Chicago Cubs: Assessing the progress of the Central Division

While the Chicago Cubs have made some additions to their team, they still have a few more they should make. That being said, has anyone else caught up to them in the division?

While I understand that the Chicago Cubs aren’t competing against the division alone, they can’t get to the playoffs without starting there. It sounds easy. We just need to keep up with the Dodgers and the Nationals, and we’ll be fine. But that’s not how baseball works, and the Cubs won’t be “keeping up with the Joneses.” Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will put together a team that they feel can win the division and go from there.

With that, has anyone done enough in the Central to catch them? Let’s be honest, here. This comes down to the Brewers and the Cardinals. The Reds are still rebuilding, and the Pirates are about one step away (trading Gerrit Cole) from being in the same boat. We’ll be talking about the two, and just how close (or far) they are.

Did the Marcell Ozuna trade make up the difference for the Cardinals? Or have the Brewers done enough to replace Jimmy Nelson‘s spot in the rotation? Let’s see what each of them has done this offseason.

Pittsburgh Pirates – 2017 Record: 75-87

The Pittsburgh Pirates, on the surface, still look to have a pretty formidable lineup. With players like Andrew McCutchen, Josh Bell and Starling Marte they look to have a solid lineup on paper. But where some of those players will be at the beginning of the season is yet to be determined. Gerrit Cole could be on his way out. And the rest of the group could follow.

The Pirates have been hit by, bad luck? However you want to describe it, it’s taken hold and not let go. Jung-Ho Kang was put on the restricted list following his DUI and Visa issues. Now, the Pirates don’t expect him to be back this season. 

Then, Marte was hit with an 80-game suspension under the P.E.D. rules. He claimed he hadn’t used them but was “careless” during his offseason in the Dominican Republic. Either way, it wasn’t good for the Pirates or Marte.

The only additions they’ve made were a Rule 5 pick in Jordan Milbrath and a waiver pickup in Nik Turley. It’s far more likely the Pirates will lose even more before the start of the season, and if not then by the trade deadline. It might be a few more years of sub-.500 baseball for the Pirates before they can compete again on the Central.

Milwaukee Brewers – 2017 Record: 86-76

The Milwaukee Brewers just didn’t have it in them to finish the Cubs in 2017. It seemed as if once they lost Jimmy Nelson, they were doomed to fail. But the Crew still put together an excellent season under Craig Counsell. The addition of Travis Shaw and Eric Thames turned out to be a steal, and Corey Knebel was as good as they can get in 2017.

But have the Brewers done enough in this offseason to compete with the Cubs and the Cardinals? As I shake my Magic 8-Ball, “outlook not so good.” The Brewers has added a former Brewers in Yovani Gallardo, as well as Jhoulys Chacin to the rotation. Both will bring stability, but not enough to offset the loss of Nelson.

They also added Boone Logan and J.J. Hoover, the latter who will be an NRI at camp. But Logan was hurt the last part of 2017, and Hoover has struggled in his time in the majors. Minus one solid season in 2015 (8-2, 2.94), it’s been a rough go of it for Hoover. This offense has the potential to score runs in bunches, but the pitching staff might not be able to hold off the other team’s offense.

St. Louis Cardinals – 2017 Record: 83-79

If there’s a team in the Central that’s making a push, it’s the St. Louis Cardinals. And sadly, they didn’t have to give up much to get Marcell Ozuna in trade. The Cards also signed Luke Gregerson so help anchor the later innings, while adding Miles Mikolas to the starting rotation. While his time initially was highlighted by this, he went to Japan and transformed himself into a solid starter.

If I’ve learned anything as a Cubs’ fan, it’s not to doubt the Cardinals. While the lineup doesn’t seem all that impressive, it isn’t that bad. But after signing Yadier Molina to an extension, does he have much left in the tank? And Randal Grichuk has come to a crossroads, needing to show the Cardinals he’s got the ability to perform. He’s out of options–and could be DFA’s if he doesn’t get the job done.

The Cards have a solid duo in Carlos Martinez and Luke Weaver. Adam Wainwright might be nearing the end, but he’s going to give it one last shot. Matt Carpenter is a man without a home, but third base will likely be his position to start the year. The Cardinals have indeed improved, but have they done enough to take the Central?

The Cubs still have a plethora of depth and have added enough to push through and win the Central. As I said at the start, you have to win within your division before taking on the rest of the world. I think the Cubs have done enough in that regard. But what about teams like the Nationals and the Dodgers?

Will players have a positive regression? Or have they reached their peak in 2016? For some, that’s the thought with Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber. But I think each of these two will battle back and be contributors this season.

Next: Offseason next year not just about Harper

Come the trade deadline, the Cubs could be in a position to make a move to better themselves for 2018–or beyond. But if they are, there will be a price. No player will be cheap, and the Cubs have few prospects left to trade. Will the Cubs have to deal from the roster to make a deal work? Possibly. But we may need to see just what the Cubs have in store for this year first.