National League Central preview
Milwaukee Brewers
2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS.
Manager: Craig Counsell (fifth season).
He’s Here: C Yasmani Grandal, OF Ben Gamel, 2B-3B Cory Spangenberg, RH Josh Tomlin, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Bobby Wahl.
He’s Outta Here: LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Wade Miley, OF Keon Broxton, OF Domingo Santana, 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Joakim Soria, LHP Dan Jennings, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Xavier Cedeno.
Outlook: Right there with the rest of baseball’s championship contenders. The pitching staff is a concern, but Counsell managed Milwaukee to a deep playoff run with fewer options in the rotation a year ago. Yelich is an offensive force, and Grandal adds another potent bat to the lineup. Moustakas is learning his way around second base, but the Brewers could always move Shaw back to second and return Moustakas to third if it doesn’t work out. There is a lot to like about Milwaukee as it tries for the franchise’s first World Series title.
Chicago Cubs
2018: 95-68, second place, lost to Colorado in wild-card game.
Manager: Joe Maddon (fifth season).
He’s Here: INF Daniel Descalso, RHP Brad Brach, RHP Tony Barnette, RHP George Kontos, RHP Junichi Tazawa.
He’s Outta Here: 2B Daniel Murphy, INF Tommy La Stella, LHP Justin Wilson, RHP Jesse Chavez, LHP Jorge De La Rosa, LHP Jaime Garcia.
Outlook: After a long, cold offseason, the Cubs still have one of baseball’s deepest rosters and plenty of confidence that they can rebound from last year’s disappointing finish. If the deep rotation and Bryant stay healthy, they should be right in the mix for their third NL Central title in four seasons and another long playoff run. If they stumble once again, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein could shake up the roster after staying with largely the same group that won the 2016 World Series for the past couple of years.
St. Louis Cardinals
2018: 88-74, third place.
Manager: Mike Shildt (first full season).
He’s Here: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, LHP Andrew Miller, C Matt Wieters, CF Drew Robinson.
He’s Outta Here: RHP Luke Weaver, RHP Bud Norris, 1B Matt Adams, RHP Tyson Ross, C Carson Kelly.
Outlook: The Cardinals hope Goldschmidt and Miller, their two big offseason acquisitions, are enough to put them back in the playoffs following a three-year absence. St. Louis made a late run at a wild card before falling just short a year ago, and front-office boss John Mozeliak was aggressive in pursuing those two pieces through a trade and free agency. Carlos Martinez (8-6, 3.11) will start the season on the injured list because of shoulder weakness, leaving a potential void in the rotation. But the Cards have plenty of pitching depth and should remain in the NL Central mix. Reyes, a top prospect who had a long road back, will begin the season in the bullpen.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2018: 82-79, fourth place.
Manager: Clint Hurdle (ninth season).
He’s Here: OF Lonnie Chisenhall, SS Erik Gonzalez, RHP Jordan Lyles.
He’s Outta Here: SS Jordy Mercer, 2B Josh Harrison, RHP Ivan Nova.
Outlook: Steady as she goes. In typical fashion, the Pirates declined to invest heavily in the open market and instead will pin their chances of returning to the postseason on a starting rotation that was a serious surprise in 2018 while hoping new hitting coach Rick Eckstein can help stoke more production into a lineup that finished 10th in the NL in runs and 13th in homers. If the starting staff can build on last season, Pittsburgh should be on the fringe of contention, but whether it makes a leap will depend almost entirely on a greater ability to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
Cincinnati Reds
2018: 67-95, fifth place.
Manager: David Bell (first season).
He’s Here: OF Yasiel Puig, OF Matt Kemp, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Tanner Roark, C Kyle Farmer, LHP Zach Duke, SS Jose Iglesias, INF Derek Dietrich.
He’s Outta Here: Interim manager Jim Riggleman, RHP Homer Bailey, CF Billy Hamilton, RHP Matt Harvey, RHP Austin Brice, 2B Brandon Dixon.
Outlook: After four straight seasons of at least 94 losses and a plummet in attendance, the Reds made themselves interesting with offseason trades that brought Puig, Kemp and Wood from the Dodgers, Gray from the Yankees and Roark from the Nationals. All but Gray are free agents after this season, along with Gennett – their best hitter the last two seasons – so the front office will have major decisions come July depending upon how things are going. The rotation has been the biggest issue the last few years, with young pitchers failing to pan out. The additions in the offseason should allow the Reds to be more competitive in the daunting NL Central with a possibility of moving out of last place.