The Chicago Cubs believe they can compete for a playoff spot next season.

"Overall, for the organization, I think 2015 will be a little bit different than the previous three seasons in that we now think we have the talent to compete," Theo Epstein. "And any time you have enough talent to compete you want to set your sights high.

"We proved we can be very competitive within this division and when you have a chance to compete you should set your sights high and that means our goal is the National League Central title next year."

Chicago finished 73-89 in 2014, ahead of just two teams in the NL.

"We're going to be competing while we develop young talent," Epstein said. "It isn't easy but it's exciting, very exciting."

Rickie Weeks, who has spent nearly 10 years with the club, doesn't expect the Milwaukee Brewers to pick up his $11.5 million option for 2015.

Weeks didn't make a final appearance for Milwaukee on Sunday, the team's final game of the season.

"It's just one of those things where what's done is done," Weeks said. "We had a good conversation earlier this morning with (GM) Doug (Melvin). I told the manager if the time permitted itself during the game to put me out there, OK. If not, so be it.

"Life still goes on. It's not like this is the end of all (things). I'm the type of person that I move on. That's the way it is. I don't think I'm going to be here next year. It's just for me to go out there and move forward with my life."

A.J. Burnett has a $12.75 million player option in his contract for next season, but it seems likely that he'll retire instead.

"Maybe this is a hint at which way Burnett is leaning: He kept four game balls from Saturday night's start, the 404th of his career," writes Jim Salisbury. "Would he have done that if he planned to pitch next season?"

Burnett went 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA, 1.409 WHIP and 190 strikeouts in 213.2 innings this season.

The New York Yankees have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons, but executing a quick rebuild is almost impossible.

Teams generally rebuild by trading older, expensive players and capitalizing on high draft picks. The Yankees don't have high picks coming and the older players they have are extremely expensive.

"Who exactly could the Yankees trade? Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira have bloated contracts, deep injury histories and declining performance (not to mention blanket no-trade clauses and no desire to leave). The Yanks are stuck with them," writes Joel Sherman.

Spending money, perhaps on Max Scherzer and/or Victor Martinez, is another option, but not a smart one with neither considered young at this point.

Phil Hughes would love to stay with the Minnesota Twins over the long-term.

If the Twins approached him about a long-term extension, he would certainly listen.

"I've felt really comfortable here," Hughes said. "It's certainly a place I would love to stay if they would have me. I don't know if that's something we'll get into this offseason. If it is, I certainly wouldn't be against it."

Two years and $16 million remain on the contract the 28-year-old signed last offseason.

The entire dynamic of the Toronto Blue Jays could change based on the future of president Paul Beeston.

Beeston, 69, is in the final year of his contract.

He is a strong supporter of Alex Anthopoulos, sources say, and Anthopoulos hired John Gibbons to replace John Farrell a few years ago.

Some baseball people believe that he signaled his intention to leave the Blue Jays when he joined a group of ownership representatives who tried to get Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner elected commissioner over Rob Manfred.

The Texas Rangers could come to a quick resolution on re-signing Colby Lewis.

Jon Daniels and agent Alan Nero exchanged texts over the weekend.

Ryan Braun is scheduled to have surgery this week to fix a nagging nerve problem near his right thumb, according to an ESPN.com report.

The injury contributed to Braun having one of the least productive full seasons of his career. 

Braun said Sunday the rare procedure involved going into the thumb and freezing the nerve. The problem, which carried over from the 2013 season, affected his swing.

Jose Altuve was added to the Astros' lineup after the team reversed course on its decision to bench him -- against his wishes -- in an attempt to protect his lead in the AL batting race.

Altuve still wrapped up the batting crown as he went 2 for 4 with a ground-rule double and a run-scoring infield single in the loss to the Mets, ending the season with 225 hits and a .341 average, both best in the majors.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy has announced the worst-kept secret in San Francisco's clubhouse: Madison Bumgarner will start Wednesday's wild-card game against the Pirates or Cardinals, according to an ESPN.com report on Sunday.