Predictions for Each Offseason Acquisition's Career with the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs made several big moves this offseason to help them in 2015 and beyond. For the first time in a while, they should be relatively competitive this upcoming season. However, they didn't sign these players just to be good in 2015, they signed them to be good through the life of their contract.

Ultimately, whether each player earns their money will come down to how they compete over the life of their deals. Here are predictions for the team's three biggest offseason acquisitions and how they will do over the entire course of their contracts.

C Miguel Montero

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Montero was the Cubs' biggest offensive weapon acquired this offseason, and he should make the lineup much deeper. Possibly batting out of the seven-hole, Montero won't hit for a great average but provides some power upside. More importantly perhaps, he should provide very solid defense.

He has three years remaining on his contract and by the time his contract is up, prospect Kyle Schwarber should be ready to make the jump to the big leagues. 

The Prediction: Three-year average of .245 batting average with 14 home runs and 75 RBI.

RHP Jason Hammel

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Clearly Jason Hammel loved his time in Chicago last season based on the fact he jumped right back to the Cubs this offseason. He's a very good No. 3 option behind Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta and really gives the rotation some nice depth.

Last season in Chicago, Hammel played some of the best baseball of his career before being shipped off to the Athletics. It will be hard for him to sustain that success over the next two years (three, if the option is picked up on third year), but if Hammel can be close to what he was, the Cubs would be ecstatic with the signing.

The Prediction: Two-year average of a 12-8 record, a 3.59 ERA, 172 IP and 141 strikeouts.

LHP Jon Lester

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Jon Lester wasn't only the biggest offseason acquisition by the Cubs this offseason, he was the biggest offseason acquisition in the entire league. He's the only ace that has signed with a team so far this offseason, and he figures to head up a much-improved Cubs rotation.

Lester had arguably the best season of his career in Boston last year, and he could possibly improve upon that in Chicago with the move to the National League. As long as Lester stays as dependable and injury-free as he has in the past, he will be a great signing for the Cubs.

Since he has six years on his contract, it's hard to predict his averages over the life of his deal. Instead, here are predictions for the first three years of his contract and last three years of his contract.

First Three Years Average: 16-8 record, a 2.89 ERA, 206 IP and 191 strikeouts, 1 Cy Young Award.

Second Three Years Average: 14-11 record, a 3.78 ERA, 194 IP and 173 strikeouts.

It's logical to think Lester's production will drop off in his final three years, but he will still be a borderline ace during that time because he always manages to make all of his scheduled starts and go deep into games. No matter what, he's a piece the Cubs need to win that elusive World Series in the next several years.