Baseball players are getting ready for spring training (most pitchers and catchers have already arrived in Florida and Arizona). Now is a good time to take a look at the National League. Who had the best acquisitions and worst losses in the offseason and what are each team's strengths and weaknesses.
Chicago Cubs
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 24
2011 record: 71-91, sixth place in the NL Central
Manager: Dale Sveum, first full season
Key Questions: The Cubs brought in GM Theo Epstein to rescue
the franchise. It’s going to take a few years. The biggest question is
in the rotation, especially at the bottom where Randy Wells, Rodrigo
Lopez and Casey Coleman will compete. At first base, Bryan LaHair
gets first crack though phenom Anthony Rizzo will likely get a shot
before getting sent down to AAA.
Key Players: P Chris Volstad is a 6-8 pitcher who came over from the Carlos Zambrano deal. He won 13 games with the Marlins. LHP Travis Woods and LHP Paul Maholm (3.66 ERA) will bolster the rotation. Lineup is average at best.
Key Additions: RF David DeJesus (FAF-Oak), LHP Paul Maholm (FA-Pit). 1B Anthony Rizzo (Trade-SD), OF Dave Sappell (TradeCin), 3B Ian Stewart (Trade-Col), ), LHP Travis Wood (Trade-Cin),
Key Subtractions: RHP Andrew Cashner (Trade-SD),OF Tyler Colvin (Trade-Col), LHP Sean Marshall (Trade-Cin), 1B Carlos Pena (FA-TB), 3B Aramis Ramirez (FA-Milw).
Cincinnati Reds
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 24
2011 record: 79-83, second in the NL Central
Manager: Dusty Baker, fifth season
Key Questions: The Reds had a disappointing season last year. They also have issues with the bottom of their rotation. At left field, Chad Heisey had 18 homers and 50 RBI as a part-timer.
Key Players: 3B Scott Rolen is coming off shoulder surgery for a change so 3B Juan Francisco may finally get a chance if he can cut down on the strikeouts. Mat Latos (9-14, 3.47) comes over from San Diego to become the ace of the team. OF Ryan Ludwick is a solid utility player, who can play both outfield spot and supply a righty stick. Ryan Madson comes over as a closer who converted 32 of 34 saves chances last year and posted a 2.37 ERA last year with the Phillies.
Key Additions: RHP Mat Latos (Trade-SD), OF Ryan Ludwick (FAPit), RHP Ryan Madson (FA-Phil), LHP Sean Marshall (Trade-Chic),
Key Subtractions: RHP Francisco Cordero (FA-Tor), C Ramon Hernandez (FA-Col), RHP Edinson Volquez (Trade-SD), LHP Dontrelle Willis (FA-Phi), LHP Travis Wood (Trade-Chic).
Houston Astros
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 202011 record: 56-106, sixth place in the NL Central.
Manager: Brad Mills, third season.
Key Questions: The Astros are still trying to rebuild. CF Jordan Schaefer is expected to start in center field. He was arrested in the offseason and is on his second team after coming over from Braves’ system. Their rotation is not there yet. They lack a fifth starter as Livan Hernandez and Zach Duke will compete for the final spot.
Key Players: SS Jed Lowrie finally gets a full-time shot after playing a utility role with the Red Sox. RF Brian Bogusevic wa as first-round pick in 2005 as a pitcher. He showed some potential last year. 1B Carlos Lee (.275, 18, 94) is in the final year of a $100M contract. He still has some power left. Pitchers Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers are making a lot of money and might get traded at some point this season for young prospects.
Key Additions: OF C Chris Snyder (FA-Pit), LHP Zach Duke (FAAriz), RHP Livan Hernandez (Was).
Key Subtractions: SS Clint Barmes (FA-Pit), RHP Mark Melancon
(Trade-Bos).
Los Angeles Dodgers
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 22
2011 record: 82-79, third place in the NL West
Manager: Don Mattingly, second season.
Key Questions: The Dodgers have a lot of questions including at catcher, where A.J. Ellis will get the shot at age 31. Chad Billingsley went 11-11 last year with a career-high 4.21 ERA. He has great stuff but hasn’t produced. 3B Juan Uribe is 32 and coming off a sports hernia that cost him to miss the final two months.
Key Players: OF Matt Kemp is arguably the best player in baseball. He led the league in home runs with 39, runs scored with 115 and RBIs with 126. He won a Gold Glove and stole 40 bases. OF Andre Ethier finished with a .292 average with 11 homers and just 62 RBIs after a great start. P Clayton Kershaw (21-5, 2.28) ran away with the Cy Young Award.
Key Additions: LHP Chris Capuano (FA-NYM), 2B Mark Ellis (FACol), UT Jerry Hairston Jr. (FA-Mil), RHP Aaron Harang (FA-SD), INF Adam Kennedy (FA-Sea), C Matt Treanor (FA-KC),
Key Subtractions: C Rod Barajas (FA-Phi), 3B Casey Blake (FACol), RHP Jonathan Broxton (FA-KC), LHP Dana Eveland (TradeBal), RHP Hiroki Kuroda (FA-NYY), RHP Vicente Padilla (FA-Bos).
Milwaukee Brewers
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 25
2011 record: 96-66, third place in the NL Central
Manager: Ron Roenicke, second season.
Key Questions: Big issues for the Brewers starting with first base as they have to replace Prince Fielder. Mat Gamel (.310, 28, 96 for AAA) should get the job though OF Corey Hart could work there as well. The other big issues is at left field as Ryan Braun (.332, 33, 111, 33sbs) was suspended for 50 games (he’s appealing).
Key Players: Aoki comes over from Japan where he won three batting titles. The outfielder could also play first base as insurance. 3B Aramis Ramirez (.306, 26, 93) comes over from the Cubs. He’ll have to be the cleanup hitter to protect Braun.
Key Additions: OF Norichika Aoki (rights from Japan), SS Alex Gonalez (FA-Atl), 3B Aramis Ramirez (FA-Chc), RHP Jose Veras (Trade-Pit).
Key Subtractions: SS Yuniesky Betancourt (FA-KC), 1B Prince Fielder (FA-Det), INF Jerry Hairston Jr., (FA-LAD), 3B Casey McGehee (Trade-Pit), RHP Takashi Saito (FA-Ariz),
New York Mets
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 27
2011 record: 77-85, fourth place in the NL East
Manager: Terry Collins, second season.
Key Questions: The Mets lose Jose Reyes and will move 2B Ruben Tejada over to shortstop. At right field, Lucas Duda (.292, 10HR) will try and fight off veteran Scott Hairston and rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis for the job. Pitching is shaky as Mike Pelfrey is coming 7-13 season.
Key Players: Andres Torres comes over from San Francisco in a deal for Angel Pagan. Torres is a good defender with limited experience. P Dillon Gee had a stellar rookie season with a 13-6 record. Johan Santana is the key as he’s coming back front shoulder surgery and hasn’t pitched in the major since 2010.
Key Additions: SS Ronny Cedeno (FA-Pit), RHP Fran Francisco (FA-Tor), RHP Jon Rauch (FA-Tor).
Key Subtractions: LHP Chris Capuano (FA-LAD), OF Angel Pagan (Trade-SF), SS Jose Reyes (FA-Mia),
Pittsburgh Pirates
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 24
2011 record: 72-90, fourth in the NL Central
Manager: Clint Hurdle, second season
Key Questions: The Pirates improved some last season and were actually in first place before fading the last 2 months. At first base, Garrett Jones struggles against lefties and the Pirates need a platoon partner. They did acquire 1B/3B Casey McGehee from
Milwaukee, who can play third or first. He hit just .223 last year while Pedro Alvarez only hit .191. So somebody has to win the third base job. They need a fifth starters with Charlie Morton questionable to start the season after October hip surgery. Brad Lincoln could get acrack at the job.
Key Players: The Pirates always go for reclamation projects and LP Erik Bedard is one of them. The lefty (4-7, 3.45) can’t seem to stay healthy but can be a dominant lefty at times. OF Nate McLouth hit .228 with the Braves but the former Pirate won a Gold Glove in 2008 when he hit 20 homers and stole 19 bases before moving on to Atlanta. Once again, the Pirates are looking to find a player on the cheap.
Key Additions: C Rod Barajas (FA-LAD), SS Clint Barmes (FA-Hou), LHP Erik Bedard (FA-Bos), 3B Casey McGehee (Trade-Mil), OF Nate McLouth (FA-Atl).
Key Subtractions: SS Ronny Cedeno (FA-NYM), OF Ryan Ludwick (FA-CIn), LHP Paul Maholm (FA-Chc), HP Jose Veras (Trade-Mil).
St. Louis Cardinals
First Full Squad Workout: Feb. 23
2011 record: 90-72, first place in the NL Central (World Series
Champs)
Manager: Mike Matheny, First season.
Key Questions: The Cards won the World Series last year but lost star 1B Albert Pujols in free agency. They also lost manager Tony La Russa, who retired. Mike Matheny takes over and has big shoes to fill. Elite pitching coach Dave Duncan also leaves (family concerns) so bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist will take over. At second base, Tyler Greene and Daniel Descalso will compete. Skip Schumaker started 89 times at second but could be moved to the outfield. They can move Lance Berkman over from outfield to first.
Key Players: OF Carlos Beltran (22 homers with NYM and San Fran) was signed to replace Pujols in the lineup. But he’s nowhere near as feared. The good news is that Adam Wainright is back after season-ending elbow surgery that came last February. Chris Carpenter showed he could still pitch, while LHP Jamie Garcia (13-7, 3.56) has ace potential. Berkman (.301, 31, 94) and OF Matt Holliday (.296, 22, 75) will end up missing Pujols’ presence in the lineup.
Key Additions: OF Carols Beltran (FA-SF), INF Alex Cora (FA-Was), LHP J.C. Romero (FA-Col).
Key Subtractions: RHP Octavio Dotel (FA-Det), P Edwin Jackson (FA-Was), C Gerald Laird (FA-Det), 1B Albert Pujols (FA-LAA), INF Nick Punto (FA-Mil)