MLB insider gives hopeful Cubs fans a 1-2 haymaker in his latest column

If you weren't riddled with anxiety over Seiya Suzuki's World Baseball Classic injury (despite the seemingly best-case scenario diagnosis), then let me pour some fuel on the flames. Or, rather, let me lead you to the fuel provided by FanSided's MLB insider Robert Murray.

In the latest Baseball Insiders Q&A, Murray hit on two items that should be of note to Chicago Cubs fans. As if Jim Bowden naming Brandon Sproat the Milwaukee Brewers' biggest spring training standout earlier in the week wasn't bad enough, Murray finds it totally within the realm of possibility that another Brewers' trade addition from this winter, Kyle Harrison, could finally put it all together this year.

Lovely.

Harrison, a former third-round pick out of high school in 2020, left his latest start with a blister issue, but don't let that distract from the buzz: everyone thinks Milwaukee has something cooking with the 24-year-old southpaw.

Everything I’m hearing from folks across the industry is that Harrison looks different in Milwaukee, that he finally appears to be in position to maximize his massive talent. The Brewers’ pitching lab has cooked up some career resurgences before, and Harrison appears to be the latest beneficiary.

Milwaukee isn't going to drop off a cliff anytime soon. Frankly, their farm system alone is good enough to prevent that from happening. But when the front office doesn't miss on any of its major trades, it's a recipe for sustained, long-term success that could come at the detriment of the Cubs.

OK, so take care of Milwaukee. Simple enough, right? Not so fast. There could be some surprises lying in wait elsewhere in the division, especially in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The Pirates are coming off one of their busiest offseasons in recent memory, and they boast the top overall prospect in baseball in shortstop Konnor Griffin, to boot.

Pirates could do something Cubs fans have begged for for decades

Oh, and there's a chance the Pirates could extend their golden boy before Opening Day.

I’m not ruling out an extension before Opening Day. If the Pirates get to a number that Griffin likes, signing an extension that would allow him to notch another long-term contract while still in his prime makes plenty of sense. And if he decides to wait, at 19, a larger payday surely awaits him. His talent and upside would have no one blaming him for betting on himself to break out.

After blowing their shot to lock up Paul Skenes long-term before he exploded onto the scene as the best pitcher in baseball, redemption could be at hand. Seeing Pittsburgh lock up a potential franchise cornerstone who could be a thorn in the Cubs' side the next decade is less than ideal.

Again, none of this is set in stone. But there's buzz around the division that should serve as a reminder to us all: the Cubs were winners of the offseason and there are high expectations heading into the season - but the rest of the NL Central isn't going to just roll over and let them take the division crown.