*Photo from KY3*
Moving forward in the team preview series, it's time to cover the NL Central. How do these 5 teams line up?
*Photo from The Athletic*
Chicago Cubs
2020 record: 34-26
The Cubs had a decent 2020 season, winning the NL Central, but they didn't win any playoff games, being swept in the wild card round by the Miami Marlins. As a response, they non tendered Kyle Schwarber, traded Yu Darvish, and lost Jon Lester, but they brought in Joc Pederson, Jake Arrieta, and Brandon Workman. The Cubs strike me as a non playoff team this year, they downgraded.
*Photo from The Athletic*
St.Louis Cardinals
2020 record: 30-28
The Cardinals are lining up as the favorites for the NL Central because of one move. They traded for Rockies superstar Nolan Arenado. He's really good and is a game changer through his bat and his glove. Outside of that, they lost Kolten Wong and Dexter Fowler, but Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina are back for another season. That was the Cardinals offseason. But Arenado alone makes them division favorites, joining forces with Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup.
*Photo from The Athletic*
Milwaukee Brewers
2020 record: 29-31
The Brewers only made the playoffs last season because they were expanded. Seriously, they were the last team in. They did get a little better however. They lost Corey Knebel and Alex Claudio, but upgraded their middle infield with the Kolten Wong signing, and created a hitters nightmare of an outfield with Jackie Bradley Jr coming aboard, joining up with Yelich, Cain, and Garcia out there. The Brewers are probably a second place team this year, because, well, no one else outside of St.Louis did anything.
*Photo from the Denver Post*
Cincinnati Reds
2020 record: 31-29
The Reds finally ended their playoff drought in 2020, so what was their response to that this offseason? By letting a strong part of their team leave. Yeah, they signed Sean Doolittle, but he was their only notable acquisition. They let Trevor Bauer walk in free agency, traded their closer Raisel Iglesias, and lost Anthony Desclafani, Curt Casali, and Archie Bradley to free agency. At least they didn't dismantle everything, but we shouldn't say that is a bright spot for a team that was on the upswing last season.
*Photo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*
Pittsburgh Pirates
2020 record: 19-41
2020 was a nightmare for the Pirates, as they got the first overall pick in this year's draft. This winter, they blew it up even further. Chris Archer is gone after an awful tenure in Pittsburgh, Jameson Taillon got traded, Josh Bell got traded, Keone Kela left in free agency, and Joe Musgrove got traded as well. Times are as bleak as ever in Pittsburgh. Sorry Ke'Bryan Hayes, but you're gonna have a wasted year.
Division assessment:
This division is bad. Almost every team got worse this season. The Cardinals are the clear favorites because they managed to do something this winter. The Brewers look like the second place team, and everyone else is racing to the bottom of the landfill. Try not to watch this division this season.
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