NL Central team needs heading into winter meetings
Welcome to theScore's MLB offseason team needs, where we'll break down every club's roster and key departures, along with how holes could be filled in free agency ahead of the winter meetings (Dec. 4-7).
AL EAST I NL EAST I AL CENTRAL I AL WEST I NL WEST
Chicago Cubs
2022 record: 74-88 (3rd in NL Central)
Projected 40-man payroll: $144M
Key departures: Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward, Wade Miley, Rafael Ortega, Franmil Reyes, Andrelton Simmons, Drew Smyly
Needs: First baseman, catcher, starting pitching, relief pitching
Where the lineup stands
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nico Hoerner | SS | 4.0 |
| 2 | Seiya Suzuki | RF | 2.0 |
| 3 | Ian Happ (S) | LF | 3.5 |
| 4 | Patrick Wisdom | 3B | 1.1 |
| 5 | Matt Mervis (L) | DH | Rookie |
| 6 | Christopher Morel | CF | 1.6 |
| 7 | Alfonso Rivas (L) | 1B | -0.1 |
| 8 | Yan Gomes | C | 0.6 |
| 9 | Nick Madrigal | 2B | 0.2 |
The Cubs had a promising finish to the 2022 campaign, playing above .500 after the All-Star break following a disastrous 35-57 start. Hoerner might be one of baseball's best defenders, and Happ remains a core piece. Chicago needs some extra offense, most notably at first base, where the team has been linked to Jose Abreu. A catcher to replace the departing Contreras is also a must.
How the rotation looks
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Stroman | R | 2.0 |
| 2 | Kyle Hendricks | R | 0.4 |
| 3 | Justin Steele | L | 2.6 |
| 4 | Adrian Sampson | R | 1.5 |
| 5 | Hayden Wesneski | R | 0.7 |
The Cubs had one of the NL's worst rotations by WAR and FIP last season, and the bullpen was worse. Chicago didn't get much of anything beyond Stroman and Steele, and the team traded its only reliever with WAR above 1.0, Scott Effross. The Cubs need to prioritize adding capable arms.
Cincinnati Reds
2022 record: 62-100 (4th)
Projected 40-man payroll: $89M
Key departures: Chase Anderson, Aristides Aquino, Kyle Farmer, Aramis Garcia, Jeff Hoffman, Mike Minor, Colin Moran, Donovan Solano, Hunter Strickland, Justin Wilson
Needs: Backup catcher, designated hitter, relief pitching
Where the lineup stands
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TJ Friedl (L) | LF | 0.5 |
| 2 | Jonathan India | 2B | 0.4 |
| 3 | Joey Votto (L) | 1B | -0.9 |
| 4 | Tyler Stephenson | C | 1.5 |
| 5 | Jake Fraley (L) | DH | 1.0 |
| 6 | Kevin Newman | SS | 1.3 |
| 7 | Mike Moustakas (L) | 3B | -0.5 |
| 8 | Nick Senzel | CF | -0.6 |
| 9 | Stuart Fairchild | RF | 0.6 |
The Reds have very little that concerns opposing teams. They had the NL's worst offense in most categories last season despite playing half their games at a hitter-friendly park. It's unlikely they'll make a free-agent splash due to budget restrictions, so look for them to go bargain-hunting or stick with what they already have.
How the rotation looks
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter Greene | R | 1.6 |
| 2 | Nick Lodolo | L | 1.8 |
| 3 | Luis Cessa | R | 0.0 |
| 4 | Graham Ashcraft | R | 1.3 |
| 5 | Justin Dunn | R | -0.7 |
Win-loss records aside, Greene and Lodolo performed well and look like they could be dual aces for years to come. Cincinnati will need to find another arm after declining Minor's $13-million option or rely on the unproven Cessa and Dunn. Alexis Diaz stood out in a bullpen that could use some help after posting the NL's second-highest ERA.
Milwaukee Brewers
2022 record: 86-76 (2nd)
Projected 40-man payroll: $121M
Key departures: Brad Boxberger, Josh Lindblom, Andrew McCutchen, Omar Narvaez, Jace Peterson, Hunter Renfroe, Taylor Rogers, Trevor Rosenthal, Brent Suter, Kolten Wong
Needs: Catcher, relief pitching
Where the lineup stands
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Yelich (L) | LF | 2.3 |
| 2 | Willy Adames | SS | 4.7 |
| 3 | Rowdy Tellez (L) | 1B | 0.8 |
| 4 | Luis Urias | 3B | 2.3 |
| 5 | Jesse Winker (L) | DH | 0.4 |
| 6 | Tyrone Taylor | RF | 2.1 |
| 7 | Abraham Toro (S) | 2B | -0.7 |
| 8 | Victor Caratini (S) | C | 1.2 |
| 9 | Garret Mitchell (L) | CF | 1.0 |
The Brewers' offseason has already been busy, essentially swapping out Renfroe and Wong for Winker and Toro in different trades. These moves haven't necessarily made Milwaukee better, but there is still a lot of time left in the offseason. Adames has really taken off since joining the team midway through last campaign and is coming off a year in which he hit a career-high 31 homers in just 139 games. Yelich is coming off a third straight sub-.800 OPS season, and the team will need more from a player with $162.5 million left on his deal.
How the rotation looks
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corbin Burnes | R | 4.6 |
| 2 | Brandon Woodruff | R | 3.5 |
| 3 | Freddy Peralta | R | 2.0 |
| 4 | Eric Lauer | L | 1.1 |
| 5 | Aaron Ashby | L | 0.9 |
The Brewers' rotation remains in terrific shape, with Burnes, Woodruff, and Peralta forming one of the league's best trios. Milwaukee's bullpen, which has been a strength in recent years, could use some help after the front office traded Josh Hader. Brewers relievers were worth a combined minus-0.2 WAR and had the fourth-highest FIP in the NL following the deal.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2022 record: 62-100 (5th)
Projected 40-man payroll: $69M
Key departures: Junior Fernandez, Ben Gamel, Jake Marisnick, Kevin Newman, Hoy Park, Roberto Perez
Needs: Catcher, starting pitching, relief pitching, outfield
Where the lineup stands
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oneil Cruz (L) | SS | 1.2 |
| 2 | Bryan Reynolds (S) | CF | 2.9 |
| 3 | Ke'Bryan Hayes | 3B | 3.0 |
| 4 | Ji-Man Choi (L) | 1B | 1.3 |
| 5 | Carlos Santana (S) | DH | 1.0 |
| 6 | Jack Suwinski (L) | LF | 1.8 |
| 7 | Rodolfo Castro (S) | 2B | 0.9 |
| 8 | Cal Mitchell (L) | RF | -0.6 |
| 9 | Endy Rodriguez (S) | C | Rookie |
The rebuilding Pirates had one of MLB's worst offenses last season (84 wRC+, minus-101.6 offensive rating). If they hope to turn things around in 2023, they'll need improvements at the dish from Cruz and Hayes, as well as more production from the bottom half of the order. The bottom three players in their projected lineup combined for six homers last year, so look for Pittsburgh to add some more offseason pop, even after acquiring Choi and Santana.
How the rotation looks
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roansy Contreras | R | 0.9 |
| 2 | Mitch Keller | R | 2.1 |
| 3 | JT Brubaker | R | 1.9 |
| 4 | Johan Oviedo | R | 0.7 |
| 5 | Bryse Wilson | R | -0.1 |
The Pirates have some nice pieces in the rotation and bullpen like Contreras and David Bednar, but Pittsburgh needs help if it expects to improve. Low-cost additions like last year's signing of Jose Quintana seem like the direction Ben Cherington and his staff will go once again.
St. Louis Cardinals
2022 record: 93-69 (1st)
Projected 40-man payroll: $145M
Key departures: Corey Dickerson, Yadier Molina, Jose Quintana, Albert Pujols, Alex Reyes
Needs: Catcher
Where the lineup stands
| ORDER | PLAYER | POSITION | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lars Nootbaar (L) | RF | 2.7 |
| 2 | Tommy Edman (S) | SS | 5.6 |
| 3 | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B | 7.1 |
| 4 | Nolan Arenado | 3B | 7.3 |
| 5 | Brendan Donovan (L) | 2B | 2.7 |
| 6 | Tyler O'Neill | LF | 1.3 |
| 7 | Juan Yepez | DH | 0.0 |
| 8 | Dylan Carlson (S) | CF | 2.4 |
| 9 | Andrew Knizner | C | -0.3 |
There isn't going to be much turnover on the Cardinals even with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina retiring. This is fantastic news for a team that won 93 games. Catcher should be the top priority with Molina departing since Knizner owns a .579 career OPS in limited duty.
How the rotation looks
| ROLE | PITCHER | THROWS | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Wainwright | R | 2.8 |
| 2 | Miles Mikolas | R | 2.8 |
| 3 | Jordan Montgomery | L | 2.7 |
| 4 | Jack Flaherty | R | 0.0 |
| 5 | Steven Matz | L | 0.7 |
The Cardinals' rotation was in the middle of the pack in ERA and FIP, but a full season from Flaherty and Montgomery should help fix that. A returning Wainwright gives St. Louis six capable starters, with one or both of Matz and Dakota Hudson pitching in the back end.