N.L. Central
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Incoming: P Mark Mulder, SS David Eckstein, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, P Mike Myers, C Einar Diaz.
Outgoing: SS Edgar Renteria, P Woody Williams, 2B Tony Womack, C Mike Matheny, P Steve Kline, P Kiko Calero, P Danny Haren.
411: The Cardinals fortified their rotation by adding lefty Mark Mulder and did so without detonating a nucleus of agile gloves and a RBI-pumping heart of the order.
911: There is a decided lack of depth, particularly in consistently productive outfielders. Injuries at any cornerstone position, like third, could prove disastrous.
Operator: First baseman Albert Pujols has the most total bases (1,474) for a player through four major league seasons. His manager calls him a 10 in all phases of play.
Hotline: The tradeoffs made to nab a frontline starter like Mulder to go with Chris Carpenter are hardly enough to derail a repeat in the division. A retro Matt Morris would be just that kind of jolt.
2004 finish: 105-57, N.L. champion
CHICAGO CUBS
Incoming: OF Jeromy Burnitz, OF Jerry Hairston Jr., C Henry Blanco, P Scott Williamson.
Outgoing: OF Sammy Sosa, OF Moises Alou, P Matt Clement, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, OF Tom Goodwin, C Paul Bako, P Kyle Farnsworth.
411: The Cubs were able to trade Sammy Sosa, who outwore his welcome. Nomar Garciaparra is around to lead a long-cursed team to a title — just not the team he figured it’d be.
911: Last season was sidetracked by injuries to Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Joe Borowski. With a week remaining in spring training, Prior (elbow) and Wood (shoulder) had missed or pushed back starts and Borowski (fractured wrist) was out.
Operator: Meanwhile, the Cubs actual ace, Carlos Zambrano, hummed through spring. He went 16-8 with a 2.75 ERA last season in 31 starts, and in March he had a 1.35 ERA in his first 20 spring innings.
Hotline: The Cubs are coming off their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1971-72, and when healthy are threats to win the whole shebang. When healthy.
2004 finish: 89-73
CINCINNATI REDS
Incoming: P Eric Milton, 3B Joe Randa, P Kent Mercker, P Ramon Ortiz, P Dave Weathers.
Outgoing: SS Barry Larkin, P Gabe White, P John Riedling, INF Juan Castro.
411: An increased budget allowed the Reds to pursue starting pitching by adding free agent Eric Milton. The outfield is ripe with sluggers, no matter if Ken Griffey Jr. is healthy or if Wily Mo Pena is playing.
911: Griffey’s first extended injury absence has become a rite of the Reds. There is also no clear replacement between Felipe Lopez and Rich Aurilia for shortstop Barry Larkin.
Operator: Paul Wilson had his first winning record in six big-league seasons. He should get help in keeping the majors most-bloated ERA under control — it was 5.23 last season.
Hotline: For the first time in 60 years, the Reds have had four consecutive losing seasons. Austin Kearns, Adam Dunn and either Pena or Griffey bring enough clout to end that streak by being spoiler.
2004 finish: 76-86
HOUSTON ASTROS
Incoming: P John Franco, C Humberto Quintero.
Outgoing: OF Carlos Beltran, 2B Jeff Kent, P Wade Miller, P Tim Redding.
411: Losing Beltran left the Astros scrambling for a capable center fielder and anyone to replace Beltran’s offense. Lance Berkman’s knee injury further complicated the hunt.
911: The answer Houston settled on was finding help in house, but the once-dynamic lineup is aging and diluted.
Operator: Berkman signed a bulging contract extension early in spring. He and Brad Lidge are now the face of the Astros. Berkman also has to be the offense.
Hotline: Andy Pettitte’s return to the rotation gives Houston a trio of gunslingers in pitchers Roger Clemens, Pettitte and Roy Oswalt.
2004 finish: 92-70, wild card
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Incoming: OF Carlos Lee, C Damian Miller, P Ricky Bottalico, 3B Jeff Cirillo.
Outgoing: P Danny Kolb, OF Scott Podsednik, INF Craig Counsell, INF Keith Ginter.
411: A trade for Carlos Lee adds thump to the Brewers’ lineup, but pitchers Ben Sheets and Doug Davis steer the club.
911: Lee won’t be enough to boost an offense that had the fewest homers, lowest average and second-most strikeouts in league.
Operator: Sheets struck out 10-plus batters nine times last season, and in his 14 losses the Brewers scored a total of 19 runs.
Hotline: Four games over .500 at the All-Star Break, the Brewers went 22-53 down the stretch. Go figure. Sheets did not allow more than three runs in any of his final eight starts.
2004 finish: 67-94
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Incoming: OF Matt Lawton, C Benito Santiago, P Mark Redman.
Outgoing: C Jason Kendall, P Arthur Rhodes.
411: There’s more here to be excited about than just Oliver Perez’s arm, Jason Bay’s bat and Jack Wilson’s glove.
911: But not much. Questions still abound in a pitching staff in need of figuring out what Kip Wells has and when Josh Fogg will get his due.
Operator: Bay became the Pirates first rookie of the year last season and could easily become a 30-homer, 100-RBI hitter.
Hotline: Perez could be Pittsburgh’s answer to Johan Santana, and Ty Wigginton is expected to complement the Wilsons (Jack and Craig) and Bay.
2004 finish: 72-89