Chicago Cubs can’t look past Pittsburgh Pirates – or they could pay a price

Cubs simply further along in the process

This Pirates team is where the Cubs were four years ago. There’s clear talent on the roster, but it’s unclear if this group will ever all hit their stride simultaneously.

Chicago, meanwhile, boasts two of the best players in the game in Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Willson Contreras broke out in a big way last year and the team’s middle infield combination of Addison Russell and Javier Baez puts together dazzling plays on a daily basis.

In short, there’s a lot to like.

But as talented – and proven – as this Cubs team is, they’d be fools to think the Pirates are a pushover. If you go into 2018 with this mindset, your head-to-head matchups with the Bucs may very well cost you a third-straight division title.

Next: Does loss of Rivera show the Cubs' hand?

So don’t breathe a sigh of relief, Cubs fans. Both of these trades made Pittsburgh infinitely more well-suited for long term competitiveness and a day may soon come where the Pirates are knocking on the door at Wrigley.