2017 World Series Odds: Chicago Cubs Favored to Repeat

While the Chicago Cubs are currently busy celebrating the franchise's first World Series title in 108 years, oddsmakers have listed them as heavy favorites to do it again in 2017.

Per OddsShark.com, the Cubs are 7-2 favorites to win next year's World Series. The Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers are tied for second at 9-1, followed by the Washington Nationals at 12-1. 

The American League champion Cleveland Indians are part of a group of four teams with 14-1 odds. The Texas Rangers have the longest odds to win the World Series among 2016 division winners at 16-1.

Team	Odds
Chicago Cubs	7-2
Boston Red Sox	9-1
Los Angeles Dodgers	9-1
Washington Nationals	12-1
New York Mets	14-1
Toronto Blue Jays	14-1
Cleveland Indians	14-1
San Francisco Giants	14-1
Houston Astros	16-1
Texas Rangers	16-1
Baltimore Orioles	22-1
Detroit Tigers	22-1
St. Louis Cardinals	22-1
New York Yankees	25-1
Seattle Mariners	25-1
Pittsburgh Pirates	28-1
Kansas City Royals	33-1
Chicago White Sox	40-1
Miami Marlins	40-1
Los Angeles Angels	50-1
Colorado Rockies	66-1
Tampa Bay Rays	66-1
Milwaukee Brewers	75-1
Oakland Athletics	75-1
Arizona Diamondbacks	100-1
Atlanta Braves	100-1
Cincinnati Reds	100-1
Minnesota Twins	100-1
Philadelphia Phillies	100-1
San Diego Padres	100-1

It's no surprise the Cubs are favored to win the 2017 World Series. The surprise will be when the moment comes that they aren't regarded as the best team in Major League Baseball. 

The Cubs' current corps featuring Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber are all under the age of 28. Rizzo will be the first player in that group to hit free agency, though that might not happen until after 2021 if both option years on his contract get picked up. 

Backup catcher David Ross, who retired after the World Series, is the only player from this year's Cubs team guaranteed not to return next season. Aroldis Chapman is an impending free agent who will command a hefty salary. Travis Wood is also heading into free agency. 

Dexter Fowler has a mutual option for $9 million that includes a $5 million buyout, and he would be foolish to exercise it after the best season of his career. He did re-sign with the Cubs last February and surprised his teammates at spring training with the announcement. 

Things in the American League look wide open. The Indians will be good again, possibly even better if they can get a full season from Michael Brantley and keep Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar healthy. The Red Sox have built a team of young position players that can rival what the Cubs have. 

But everything in MLB right now runs through the Cubs. They are the model franchise because of how well they have drafted and developed their own players, hit on trades for players like Russell and Jake Arrieta and have money to spend on areas they feel might need improvements. 

Contract info via Spotrac unless otherwise noted.