The Chicago Cubs enter 2026 looking like the team to beat in the National League Central. On paper, they’ve got the talent, the momentum, and now, the boldness.
But as any seasoned fan of this division knows, nothing is guaranteed until Game 162 is in the books and the standings make it official. The Cubs have been here before-promising rosters, preseason hype-but this time, it feels different.
And yet, the shadows of Milwaukee and St. Louis loom large, not just for this season, but for years to come.
Let’s start with the short-term outlook. The Cubs made waves this offseason, and rightfully so.
Landing Alex Bregman brings a proven bat and veteran presence to the lineup, while swinging a deal for Edward Cabrera adds a high-upside arm to the rotation. These aren’t the kind of moves we’ve come to expect from Jed Hoyer’s front office, which has often leaned toward measured, incremental progress.
This winter, though, they went bold-and it might just pay off.
But while the Cubs are clearly playing for now, the Brewers and Cardinals are playing a longer game-and playing it well.
Milwaukee has been a thorn in the Cubs’ side for years, and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. Under president of baseball operations Matt Arnold, the Brewers have quietly built one of the best farm systems in the league.
And they just added even more firepower by trading Freddy Peralta to the Mets, a move that netted them valuable young talent. The Brewers aren’t just sustaining success-they’re reloading with purpose.
Then there’s St. Louis.
The Cardinals have fully embraced a rebuild under new head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and they’re not being subtle about it. Monday’s trade of Brendan Donovan to the Mariners was just the latest in a string of moves that have reshaped the organization’s future.
Since July, the Cardinals have added 13 of their current top 30 prospects. That’s not a retooling-that’s a full-scale overhaul.
Here’s a quick look at the wave of talent St. Louis has brought in:
- #2 prospect: Doyle
- #7 prospect: Clarke
- Mariners’ #7 prospect: Cijntje
- #9 prospect: Fajardo
- #10 prospect: Baez
- Mariners’ #11 prospect: Peete
- #12 prospect: Mitchell
- #21 prospect: Franklin
- #22 prospect: Gurevitch
- Rays’ #24 prospect: Ledbetter
- #29 prospect: [Name not listed]
And that’s just the highlight reel.
This rebuild hasn’t come without sacrifice. The Cardinals have moved on from cornerstone names like Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras.
It’s going to be a rough ride in 2026 at the major league level-there’s no sugarcoating that. But Bloom’s vision is clear: build a sustainable winner by stockpiling young, controllable talent.
So far, he’s delivering.
The results are already showing. The Cardinals now boast five top-100 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline-matching the Brewers and outpacing the Cubs, who have just two: Moises Ballesteros (expected to graduate off the list this year) and Jaxon Wiggins. That’s a significant shift in organizational depth and a testament to the aggressive strategy Bloom has implemented since taking over from longtime executive John Mozeliak.
So yes, the Cubs are in a strong position right now. Wrigley Field should be buzzing this summer, and for good reason.
But if you’re looking ahead-beyond 2026-don’t ignore what’s brewing in Milwaukee and St. Louis.
These are two franchises that aren’t just trying to compete; they’re building to dominate. And for the Cubs, that means the window to win might be narrower than it looks.
The NL Central is heating up-and the race isn’t just for this year. It’s for the next era of baseball in the Midwest.