(Audacy) Some pundits are viewing the NL Central as a two-horse race between the Cardinals and Brewers, but don’t sleep on the Cubs.
After a 74-win season in 2022, the Cubs made several additions this offseason, including shortstop Dansby Swanson center fielder Cody Bellinger, first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini and right-hander Jameson Taillon.
Chicago is eyeing solid improvement, and former Cubs pitcher and current Marquee Sports Network analyst Ryan Dempster believes the team can win the division, as he explained during an appearance on the Fly The W podcast.
“Honestly, when I look at it, I think there’s a chance to win the division,” Dempster said (21:55 in player above). “I think the Cardinals are going to be tough, obviously. They’re always tough, that’s just how it is. I think Milwaukee has starting pitching that’s going to keep them in games and the Reds are kind of in that rebuild mode. The Pirates are always in a rebuild mode.”
Dempster is a fan of the Cubs' additions over the winter, which came after they played well in the second half of 2022.
“You go get Jameson Taillon," Dempster said. "You go get Cody Bellinger on a one-year deal, which I think is a great move. You get Dansby Swanson, proven winner, Gold Glover, All-Star, MVP-type candidate player up the middle. You add all these other little pieces along the way. Getting a guy like Michael Fulmer and Tucker Barnhart. All these little things that you do you just create depth.”
The PECOTA projections came out recently and give the Cubs less than a 5% chance to win the division, but as a former player, Dempster explained that those in the clubhouse just laugh at topics like that.
“We get it, there’s data that says this is how this person’s going to be," Dempster said. "But if guys have above-average years, now all of a sudden you go from 77 to 87 or you go from 77 to 89 wins or 90 wins and you’re in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter.
“They have a chance to win the division. I truly believe that. I’m not blowing smoke. I mean that. I said it before those ratings ever came out. I echo what Cliff Floyd said -- 77 wins would be a failure for this team because they’re better than that.”
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