NL Central teams loading up on pitching

The NL Central remains aggressive in the free-agent pitching market.

St. Louis signed pitchers Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. In 2023, Gray (8-8, 183 K in 184 innings) finished second in the AL Cy Young voting with the Minnesota Twins and made this third All-Star team. Lynn (a two-time All-Star), who won 13 games combined for the White Sox and Dodgers last season, and Gibson (one-time All-Star), who won 15 for the Orioles, can eat up innings — something the Cardinals needed. 

“We were hoping to sign a couple of pitchers we knew we could count on for innings,” Cardinals president of baseball operation John Mozeliak said, per the Associated Press, “and if we could accomplish that, we were hoping we could do something a little bigger, a little longer, and obviously that’s where Sonny fits in.”

The Cardinals finished last in their division in 2023, partly due to a rotation near the bottom of the league in ERA and wins above replacement. 

On Wednesday, per MLB.com, the Reds reached agreement with Emilio Pagan on a two-year, $16 million deal. Pagan, 32, pitched for the Twins last season, posting a 2.99 ERA across 69.1 innings. 

Pagan's fastball/cutter combination has allowed him to become one of the more effective relievers in the league.

On Thursday, per ESPN.com, the Reds agreed to a two-year, $26M deal with right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez.

Martinez had spent the past two years with the San Diego Padres, making 110 appearances (21 starts) and posting a 3.45 ERA in that span. He opted out of the final two years of his contract, seemingly for an opportunity to start, which he should get with the Reds.

As more free agents pick teams, look for the trade market to heat up as well, particularly in the NL Central.

Per Jon Morosi on MLB Network, the Reds and Chicago Cubs are rumored to be in trade talks to acquire former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber of the Guardians and Tyler Glasnow of the Rays.