The Milwaukee Brewers off-season has once again been relatively quiet, with no big free agent signings occurring. Freddy Peralta trade rumors are still amidst, but it appears as if Matt Arnold and company may be content rolling out the same players as a season ago, despite a massive hole offensively at shortstop.
This approach is all too familiar for Brewers fans, as the organization has typically relied on trades, waiver claims, and short-term free-agent deals to build its roster. The uncertainty of not currently having a television deal, which represents roughly 20–30% of the team’s revenue, only adds to the hesitation.
While that situation remains unresolved, the Brewers’ biggest division rival has quickly put together an eventful start to the month of January, shifting attention elsewhere and potentially altering the landscape of the NL Central.
Have the Milwaukee Brewers rivals Chicago Cubs done enough to flip the division race?
Milwaukee has won the NL Central division title four of the past five seasons, including the last three. They have done this despite other teams being favorites, relying on young and upcoming talent to play a fundamental brand of baseball and win games.
While this model has proven successful, this winter the Chicago Cubs have added significant talent. Most recently, they signed Alex Bregman to a five year, $175 million deal. This signing came just days after they made a trade for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Earlier in the winter, they added 1B/OF Tyler Austin, who became a star overseas. Other Cubs additions include bullpen arms such as Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, Ryan Rolison, Hoby Milner,
The coming season will ultimately serve as a referendum on two very different roster-building philosophies. Milwaukee is once again betting that internal development, roster continuity, and smart marginal moves will be enough to keep them atop the division. That strategy has paid dividends in the past, particularly with young pitchers and homegrown position players stepping into key roles.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are taking a more aggressive route, supplementing their core with proven outside talent in an effort to raise their ceiling. Whether the Brewers’ trust in their system can outpace Chicago’s willingness to spend and deal will be one of the defining storylines of the NL Central race.
