Way-too-early MLB power rankings are a slap in the face to Cubs' biggest rival

Winning the National League Central by 10 games after watching your biggest rival steal your longtime manager? That's all in the past. In The Athletic's 'way-too-early' 2025 MLB power rankings, the Milwaukee Brewers find themselves looking up at - you guessed it - the Chicago Cubs in the rankings.

The Cubs narrowly edge the Brewers, with the teams in the #14 and #15 spots, respectively. Frankly, it seems to come down to one thing: Chicago has a ton of young talent knocking on the door at Triple-A and Milwaukee faces the challenge of replacing one of its best offensive weapons in Willy Adames, who is set to cash in on a big-time payday in free agency.

Adames hit 32 home runs with 33 doubles and 112 RBI in a monster platform year heading into the offseason and, given Milwaukee's small-market tendencies, it feels like a foregone conclusion he'll be playing elsewhere in 2025. Replacing that offense will be a tall task for MLB Executive of the Year Matt Arnold.

With Cody Bellinger back in the fold for 2025, the Cubs seem likely to largely run things back offensively - while focusing on revamping the pitching staff and catcher position. The hope is some of that prospect depth starts impacting the big-league team, opening a new era of sustained winning on the North Side.

Chicago still falls well short of being a contender for the NL pennant in the eyes of these power rankings, with the reigning World Series champion Dodgers at #1, Phillies at #2, Padres at #3 and Braves at #5. A strong offseason could narrow the gap between the Cubs and those National League powerhouses, but it'll take some big moves from Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins to make this a reality.