Chicago Cubs: Despite flashy additions by Brewers, Cubs still reign in Central

The MLB hot stove was officially ignited once again, as a division rival has set it ablaze. While the Chicago Cubs still field a fantastic young group of positional players, they soon could find themselves challenged by a new foe.

In 2017 the Chicago Cubs once again reigned supreme in the National League Central as they finished 92-70 on their way to a second straight division title. It was the third consecutive year in which the club ended with 90-plus wins.

Close on their heels all season long was the surprisingly strong Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers ultimately finished six games behind the Cubs, but still made sure to pose a challenge for much of 2017.

On Thursday, the Brewers shocked the MLB completing a blockbuster deal to acquire All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich. On Friday, in addition to Yelich, the Brewers went one step further to bolster their line-up and signed free-agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain to a massive 5-year, $80 million deal. Indeed Milwaukee has become the belle of the ball regarding hot-stove movement.

As a result, the Milwaukee Brewers hope to build on what they accomplished in 2017. The Cubs are still reign supreme in the National League Central, of course, but with the recent moves its time to examine how the two clubs stack up next to each other.