A big question remains.

Are they waiting for spring training, or are they waiting to pounce on a potential difference maker?

The free-agent market is begging teams that want to win (like the Cardinals) and teams with cash to spend (like the Cardinals) to buy both insurance and upside, to eliminate risk, to sharpen edges.

The Brewers just did it. They could have entered spring training without a change at catcher. Manny Pina and Erik Kratz shared those duties last season. But the switch-hitting Grandal, while he struggled against the Brewers in the NLCS, remains one of the best hitters and most effective pitch framers at the position. This was an example of strengthening a non-glaring weakness. It’s the kind of move you probably don’t make if your division isn’t so good.

Let’s look around that division.

The Cubs have made incremental changes, the biggest so far being the decision to exercise Cole Hamels’ option and sign former Cardinals utility man Daniel Descalso. But history warns against believing the North Siders when they say they can’t or won’t spend big. And even if they do sit tight, they still have a loaded lineup, a healthy Kris Bryant and a manager motivated to keep his job.