The calendar has flipped to February and the start of Spring Training is just a matter of days away. While some notable free agents (including nine of MLBTR’s Top 50 MLB Free Agents for the 2024-25 offseason) remain unsigned, most clubs have already done the heavy lifting in terms of preparing their roster for the 2025 season. In the coming days, we’ll be taking a look around the league at which clubs have had the strongest offseason to this point. After the Mets decisively won yesterday’s poll on the AL East, the focus now shifts to the NL Central.
It was another down season for the Midwest’s NL teams, as they sent just one club to the postseason and were not represented in the NLDS for the third consecutive year. Three of the division’s teams haven’t made it to the postseason at all in a 162-game season this decade, and the pressure is on for those clubs to start winning again while the two that have found more recent success try to keep their windows open. Which team has done the most to set themselves up for success this winter? Teams are listed in order of their 2024 record.
Milwaukee Brewers
As is typical for Milwaukee, this offseason has seemingly been about balancing the club’s present against their future. The loss of star shortstop Willy Adames was an expected but nonetheless tough blow for the Brewers, and it spurred them to complete their lone major move of the offseason back in December. With a hole on the infield after losing Adames, Milwaukee traded longtime relief ace Devin Williams to the Yankees ahead of his final year of team control. In return, they added big league ready infielder Caleb Durbin as well as southpaw Nestor Cortes.
Cortes, also in his final year of team control, appears poised to join an impressive prospective playoff rotation in Milwaukee alongside Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff. Durbin, meanwhile, will turn 25 later this month and has yet to make his big league debut but hit quite well both at Triple-A and in the Arizona Fall League. He could help solidify the club’s infield situation as soon as Opening Day. Outside of those additions, however, the Brewers have been extremely quiet: one-year pacts with depth arms Grant Wolfram and Elvin Rodriguez are the only two major league free agent signings they’ve made this winter.
St. Louis Cardinals
There isn’t much to say about the Cardinals’ offseason, as the club’s focus has been entirely consumed by their as-of-yet unsuccessful attempts to move on from veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado. That’s led the club to make zero big league free agent signings and trade for zero established MLB players, meaning the only roster changes of note to this point in the winter for St. Louis have been the losses of free agents like Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Kittredge. Off the field, the biggest move of the Cardinals’ offseason to this point has been to announce the day the 2024 campaign ended that Chaim Bloom will take over for John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations following the 2025 season.
Chicago Cubs
It’s been a busy offseason for the Cubs. Most notably, they swung perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason when they acquired star outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros, though it cost them All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes and young starter Hayden Wesneski from their big league roster in order to do so and they subsequently had to deal Cody Bellinger to the Yankees to make room for Tucker in the lineup. Paredes has not been replaced in free agency or via trade to this point, with that hole seemingly set to be addressed internally by top prospect Matt Shaw. A pair of solid bench moves round out the club’s activity on the positional side. Carson Kelly should help to improve things at catcher and the addition of Jon Berti could help make up for the loss of production on the bench created by the decision to non-tender Mike Tauchman.
The biggest reported goal of the Cubs’ offseason was to upgrade the pitching staff, but those additions have been far more modest as compared to Tucker. It’s not as flashy as the club’s reported interest in players like Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, and Tanner Scott may have suggested, but Matthew Boyd figures to be an upgrade over Kyle Hendricks in the rotation and Ryan Pressly should solidify things in the ninth inning after the club acquired him in a separate trade with Houston. Beyond those two more significant names, the club has added depth in the form of swing men Colin Rea and Cody Poteet as well as southpaw Caleb Thielbar.
Cincinnati Reds
Following a mixed bag of a 2024 season where Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene established themselves as star-caliber players but the rest of the roster largely struggled with injuries and/or ineffectiveness, the Reds have been quite busy in hopes of turning things around for 2025. They kicked off the winter by adding Terry Francona as their new manager, and traded Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer to land Brady Singer from the Royals not long afterwards. They also retained Nick Martinez (who accepted their Qualifying Offer) and brought back veteran lefty Wade Miley on a non-guaranteed deal to further deepen the rotation.
The only guaranteed free agent signing the club has made was signing non-tendered outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year deal, but Hays is joined by a number of trade acquisitions even beyond Singer. The Reds acquired Jose Trevino from the Yankees in order to pair with Tyler Stephenson behind the plate, and Gavin Lux was brought in to help replace India’s production in the lineup. Rounding out the club’s notable trade acquisitions this winter is southpaw Taylor Rogers, who comes over from the Giants to join Alexis Diaz and Emilio Pagan at the back of Cincinnati’s bullpen.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates’ biggest move of the offseason was its first one of significance, as the club traded right-hander Luis Ortiz to the Guardians alongside a pair of prospects in order to land infielder Spencer Horwitz, who figures to serve as the club’s everyday first baseman this year. In addition to adding Horwitz, the Pirates have retooled their bullpen following the departure of Aroldis Chapman in free agency by signing southpaws Tim Mayza and Caleb Ferguson while also working out minor trades for Chase Shugart and Brett de Geus. Reports have indicated that Ferguson will stretch out during Spring Training and could be a candidate to start, but the club has otherwise not added to a rotation that remains a strength even after losing Ortiz.
On the positional side of things, Horwitz is joined by the additions of Adam Frazier in free agency and Enmanuel Valdez via trade. Both Frazier and Valdez figure to help shore up second base for the club while adding some left-handed options to the club’s predominantly right-handed bench mix. Veteran and longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen also re-upped with the Pirates on his third consecutive one-year deal as he plays out the twilight of his career as a veteran leader on a young Pirates team. For all the club’s additions this winter, however, right field remains a major question mark after the club non-tendered Bryan De La Cruz without replacing him to this point in the winter.
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The 2024-25 offseason has been one defined almost entirely by major trades for the NL Central’s five clubs, with four of the five clubs having worked out at least one major swap and the fifth still hard at work attempting to do the same. The Cubs, Pirates, and Reds have all supplemented those trades with notable but relatively modest free agent signings as they attempt to claw their way back into playoff contention, and Cincinnati also added a likely future Hall of Famer to the dugout in the manager’s chair to help guide their young ballclub. The Brewers and Cardinals have been quieter by comparison, with Milwaukee largely standing pat outside of the Williams trade while the Cardinals have been paralyzed by their efforts to trade Arenado but have opened up playing time for a number of notable young players like Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera.
Of the five NL Central clubs, which one has had the strongest offseason so far? Have your say in the poll below:
Who is voting Milwaukee.
BJ Surhoff?
With a “Back Office” subscription you have more options to choose from-another nice little perk- so I chose, None of the Above. Just sayin. Ahahahahaha!
Keep sleeping on them.
Milwaukee Consistently outproduces what the club “looks like” on paper. I think it’d be dumb to count them out.
Chourio could take another step and they have Peralta & Woodruff as the 1-2 with a few quality arms behind them. They always figure out how to put a solid pen together and they’ll play excellent defense too.
definitely cannot count them out by any means, but still…voting them as having the best off-season in the central is silly as they really have added nothing to warrant that vote…does not mean that they won’t still be fighting for the division though.
You’re right. To be honest I read through their write ups of the teams but i thought the poll was who is winning the central when I commented.
Cubs I think pretty clearly had the best offseason. Reds offseason was adding Francona which is a big upgrade but not much to speak of for on field additions.
Adding Lux, Singer, Hays, Rogers, and Trevino wasn’t notable? Not to mention retaining Nick Martinez?
I think the Reds trading Jonathan India for Brady Singer will be a bigger deal than most people realize, for the positive.
Think Reds had a better off-season then Cubs easily
I totally expect the Brewers to contend for the Central crown if not win it, they did not win the offseason. Like really any year the Rays won the AL East they never won their offseason haha.
Losing their closer and Adames makes them about 2-3 games worse than last year. Cubs gaining Boyd, Pressley and Tucker makes the Cubs 3 games better. The Brewers won the Central last year by 6 games. Don’t see it happening in 25.
@bronyaur The Brewers won the division by 10 games last season. Not 6.
Brewers managed just fine without Williams for 2/3 of last year. The bullpen will be fine — the infield without Adames’ bat could be another story.
Adames raked in his walk year (go figure). Here’s to hoping Hoskins does the same thing for the crew in 25. Biggest question marks will be what kind of pitcher will woodruff be and can Tobias Myers duplicate last year’s results.
The Cortez trade could be a very good move too
Everyone who has seen them counted out before.
Better question: Who is voting the Cards above anybody? Sorry, but even the Pie-rats have had a better offseason.
I did, just because I wanna be grateful for what John Mozeliak did accomplish as a GM/PoBO. Unfortunately he’s grown out of favor with many, myself included.
He literally did nothing in his time. He inherited some great players from Jocketty, then he had Luhnow. Once Luhnow left, the Cardinals have floundered because Mo doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Oh you wanna talk Luhnow… I know. The one thing he did right was trade Colby Rasmus, trade for Paul Goldschmidt, trade for Nolan Arenado, and then the rest is rather ugly. I’ve been more into the tune of planting flowers than giving black eyes recently. Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, and that’s all I gotta say about that
The Cubs have have made some good additions. However they can use more starting pitching.
Every town has an elm street.
I’m happy with Milwaukee has done this year. They are in a great position. Should really only be doing 2 year deals at the max as to not block any of the young guys coming and that are here. They legimately have up to 15 guys who could debut this years in the majors. They are already a lot better team then they were last year. 25 was the season that they were playing for all along last year. This team is only going to keep getting better. Saving the money and prospects ( trade chips ) for when they end up needing a Sabathia or Cain type guy.
Thanks for the poll, Deeds!
Incoming reds and pirate fans saying that their basement dwelling team will win the central
I wouldn’t count anyone out in that division.
Lol thats funny coming from a Cubs fan. Cubs play in a big market and are still known for losing.
Cubs won last years offseason too. And what did that get them?
Exactly, this division is a complete toss up in my mind. I would just like to see the Cardinals struggle.
It would be hilarious if the Cardinal win the division!
Cubs have a title in the last 10 years. Too bad no other team in that division even came close
Cool stuff, you still have decades of being known as lovable losers, so you cling on to that one world series title in well over 100 years buddy. The cubs are by far the biggest market in the central and have done nothing to distance themselves from the rest of the Central.
Cubs have 1 title in the last 100 years.
That’s ancient history to the vast majority of Cubs fans. We simply weren’t there, because we’re not that old.
Your point is tired and lazy. Find some new material.
So, because you weren’t around to see it that means it didn’t happen or cannot be talked about??
Maybe they can get a second one in another hundred years?
Hyuck hyuck…wow, genius comment here. I’m in awe.
No, and I didn’t say that either. I said it was tired and lazy. You’re out of material, so you revert to some dumb old point from the last century. Not too bright.
The Cubs have never had a cumulative losing record. They are 650-588 from 2017-2024. During that 8 yr period, they have finished 1st twice, and 2nd three times. Not exactly losing.
The Cubs have been around a lot longer than 8 years champ. The Cubs have been losers for a century. Thats reality. Look it up.
Again, how many 100 year-olds do you think you’re talking to? Are you that old? It’s a very lazy and weak argument to say that inept management from ancient history has anything to do with what’s happening today.
Quit living in the 20th century. Your point is tired and outdated, but I guess that’s the limit of your brain power, so least it makes sense why you keep doing it.
It’s like arguing with a toddler
The Cardibals have won 3 championships in my lifetime. They also went to the WS 4 other times and would have another if it wasn’t for a terrible call.
The Cubs have 1 championship. That’s it. Just one. Huge market big payroll 1 championship.
…that’s a fair point to argue for your Cardibals. But, to keep making the lame point that the Cubs didn’t win in decades that predate the moon landings is really just blowing smoke.
I prefer to focus on the here and now. The hear and now says the Cubs just crushed the Cardinals offseason in 2024-25 and have a ridiculously high Pecota projection for the upcoming season. That means more to me.
Yeah you focus on the Pecota projections. I will focus on the flags that wave at Busch.
Enjoy living in the past
Dude the Cubs haven’t won in a while either. Unless you count winning the offseason…….
I never said they did. You’re making stuff up because your computing power is limited. I know they haven’t won in a few years. Consecutive 83 win seasons missing the playoffs doesn’t do anyone any good. However, there’s more optimism and momentum heading into 2025 than there’s been in a while. Argue against that.
Yeah they are almost as good as the Dodgers. Almost……
You keep bringing stuff in that have nothing to do with anything…signs that your argument can’t hold water.
Bartman
It’s like you’re talking and then….
Squirrel….
You can’t focus can you?
Eddie Vedder
This is boring.
Harry Caray
Now you don’t even know if you’re referring to the Cubs or the Cards
Ron Santo
Like I said…arguing with a toddler
Lol congrats on that PECOTA projection…hang the banner guys, the Cubs win the 2025 PECOTA Projection NL Central!!!
Just because you don’t understand something, doesn’t invalidate it. You’re easily excitable aren’t you?
What in my comment makes you believe that I don’t understand the PECOTA projections?? Also, I am easily excitable??? look throughout this comment section, all BITA had to do at one point was name something tangentially related to the Cubs and you couldn’t resist, you had to chime in…I am not the excitable one here.
Are you and BITA competing for the most inane argument on this board? If so, you’re both winning.
You gave thumbs up to his nonsensical drivel, which effectively invalidates anything you have to say about anything on this subject.
You do seem to be the most excitable one here. The mere mention of it brought you back on your heels. Good luck.
Lol you are living in your own reality over there buddy. Enjoy the 2025 season.
Not with the current roster.
No that belongs to the cards now
Poll’s asking which team had the best offseason. Not who’s going to win the division.
Cubs are. Unfortunately you don’t get a trophy for that. Pretty sure they won last years offseason too.
And the year before and the year before that and the year before that….
A rookie 1b-man (Which they gave up a haul for in prospects) and a rookie international import, and they won the off-season? No one was expecting Imanaga to be as good as he was… projected to be a 4th or 5th starter with a slow fastball and was susceptible to the long ball.
Bellinger doesn’t count because he was there the year prior (yes, I know it was technically a FA signing)
The Reds signed three free agents not one.. Martinez (21m), Hays (5M), Suter (2.5M)
Cubs gave up a nice prospect for a rental who will be cheeks
A rental who is a top 20 player in baseball. I kinda see the cubs paying him.
i hope you mean pressly and not tucker lmao
I think the reds did ok considering they won’t spend more but obviously the cubs made the better moves.
Based on what history with Ricketts?
By TKO, the Cubs, but it’s not exactly one to brag about.
Cubs win offseason nl central, over Mets nl East offseason by a nose but swept by dodgers nl West off-season . Bad umpires to blame
Cards are winning because mo hasn’t given away any talent yet in his final off season.
Reds are still going to have a very weak outfield unless Hays rebounds and McClain moves to center.
Friedl could be good again
Will be
Cubs won the off-season but the Brewers will probably win the division anyway.
Not a lot of competition for best off-season in the central. Pirates, cards, and Brewers have done nothing.
“Cubs win Cubs win” I am not a Cubs fan, this just felt right.
Can’t see the poll. I would vote Cubs,
The NL Central is everything that’s wrong with baseball. Three owners that cry poor and don’t really try to win – independent from them winning or not. That leaves two teams, with one choosing to “rebuild” (save money), which leaves one team, the Cubs, that are actually trying to win. You’re meaning to tell me the Brewers and Reds, who have lots of young talent, couldn’t sign or keep ANY players?
In the NFL, a Willy Adames would never leave the team he’s on. Baseball’s biggest problem is that 1/3 of its owners don’t try to win. And three of those teams are in the NL Central. Talk game speed all you want. It comes down to the fact that there is nobody to hold crappy owners accountable.
What are you talking about? The Reds didn’t have to sign their young players because they’re young and still under control.
The only contract that was even expiring was Martinez and he accepted the QO to stay.
The “keep” was more for the brewers, the “get” was for all three teams. All are in a position to compete with a young core. Owners go in cycles, trading stars when they get too expensive to get new prospects. NOW is the team they should be supplementing their young, cheap talent with free agents but owners are too cheap. I’m a White Sox fan and Jerry Reinsdorf has ruined baseball for me. Owners need to be held accountable but there’s no board of directors with any team
Yeah, but you singled out keeping and signing for no logical reason. You’ve somehow dismissed that the Reds have acquired Lux, Singer and Rogers via trade. Those moves count.
Smart move not signing Adames
Brewers don’t need to pay players because they are good at developing youngsters.
They could easily do both, but who woiof want to operate like the dodgers?
Reds have added $16M to their payroll from last year. Not sure what you are attempting to articulate.
brewers always find a way to win
strong leadership, management, coaching, and always good at developing new players
why are the cubs the favorites? bc of kyle tucker? the dude missed half a season with various injuries so good luck with that
reds could be sneaky good with that stellar pitching staff- greene, abbott, lowder, probly burns in the 2nd half
pirates dont have enough juice to seriously compete. they’re a 500 team. but if their 2026 rotation is skenes, bubba, harrington, keller, jared jones, they’re gonna be a force to be reckoned with
John C – that might be the Pirates rotation at some point THIS year. I for one don’t give 2 craps about free agency. It’s when teams overpay for someone that might turn out to be productive, & it seems to seldom work out. How’s that Bobby Bonilla signing working for the Mets after 30 years?
If I had a serious vote (I always vote ridiculously to try & skew the graph) I’d vote Reds even though I hate them, just for getting Francona for a couple years.
Francona was a great pickup
So was Counsell last year, look where it got the Cubs.
David Ross was solid too though.
Nobody. I repeat nobody is winning the nl central this offseason.
The article was about the players except for Francona (a pretty big deal). But what about the other coaching changes? Does a new hitting coach and an additional pitching coach in P-burgh improve the performances of the rostered players (and the manager!)? No comments on the other teams in this regard, but what do you think?
The Pirates will not win anything with Shelton as manager.
Shelton isn’t the problem. Nutting is. We are all cursed until that man’s in the ground or sells.
All Nutting. Cherington clearly needed fired. Williams clearly needs fired as well. Wasted a year of Skenes Keller etc. I say 76 wins for 3 peat. Rooting for 70 though. Would root for 65 60 but Shelton would have to lose the team to be that bad. Rooting for it though.
2 million people will show up though and even more keep paying their cable streaming bill so Nutting doesn’t care.
Cherrington played the market wrong but a lot of it comes down to his budget at the end of the day. But again he flopped on his targets and balked at Bauer.
Nutting loves every minute of that luxury tax. He does not care about the fans of his organization.
Shelton has to work with what he’s got and that of didn’t do him much justice last year.
And as far as Williams it’s all agenda. The teams hands are tied by one person and one man alone.
Its almost as bad as the bud black merry go round in Colorado but we’re not there yet and actually have life in an open division once again.
Everyone balked at Bauer.
But this was one of maybe a handful of teams in baseball that could have afforded the pr hit they took Chapman and German for Christ sake. It was the wrong call as pitching would have made the playoff push despite the roster flaws today. They aren’t perfect. They are the pirates.
Mlb as a whole eliminated Bauer. Nutting is follower not a leader.
Very true but regardless he’s proving his point today trolling aside. He can pitch at an elite level. To the degree extent and capability. I think that’s up for capitalism to decide over morality within the confines of baseballs code of ethics today. He’s no ugeth urbina or Felipe Vazquez. That’s for sure.
Capitalism decided he costs too much in bad PR for his on field production to validate. If anyone was going to give him a chance the Pirates would be it though.
Baseball can be pretty cheap.
syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2108800-athlete…
I have to think Trevor Bauer at league minimum pitching with a muzzle on and being denied public speaking and internet access in his contract is worth much more than left groves fence or idk the contract Montgomery got in comparison last lesson.
Does he take league minimum when he can make more in Japan? He would have higher future earning potential in MLB but I wonder if his ego would go for that?
Think about it. Sasaki value is all today vs tomorrow. The former team and media tore him for his disrespect on wanting to leave. If he’s been advised to get tj already I find it hard to believe his camp isn’t convinced no contract is better than a contract. Even if expected tj does happen today.
Now that he’s got 6 years in control he’s still going to be valued on the market vs testing the waters on a league change he’s never been in coming off a Tommy John himself.
It’s a very smart play. However if I’m the dodgers I take a long look at him today down first for a month just to see how his body responds and build the hype up. He’s under control absolutely but on the mlb plans this year I have to think I’m banking of sasaki on roster. If he’s not Friedman has to do a better job addressing that on the market over kershaw today. That’s blatantly apparent.
HE-1-not winning WS- small market
2-not having consistent good team- Nutting
3-not having a good team-Cherington
4-not having a winning team-Shelton
It is like peeling a head of lettuce leaves off.
The Pirates needed to start with 4 first,
Are you joking?
Coaching changes?
You can’t get blood from a stone.
Look, the previous hitting coach was awful but unless there are new bodies in the uniforms, it’s not gonna matter much
70 win year ahead
I’m not even sure how 21 percent have said the reds. this should be the cubs with like 90 percent.
Could have saved a good many words by describing the Pirates off-season as “they cut payroll”.
Should be 100% Cubs except for the koolade Homer’s
Cubs have had a great offseason, happy that Jed made moves to address the bullpen and got Kyle Tucker. Now, winning the division is a whole other matter.
Or who’s losing the least? Division definitely half-empty….
What a boring poll. Kyle Tucker is worth triple if not more than any other player acquired in the central. Plus throw in Elvis and they come out as the central favorites
NOT the @Pirates.
Great job putting together a roster you cheap bums.
They seriously deserve to suffer as much as the die hard fans have.
I’m at a loss as to how anyone votes “Pirates”
Worst off season in 60 years
Pathetic owner. A GM who’s in over his head
The poll clearly asks who is winning the off-season – NOT who is going to win the division. No, they don’t go hand in hand because the Cubs and Reds have done the most for sure.
However, for who wins the division it’s still the Brewers. They have key players coming back who either didn’t play last year or missed significant time. Woodruff missed the whole season, Yelich missed over half the season, Garrett Mitchell’s second half showed he’s a 20/20 outfielder and he missed the first half of the season.
We got Cortes from New York and while all of us Brewer fans are frustrated at the lack of other moves, the other teams have not made up the 10-games plus in the standings.
A reflection of what is a weak division and perhaps the weakest in the major leagues. Any of the five teams could win.
So far, the Cardinals win by a longshot because the front office has not given out any bad contracts to over the age 30 players, and because the front office has made no bad trades.
1 Cubs. Tucker impact player.
2 Red. Won India trade. Hays.
3 Pirates. Horowitz nice add. Like their reliever adds.
4 Cards. It’s amazing how productive doing nothing can be.
5 Brewers. Williams trade was awful. I like Cortes but should have got prospects and signed a starter. Like they didn’t sign Adames but that’s just normal business. Handcuffed by bad Hoskins signing last year.
I like the Williams trade. A mid rotation starter is worth more than any reliever in the long run and they got an MLB ready infielder with tons of control. Hoskins signing last year was awful. Losing Adames will hurt.
It’s a small market move. There’s tons of free agent pitchers that can give same as Cortes results. Not many guys like Williams in league let alone available. I wasn’t crazy about prospect but if anyone can get something out of him it’s Milwaukee I guess. Probably too hard on it. But Williams more valuable much more to me. Supply demand. The prospect from Hader trade got them Contreras. The Williams return could have gone a long way in a Cease trade for example who is a far superior pitcher. I’m too harsh on it though. Just my thinking is they played it safe and I think small markets need to go ceiling not floor.
Good points. I would say a closer is less valuable in that division. Closer makes very good teams better but if you are middle of the pack in the league you might win this division anyhow so the bulk innings from Cortez becomes more valuable than elite innings in games that are close. May be wrong there since being a decent team may mean more close games.
I seen that runt prospect as not anything special. If he becomes a good player they seem something and great trade for them. That’s issue 1 I don’t think the prospect is special.
2 is I seen what they did with Hader Burnes trade. Loved it. Do that again and sign a pitcher. Better than Cortes or same or a lil less. Doesn’t matter. Options from 5m to 25m. Or trade.
I like Cortes. They might get something additional out of him NY couldn’t. Trades grown on me. All these teams were pretty close. Too hard on Milwaukee.
Gonna be a fun summer and October. Buckle up Cubs nation.
NL central predictions
1 Brewers
2 Cubs. Have strong chance to be 1
3 Reds a drop here
4 Pirates a slight drop
5 Cards a slight drop
Any team can win but Brewers Cubs I like the best.
1. Horwitz will be a trivia question come this time next year
2. Pirates will have 70-72 wins, a distant last
3. I will remind you of my track record when I am right—once again—in October.
Cubs, but I do like what the Reds have done as well.
Hysterical that the Cardinals are 4th in the poll despite doing absolutely nothing
Has any team added in the NL Central? I see a net loss for all teams. The Cubs gained Tucker but lost two position starters as well.
What did the Reds lose?
India – the Reds remained even at best in their player moves. Adding Francona is a plus but nothing I see in the Central really moves the needle for those teams.
They didn’t “lose” India. They traded him for an established starting pitcher.
The Reds also added Gavin Lux (similar hitter to India, but with more position flex.They also added a solid OFr in Austin Hays, a solid reliever in Taylor Rodgers, and a solid backup catcher in Jose Trevino.
The one team that has gotten weaker is the Cardinals.
One Tucker is worth two normal starters and they added some pitching. They are the closest to breaking even. Question becomes did the Brewers lose enough talent for the Cubs to pass them?
The Cardinals may not make the playoffs but I believe they may have made additions by subtraction. I think they’ll improve if some of their youth take a step forward. It’s their starting staff thats concerning
Anyone can win this division if they have a few young players improve.
Adding Tito gets my vote for the Reds. Excited to see what he can do there.
Cubs win the offseason, Brewers still control the division.
This is a strange poll because no team added anything of note as far as I can see.
Francona is a huge upgrade over bell
My immediate gut response was the Cubs but it kind of feels incomplete. Obviously, they made one of the biggest additions of the offseason. But they also subtracted some major league quality players. Tucker was such a win now move to not be followed up by something else more immediately impactful. It’s a hard roster to peg how to easily improve. Most positions have guys who are pretty good. It just feels incomplete.
I’m guessing there’s no real need for a poll concerning the NL West…
No moves or a few minor ones can be best. Go brewers crew 2025 division champs!! Cubs look worse.
Gotta love the annual overconfidence in Chicago. That’s how we like it up north. Wonder what’s gonna happen…
Crew went through 17 different starters last season and it was never even kinda close… getting Yeli and Woody back is enough offseason excitement for me… watching all the kids take another step forward will be a sweet summer
Crew prefers to add at deadline, when they know what their needs are. Smartest front office in baseball… If you’re whining about not paying Willy 32 mil in 7 years… with Made and Pratt coming up…. Yikes.
i think people are underrating the gains the cardinals made by cutting lynn, gibson, Kittredge, Goldschmidt, and Middleton (who never even played) and of course adam kloffenstein. they were eating all our money! – mo, probably.
The Reds hired Terry Francona this offseason. They did not degrade at any position and improved at C, IF, OF, SP and RP. How can it be anyone else?
The Cubs have definitely had the best offseason in the division IMO, but my Reds have had a solid offseason. Looking forward to the season, friends!
Pirates seem to be a clear front runner… .. .
Seriously though… despite no flashy moves they should be better in 2025 if healthy. the offense is iffy but the defense and pitching should be well good enough to take notice.
They upgraded first with Horwitz
Up the middle Nick and IKF should be decent, if nothing else good enough to h old the line.
a reasonably healthy Hayes goes a long way. Even with his troubles at the plate he still kept the strike outs and walks reasonable. His glove wasn’t as good as before but healthy him probably a bit better.
OF, Reynolds is solid, Cruz could be amazing.
Bart needs to prove its real but looks pretty good Endy might have something to say about that though and that is also good.
Yorke also looks pretty promising even with his iffy bat in his short sample. Triolo will be in the mix to pick up slack on defense, bonus if he hits.
Davis and Suwinski are two major wild cards. in spring you give them as many live at bats as you can.
Starting pitching looks great.
Pens performance looks like it could be better than average but even if it doesn’t go to plan, it will likely be better than last year.
Not likely to win the division but if nothing major goes wrong I could see them seriously fighting for a wild card spot late into September. Heck they where doing pretty well until August.
They did similar in 2011/12 then going to the NLDS the following season.
Sell the team Bob
“Meanwhile” has to BEGIN the sentence, not come in the middle between commas.