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Levine: Cubs Ready To Compete After A 5-Year Drought

By Bruce Levine--

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- Since 2009, the Cubs haven't contended for anything but the first pick in the amateur draft, but the rise of young talent and the additions of accomplished veterans have baseball prognosticators touting them as a playoff-caliber team now.

Offseason statements such as the $155-million signing of pitching ace Jon Lester and the hiring of manager Joe Maddon have Chicago fans buzzing about a watchable and competitive team on the North Side of the city.

"Any time there is change, I believe there is added excitement," said Lester, who will start the Cubs' opener against the Cardinals on Sunday. "Everything is new. New ballpark, new surroundings. Maybe people won't expect much from these guys, but there will be added adrenaline and added excitement to it."

Lester and a group green power hitters, all age 25 and younger, give hope that the next dominant team in baseball is evolving in Chicago. The fact that two potential stars are beginning the season at Triple-A shouldn't even detour the enthusiastic interest in the 2015 Cubs.

Both Javier Baez and Kris Bryant are expected to make major contributions at the big league level this season. Baez was sent down to  improve his offensive approach and reduce his high strikeout totals. Bryant went back for two reasons. One, the Cubs need to decide whether to settle him into third base or the outfielder this season -- if it's the outfield, he'll need more experience there. Contract control was the other -- and main -- reason Bryant will start in Des Moines.

In Bryant and outfielder Jorge Soler, the Cubs could easily have two top NL Rookie of the Years candidates. (Baez had too many at-bats in the majors last season to qualify for the award in 2015.) Soler's all-around game has impressed scouts throughout spring training, as he's had good plate coverage and a solid grasp on pitch identification and hitting selection.

Chicago's addition of left-handed hitting with the acquisitions of catcher Miguel Montero, second baseman Tommy La Stella and lead-off hitter Dexter Fowler will give greater balance to an offense that was light on just about everything that Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro didn't supply in 2015.

"We have a good balance with left- and right-handed hitting," Montero said. "We also have left-handed hitters who can hit left-handed pitching. This is a talented ball club, and the pitching staff is more talented than what I thought when I was traded here."

With Lester rounding into shape after arm fatigue this spring and right-hander Jake Arrieta filling the No. 2 spot in the rotation after a sparkling 2014 campaign, the rest of the group -- Jason Hammel, Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood, with Edwin Jackson as the rotation backup -- should feel less pressure when it is their day to pitch.

A group of young power arms augmented by veterans Jason Motte and Phil Cokewill have the chance to flourish in the late innings. Hector Rondon has established himself as a lockdown young closer, having saved 29 of 33 chances last year.

With a better product on the field, the Wrigley faithful will be counted on to be the ultimate 26th man for the Cubs again this season.

"We will leave it all out there on the field every day," said Rizzo, who has emerged as a team leader and this offseason predicted an NL Central crown. "It's not easy to change the culture. We have obviously lost a lot of games the last few years, so it's very important to get off to a good start. We know we can, but it's about getting it done. The fans are very important for us. We are going to need them and ride them all year. We appreciate that home-field advantage. That is why getting off to a good start is really important."

Many betting agencies have the Cubs with around a 12-1 shot to win the pennant in 2015. The Sporting News went so far as to predict a World Series title.

For now, Cubs fans will settle for winning baseball and good entertainment returning to Clark and Addison again, then dream from there.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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