Brewers given poor odds to repeat as NL Central champs, opening the door for the Cubs

The door is open for the Chicago Cubs to seize control of the NL Central division as the Milwaukee Brewers face long odds to repeat as division champions.

A recent article from MLB.com correspondent Will Leitch gave the Brewers the fifth-best chance to repeat as division champions, ahead of only the Cleveland Guardians. And it's not hard to see that becoming a reality given the Cubs' stellar offseason.

After the Cubs surprisingly signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year deal ($175 million) over the weekend, the team became the second-largest spender this offseason behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bregman is expected to give the Cubs a massive boost in the lineup over Matt Shaw's inconsistent production at the plate in 2025. The three-time All-Star is also widely regarded for his leadership in the clubhouse, which could enhance some of the Cubs' young hitters like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Moises Ballesteros.

The other notable addition was starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, who has the potential to step up as an ace for the Cubs if he can stay healthy. Jed Hoyer and the front office have also completely rebuilt Chicago's bullpen with a flurry of free agent signings. The most notable additions include setup man Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and bringing back lefty Caleb Thielbar, the latter of whom was one of manager Craig Counsell's most trusted relievers in 2025.

The National League Central could be a wide-open race in 2026

These moves cement the Cubs as contenders in 2026 and boost their chances of taking the NL Central back from Milwaukee, who have won it in four of the last five years. The St. Louis Cardinals are currently undergoing a full rebuild, while the Pittsburgh Pirates are not expected to be good enough to make the playoffs, let alone win the division. The Cincinnati Reds made the postseason for the first time since 2020 last year, but they would need to have multiple players produce well above their normal levels to have a shot at a division title.

The Brewers are once again Chicago's main obstacle, and things look promising at the moment. The only significant addition the Brewers have made was bringing back starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who figures to be a main component for Milwaukee's pitching staff. Other than that, the Brewers traded for reliever Angel Zerpa (4.18 ERA with the Royals last year) and signed outfielder Akil Baddoo (career wRC+ of 87). Not exactly Earth-shattering moves.

With all that being said, we've been here before. Every analyst in the world underrated Milwaukee's ability to keep winning the NL Central without spending big or having surprise breakout stars. But they have succeeded more often than not over the last decade. Many of the same players who won 95 games will be back for Milwaukee in 2026, so they should not be underestimated. On the other hand, I can't help but feel like I'd be a bit worried about the Cubs if I were a Brewers fan right now.