NL Central is a very balanced division economically: apart from the Pirates, the other four teams are divided by less than 50 million, between twelfth and twenty-first place.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs, after two years of wage cuts, have essentially the same payroll as in 2021. No major players have been lost via free agency (the various Rizzo, Bryant, Kimbrel and Baez were sold in July), while several players have been signed free from contracts: Yan Gomes with a two-year contract of 13 million, the Robertson relief at 3.5 million, Andrelton Simmons at 4 million, Smyly at 5.75 million, Villar at 6 million and Stroman with a three-year contract of 71 million. In addition to the Givens survey and the Japanese Seiya Suzuki, with a five-year contract of 85 million.
The management believes the time has come to change course, after a couple of seasons of rebuilding, and is aiming for the playoffs, thanks to this lineup: Contreras catcher, Schwindel in first, Madrigal in second, Villar and Simmons on the left of the mountain, with Hoerner who will play during the latter’s injury, Suzuki, Happ, Ortega and Heyward on the outside. Wisdom DH.
The rotation sees Stroman, Hendricks, Mills, Smyly and Steele taking the fifth slot temporarily, waiting for Miley and Alzolay to recover from their respective injuries. In the bullpen Wick closer, then Robertson, Givens, Norris, Chavez …
A team that is not stellar, but that can absolutely have its say in this Division, even if the first place seems complicated.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds, on the other hand, for the third year in a row, reduce their expenses, with another -15% on the payroll. The sudden climb to the Division was not successful, and therefore they want to restart from the farm system. Lost via free agency Castellanos and Lorenzen, only the second base Solano were signed for 4.5 million and the Strickland relief for just under 2 million, in addition to Colin Mora and Almora jr. Tommy Pham also made the last dive, with an annual worth 7.5 million. Via trade were sold Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners and Sonny Gray to the Twins, acquiring Mike Minor from the Royals.
The news is that Akiyama, holder of an 8 million contract, will not be included in the initial roster, and if he does not accept the assignment in triple A he will easily be designated and then cut. Further indication that in addition to reducing expenses, he is trying to make room for young shoots.
Stephenson catcher, Votto in first, India in second, Moustakas in third, Farmer shortstop, Pham, Senzel and Naquin outside. DH will be Colin Moran. Rotation is still unknown as Luis Castillo and Mike Minor will start the season on the injury list. In addition to Mahle and Gutierrez, the rest of the rotation will rise from triple A, or in discarded veterans version (like Godley) or in young version on the launch pad (Santillan, Sanmartin). The bullpen sees Cessa, Sims, Justin Wilson and Strickland as the main protagonists.
The fourth place seems to be the most probable ending, with an eye to always keep on the rearview mirror rather than on who precedes …
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are returning from yet another great year, and have decided, always aware of their limits, to add 10% to the payroll to try to win the Division again. Talents, especially on the mountain, are not lacking and the skipper is among the best. Escobar, Pina, Avisail Garcia and Strickland have changed teams, while McCutchen, with an annual of 8.5 million, and Severino, with a yearly of 2 million, have been added. Via trade the third base Brosseau arrived from the Rays. The lineup sees Narvaez catcher, Tellez in first, Wong in second and Jace Peterson in third, Willy Adames shortstop. On the outside Cain, Yelich and Renfroe, McCutchen DH.
The rotation is unchanged, with Burnes, Woodruff, Peralta, Houser and Lauer, while in the bullpen Hader is the closer, with Williams, Boxberger, Suter as main reliefs.
The choice of management has been very conservative, and with Cubs and Cardinals on the rise there will be more to fight to win the Division than last year, but the playoffs do not seem in danger.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are one of the few MLB teams that starts the season without any ambitions. The payroll has dropped to twenty-ninth place, albeit with a reduction of just 10%, and without significant losses. Quintana (2 million) and Roberto Perez (5 million) arrived via free agency, while only Stallings was lost via trade.
Perez will therefore be the starting catcher, with Tsutsugo in first, Tucker in second, Hayes in third, Newman shortstop, Gamel, Alford and Reynolds outside, Vogelbach DH. The rotation sees Quintana, Thompson, Brubaker, Wilson and Keller. The bullpen will be directed by Bednar, followed by Stratton, Hembree, Banda. The hope is that second or third year MLB youths can continue to improve and 100 defeats can be avoided.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals continue in the legacy operation that has distinguished them for years, with the continuous renewals of Wainwright (17.5 million) and Molina (10 million), to which they added the return for his last season as a professional of Albert Pujols, (2.5 million) who will be able to fill the role of DH before moving into the Hall of Fame. Lost via free agency only elderly who are now unproductive, such as Matt Carpenter and Carlos Martinez, who in fact are still without a team, and the starter Kim, who has decided to return to play in Korea, McFarland arrived for 2.5 million, Dickerson for 5 million. million and Matz with a four-year of 44 million.
The lineup therefore sees Molina catcher, Goldschmidt in first, Edman in second, Arenado in third and DeJong shortstop, outsiders O’Neill, Bader and Carlson. DH Albert or Corey Dickerson. In the rotation, after Waino, Matz, Hudson, Mikolas and VerHagen, waiting for Flaherty to recover from the injury, while in the bullpen Gallegos will be the closer, with Helsley, Wittgren, McFarland and Hicks, waiting for Reyes to leave IL.
On paper the lineup is superior to all, while it is the pitchers department that would need some improvements to compete with the Brewers. However, the playoffs are within reach.
