This NL Central rival may steal the division away from the Cubs and it's their own fault

The Chicago Cubs' offseason ended on a dud after their failed attempt to sign All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. Add the fact that the Cubs were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week in Japan, and the over-reactions are already at a fever pitch.

The way the offseason ended in addition to beginning the season 0-2 has Cubs fans forgetting the fact that the team is entering the 2025 season with the clear expectation of being the best team in the National League Central. But, the Cubs' inability to add another impact talent seems have left the door open for their to be a surprise in the division.

Of course, until proven otherwise, the Milwaukee Brewers can't be eliminated from the conversation either. However, the surprise may be the Cincinnati Reds. Levi Weaver of The Athletic stopped just short of predicting the Reds would overtake the Cubs and win the NL Central in 2025 but he did make a compelling case for them to be the sleeper pick.

The Reds have been a dark horse candidate for several seasons. There is no question that the team has the position players to be a dangerous lineup for any team to face if they thrive. The question for the Reds comes down to their pitching. Surprisingly, the Reds haven't addressed their need for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Of course, if they get off to a hot start, they have the prospect capital to pull off a trade for one closer to the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

These are not your grandfather's Cincinnati Reds

Adding to the intrigue of the Reds this season is the arrival of Terry Francona, arguably the best manager in all of baseball. If Francona's time with the Cleveland Guardians was any example, he is capable of getting the most out of their time and that is a dangerous thought for the Cubs considering the high-ceiling of the Reds' farm system.

The idea of the Reds even being a threat to the Cubs speaks to how negligent the lack of spending has been under Tom Ricketts. Sure, the Cubs are "spending" and will always be in the top half of baseball when it comes to payroll but the team is willingly avoiding spending on the top of the market. With that being the case, the Cubs are going to have to prove something they haven't yet and that is they are better at developing their prospects than the other teams in their division. The 2025 season may provide the definitive answer on that.