As big stars switch to new teams, National League opens up – MLB News
With the reported deal of Aramis Ramirez with the Milwaukee Brewers, in $36 million and the departure of Albert Pujols from the St. Louis Cardinals have made the National League Central open now.
Prince Fielder, being the prominent free-agent slugger right now, is yet to get an appealing contract offer, creating some sense of worry in the Brewers’ camp if he leaves. Albert Pujols has already moved to Los Angeles Angels, which now provide other teams
in the league to flex their muscles.
The Cincinnati Reds can rediscover their strength, weakened recently due to several ups and downs. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates may well be all set to somehow make their way into the playoffs.
What has emerged as a real problem for the Milwaukee Brewers, or may create significant problems for them are the reported positive results of the drug test Ryan Braun has had.
If that turns out to be true, he faced 50-game suspension, posing enormous challenge for the Brewers to stay afloat considering the fact that Prince Fielder may also get signed some other team.
The St. Louis Cardinals, on the other hands, would like to believe they’re intact even after the departure of the slugger Albert Pujols.
"Even without Albert, we still have a very deep lineup, I think, that will have tough outs from one through eight, and that's a recipe for a winning team," Cardinals’ Matt Holliday said. "I think we have a team that has a chance to win. But we're going to
miss Albert."
The whole concept of free-agency in the game is what actually upsets the balance, or may put things in order for the all the team, something that Theo Epstein, the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations says.
"Just look at the history of long-term free-agent contracts -- they tend not to work out," Epstein said "As tempting as they are and as great a way they are to improve your club in the short term, there are two sides with free agency."”
With so many radical changes that the teams have undergone, it will be interesting to see how the winners defend their title and how the underdogs emerge as victors.
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