NL Central
Chicago Cubs—Yu Darvish
Hey, Cubs! Yu know yu want him. Yu know yu can afford him. Yu know your biggest need is starting pitching. Yu should just go get yu and be done with it.
Cincinnati Reds—Three more Joey Vottos
The Reds are projected to win 72 games this year by the Fangraphs Depth Charts, so they’ll need to find another 15 wins or so to be a wild card contender.
That’s about three more Joey Vottos. With the current Joey Votto handling first base, the other three Joey Vottos would have to be distributed around the field.
Luckily, Joey Votto throws right-handed, so he isn’t limited to specific positions. The three additional Joey Vottos can be placed at third base, left field, and right field.
Then you would have a nice balance of Joey Vottos on each side of the field. Of course, with Joey Vottos in the outfield corners, the Reds will definitely need Billy Hamilton in center so he can catch a record-setting number of fly balls.
Milwaukee Brewers—A trade partner
The Brewers recently signed free agent starting pitchers Jhoulys Chacin and Yovani Gallardo, which is definitely shopping at the thrift store when it comes to starting pitchers.
If Yu Darvish or Jake Arrieta were less costly and less risky, maybe the Brewers would shop at the high-end store. But both are over 30 and seeking long and lucrative contracts. The Brewers will likely pass.
Instead, they could look to trade for a starting pitcher. They’d like to get out from under the Ryan Braun contract, which has 3 years and $56 million remaining, with a fourth year at $15 million or a $4 million buyout.
The trouble is, dealing Braun would be more salary relief than team building. They’d prefer to get something back in a trade, with a starting pitcher being at the top of their list.
That leaves Domingo Santana, Eric Thames, and Keon Broxton as potential trade pieces currently at the major league level. Thames is signed to a very friendly contract and Santana and Broxton are a year away from arbitration.
If Broxton could come close to being the player he was in 2016, rather than the player he was in 2017, he could bring back a solid MLB starting pitcher. Maybe the Brewers can convince someone he is.
Pittsburgh Pirates—A direction
What’s it going to be, Pirates? Are you going to trade Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen, Josh Harrison, Francisco Cervelli, and whomever else you can to reload for the future?
Or are you going to sit there all wishy-washy and hold on to Cole for another two years and McCutchen for another year and just end up with draft picks? Make a decision! Choose a direction! Do something!
St. Louis Cardinals—Wade Davis or Greg Holland
Some years you know generally what you want as the perfect gift, but you haven’t decided on the specifics. Maybe you want a gaming console but don’t know if you should get the Xbox One or the PlayStation 4.
You do your research. You compare the costs. You try to imagine which one you would enjoy more, then you make a decision.
The Cardinals need a closer and the best ones on the free agent market are Wade Davis and Greg Holland. Davis put up a 1.45 ERA in 241.3 innings over the last four years, but he’ll be 32 years old, has had some arm issues, and was used heavily in the recent postseason.
Holland will also be 32 years old and missed the entire 2016 season with Tommy John surgery before bouncing back with 41 saves last year. Which one will it be, Cardinals?