/920216/cubs-jake-arrieta-throws-hitter-vs-dodgers |archive-date = September 2, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The Cubs finished the 2015 season in third place in the NL Central, with a record of 97–65, the third best record in the majors and earned a wild card berth. On October 7, in the [[2015 National League Wild Card Game]], Arrieta pitched a complete game shutout and the Cubs defeated the [[2015 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] 4–0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 National League Wild Card (NLWC) Game 1, Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates: October 7, 2015 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT201510070.shtml |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Cubs defeated the Cardinals in the [[2015 National League Division Series|NLDS]] three-games-to-one, qualifying for a return to the [[National League Division Series|NLCS]] for the first time in 12 years, where they faced the [[2015 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]. This was the first time in franchise history that the Cubs had clinched a playoff series at Wrigley Field.<ref>{{cite news |last = Seligman |first = Andrew |url = https://sports.yahoo.com/news/cubs-win-nl-division-series-beat-cardinals-6-235719368--mlb.html |title = Cubs win NL Division Series, beat Cardinals 6–4 in Game 4 |work = Yahoo! Sports |date = October 14, 2015 |access-date = October 14, 2015 |archive-date = October 15, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151015054721/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cubs-win-nl-division-series-beat-cardinals-6-235719368--mlb.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> However, they were swept in four games by the Mets and were unable to make it to their first World Series since [[1945 World Series|1945]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1#game=2015_10_21_nynmlb_chnmlb_1,game_state=Wrapup |title = Met-Amorphosis complete early: NY wins NL |date = October 21, 2015 |work = MLB.com |access-date = October 21, 2015 }}</ref> After the season, Arrieta won the [[Cy Young Award#National League (1967–present)|National League Cy Young Award]], becoming the first Cubs pitcher to win the award since [[Greg Maddux]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Jeremy |title=Dallas Keuchel, Jake Arrieta named AL, NL Cy Young Award winners |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/11/18/dallas-keuchel-jake-arrieta-cy-young-award-winners |newspaper=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Sports Illustratedsi.com |access-date=November 19, 2015}}</ref>
[[File:The Cubs celebrate after winning the 2016 World Series. (30709972906).jpg|thumb|right|The Cubs celebrate after winning the [[2016 World Series]].]]
Before the [[2016 MLB season|2016 season]], in an effort to shore up their lineup, free agents [[Ben Zobrist]], [[Jason Heyward]] and [[John Lackey]] were signed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kruth|first1=Cash|title=J-Hey officially joins Cubs' young core|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/159721548/cubs-sign-jason-heyward-to-contract/|work=MLB.com|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133255/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/159721548/cubs-sign-jason-heyward-to-contract/|url-status=dead}}</ref> To make room for the Zobrist signing, [[Starlin Castro]] was traded to the Yankees for [[Adam Warren (baseball)|Adam Warren]] and [[Brendan Ryan (baseball)|Brendan Ryan]], the latter of whom was released a week later. Also during the middle of the season, the Cubs traded their top prospect [[Gleyber Torres]] for [[Aroldis Chapman]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hoch|first1=Bryan|title=Yankees solidify second base with Cubs' Castro|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-trade-for-cubs-starlin-castro/c-159171944|work=MLB.com|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133253/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/159171944/yankees-trade-for-cubs-starlin-castro/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:The 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.webm|thumb|left|2016 Champions visit the Obama White House in January 2017.]]
[[File:Chicago Cubs with President Trump.jpg|thumb|left|2016 Champions visit the Trump White House in June 2017.]]
In a season that included another no-hitter on April 21 by Jake Arrieta as well as an [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP award]] for Kris Bryant,<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=360421117 |title = Arrieta claims second no-no in 16–0 rout of Reds |website = ESPN.com |access-date = April 22, 2016 }}</ref> the Cubs finished with the best record in Major League Baseball and won their first [[National League Central]] title since the [[2008 Chicago Cubs season|2008 season]], winning by 17.5 games. The team also reached the 100-win mark for the first time since [[1935 Chicago Cubs season|1935]] and won 103 total games, the most wins for the franchise since [[1910 Chicago Cubs season|1910]]. The Cubs defeated the [[2016 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] in the [[2016 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]] and returned to the [[2016 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]] for the second year in a row, where they defeated the [[2016 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in six games. This was their first NLCS win since the series was created in 1969. The win earned the Cubs their first World Series appearance since [[1945 World Series|1945]] and a chance for their first World Series win since [[1908 World Series|1908]]. Coming back from a three-games-to-one deficit, the Cubs defeated the [[2016 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] in seven games in the [[2016 World Series]], They were the first team to come back from a three-games-to-one deficit since the [[1985 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] in [[1985 World Series|1985]]. On November 4, the city of Chicago held a victory parade and rally for the Cubs that began at Wrigley Field, headed down Lake Shore Drive, and ended in [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]. The city estimated that over five million people attended the parade and rally, which made it one of the [[List of largest peaceful gatherings in history|largest recorded gatherings in history]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flosi |first1=Nic |title=Cubs World Series celebration ranks as 7th largest gathering in human history |url=http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/215601786-story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105005210/http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/215601786-story |archive-date=November 5, 2016 |access-date=November 6, 2016 |website=Fox 32 Chicago}}</ref>

In an attempt to be the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the Yankees in [[1998 New York Yankees season|1998]], [[1999 New York Yankees season|1999]], and [[2000 New York Yankees season|2000]], the Cubs struggled for most of the first half of the [[2017 Chicago Cubs season|2017 season]], never moving more than four games over .500 and finishing the first half two games under .500. On July 15, the Cubs fell to a season-high 5.5 games out of first in the NL Central. The Cubs struggled mainly due to their pitching as Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester struggled and no starting pitcher managed to win more than 14 games (four pitchers won 15 games or more for the Cubs in 2016). The Cubs offense also struggled as Kyle Schwarber batted near .200 for most of the first half and was even sent to the minors. However, the Cubs recovered in the second half of the season to finish 22 games over .500 and win the NL Central by six games over the [[2017 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]]. The Cubs pulled out a five-game [[2017 National League Division Series|NLDS]] series win over the [[2017 Washington Nationals season|Washington Nationals]] to advance to the NLCS for the third consecutive year. For the second consecutive year, they faced the [[2017 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]]. This time, however, the Dodgers defeated the Cubs in five games.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/46210/chicago-cubs-quest-to-repeat-as-champions-finally-runs-out-of-gas|title=Cubs' quest to repeat as champs finally runs out of gas|work=ESPN|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> In May 2017, the Cubs and the Rickets family formed [[Wrigley Rooftops#Marquee Sports & Entertainment|Marquee Sports & Entertainment]] as a central sales and marketing company for the various Rickets family sports and entertainment assets: the Cubs, [[Wrigley Rooftops]] and [[Wrigley Rooftops#Hickory Street Capital|Hickory Street Capital]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Eric |title=Ricketts to open new sales and marketing firm |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/05/29/Franchises/Marquee.aspx |access-date=February 14, 2019 |work=Sports Business Daily |date=May 29, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2018 Chicago Cubs season|2018 season]], the Cubs made several key free agent signings to bolster their pitching staff. The team signed starting pitcher [[Yu Darvish]] to a six-year, $126&nbsp;million contract and veteran closer [[Brandon Morrow]] to two-year, $21-million contract,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaikin |first=Bill |last2=McCullough |first2=Andy |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Yu Darvish agrees to sign with Chicago Cubs |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-darvish-cubs-dodgers-20180210-story.html |access-date=February 12, 2018 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/cubs-nearing-deal-with-brandon-morrow.html|title=Cubs Sign Brandon Morrow|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 12, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> in addition to [[Tyler Chatwood]] and [[Steve Cishek]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-sign-tyler-chatwood-to-three-year-deal/c-263069166|title=Cubs sign Tyler Chatwood to three-year deal|website=MLB.com|language=en|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/cubs-to-sign-steve-cishek.html|title=Cubs Sign Steve Cishek|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 16, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref> However, the Cubs struggled to stay healthy throughout the season. Anthony Rizzo missed much of April due to a back injury,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/04/07/brewers-beat-cubs-5-4-2/|title=Brewers Beat Cubs 5–4|date=April 7, 2018|access-date=April 9, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and Bryant missed almost a month due to shoulder injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-cubs-kris-bryant-injury-cincinnati-reds-486390621.html|title=Kris Bryant to Miss 2nd Straight Game|work=NBC Chicago|access-date=June 25, 2018|language=en}}</ref> However, Darvish, who only started eight games in 2018, was lost for the season due to elbow and triceps injuries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muskat |first1=Carrie |title=Darvish done for '18 with elbow, triceps injuries |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-injured-season-over/c-291288462 |website=MLB.com |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> Morrow also faced two injuries before the team ruled him out for the season in September.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24142297/brandon-morrow-chicago-cubs-returns-disabled-list|title=Cubs put Morrow on DL, get Chavez from Texas|work=ESPN|access-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> The team maintained first place in their division for much of the season. The injury-depleted team only went 16–11 during September, which allowed the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], to finish with the same record. The Brewers defeated the Cubs in a tie-breaker game to win the Central Division and secure the top-seed in the National League.<ref>USA Today, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2018/10/01/brewers-celebrate-wrigley-field-after-beating-cubs-nl-central-title/1491545002/ 'We just took it': Brewers celebrate at Wrigley after beating Cubs for division title], Retrieved October 7, 2018.</ref> The Cubs subsequently lost to the [[Colorado Rockies]] in the [[2018 National League Wild Card Game]] for their earliest playoff exit in three seasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-rockies-wild-card-20181002-story.html |title=Cubs' season ends with 2–1, 13-inning loss to Rockies in NL wild-card game |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=September 26, 2018 |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref>

The Cubs' roster remained largely intact going into the [[2019 Chicago Cubs season|2019 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Snyder |first=Matt |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/chicago-cubs-2019-season-preview-joe-maddons-team-faces-a-pivotal-year-in-wrigleyville/ |title=Chicago Cubs 2019 season preview: Joe Maddon's team faces a pivotal year in Wrigleyville |work=CBS Sports |date=March 19, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref> The team led the Central Division by a half-game over the Brewers at the All-Star Break.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamka |first=Chris |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-numbers-all-star-break |title=Cubs by the numbers at the All-Star break |work=[[NBC Sports]] |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref> However, the team's control over the division once again dissipated going into final months of the season.<ref name="wrong">{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Jesse |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27704131/with-cubs-eliminated-officially-figure-went-wrong |title=With Cubs eliminated, it's officially time to figure out what went wrong |work=ESPN |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 28, 2019 }}</ref> The Cubs lost several key players to injuries, including Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kris Bryant during this stretch.<ref name="wrong" /> The team's postseason chances were compromised after suffering a nine-game losing streak in late September.<ref name="wrong" /> The Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention on September 25, marking the first time the team had failed to qualify for the playoffs since 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cubs-playoff-update-elimination-possible-wednesday-night-561368431.html |title=Cubs Eliminated From Playoff Contention After Brewers Win |work=NBC Chicago |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref> The Cubs announced they would not renew manager Joe Maddon's contract at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Jesse |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27722498/cubs-maddon-parting-ways-5-big-seasons |title=Cubs, Maddon parting ways after 5 big seasons |work=ESPN |date=September 29, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref>