We still could see a trade or two, and there are yet a few -- not very enticing -- free agents who remain unsigned, but for the most part the "Hot Stove" portion of the offseason is over. We're moving into the spring training phase.
Thus, we need to assign grades to each team for what we just witnessed. Premature? Please! We shall cast immediate judgments on everyone and etch them in stone for all posterity.
Let's continue with the NL Central, going in order of last season's finish in the standings.
Grade: B+
Coming off another NLCS appearance, general manager John Mozeliak made four significant additions, most notably outfielder Jason Heyward, in a trade with the Braves for right-hander Shelby Miller. Although it wasn't expressed as such at the time, part of the motivation to lock down right field probably sprung in part from the shocking death in late October of prospect Oscar Taveras.
Heyward's offensive output over the past four season hasn't equaled that of his breakout rookie season, but there are few better defenders in the outfield. He's a free agent after this season, which makes it a risky move, though the Cards figure to at least get a compensation pick for Heyward if he leaves.
They also added right-hander Jordan Walden in the Heyward deal, and signed Matt Belisle as a free agent. Walden (11.2 k/9) is coming off perhaps his best season, Belisle (88 OPS+) perhaps his worst. Both will have important roles with Pat Neshek and Jason Motte leaving.
The Cardinals also signed slugger Mark Reynolds, who could play first (platooning with Matt Adams) or third, and carries a .229/.324/.457 career batting line.
What didn't they do? Add a front-line starting pitcher such as James Shields or Max Scherzer But, with Michael Wacha's shoulder feeling better the Cardinals might not have needed one.
Grade: B-
Left-hander Francisco Liriano filed for free agency, but he found offers from other teams lacking, so he's back. Considering how well he's pitched over two seasons in Pittsburgh (111 ERA+ in 55 starts), they got a good deal for three years and $39 million.
The Bucs also beefed up the rotation with old friend A.J. Burnett, who's back after a season away. Burnett is 38 and his results slipped in 2014, but but his strikeouts-per-9 were on par with his successful 2012 season.
Catcher Russell Martin filed for free agency and didn't come back, signing instead with the Blue Jays. In response, the Bucs traded reliever Justin Wilson to the Yankees for catcher Francisco Cervelli, who can hit and has plus framing skills. This is a role of the dice but might turn out to be shrewd if Cervelli gets some good luck, for a change, with his health.
GM Neal Huntington also bulked up the bench with players who also might start, most notably Corey Hart and infielder free agent Jeong-ho Kang, 27, from Korea. Kang's stats were ridiculously good overseas, but it remains to be seen how his skills translate. He's probably more second baseman or third baseman than shortstop, but we'll see. Hart could take the place of Gaby Sanchez as an effective right-hand platoon option at first base, but he also might play right field if and/or when Gregory Polanco doesn't.
Sean Rodriguez defines "versatile" and Antonio Bastardo has been one of the better left-handed middle relievers in the majors since 2010. Solid, under-the-radar additions.
The Bucs still might have to make a move in order to reach the World Series after two straight playoff seasons, but they're on the cusp.
Grade: C-
Yo! No more Yo. (USATSI)
Shhh, don't wake the Brewers, who had a very quiet offseason. They traded right-hander Marco Estrada for slugger Adam Lind, they traded right-hander Yovani Gallardo for prospects, and they added left-hander Neal Cotts in free agency. And that's it. Brewers fans probably expected more after a 9-22 finish capped off a collapse that ruined a season in which they led the NL Central for five months.
Lind has had a strange career; he compiled a 135 OPS+ the past two seasons, following a 94 OPS+ for three seasons before. And in 2009? a 141 OPS+, with 330 total bases. In addition to keeping his back healthy, a key seems to be having him avoid left-handed pitching. Who's ready and right-handed to play first base? Jonathan Lucroy was supposed to be the guy, but he's going to miss time during the spring because of hamstring injury. Ryan Braun, maybe? Luis Jimenez, from the waiver wire? Maybe.
Ryan Braun figures to hit for more power after undergoing cryotherapy on his thumb, and it's probably a season of reckoning for Jean Segura, but their respective declines were a big reason the Brewers finished poorly in 2014. In 2015, they ought to have a productive lineup. Their pitching will be strong if they have 180 degrees of better luck with their health. They're not very deep, though. One or two significant injuries and they're .500-ish again.
Grade: C-
The Reds sold high on right-hander Alfredo Simon, they sold medium on Mat Latos -- getting prospects for both -- and added outfielder Marlon Byrd in free agency. They made few transactions otherwise, notably adding Paul Maholm and Jason Marquis to the pitching staff.
Anthony DeSclafani is the key pitching newcomer in 2015, coming from Miami in the Latos swap. A former 22nd-round pick, his minor-league results have been encouraging, though he might project better as a reliever at first. It's hard to imagine that he would be as good as Latos, but perhaps Latos is beyond his best days.
Injuries piled up in 2014 -- not just to Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but to most of the roster, seemingly. Homer Bailey ought to be recovered from a torn forearm tendon, and Sean Marshall is recovering from shoulder surgery. Bruce and Votto are said to be 100 percent, more or less. Overall, the Reds figure to be better if they're healthier, and they expect to be healthier, but probably aren't in position to finish higher than third.
Grade: A
They've become a chic pick by some to win the World Series. That might be an exception, but optimism overall is warranted. Not many managers can make a difference like Joe Maddon can. The Cubs could have transformed the franchise without changing a single player simply by adding Maddon, whose genuinely enthusiastic attitude, open-minded tactics and winning track record make him one of the best skippers in the business, and one of the better coaches in any sport.
In free agency, president Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer added left-hander Jon Lester and brought back right-hander Jason Hammel after trading him (with Jeff Samardzijia to the A's during the regular season). Spending $155 million on Lester seems like a better deal than adding, say, Max Scherzer for $210 million, though giving up on James Shields (who signed with the Padres for $75 million) might be regrettable.
The Cubs didn't just address the top of their pitching staff. They traded for catcher Miguel Montero and brought in David Ross as a backup for most and a starter with Lester on the mound. Montero's hitting has caved the past two seasons, but he adds value by grabbing "strikes" in the pitch-framing department.
They also traded third baseman Luis Valbuena for outfielder/leadoff man Dexter Fowler. They also added to a deep bullpen with the likes of waiver fodder Drake Britton, Gonzalez Germen and Francisley Bueno.
Most of these moves figure to advance the Cubs beyond 73 victories and put them in better position to win (as in the Series) in 2016 -- and beyond, as more reinforcements from an elite farm system get promoted.
>> Other division grades: AL East | NL East | AL Central | AL West (Tuesday) | NL West (Wednesday)
>> Want more Hot Stove? Free agent tracker | Trade tracker
