Chicago Cubs: Previewing the 2017 National League Central

The National League Central Division was one of the best divisions in baseball over the last few years, before a down year last year. Last year, the Chicago Cubs took over the National League Central Division from the Cardinals.

The Chicago Cubs won 103 games, running away with the division, finishing 17.5 games ahead of St. Louis. It was the Cubs first division title since 2008, and their fourth Central division title overall. Prior to last year, the Cardinals had won three straight division titles from 2013-2015.

The Pirates came in third place, after a relatively down year, they made three straight playoff appearances from 2013-2015, making the wild card in those years, and ending their string of 20 straight losing seasons, capping it with a 98 win season in 2015. In 2016, however, they fell off, winning just 78 games and falling back to under .500.

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In the midst of a rebuild, the Milwaukee Brewers came in fourth in the central, winning just 73 games. However, the Brewers showed a lot of bright spots with a lot of its young talent. Five years ago, the Brewers won the Central and made a run to the NLCS, eventually falling to the Cardinals in six games.

Since then, they have failed to make the playoffs and have been stuck in mediocrity.

Bringing up the rear in the Central in 2016, it was the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are another team in the midst of a rebuild. Cincinnati won the Central in 2010 and 2012, and added another playoff season in 2013, before falling off in 2014, and it’s been nothing but losing ever since.  2017 shouldn’t be much different from these past couple years.

Chicago Cubs

Key losses: Aroldis Chapman, Dexter Fowler, Jason Hammel, David Ross, Jorge Soler

Key additions: Wade Davis, Koji Uehara, Jon Jay

The defending World Series Champions, the Cubs return nearly everybody from the championship team that won 103 games. Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Addison Russell will all have another year of experience under their belt, along with a healthy Kyle Schwarber, barring another horrific injury like he experienced early in the season last year.

Pitching

The Cubs will have to replace the top of the order catalyst Dexter Fowler and need to find a fifth starter in the rotation. Mike Montgomery is slotted in that spot right now, but don’t be surprised if the Cubs explore options for another starting pitcher, in free agency or trades.

The back-end of the bullpen shouldn’t miss a beat, adding Wade Davis to replace the departed Aroldis Chapman. Koji Uehara should also add some help in the bullpen, to go along with mainstays Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Key additions: Daniel Hudson

Key losses: Sean Rodriguez, Jeff Locke, Matt Joyce, Neftali Feliz

The Pirates took a step back last year, finishing under .500 for the first time in four years, all while seeing star player Andrew McCutchen regress. The Pirates lost some good bench players over the offseason. Sean Rodriguez may be the toughest to replace because he can play nearly every position, and provide good power off the bench. That’s not easy to replace.

Pitching

The Pirates had to rely on a lot of young arms last year. Top prospects Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow, and Chad Kuhl all played a big role at times last season. Gerrit Cole was sidelined for some of the years with a nagging elbow injury.

The Pirates dealt closer Mark Melancon at the trade deadline last year, and Tony Watson filled in well at closer. Look for Watson to close games again this year, with guys like Daniel Hudson, Jared Hughes, and Felipe Rivero all playing key roles in the pen.

Milwaukee Brewers

Key additions: Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, Tommy Milone

Key losses: Chris Carter, Tyler Thornburg, Martin Maldonado

The Brewers are in the midst of a rebuild, and it’s off to a good start. The Brewers have been able to maximize value on a lot of their guys and get impact prospects that can help them in the future.

New General Manager David Stearns did a great job with the Jonathan Lucroy trade and got about as good of a return that you can get for Tyler Thornburg. Ryan Braun‘s time in a Brewer uniform is a ticking time bomb, and that trade should add to an already improved farm system.

Pitching

The Brewers rotation is anchored by three young, promising arms at the top. Jimmy Nelson, Zach Davies, and Taylor Jungmann. Jungmann has seen his struggles, but the stuff is there to be a good Major League arm.

Free agent signee Tommy Milone will bring up the back of the rotation. Should Milone perform well, he becomes a trade piece near the trade deadline. The bullpen, like a lot of rebuilding teams, is going to struggle. The Crew doesn’t really have a closer, or any impact bullpen arms right now, and they will just piece it together with the best they can.

Cincinnati Reds

Key additions: Drew Storen

Key losses: Nobody

The Reds have been stuck in limbo for quite some time now. They are trying to rebuild, but haven’t really gotten much in return for their players. Jay Bruce brought back a couple nice players, but they struck out on the return for Aroldis Chapman. Johnny Cueto bought back some nice arms as well.

Brandon Phillips is refusing to be traded at this point. 2017 should be much of the same for the Reds. Not much winning, and selling off some assets at the deadline, although it’d be surprising to see anybody take on Joey Votto‘s massive contract.

Pitching

Brandon Finnegan and Anthony DeSclafani lead a relatively young starting rotation. These two have shown a lot of promise during their time in Cincinnati. Raisel Iglesias is another nice arm the Reds have.

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These three provide a nice base, should the Reds want to build with pitching. Top prospect Robert Stephenson should see a lot more time in the rotation this year. As for the bullpen, there isn’t much there. Drew Storen will close games until July before he likely gets traded, and the Reds will piece it together from there.