The Cubs spent the 2026 regular season doing something that rarely leaves much room for argument: they played the best defense in baseball. Chicago finished with a league-best 73 Fielding Run Value, according to Baseball Savant, and the gap to the rest of the field was massive. The Toronto Blue Jays were next at 46.
That kind of season was always going to produce a long Gold Glove finalist list, and Wednesday afternoon delivered exactly that. Rawlings announced the full American League and National League groups, and five Cubs were included.
Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki all made the cut for Chicago. Crow-Armstrong feels like the cleanest bet of the bunch; the expectation is that he takes home the center field award after what was described as the best defensive season in baseball. Bregman also looks like a strong favorite, while Swanson once again has a legitimate case.
The two corner outfield spots are less certain. Happ carries a strong reputation, but Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio brings plenty of star power to the race. Suzuki’s competition is just as stiff, with Corbin Carroll and Carson Benge seemingly owning stronger arguments.
Even so, Suzuki’s presence on the finalist list is a real milestone. He was known as an excellent outfielder overseas, but that didn’t immediately carry over to MLB. This season, though, he got back to that level, and that kind of return to form only adds to his value heading into free agency.
For the Cubs, the bigger picture matters just as much as any individual award. This is a roster that has leaned on elite defense for years, and this season was another reminder that it works. It’s also part of the reason Jed Hoyer has been able to target the pitchers he has, with ground-ball arms thriving behind this group.
Still, there was one omission that stands out. Nico Hoerner did not crack the top three at second base, finishing behind Brandon Lowe, Brice Turang and JJ Wetherhold.
Those three are all deserving finalists, but Hoerner’s absence is tough to ignore. He belongs in any conversation about the game’s best infield defenders, no matter the position.
If you asked Cubs fans in April to name the five players most likely to land on this finalist list, Hoerner would have been one of the first two names out of their mouths. He also had to handle both second base and shortstop this season, with Dansby Swanson spending an extended stretch on the injured list.
Even with that miss, Chicago still has plenty to celebrate. The Cubs got a huge chunk of their roster into the Gold Glove mix, and at least a couple of them feel likely to bring home the hardware when the final votes are tallied.
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Cubs May Have To Sacrifice A Young Bat For Rotation Help
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Seattle could be part of that conversation again, and Chicagos willingness to deal from its prospect pool may determine how serious it gets. The idea of moving a young bat such as Matt Shaw or Pedro Ramirez would speak to the cost of chasing pitching, while Kirby stands out as the sort of controllable arm who fits the Cubs timeline even if he would still require some development. The fit is obvious enough, but the price and the level of patience needed could decide whether this remains a rumor or becomes the next big winter swing. [Read more 🡒]