Consider This NL Pennant Sleeper At 30/1

The Chicago Cubs have made some significant moves this offseason, by addition and subtraction. There is still time to add more, but perhaps we should look at the trade deadline in the middle of 2023 as a point where they could make some more significant moves.

National League: Chicago Cubs +3000

Chicago has improved this offseason enough to where oddsmakers don't have them at the "impossible to win" odds anymore. They added a real difference-maker in shortstop Dansby Swanson, who will be a great fit at the top of this lineup and an exceptional addition in the field. His signing means Nico Hoerner will move over to second base in 2023, giving Chicago two Gold-Glove-caliber players in the middle of the infield.

They also added former Dodgers outfielder and NL MVP Cody Bellinger to the squad. While he has seen a huge decline in offense over the last few years, perhaps a change of scenery will wake up a guy who was once considered to be one of the best young hitters in the game. We know he will still bring fantastic defense to center field, and when you add him to an outfield that already has Gold Glove winner Ian Happ and young Japenese star Seiya Suzuki, you get a great defensive outfield as well as infield.

The starting rotation will now feature former Yankees and Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillion. Last season, he had a pretty impressive stat line: 14-5, 32 starts, 177.1 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 4.72 SO/BB, 100 ERA+. He will join veterans Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, and Drew Smyly in the rotation as four experienced pitchers at the top. However, it's the young pitchers that are the most intriguing to me. Justin Steele proved last season that he has the potential to be a superstar: 119 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 2.52 SO/W, 129 ERA+. He will likely get the fifth spot in the rotation, but I could see some other youngsters getting starts as well. Hayden Wesneski also showed serious ability in a much shorter span, while Adrian Sampson had a great season as well.

If the young pitchers on this team can break out, and the offense can generate enough to compliment a great defense, this could be a very sneaky dangerous team. At 30/1, I think it's worth a shot.