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How different will Cubs, Indians look in 2017?

Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler and Indians first baseman Mike Napoli are both set to become free agents this offseason. USA TODAY Sports, Icon Sportswire

Let's call it a season, shall we? Wow, what a game!

We were treated to an entertaining 2016 Fall Classic between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs, two teams that clearly looked like the best in baseball when it was all said and done.

And here's the bad news for the rest of the league: These teams won't change a lot for next year. While both teams have a little work to do this offseason -- and the Cubs have a parade, a trip to the White House and many other things to enjoy -- many of the same quality players will return for next year.

With that, here are the offseason objectives for the Cubs and Indians:

Chicago Cubs

Offseason objectives:
1. Re-sign or replace Dexter Fowler
2. Replace Aroldis Chapman
3. Overhaul Jason Heyward's swing and Hector Rondon's slider
4. Continue developing their young stars

The team that had the best record in baseball -- its only 100-win team -- will return mostly intact next year, but they do have two major personnel decisions to make, some adjustments with two key veterans and some development work to do with a few of their talented young players.

Fowler and Chapman were major contributors for this team in 2016, including in the playoffs, and if they can't get the soon-to-be free agents back, they'll have to work to replace them. Fowler is not just a good leadoff hitter -- he's at least an adequate center fielder defensively, and his switch-hitting ability brings balance to the offense. The Cubs do have 22-year-old Albert Almora Jr. ready to plug into center, and while he's a great defender, he's not ready to replace Fowler's bat in the lineup. It would be smart for the Cubs to find a way to retain Fowler, but he'll have a strong market, and it's questionable whether the Cubs would be willing to pay the dollars and years it would take to bring him back this time around.

Meanwhile, the buzz around the North Side is the Cubs aren't expected to bring back Chapman. If so, they'll have to replace him with another impact closer, and Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon would be the best two options available on the open market.

As we saw late in the season, veterans Heyward and Rondon have some adjustments to make, and the offseason will provide the Cubs an opportunity to make major changes with both. And young stars Javier Baez, Willson Contreras and Addison Russell don't need wholesale changes, but they'll need tweaks to their game to continue their development.

The Cubs are still in line to have a strong three- to five-year run at a World Series title, but they have some fine-tuning to do this offseason to give them a better shot at remaining the champs.


Cleveland Indians

Offseason objectives:
1. Keep the party at Napoli's (re-sign him)
2. What to do with outfielders Coco Crisp and Rajai Davis?
3. Make sure their horses are healthy

They fell one win short, but the Indians proved they belonged on the big stage. When healthy, they have the best rotation in the American League as well as the talented bullpen they featured all postseason.

First baseman Mike Napoli is set to become a free agent, but the Tribe will make signing him a priority this offseason, and Napoli, who just set a career high in homers and RBIs at age 34, does want to return. Napoli's strong leadership skills are important to the Indians' clubhouse; look for them to reward him for it.

The Indians also will have to make decisions on two key members to their outfield depth in Crisp and Davis, who both will become free agents. Crisp showed his playoff value with a few key hits this postseason, and Davis led the American League with 43 stolen bases.

Then we move on to the players expected back but could have question marks surrounding them. Will outfielder Michael Brantley's shoulder be healthy enough for him to be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate? Will key starters Carlos Carrasco (broken hand) and Danny Salazar (forearm) be 100 percent? The Indians had the AL's best rotation this season, and they could do so again if all their studs are back.

Both these teams are obviously very good teams, and just a few tweaks to both could have them right back in the Fall Classic next year.