2019 World Series Favorites: Cubs Still Listed Near The Top

The Cubs didn't make a big free agent signing this offseason, PECOTA thinks they're really going to suck, but the odds makers aren't buying the doom and gloom that some fans are projecting onto the team for 2019. I mean, c'mon, 80 wins for the Cubs? https://www.sportsmockery.com/2019/02/as-if-the-cubs-needed-more-motivation-theyre-now-projected-to-finish-last-in-division/ After a 95-win season, the Cubs are hoping to get huge improvements from a few players, but is anyone going to be surprised if Kris Bryant puts up MVP numbers again and Yu Darvish doesn't only make eight starts in 2019? Anyway, over at Bovada the Cubs have the fifth best odds to win the World Series at 11/1 and only behind the Dodgers in the National League. A couple days ago BetOnline released its World Series odds and the Cubs were at 12/1, the sixth best odds and the third best in the National League behind the Dodgers and Phillies.

Obviously the big difference here is that BetOnline is already thinking the Phillies get Bryce Harper or Manny Machado because at the moment I don't think they're the best team in their division let alone have the second best odds in the NL to win the World Series. Speaking of Harper and Machado, the latest update really isn't encouraging if you thought a move was going to happen soon.

Last offseason Jake Arrieta didn't sign until the middle of March with the Phillies. Arrieta, as you might remember, is a Scott Boras client like Harper. As far as the pursuit of both players, the Padres reportedly did meet with Machado in person.

That happened some time within the last week and comes after the Padres also met with Harper. Back to the Phillies. Reports out of Philadelphia continue to say that the team prefers Machado over Harper. Spring training games will begin next week in Arizona and Florida. Right now, I don't feel confident either Harper or Machado will be signed by then, but after they do those World Series odds will change again. By the way, the PECOTA projections think the Cubs will finish last in the division, but FanGraphs has the Cubs projected to finish in first place. So, not all the computers hate the Cubs.