The Cincinnati Reds were the first team outside of the playoff picture last season, falling seven games short of the St. Louis Cardinals in the wild-card race with an 83-79 record.
After a very quiet offseason to this point, the question is what does the Reds’ ceiling look like for the upcoming season after several notable departures on their roster.
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The Reds haven’t gained any ground in the winter on the Cardinals, who were propelled by a franchise-record 17-game winning streak in September, and they were 12 games back from the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers. Will the Reds be better than a third-place team in 2022 or will they even fall below the Chicago Cubs?
With the sport in an ongoing lockout, here’s a look at all the changes in the division:
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (95-67 record in 2021)
In: RF Hunter Renfroe, INF Mike Brosseau, C Pedro Severino, RP Trevor Gott, RP J.C. Mejía.
Out: RF Avisaíl García, 3B Eduardo Escobar, 1B Daniel Vogelbach, C Manny Piña, LHP Brett Anderson, RP Brad Boxberger, RP Hunter Strickland, CF Jackie Bradley Jr., C Luke Maile.
The Brewers ran away with the division last season and the core of the roster remains in place. Corbin Burnes, the NL Cy Young winner, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta will continue to highlight the rotation. There is Josh Hader and Devin Williams in the bullpen. Christian Yelich struggled throughout the 2021 season, but he’s still a mainstay near the top of their lineup.
Milwaukee replaced García, who signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Miami Marlins, when they completed a trade just ahead of the lockout for Boston Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe, a guy who hit 33 doubles and 31 homers last season. They dealt Bradley to acquire Renfroe, but they’re covered in center with Lorenzo Cain.
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It was a short stay in the postseason, losing in four games to Atlanta, but the Brewers should remain the division favorite with the strength of their pitching staff.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (90-72)
In: LHP Steven Matz, RP Ljay Newsome, manager Oli Marmol.
Out: RP Luis García, RHP Carlos Martinez, LHP J.A. Happ, LHP Jon Lester, RP Andrew Miller, LHP Wade LeBlanc, LHP Kwang Hyun Kim, INF Matt Carpenter, OF Austin Dean, manager Mike Shildt.
One of the biggest surprises in the offseason was the Cardinals’ decision to fire Shildt following a loss in the Wild Card Game to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Marmol, 35, was their bench coach, so there is still a lot of continuity on their staff.
The Cardinals addressed some of their big roster decisions in the second half of the season, signing catcher Yadier Molina to a one-year, $10 million contract extension for what he says will be his final season and signing starter Adam Wainwright to a one-year, $17.5 million extension after his dominant year.
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After their rotation was ravaged by injuries last season, the Cardinals opened the winter by signing Matz to a four-year, $44 million deal. They’re hopeful for healthy seasons from Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson, which would be a boost to their postseason hopes next year.
CINCINNATI REDS (83-79)
In: N/A
Out: RF Nick Castellanos, C Tucker Barnhart, LHP Wade Miley, RP Michael Lorenzen, RP Mychal Givens, RP Cionel Pérez.
The Reds are one of three teams without a Major League free agent signing, along with Cleveland and Oakland. Payroll was a driving factor for their inactivity and why they were set to decline Miley’s $10 million club option before placing him on waivers.
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Once the lockout ends, the Reds will weigh trade offers for Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. Dealing one of them signals at least a short-term rebuild, but the Reds are without arguably their top hitter (Castellanos) and top pitcher (Miley) from last season.
CHICAGO CUBS (71-91)
In: RHP Marcus Stroman, LHP Wade Miley, C Yan Gomes, OF Clint Frazier, OF Harold Ramirez.
Out: RHP Zach Davies, INF Matt Duffy, RP Trevor Megill, C Austin Romine, C Robinson Chirinos, RP Jason Adam, RP Dillon Maples.
It’s a new era for the Cubs as they no longer have guys like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant or Javier Báez, but they showed they’re not entering a long-term rebuild after signing Stroman to a three-year, $71 million deal.
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The Cubs are still at least a few moves from being legitimate playoff contenders. The rotation has a solid core with Stroman, Miley and Kyle Hendricks, but it’s a light lineup outside of catcher Willson Contreras. They reportedly have interest in shortstop Carlos Correa, which would be a commitment to a competitive team next year, but it’s one thing to have interest and another to pay a star player a contract of around $300 million.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (61-101)
In: LHP José Quintana, C Roberto Pérez, RHP Zach Thompson.
Out: C Jacob Stallings, RHP Trevor Cahill, UTIL Wilmer Difo, LHP Steven Brault, RP Chasen Shreve, RHP Chad Kuhl, 1B Colin Moran.
The Pirates will continue their rebuilding efforts, hoping to build around some of their young talent like third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, shortstop Oneil Cruz and possibly outfielder Bryan Reynolds if he aligns with their next wave of prospects.
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