NL Central: What Each Team Needs Before Spring Training

The National League Central’s offseason has been a bit of a maze. Some clubs have gone all-in, while others seem content to quietly rethink their future.

Chicago and Pittsburgh jumped into roster changes. Meanwhile, Milwaukee and Cincinnati have stuck with a more patient, measured approach. Then there’s St. Louis, tearing it all down and starting fresh. This division’s become one of baseball’s most unpredictable offseason stories.

NL Central Offseason: A Division Moving in Different Directions

The 2025 season finished with a few NL Central teams making the playoffs. But that didn’t lead to a single, shared strategy for winter moves.

Front offices have shown their hand through their actions—or sometimes, by holding back. The Cubs and Pirates have acted quickly and aggressively. The Brewers and Reds seem fine just tweaking around the edges.

Chicago Cubs Go All-In on Roster Depth

Chicago wasted no time after falling short last October. The Cubs rebuilt their bullpen, adding Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner to shore up late innings.

They brought in Edward Cabrera for rotation depth. The real headline, though, was signing Alex Bregman to lock down third base.

Bregman’s arrival shakes up the infield picture. Now, the Cubs have so many options that young players like Owen Caissie could become trade bait.

At the same time, they can’t afford to mess with the chemistry that made Nico Hoerner so valuable last year, especially with his free agency coming up.

Cincinnati Reds: Bullpen Help, Offensive Questions

The Reds have played it safe so far, mostly focusing on their bullpen after making the playoffs. That helps with run prevention, but the offense still looks shaky and inconsistent.

Relief Arms Added, Bats Still Needed

Cincinnati kept Emilio Pagan and added Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson to stabilize things late in games.

The lineup, though, remains thin—especially when it comes to power and getting on base. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the Reds look for trades or late free-agent signings to fix that.

Milwaukee Brewers Balancing Patience and Asset Management

Milwaukee’s been quiet, but that’s nothing new for them. They prefer to move carefully instead of chasing headlines.

Peralta Trade Speculation Looms

The Brewers made a surprise move, picking up lefty Angel Zerpa and sending 2025 Rookie of the Year candidate Isaac Collins elsewhere.

They also kept a healthy Brandon Woodruff with a qualifying offer. The big question is whether they’ll trade ace Freddy Peralta before he hits free agency. That kind of move lines up with how Milwaukee usually operates.

Pittsburgh Pirates Push Toward Contention

Pittsburgh’s making it clear they want to win now. With Paul Skenes leading the rotation, the energy around the team feels different.

Offense Added to Support Skenes

The Pirates bolstered their lineup, bringing in Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and more outfield help.

They traded from their pitching surplus, sending out Johan Oviedo and Mike Burrows. There’s a good chance Pittsburgh isn’t done yet—more offense or pitching could be on the way.

St. Louis Cardinals Begin a New Era

St. Louis went through the biggest changes of all, choosing a full teardown. They got no-trade waivers from their veteran stars and hit the reset button.

Major Departures, Major Decisions Ahead

The Cardinals traded Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado for prospect capital. That move signals a clear shift toward the future.

Now, the front office faces a tough call with fan-favorite Brendan Donovan. Should they move him as part of this rebuild?

St. Louis also needs a right-handed bat. The offense feels hollow after so many departures, and plugging that gap won’t be simple.

Spring training’s right around the corner, and honestly, the NL Central looks like a division full of wild contrasts. Will bold moves pay off, or does patience actually win the day? That’s one of the big questions hanging over the 2026 season.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Sizing up the NL Central: What each team still needs to do before spring training