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There are many fans of the Chicago Cubs who have waited all winter for the team to try to make an effort to get better for 2013. Those fans are now a bit happier with the team signing Edwin Jackson this week and along with the other eight free-agent signings that the team has made this offseason, it is possible that the Cubs will be better than expected. I truly believe that the Cubs are now very close to being a .500 team, which may not sound great but would be a 20-game improvement over last year.
The Jackson signing for four years shows that the organization is at least making an effort for 2013 and with Jackson and the other position players on the way soon, the team could make a run at the division title in 2014 and for sure in 2015. I’m sure there are many people who will disagree with that thought but the rest of the division isn’t getting any better. The Cubs could very easily be a second or third-place team in 2014 as teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals seem to be making a step back.
The teams in the National League should be paying close attention to what is going on in Chicago and what could be next. The Cubs could surprise a lot of folks in 2013 and now definitely won’t be the pushover they were by late 2012. Chicago has a legitimate rotation now and some good young players. It’s time to keep an eye on the Cubs again.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports or like his Facebook page.
