1x Free Agent Each NL Central Team Must Sign to Catch the Milwaukee Brewers
A Blog By Brett
This article is to be treated as Part Two of this Six-Part blog series. I must apologize as these blogs were supposed to be up almost two weeks ago, but then real life got hectic. My gut told me to wait until after the Winter Meetings to publish this series, as so much activity happens in a matter of 3 days, and predictions can go right out the window.
I figured if I waited to see what crazy moves happened, I’d be able to sit back and look more realistically at what organizations are going to try to do this offseason. That being the case, I am jumping into the National League Central today and examining how each team can try to catch the Milwaukee Brewers in the division.
Chicago Cubs
Team Needs - Pitching (Rotation & Bullpen)
In my eyes, Zac Gallen is a perfect fit for this team. I think this is the time for the Cubs to go in on Gallen. Chicago added a couple of relievers last week, and even with this news, I think they will continue to make small moves to address the bullpen. It can not be said enough, if Chicago has World Series aspirations in 2026, they must add significant pieces to the rotation.
The Cubs are clearly trying to contend without breaking the bank, so Gallen fits that mold. Gallen is a much better pitcher than his 2025 statistics say. He owns a 3.58 career ERA across 1007.1 MLB innings. I expect him to bounce back, and the Cubs can get him on a short-term deal.
After 2025, there is no way he is going to get the contract he was eyeing after the 2023 season, where he finished CYA-3. The Cubs would be smart to get him for a year or two, as they can afford it, and he would drastically improve the depth of the rotation for 2026.
2025 - 1.1 bWAR | 4.83 ERA | 33 GS | 192 IP | 175 K | 1.26 WHIP
Cincinnati Reds
Team Needs - A Big Bat
Now that Schwarber and Alonso are gone, there are only a handful of impact bats that the Reds would be interested as well as have mutual interest in Cincinnati. Let’s be real, there is 0% chance of Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and/or Cody Bellinger signing with the Reds.
A superstar bat being added to the fold for 2026 is highly unlikely for Cincinnati. The only way I can see them adding a bat of that magnitude is via trade, and even then, I don’t know if the Reds have the assets to pull off a move like that. Don’t get me wrong, the Reds seem to consistently have intriguing prospects, but a blockbuster deal might not be in the cards.
I am looking at this from a more realistic approach. Who is an impact bat that would come to Cincinnati? How about a veteran who has already played in this city? Eugenio Suarez makes all the sense in the world to go sign. The Reds do not have to give him a long-term deal. The AAV is going to be lower than what Suarez was looking for at the beginning of the 2025 season due to a second-half slump, and they don’t have to part ways with any of their farm system to acquire him!
2025 - 3.6 bWAR | 49 HR | .228 BA | .824 OPS | 118 RBI
Pittsburgh Pirates
Team Needs - Bats
Similar to the Reds, Pittsburgh needs bats. Not just a bat, they need multiple. This rotation is too good, and Paul Skenes is too valuable to lose to a trade demand by not making this team competitive as soon as possible!
The beauty of having multiple holes in the lineup is that there are many options to help the Pirates where they see fit. Adding Harrison Bader to the mix in an outfield that already boasts Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz would make for a rather nice outfield.
Bader is not likely to sign back with Philadelphia, as they just signed Adolis Garcia this morning, as I was writing this. He will cost Pittsburgh less than $20M/AAV if he signs a 2 or 3-year deal. Bader brings a valuable bat to the middle of the lineup, some speed, and solid defense (2021 GG Winner) to the Pittsburgh lineup.
2025 - 3.9 bWAR | 17 HR | .277 BA | .796 OPS | 54 RBI
St. Louis Cardinals
Team Needs - Pitching (Rotation & Bullpen)
Chaim Bloom enters the chat.
Entering his 1st year as President of Baseball Operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, I expect Bloom to start building from the ground up. There is a ton of young and talented baseball players on this roster already, but I’d be surprised if we don’t start seeing some moves from St. Louis. Bloom has prior experience in developing and growing organizations with both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox and has seen plenty of success.
The Cardinals really need arms for 2026. The question is how much emphasis does Bloom put on winning in 2026 vs. building a sustainable winner. My gut tells me Bloom is going to be more conservative year 1 at the helm, which leads me to think they are not going to go after a Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez-like player.
Instead, I think they move Arenado for pitching/prospects, all the while adding a veteran pitcher on a team-friendly deal. Nick Martinez would cost close to nothing for St. Louis to add into the mix.
Martinez was solid last year for Cincinnati, and his career ERA is closer to 4.20 than 4.50 from 2025. Martinez might be 35 years old by the end of the 2026 season, but he offers St. Louis an affordable way to eat some innings in a lackluster rotation, all the while not having to part ways with money or a even worse, a high-end prospect.
2025 - 2.3 bWAR | 4.45 ERA | 26 GS | 165.2 IP | 116 K | 1.20 WHIP