2012 Chicago Cubs season

2012 Chicago Cubs
LeagueNational League
DivisionCentral
BallparkWrigley Field
CityChicago, Illinois
Record61–101 (.377)
Divisional place5th
OwnersTom Ricketts
President of baseball operationsTheo Epstein
General managersJed Hoyer
ManagersDale Sveum
TelevisionWGN-TV
WGN America
CSN Chicago
CSN Chicago Plus
WCIU-TV
(Len Kasper, Bob Brenly)
RadioWGN (AM)
Chicago Cubs Radio Network
(Pat Hughes, Keith Moreland, Judd Sirott)
← 2011 Seasons 2013 →

The 2012 Chicago Cubs season was the 141st season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 137th in the National League and the 97th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished fifth in the National League Central with a record of 61–101, their worst record since 1966. The Cubs began the season at home on April 5, 2012 against the Washington Nationals and finished the season at home on October 3 against the Houston Astros.

The season marked the first season with Jed Hoyer as General Manager and Theo Epstein as President of Baseball Operations.[1] It also marked the first season with Dale Sveum as manager.[2] The season also marked the last season with the Houston Astros in the National League Central as they would move to the American League West in 2013.[3][4]

The season also marked the first season in the Cubs rebuilding project under Theo Epstein that would break their 108-year World Series drought and lead the Cubs to the 2016 World Series championship.

The season was the last full season with the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano, who would be traded at the 2013 trade deadline.[5]

During the offseason, the Cubs would acquire future All-Star Anthony Rizzo from the San Diego Padres.[6] During the season, the Cubs would also acquire players that would play important roles during their 2016 World Series season: Travis Wood was acquired via trade from the Cincinnati Reds on December 23, 2011,[7] Albert Almora was drafted on June 4,[8] Jorge Soler was signed as an amateur free agent on June 30,[9] and Kyle Hendricks was acquired via a trade with the Texas Rangers on July 30.[10]

  1. ^ "MLB Baseball: Chicago Cubs and Theo Epstein hire Jed Hoyer as general manager". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "Cubs hire Dale Sveum as new manager". Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Sale of Astros to Jim Crane, move to American League in 2013 approved". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  4. ^ Williamson, Paul. "MLB Realignment: Astros Move to AL West Bad for Houston, Good for MLB". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "Soriano goes hitless in return with Yankees". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Cubs acquire Anthony Rizzo in trade with Padres". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "Cubs trade Marshall to Reds for Wood, 2 others". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  8. ^ "Cubs take OF Almora in 1st round of MLB draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cuban OF Soler signs nine-year deal with Cubs". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Rangers land Dempster in trade with Cubs". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.