Offseason Review: NL Central

Chicago Cubs
Added: 2B Mark DeRosa (FA/TEX), SP Ted Lilly (FA/TOR), SP Jason Marquis (FA/STL), OF Alfonso Soriano (FA/WAS), OF/1B Daryl Ward (FA/ATL), RP Neal Cotts (Trade/CHW)
Lost: OF Juan Pierre (FA/LAD), OF Freddie Bynum (Trade/BAL), OF Josh Hamilton (Trade/CIN), RP David Aardsma (Trade/CHW)
Grade: B+
Summary: The Cubs ended up with the best free agent on the market in Soriano. The contract he got was a bit rediculous when at age 38 he'll be making $17 million. He's always good for 30+ homers, drive in 90+ and steal 30+ bags but his average has been on a decline since he hit .300 in '02 (.290, .280, .268, .277 respectively). SP's Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis cashed in with the Cubs getting $10 million per year and $7 million per year, respectively. DeRosa picked a great time to have a career year (.296, 13 HR, 74 RBI) and, he too, cashed in with Chicago (3yr/$13mil). Trading Aardsma for Cotts brings a lefty the 'pen to take some stress off Scott Eyre. Ward will be used primarily as a bench player, filling in for Derek Lee at first.

Cincinnati Reds
Added: SS Alex Gonzalez (FA/BOS), RP Mike Stanton (FA/SF), 2B Jeff Keppinger (Trade/KC), CF Josh Hamilton (Trade/CHC), 1B Jeff Conine (Trade/PHI)
Lost: 3B Rich Aurilia (FA/SF), SS Royce Clayton (FA/TOR), RP Ryan Franklin (FA/STL), RP Scott Schoeneweis (FA/NYM), 3B Brendan Harris (Trade/TB), C Jason LaRue (Trade/KC)
Grade: D
Summary: The Reds added two experienced vets in Stanton and Conine to bring some help to the bullpen and the bench. Also the addition of Gonzalez at short helps fill the void that was left by Clayton. Aquiring the oft-troubled Josh Hamilton from the Cubs (Chicagos's Rule V draft pick from Tampa Bay) will spend the season in the minors and still has the ability be a very talented player if he can stay out of trouble.

Houston Astros
Added: OF Carlos Lee (FA/TEX), SP Woody Williams (FA/SD), 2B Mark Loretta (FA/BOS), SP Jason Jennings (Trade/COL), SP Miguel Asencio (Trade/COL)
Lost: 3B Aubry Huff (FA/BAL), SP Andy Pettitte (FA/NYY), RP Russ Springer (FA/STL), SP Taylor Buchholz (Trade/COL), SP Jason Hirsh (Trade/COL), CF Willy Taveras (Trade/COL)
Grade: C
Summary: Adding Lee (.300/37/116) and Loretta (.285/5/59) to one of the worst offenses in the NL, if not all of baseball, should help out tremendously. Replacing Pettitte, Buchholz and Hirsh with Williams and Jennings is about even and should do fine to fill those holes. Trading away Taveras hurts the top of the order without his speed and also the defense without his glove but Chris Burke will take over that position well.

Milwaukee Brewers
Added: SP Jeff Suppan (FA/STL), SS Craig Counsell (FA/ARI), C Johnny Estrada (Trade/ARI), SP Claudio Vargas (Trade/ARI), RP Greg Aquino (Trade/ARI)
Lost: 3B Jeff Cirillo (FA/MIN), SP Doug Davis (Trade/ARI), SP Dana Eveland (Trade/ARI), OF Dave Krynzel (Trade/ARI)
Grade: B
Summary: The Brew Crew aren't that far from being a serious contender in the NL Central and also the NL. Adding Counsell to back-up both SS J.J. Hardy and 2B Rickie Weeks is a great signing because they're both injury prone. They also added a very reliable player in Estrada but also gave up a 200+ inning horse in Davis in the deal. Adding Suppan to fill Davis's void is decent and a change of scenery could do Aquino well, who will be used in front of Fransisco Cordero. Look for big things from this Milwaukee team in a very weak NL Central.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Added: 1B Adam LaRoche (Trade/ATL)
Lost: RP Mike Gonzalez (Trade/ATL)
Grade: B+
Summary: Only one move that was made for the Pirates and it was a big one, aquiring LaRoche from Atlanta. Despite giving up their closer in Gonzalez, the Pirates got the left-handed power hitting they been hungry for and also they're getting a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman.


St. Louis Cardinals
Added: 2B Adam Kennedy (FA/LAA), SP Kip Wells (FA/TEX), RP Russ Springer (FA/HOU), RP Ryan Franklin (FA/CIN)
Lost: SP Jason Marquis (FA/CHC), RP Jorge Sosa (FA/NYM), SP Jeff Suppan (FA/MIL)
Grade: D+
Summary: The Cards go the second basemen they've been searching for in Kennedy, who was rumored to be landing there for a while. The lack of starting pitching behind Carpenter is really killing them right now (losing Suppan and Marquis to free agency) and the signings of Wells, Springer and Franklin seems like they're finding out how much crap can stick on the walls.