In the 2013 MLB season one division dominated over most of the league and sent three teams to the playoffs. That team is of course the NL Central, and that division also holds the defending NL Champions, but all of the three in this division are losing key pieces and will be looking to add to their teams to maintain their success. These are the latest rumors for each team in the division.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew have a lot of upsides for the future that start with Jean Segura. The expectations were much higher than a fourth place finish, though, and the disappointing season along with the controversy that surrounded the team because of the involvement of the face of the franchise Ryan Braun in the biogenesis scandal the Crew will be looking to make some positive changes.
They are only losing three players to free agency including Michael Gonzalez and Yuniesky Betancourt, but the biggest free agent that they could be losing is first baseman/outfielder Corey Hart. Hart has had a lot of trouble staying healthy recently, but a permanent move to first could help him stay healthy.
There were rumors about a trade with the Mets to acquire Ike Davis, but it appears that the Crew may be likely to bring Hart back to do just that. Securing his services could be though as multiple teams are calling on Hart but Hart has said he’d like to return to Milwaukee and would even take a discount to stay giving them the inside track.
First baseman is the only true need of this team right now, but adding some depth to the bullpen and the infield could help this team in a big way. Injuries to Hart and Aramis Ramirez on the infield derailed the offense along with the suspension of Braun, and if they can add any depth to the corner infield it could be the biggest signing of the season. Right now, though, they are not rumored to be looking at anyone other than Hart, but don’t be surprised if they make a move for a closer or an experienced middle reliever as well as filling that hole at first base.
St. Louis Cardinals
The defending NL Champions don’t have a lot to worry about when it comes to losing players via free agency. The only major notable name they are losing is Carlos Beltran, and although his production was high during his time with the Cards, it may be better to let him leave than to sink money into an ageing veteran. The Cards have built this team from the ground up with home grown talent so it is hard to believe they will make much of a splash in free agency, but they are rumored to be shopping around for multiple players and have one big need at shortstop.
That is a need they want to fill with a player that they know can play and produce, so they have called multiple teams looking for a trade partner.
Rumors were abound about Jed Lowrie being discussed with the A’s, but manager Bob Melvin seems to think it is just that, rumors, as he stated on the Bay Area’s 95.7 The Game that the A’s see Lowrie as a part of the future and are not looking to move him.
That was only the latest trade target of the Cards, though. During the winter meetings last week they reportedly discussed a trade possibility with the Rockies about all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but that did not come to fruition.
Other rumors involving the Cards include the Yankees asking about David Freese and them shooting down the Orioles when they asked about starting pitcher Shelby Miller. Look for them to lock down an offensive shortstop this offseason and maybe retain the services of Beltran.
Cincinnati Reds
If no other team in the NL Central had any rumors at all the Reds would have enough rumors to make up for all of the teams. The Reds are only losing two key players, veteran starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo and center fielder Shin-Soo Choo but those two filled major holes for the team and the other free agents filled key backup roles. The Reds have already made one acquisition by signing Skip Schumaker and filled the utility role that was vacated by free agent Cesar Izturis. The team is also looking hard at bringing Choo back into the fold but it is the trade rumors where the Reds seem to be involved all over the place.
The Reds are rumored to be putting up gold glove second baseman Brandon Phillips on the trading block as well as starting pitcher Homer Bailey and catcher Ryan Hanigan.
The rumors are that Phillips would head out so that they can afford to retain Choo which would move Billy Hamilton to second and a move of Bailey would be necessary as well to free up cap space.
The rumors about Hamilton don’t end there, though, because if none of this happens and Choo does leave it’s rumored that the speedster will be moved to center and the Reds will add a veteran centerfielder to work in tandem with him.
The rumors about Hanigan stem from the signing of veteran catcher Brayan Pena. The thought process is that the signing of the veteran catcher means that Hanigan is on his way out. The only thing that is certain is that the Reds are looking to improve and they will take any means necessary to do so.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates finally broke through and made the playoffs after 20 straight losing seasons and now that that monkey is off of their backs they look to improve going into 2013. The team is losing three key pieces but two of them weren’t even on the roster for more than half the year in the form of outfielder Marlon Byrd (Who has already signed with Phillies) and first baseman Justin Morneau. The third, and probably the most impactful loss is starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. Burnett was a solid veteran leader at the top end of the starting rotation and losing him could be quite impactful on the young starting rotation, and unlike Byrd and Morneau Burnett was on the roster for the entire season and made a bigger impact on the team. That leaves Francisco Liriano as the only veteran in the starting rotation, and while he is a great example he is not known as a leader.
The loss of Byrd and Morneau will be tough for the team, but both holes could be easily filled. The big rumor out there is that people are calling the Angels about Mark Trumbo, and if the lefty slugger is indeed available you can believe that the Pirates will be one of the teams calling about him as he would be a huge improvement over Morneau. Other than the possibility of Trumbo there is not a lot of rumors around the Pirates organization, but expect them to be involved in rumors in the future on first baseman and right fielders, but other than that this team is set up well for the 2014 season.
Chicago Cubs
From one of the most put together teams in the division to the least put together team in the division. While the Cubs don’t have a lot going for them it’s because they’re young and inexperienced and thanks to that they’re not losing any key players to free agency. They have signed outfielder Ryan Sweeney to a two year deal and have hired a new manager, Rick Renteria, and are now believed to be done making major moves. Their biggest focus now is re-signing Jeff Samardzija, but it is believed if they cannot come to a decision he will be on the block. The Arizona Diamondbacks have already called about him. If the Cubs truly do make no more moves this season then you can expect another last place finish from this team as they continue to look to build for the future.