I wrote about the oldest Chicago Cubs to play from 2000-2010 after left-handed pitcher Rich Hill signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. It just got me thinking about old players on the team and here's a list of the oldest Cubs to play from 2011-2022.
OLDEST CHICAGO CUBS TO PLAY: 2000-2010
2011
Right-Handed Pitcher Ramon Ortiz - 38
Ramon Ortiz is mostly known for his days with the Angels, including being a part of their 2002 World Series winning team. Ortiz only pitched in 22 games for the Cubs in 2011, making two starts for Chicago that season. The righty had a 4.86 ERA in 33.1 innings. His final year in MLB was in 2013, when he pitched in seven games with the Toronto Blue Jays.
2012
Outfielder Alfonso Soriano - 36
This was Alfonso Soriano's last full season with the Cubs and guess what, he was still putting up good numbers. I know some fans still feel negatively toward Soriano because of the huge contract and the team didn't have as much as success as we wanted during this era, but Soriano did produce some quality offense. In 2012, he posted an .821 OPS, hitting 32 home runs with a slash line of .262/.322/.499, in 151 games. The Cubs traded Soriano to the New York Yankees in 2013. He then retired following the 2014 season.
2013
Left-Handed Pitcher Hisanori Takahashi - 38
The left-handed pitcher only spent four seasons in MLB, coming over from Japan in 2010. He pitched for the New York Mets, Angels, Pirates and his last days in the majors were spent with the Cubs in 2013. Hisanori Takahashi only pitched in three games for the Cubs in 2013 after making the Opening Day roster, but was released in a few weeks into the season. Takahashi continued his playing days back in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, eventually retiring in 2015. He made 168 total appearances in his MLB career, recording a 3.99 ERA.
2014
Catcher Eli Whiteside - 34
What's most interesting to me is that the oldest player on the 2014 Cubs was only 34. This was the final year of the Theo Epstein rebuild era and although there were still several veteran players on the roster, not many were up there in age. Eli Whiteside played in eight games for the Cubs. The catcher made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2005, and was the backup catcher with the San Francisco Giants for a few years and did win a World Series with them in 2010. Whiteside played in 216 MLB games, and has been a coach with the Giants since 2015.
2015
Catcher David Ross - 38
Here we go. The fun era of Cubs baseball. David Ross played in 72 games in 2015, and well let's just say his defense and leadership behind the plate were his main attributes because he only had a .518 OPS in 182 plate appearances. Obviously worth it because he helped make Jon Lester happy with the Cubs, being his personal cacher for two seasons. And of course Ross was able to retire on top, winning the World Series in 2016 and retiring afterward.
2016
Right-Handed Pitcher Joe Nathan - 41
The Cubs signed Joe Nathan in May, when he was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and eventually the former closer pitched for the team by July. Nathan only pitched in three games for the Cubs, striking out four and didn't allow a run in two innings. He was DFA'd in early August and then signed on with the Giants. In 2017 Nathan tried one more time with the Washington Nationals, but after he was released he signed a one-day contract with the Minnesota Twins and announced his retirement on Sept. 3, 2017.
2017
Right-Handed Pitcher Koji Uehara - 42
In his ninth and final season pitching in MLB, 42-year-old Koji Uehara was still decent out of the Cubs bullpen. The righty had a 3.98 ERA in 49 games. He finished his MLB career with a 2.66 ERA, playing with the Orioles, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. He was 2013 ALCS MVP and a World Series champion with the Red Sox that year. Uehara still pitched two more years and was an All-Star in Japan in 2018. One of the best Japanese pitchers to play in MLB.
2018-2019
Utility Man Ben Zobrist - 37, 38
Man, Ben Zobrist was so good in 2018. Really miss him. He slashed .305/.378/.440, in 139 games in 2018, but then only played in 47 games in 2019 after he missed most of the season dealing with personal issues. Along with the next guy on the list, Zobrist will go down as one of the best free agent signings in Cubs history. Respect to the 2016 World Series MVP!
2020
Left-Handed Pitcher Jon Lester - 36
That season, that year, bleh. This was Jon Lester's last year with the Cubs and it came in the shortened COVID season, making 12 starts, none in front of fans. Lester had an ERA above five in 12 starts and things didn't get better in the offseason, when he wasn't offered a reasonable deal to come back and eventually signed with the Nationals. Lester finished his career in 2021, last pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals. But like Zobrist, Jon Lester will go down in history as one of the best free agent signings for the Cubs.
2021
Catcher Robinson Chirinos - 37
We have back to the not fun Cubs era. Fun fact, Robinson Chirinos was in the Cubs minor league system in 2011, and was in the trade to the Tampa Bay Rays that brought right-handed starter Matt Garza to Chicago. I've blocked out most of the 2021 season, but looking back Chirinos hit fairly well for a catcher, posting a .778 OPS in 45 games. He hit five home runs and had a .324 OBP in 112 plate appearances. In 2022, Chirinos played in 62 games with the Orioles and is currently a free agent.
2022
Right-Handed Pitcher Jesse Chavez - 38
This was Jesse Chavez's second stint with the Cubs, but unfortunately it didn't go as well this time around. He made three relief appearances and allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings. The right-hander was traded to the Atlanta Braves on April 20, along with some cash for left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb. Chavez was traded again in 2022, to the Angels, and then was claimed off waivers by the Braves at the end of August. He agreed to a minor league deal in November to remain with the Braves. Chavez has been traded 10 times in his MLB career, the most ever.
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