Chicago Cubs’ promising 2016 odds not yet set in stone

Despite winning the offseason, the Chicago Cubs will still have their hands full as they chase the NL Central crown in the rival Cardinals and Pirates.

After signing Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, along with veteran right-hander John Lackey, it’s not hard to explain why most baseball experts have tapped the Cubs as the hands-down favorite to win their division in 2016.

Adding these key pieces to the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Jake Arrieta gives Chicago a core that is both young and talented – and, for the time being, relatively cost-controlled.

As co-editor Nicholas Blazek discussed earlier today, Fangraphs has the Cubs projected to win 95 games this season – which would actually signify a two-game step back from the 2015 campaign, when Chicago finished one game behind Pittsburgh for the top Wild Card spot in the National League.

So, in short, it’s a wonderful time to love the North Siders.

But with virtually the entire baseball world lining up behind them, singing their praise, I have to ask: are we counting our eggs before they hatch?

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