NL Central race set for tight 2024 season with star returns
Chicago Cubs add Counsell Imanaga and Bellinger as Jed Hoyer reshapes the club. The Reds bolster infield with Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain while Noelvi Marte serves a suspended 80 games. St. Louis adds Sonny Gray while Milwaukee relies on Corbin Barnes trade fallout and Freddy Peralta. Pittsburgh builds around Oneil Cruz Ke’Bryan Hayes Henry Davis with Mitch Keller anchoring rotation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago Cubs
Craig Counsell
Shota Imanaga
Cody Bellinger
Cubs
Jed Hoyer
Justin Steele
Bellinger
Chicago
Michael Busch
Dodgers
Christopher Morel
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati
Elly de la Cruz
Matt McLain
Noelvi Marte
Reds
Marte
Jermer Candelario
Rhys Hoskins
Jackson Chourio
Garrett Mitchell
Sal Frelick
Brice Turang
Corbin Barnes
Brandon Woodruff
Freddy Peralta
Wade Miley
Brewers
Devin Williams
Willy Adames
Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Henry Davis
Pirates
Cruz
Hayes
Davis
Marco Gonzales
Atlanta
Mitch Keller
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Twins poised to repeat in cautious AL Central race
The Minnesota Twins are favored to win the AL Central after a strong 2023 season. Key players include Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan, while Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton face durability concerns. The Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox among others are highlighted with lineup and rotation notes, but Minnesota remains the division favorite.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Twins
Minnesota
Sonny Gray
Kenta Maeda
Minnesota Twins
Pablo Lopez
Joe Ryan
Carlos Correa
Cleveland
José Ramirez
Josh Naylor
Kyle Manzardo
Emmanuel Close
Detroit Tigers
Jordan Lyles
Will Smith
Royals
Hunter Renfroe
Adam Frazier
Vinnie Pasquantino
Chicago White Sox
White Sox
Chicago
Chris Flexen
Erick Fedde
Luis Robert Jr
Andrew Vaughn
Eloy Jiménez
Yoan Moncada
Season Preview Highlights High Payrolls and Playoff Truths
The piece notes big signings like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto by the Dodgers as payrolls soar while success in the postseason remains uncertain. It cites the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers as past World Series winners and mentions Mets spending, plus injury comebacks including deGrom and Cole, with Ohtani not pitching due to elbow surgery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Rob Manfred
Steve Cohen
New York Mets
Texas
Dodgers
Tyler Glasnow
Tampa Bay
Gerrit Cole
Yankees
Sonny Gray
Cardinals
Jhoan Duran
Minnesota Twins
Jacob deGrom
Sandy Alcantara
Félix Bautista
Shane McClanahan
Liam Hendriks
Ohtani
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