Offseason Needs: National League Central

The virtual Winter Meetings are finishing a second week. With activity and rumors picking up around Major League Baseball, I am going to go division by division over the next week to suggest what moves each team should make this offseason.

The National League Central got four teams in the playoffs, but all four got bounced in the first round. With the financial issues surrounding baseball being felt the most in the American and National League Centrals (29 players non-tendered combined), make this an intriguing division to watch.

Chicago Cubs

Hold onto Kris Bryant because I really don’t see the Cubs getting the value they want for Bryant off of an injury heavy season and Nolan Arenado being on the trading block. The Cubs would be much better off lineup wise with him in it, and they would most likely get a return equal if not better at the trade deadline.

For additions they should make this offseason, the Cubs should re-sign Jason Kipnis. The Chicago native started off hot before cooling off down the stretch, but overall, Kipnis performed really well against RHP, which means he still fits well into the platoon role the Cubs like to play into their lineup. Between Nico Hoerner and Ildemaro Vargas, the Cubs have options to start at second against LHP, but Kipnis completes that platoon combination.

The Cubs should also re-sign Cameron Maybin. They non-tendered Albert Almora and Kyle Schwarber this offseason, so they need depth in the outfield especially low-cost outfielders. Maybin despite a good 2019 and a solid 2020 fits into that category and gives David Ross flexibility if he wants to keep Ian Happ in center because Maybin has experience all over the outfield.

Finally, the Cubs are said to be a potential player in the non-Trevor Bauer area of the starting pitching market to give a solid number three behind Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks. I think a reunion with Jake Arrieta would fit that role. He is not the same pitcher he was when he left in 2018, but I think going back to where he is comfortable could really help Arrieta find at least his 2018 form, which would be a solid three in the rotation.

St. Louis Cardinals

Speaking of reunions, the Cardinals need to be the reunion team of the offseason. Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright need to be career Cardinals just from a fan of baseball perspective. On the field, Molina is anchor of the defense and is like a second coach on the field while Wainwright is a big part of helping the young pitchers develop. They can also still produce with Molina batting .262 last season while Wainwright tossed a team high 65.2 innings with a 3.15 ERA.

With Kolton Wong departing, Tommy Edman (.304 and 11 homers over 92 games in 2019) looks ready to slide into the starting lineup leaving a whole on the bench for a utility player. Kiké Hernández would be the perfect player to fill that role. He can play the outfield, second base or third while being a career .263 hitter against left-handed pitchers (starters or relievers) and a career .241 hitter against right-handed starters. Hernández would be a great player to give the Cardinals depth.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have been looking for shortstop help for what seems like the last two years. This offseason is the perfect place to upgrade the position with Marcus Semien on the market. Semien finished third in MVP voting in 2019 and has the highest WAR from the last three seasons (14.1) of any free agent this offseason. His defense has improved every year since his 35 error 2015 to the point where he posted Defensive Runs Saved Above Average in 2018 and 2019. He is coming off a rough 2020 where both his defense and offense took a step back, but he only appeared in 53 games due to injuries and played through an injury through most of those 53 games. I think the injuries did enough to drive his price down in 2021 and potentially could only be playing on a one-year deal, so he will be well within the Reds budget to give them a chance at a repeat playoff appearance in 2021.

To get back to the postseason, the Reds will need to fill the bullpen holes created by non-tendering Archie Bradley and trading away Raisel Iglesias. To fill that hole, the Reds should sign Brandon Kintzler would be a perfect add because his price will be driven down by his age being 36, but he is still productive after saving 12 games last year while posting a 2.22 ERA.

Steve Cishek would also be a great and low cost add to the Reds bullpen because he was released by the White Sox at the end of last year after pitching to a 5.40 ERA, but he was very dependable for the Cubs in 2018 and 2019 pitching back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 3.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers find themselves in a similar situation as the Cardinals where they have a franchise legend as a free agent. I think the Brewers need to reunite with Ryan Braun to allow him to play his final year in Milwaukee. He may not be an everyday player especially if the DH is not back in the NL next year, but I think the Brewers and Braun could both benefit from one last year in a Brewers uniform in-front of (hopefully) fans.

I think the Brewers are going to move Brent Suter back into the rotation, which gives them a hole in the bullpen for a lefty. I think Tony Watson would be a great add to the Brewers bullpen. A veteran lefty with a career 2.80 ERA and coming off of a season where he pitched to a 2.50 ERA in 21 games illustrates that he is a solid contributor at age 35 and has been a very good reliever his entire 10-year career.

Pittsburgh Pirates

As I suggested yesterday, the Pirates should trade Jameson Taillon and Sam Howard to the Yankees for Alexander Vizcaino, Canaan Smith and Ezequiel Duran. This helps the Pirates continue their rebuild while giving them some pieces for the future.

Trading Taillon gives them a hole in the rotation, which can be filled by signing Mike Foltynewicz. While figuring out which young arms can stick at the MLB level, you need guys to fill innings, which is something Foltynewicz will be looking to do after a disappointing 2019 and 2020. At best, he finds his 2018 All-Star form, which makes him a trade target, but at worst, he serves a Derek Holland role and eats some innings.

I would not be very active in the position player free agent or trade market if I was the Pirates because they are still in the process of figuring out which young guys can stick, and which ones cannot. Also, Josh Bell is coming off a down year in 2020, so his value will not be a strong as it could be at the trade deadline if he returns to his 2019 All-Star form.