Jan. 12--Spring training camps won't open for at least five more weeks, but the Chicago Cubs already have made a favorable impression.
Fangraphs projects that the Cubs will finish the 2016 regular season with a major league-best 95-67 record. The Cubs roster was fortified this winter by the free agent signings of outfielder Jason Heyward, pitcher John Lackey and the versatile Ben Zobrist.
The Cubs' predicted record is two games worse than their 97-65 record in 2015 that earned them a wild-card berth, but they're projected to finish well ahead of National League Central rival St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, who are projected to post 84-78 records.
In the American League Central, the White Sox are predicted to finish second with an 81-81 record. That's four games behind the Cleveland Indians. Kansas City, which won the AL Central en route to the 2015 World Series title, is projected to finish in a tie for third place with the Detroit Tigers at 79-83.
Boston (92-70), Houston (86-76), Washington (89-73) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (90-72) were the projected winners in their respective divisions.
