It finally that time again, as all teams pitchers and catchers report for Spring training this week in order to get ready for the 2016 season. The favorite for almost everyone to not only win the NL Central, but to win it all this year is the Chicago Cubs. But, breaking the 107 year curse will have to start with getting through the NL Central. The Central had three of the four best regular season teams in all of baseball last year. The Cubs beat the Pirates in the Wild Card game, and then beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in the NLDS. Don't expect to see fewer than two teams from the Central in the Playoffs.
1. Chicago Cubs
You knew that this one was coming. The Cubs are loaded on the offensive side of the ball. They stole outfielder Jason Heyward from the Cardinals, as well as signing second baseman Ben Zobrist. Both who signed for less money than their highest bidders to come to the Cubs. They also return a load of young talent from last season. Stars such as Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, and Anthony Rizzo. All of that top talent graduated from the farm system(Expect for Rizzo mostly, as most was with the San Diego Padres), and they still have the top catching prospect in baseball in Willson Contreras. They also got pitching help in John Lackey, taking him from the Cardinals. The biggest question is whether the Cubs will play like the World Series favorites, or will play bad like last year's pick, the Washington Nationals.
Projection: 98-64
2. St. Louis Cardinals
After getting to 100 wins during the season, the Cardinals season came to an end in the NLDS. The offseason was not the best for them. Jason Heyward bolted to the Cubs for less money, and John Lackey left to the Cubs. They then lost starter Lance Lynn for the season due to a torn rotator cuff. They did sign Mike Leake to bolster their rotation, as well as flipped Jon Jay for Jedd Gyorko. Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina are aging. Both were hurt last year, and Holliday and especially Molina's good health are vital for this team to have success. Matt Adams is coming back from surgery, and Adam Wainwright missed almost all of last year. Their top prospect is not a top 100 one, and is RHP Alex Reyes, so the Cardinals have not a lot of depth after the guys in the Majors. But, I think that the Cardinals will be a playoff team.
Projection: 95-67
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
Poor Pirates. They won 98 games last season, had the second best record in the Majors, and had to play in the Wild Card game. This was where gifted the chance of playing against NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, who had the best second half of a season for a pitcher since forever. The year before? Eventual World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. The year before they did win, but got knocked out in the NLDS by the Cardinals. After nineteen years without a winning season and three years of the Wild Card, will Pirate fans finally get rewarded?
No, you're probably headed to the Wild Card game again. They have a star in center fielder Andrew McCutchen, but two rising stars are battling injuries right now. Jung Ho Kang is still fighting back from that leg injury suffered last September against the Cubs, and fire baller Gerrit Cole is battling an injury right now. They did not make enough moves in my mind to compete with the Cubs. They traded hometown boy Neil Walker to the Mets for left-hander Jon Niese, and that was about it. They have a top closer in Mark Melancon. But, I will think that they will get a Wild Card spot again. It's tough being a small market team, but they need to do more to improve, and maybe make some trade deadline deals. With a top 5 farm system, like RHP Tyler Glasnow, they have the pieces.
Projection: 94-68
4. Cincinnati Reds
Well, I don't know what to say. This team is bad. They traded away all of their talent. They flipped All-Star hero Todd Fraizer to the White Sox, for not a big haul. They flipped lefty closer Aroldis Chapman to the New York Yankees, a gift to the rest of the division. Now, if the Reds bring a lead into the ninth, opposing teams will have at least a slim chance of winning. This is a make or break deal for the speedy Billy Hamilton to see if he can get that OBP up from below .300. Another big question mark is if Brandon Phillips will drop the no-trade clause and get traded. Top prospect OF Jesse Winkler might spend part up in the Big Leagues. Let's see if Tucker Barnhart, with one of the best last names in sports will get it done. Or at least to seventy wins.
Prediction: 68-94
5. Milwaukee Brewers
Again, I don't know what to say. They traded away Jean Segura, and are left with Ryan Braun and Jonathon Lucroy. They traded away mike Fiers and Carlos Gomez at the Trade Deadline last year, and are still stuck with Matt Garza's big contract to be a mediocre 5.00 ERA+. To paraphrase. They suck. At least top prospect SS Orlando Arcia could be up as soon as the start of the season, so, a little bit of a bright spot.
Prediction: 64-98
No comments:
Post a Comment