*Photo from Forbes*
We are getting closer and closer to opening day, baseball season is just days away. With that in mind, before all 30 teams take the field for opening day, it's time to preview each division and how they look for the 2022 season. For today, it's time to preview the NL Central. Order is based off 2021 division standings.
Milwaukee Brewers
2021 record: 95-67
After a season where the hitting failed them in the playoffs, the Brewers retooled their outfield depth in the offseason. Out went Avisail Garcia and Jackie Bradley Jr, in came Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe. The Brewers didn't do much, but they didn't have to. That pitching is still elite, and if Christian Yelich can rebound, this team will be good.
St. Louis Cardinals
2021 record: 90-72
Like the Brewers, the Cardinals also didn't do a whole lot in the winter. They signed the first player post-lockout, they signed Corey Dickerson, and brought back Albert Pujols to pair with Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright in what could be a trio riding off into the sunset. The Cardinals will be competitive, but how far can they really go like this?
Cincinnati Reds
2021 record: 83-79
The Reds had one good season in 2020 and the front office was ok with that, and shedded payroll every season since. This offseason, it's Nick Castellanos, Sonny Gray, Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, Wade Miley, and Shogo Akiyama who are all gone. Coming in to replace them are top prospect Hunter Greene, Mike Minor, Jake Fraley, Donovan Solano, Hunter Strickland, and Tommy Pham. The Reds downgraded, and they'll suffer because of it.
Chicago Cubs
2021 record: 71-91
After a struggle of a 2021, the Cubs have actually made strides to improve. After the whole core left last season, they brought in the aforementioned Wade Miley, as well as Andrelton Simmons, Clint Frazier, Japanese star Seiya Suzuki, Marcus Stroman, and Jonathan Villar. The Cubs have improved, although they might not be playoff ready just yet.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2021 record: 61-101
The rebuild is still progressing as planned in Pittsburgh, so they had a quiet offseason. They dealt away Jacob Stallings and are shopping Bryan Reynolds. They re-signed Yoshi Tsutsugo and brought in Roberto Perez, but that's it. It'll be another long season in Pittsburgh this year, as they keep getting more and more promising prospects.
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