St. Louis Cardinals (90-72, 2nd place in 2011, won Wild Card and World Series title)
Key subtractions: M Tony La Russa, PC Dave Duncan, 1B Albert Pujols, RP Octavio Dotel, SP Edwin Jackson.
Key additions: OF Carlos Beltran, RP J.C. Romero, RP Scott Linebrink, SP Adam Wainwright (missed all of 2011 due to injury).
Spring storylines: Future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa retired, slugger Albert Pujols signed with the Anaheim Angels and pitching coach Dave Duncan took a leave of absence to be with his wife. Rookie manager Mike Matheny takes over the defending World Series champs, who will monitor ace Chris Carpenter's workload this spring after the veteran tossed a career-high 273 1/3 innings last season.
Difference maker: Adam Wainwright. The right-hander won 20 games in 2010 but missed all of last season with an elbow injury. He's ahead of schedule with his rehab and is on track to join the Cardinals' starting rotation to begin the season. If he pitches anywhere near his pre-injury level, the Cardinals' already solid rotation could be one of the best in baseball.
Cincinnati Reds (79-83, 3rd place in 2011)
Key subtractions: RP Francisco Cordero, SP Edison Volquez, SP Travis Wood, IF Yonder Alonso, C Ramon Hernandez, SS Edgar Renteria.
Key additions: SP Mat Latos, RP Ryan Madson, RP Sean Marshall, OF Ryan Ludwick, C Dioner Navarro.
Spring storylines: The Reds may have done more to address their needs than any team in the division, adding starter Matt Latos in a blockbuster deal with the San Diego Padres and bolstering the bullpen with the free-agent signing of closer Ryan Madson and a trade for lefty reliever Sean Marshall. The Reds, who must still decide whether Aroldis Chapman will be a starter or reliever, are hoping Johnny Cueto can stay healthy and repeat his 2.31 ERA from a year ago. The addition of Ryan Ludwick to a division he's familiar with could help the offense as well.
Difference maker: Joey Votto. With Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder leaving for the American League, Votto is no doubt the best first baseman in the league and one of the best players in the league. He managed to still hit .309 with 29 home runs and 103 RBI last year in what some called a down year. If the Reds want to contend in the Central, they'll need Votto to return to his MVP form of 2010.
Milwaukee Brewers (96-66, 1st place in 2011, lost 4-2 to Cardinals in NLCS)
Key subtractions: 1B Prince Fielder, SS Yuniesky Betancourt, RP Latroy Hawkins, RP Takashi Saito, 3B Casey McGehee, IF Jerry Hariston Jr.
Key additions: 3B Aramis Ramirez, SS Alex Gonzalez, RP Jose Veras, IF Norichika Aoki, IF Brooks Conrad.
Spring storylines: The Brewers ran away with the National League Central Division last year but got beat by a hot Cardinals team in the playoffs. Prince Fielder left for the Detroit Tigers, leaving the Brewers with big shoes to fill offensively. They hope to make up for it with a pair of bats on the left side of the infield in third baseman Aramis Ramirez and shortstop Alex Gonzalez. A solid starting staff remains intact and N.L. saves leader John Axford again anchors the bullpen, which still features high-priced setup man Francisco Rodriguez.
Difference maker: Ryan Braun. The MVP won his appeal this week and won't have to serve a 50-game suspension as previously thought. Braun's first MVP Award last year came after hitting .332 with 33 home runs and 111 RBI. But his protection in the lineup — slugger Prince Fielder — has moved on to Detroit and whether or not Aramis Ramirez can force pitchers to attack Braun remains to be seen.
Pittsburgh Pirates (72-90, 4th place in 2011)
Key subtractions: SP Paul Maholm, SP Ross Ohlendorf, C Ryan Doumit, RP Joe Biemel, IF Ronny Cedeno, OF Ryan Ludwick, 1B Derrek Lee, OF Xavier Paul.
Key additions: SP A.J. Burnett, C Rod Barajas, 3B Casey McGehee, SS Clint Barmes, SP Erik Bedard, OF Nate McLouth, RP Doug Slaten.
Spring storylines: The Pirates came close but again finished below .500 for a record 19th straight season last year. They will look to avoid a 20th straight losing season this year. The Pirates are hoping for more from third base prospect Pedro Alvarez, who hit just .191 with four home runs, 19 RBIs and 80 strikeouts in 235 at-bats in 74 games last season. They are also looking for another jump from talented young center fielder Andrew McCutchan, who posted increases in home runs and RBI for the second straight season.
Difference maker: A.J. Burnett. The Yankees basically gave away the right-hander in exchange for saving about $13 million dollars over the next three years. The 12-year veteran will be a rare big name in the Pirates rotation after posting a 4.79 ERA in three seasons in New York. The Pirates hope a return to the National League will help Burnett return to the numbers he posted earlier in his career while with the Marlins.
Chicago Cubs (71-91, 5th place in 2011)
Key subtractions: 3B Aramis Ramirez, P Carlos Zambrano, 1B Carlos Pena, RP Sean Marshall, RP John Grabow, OF Tyler Colvin.
Key additions: 1B Anthony Rizzo, OF David DeJesus, SP Paul Maholm, SP Andy Sonnanstine, SP Chris Volstad, IF Ian Stewart, SP Travis Wood.
Spring storylines: Former Boston general manager Theo Epstein enters his first year as club president and Jed Hoyer takes over as GM. Longtime Cubs Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez are gone, as is first baseman Carlos Pena. But Alfonso Soriano remains and is owed $18 million in each of the next three seasons. Soriano has seen his skills rapidly decline and has hit just .248 and averaged 23 home runs and 74 RBI the past three seasons.
Difference maker: Starlin Castro. The 22-year-old shortstop is one of the best young players in the game. He led the National League with 207 hits last season and finished with a .307 average, 10 home runs, 66 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Castro made noticeable improvements in his second season but the Cubs are hoping to see him develop even more in year No. 3.
Houston Astros (56-106, 6th place in 2011)
Key subtractions: RP Mark Melancon, IF Clint Barmes, C J.R. Towles, OF Jason Michaels.
Key additions: SS Jed Lowrie, OF Jack Cust, P Livan Hernandez, C Chris Snyder, P Kyle Weiland
Spring storylines: The Astros are entering their final season in the National League before moving to the American League West next season. Former Cardinals Vice President Jeff Luhnow takes over as general manager, overseeing a club that had the worst record in baseball last year and finished 40 games behind the division-winning Milwaukee Brewers. The Astros added shortstop Jed Lowrie in a deal with the Red Sox but will continue a youth movement that will likely bring them similar results in 2012.
Difference maker: Wandy Rodriguez. The 33-year-old lefty has been the subject of trade rumors for several months, but posted a 11-11 record and a 3.49 ERA in 30 starts last season. Rodriguez has had an ERA at or below 3.60 in each of the past four seasons and has quietly become one of the better southpaws in the game. He'll need to have another solid season if the Astros want to have any chance of avoiding 100 losses for a second straight season.
