Power ranking how the Cubs stack up in the NL Central after a quiet Winter Meetings

It's been a quiet offseason for the NL Central so far. Short of the St. Louis Cardinals starting their rebuild by shipping Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox, there haven't been many moves of consequence, and that didn't change during the Winter Meetings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds were prominently featured in the sweepstakes for Kyle Schwarber, who wound up returning to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year deal. The Cubs did add Hoby Milner, one of two established veteran relief pitchers signed this offseason, but they have yet to complete the heavy lifting of their winter.

As for the defending division champs, they added outfielder Akil Baddoo on a Major League contract, but seemed to have emerged from this week with the impression that they will be trading starting pitcher Freddy Peralta.

Power ranking how the Cubs stack up in the NL Central after a quiet Winter Meetings

With the offseason being incomplete, these power rankings almost certainly will change before spring training, but for now, we can see where each team stands.

1. Milwaukee Brewers

Considering the voodoo they pulled off with Andrew Vaughn last season, we're not ruling out Baddoo becoming a staple in their starting lineup next season. Even if Peralta winds up traded before the season, Milwaukee has proven capable of resetting while still sitting at the top of the division. Until a team proves otherwise, they get the top spot.

2. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds finished nine games behind the Cubs for second place in the division, but for now, Chicago lacks Kyle Tucker, a defined bullpen, and the top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher they desperately need. Until the Cubs check those boxes, the Reds could be the team posing the biggest threat to the Brewers next season.

3. Chicago Cubs

Even with the aforementioned shortcomings, on paper, the Cubs remain a better team than the Cardinals team that has already traded away Gray. Chicago also has the chance to make the biggest jump in the power rankings before spring training. If the Cubs round out their bullpen, trade for a cost-controlled starting pitcher, and Alex Bregman, they will be ready to join the Brewers at the top of the division.

4. St. Louis Cardinals

There's no doubt that the Cardinals are resetting, but for now, their roster still has Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Nolan Arenado. If Chaim Bloom can move all of those veterans, while he likely will find the right value as he did with Gray, St. Louis will initially be at the bottom of the division.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates have given the impression that they are ready to spend this offseason, flirting with Schwarber and Josh Naylor. However, flirting means very little in this game, and until there are actual moves to surround Paul Skenes with talent, there isn't much reason to move them from the basement of the NL Central.

A lot could change, and hopefully for the Cubs, it does. Right now, they are far worse team than they were at the end of the playoffs.