Cubs’ Ben Zobrist getting better with age

10:44 AM ET

MILWAUKEE — It was the fall of 2013. Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein was telling a room full of season-ticket holders how the peak ages of baseball players was coming down. The elimination of performance enhancing drugs and amphetamines was undoubtedly partly responsible for this, and the team was going to act accordingly.

It’s one reason why that winter, 25-year-old Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was attractive to the Cubs in the same way that 26-year-old outfielder Jason Heyward was this past offseason. “Young free agents,” Epstein told the crowd.

But days before Heyward signed with the team, the Cubs went against that philosophy, signing 34-year-old Ben Zobrist to a four-year deal and trading 25-year-old — and three time all-star — Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees for pitcher Adam Warren. It left some diehard fans scratching their heads — that is until they saw Zobrist up close. Like a fine wine, Zobrist has gotten better with age.

“The fascinating thing about him, and one of the reasons we signed him, if you look at his peripherals he’s actually gotten better each of the last four years,” Epstein said recently. “It’s pretty amazing seeing a guy turn 35 continuing to get better, doing it the right way.”

Epstein noted Zobrist’s strikeout percentage (it’s dropped), his walk rate (it’s increased) and hard contact he’s making (line drives were at 20 percent in 2012, 25 percent last season). This season he’s been as valuable as just about any hitter in the lineup. After breaking up Milwaukee Brewers starter Chase Anderson’s no-hitter in the eighth inning with a double on …

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