The NL Central had a lot of interesting moves this offseason and maybe more to come before the start of Spring Training just under a month away. Did the St. Louis Cardinals do enough to be back to back division champs? Did the Chicago Cubs get better and potentially become a postseason threat or were there under the radar moves by their bottom teams in the NL Central? Here are the offseason grades for every single team in the NL Central.
St. Louis Cardinals: B+
The Cardinals had perhaps one of the most underrated offseason moves in all of baseball. After the long-time catcher and future hall of famer Yadier Molina announced his retirement, the Cardinals were left wondering how they should fill the void Molina left. And the Cardinals answered right away and pulled off a stunner by signing former rival and Chicago Cub, Wilson Contreras to a five-year deal. This made the Cardinals, in my opinion, the clear cut favorite to win the NL Central again. Contreras is a big time bat who will provide a lot of power and has a cannon of an arm too. The Cardinals were also able to get future hall of famer Adam Wainwright back for at least one more year as well and were able to bring back key players on one-year deals like Tommy Edman, Tyler O’Neill and Jack Flaherty back. All in all, a great offseason thus far for St. Louis.
Milwaukee Brewers: C-
Not a lot of moves for the Brewers and the moves that they did make did not go in their favor. They parted ways with players like Kolten Wong and Hunter Renfroe through trades and did not make any big significant moves. With teams like the Cardinals, Cubs and even Pirates making improvements to their team this offseason, the Brewers in my view did not do enough to get back to the playoffs this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates: C
The Pirates still have long ways to go to being a top tier team again. If they did provide the team some kind of spark by bringing back long-time Pirate and veteran Andrew McCutchen on a one-year deal or providing a spark for a team who was a bottom tier team offensively a year ago. Other than that move, the Pirates still did not do anything to get out of the basement on the NL Central. Yes, bringing back long-time Pirate McCutchen was a good move to give the fanbase some sense of hope, but this is still not a good team.
Chicago Cubs: A-
What an offseason for the Chicago Cubs. After only getting 74 wins last season, David Ross and the front office for the Cubs did not mess around. They made a huge splash instantly signing former Brave, shortstop Dansby Swanson on a seven-year deal plus adding more depth, signing catcher Tucker Barnhart on a two-year deal, starting pitcher Jameson Taillon on a four-year deal and getting Cody Bellinger and Trey Mancinci to provide more offense for the Cubs. This was a great offseason for the Cubs as they look to get back to the playoffs. Look out for the Chicago Cubs in 2023.
Cincinnati Reds: D-
Nothing that the Reds did this offseason so far will make them good this season, after going 62-100 this past season. If there was any bright spot, they brought in former Padre Wil Meyers on a one-year contract and catcher Curt Casali on a one-year deal as well. But that’s it pretty much it. Unless they make any significant moves now till the end of Spring Training, the Reds will be at the bottom of the NL Central again.
