A Look at Offseason NL Central Activity

Although there is still plenty of time left in the off-season, here is a brief recap of what each team in the National League Central has done thus far, including the Redlegs. Much to my surprise, it appears as though the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates have been very, very active.

Chicago Cubs
Addition(s):
David DeJesus OF - Signed to 2yr/$10mil deal in late-November
2011 team: Oakland A's

Resignee(s):
Ryan Dempster SP - Accepted player option for 1yr/$14mil in late-October

Pending free agent(s): (7) - Aramis Ramirez (3B), Kerry Wood (RP), Carlos Pena (1B), Rodrigo Lopez (SP), Ramon Ortiz (RP), John Grabow (RP), Reed Johnson (RF)

Management move(s):
-Former Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is named as president of baseball operations in late-October
-Mike Quade is fired after compiling a 95-104 record in parts of two seasons as manager in early-November
-Former Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum is hired as skipper in mid-November

Cincinnati Reds
Addition(s):
None

Departure(s):
Ramon Hernandez C - Signed 2yr/$6.4mil deal with Colorado in late-November>

Pending free agent(s): (3) - Francisco Cordero (RP), Edgar Renteria (SS), Dontrelle Willis (SP)

Houston Astros
Addition(s):
None

Departure(s):
Clint Barmes SS - Signed 2yr/$10.5mil deal with Pittsburgh in mid-November

Pending free agent(s): (1) - Jason Michaels (LF)

Management move(s):
-Fired GM Ed Wade and team president Tal Smith in late-November

Milwaukee Brewers
Addition(s):
None

Departure(s):
Jerry Hairston Jr UTL - Signed 2yr/$6mil deal with LA Dodgers in early-December
LaTroy Hawkins RP - Agreed to 1yr/$3mil deal with LA Angels
Mark Kotsay OF - Signed 1yr/$1.25mil contract with San Diego in mid-November

Pending free agent(s): (5) Yuniesky Betancourt (SS), Craig Counsell (2B), Prince Fielder (1B), Francisco Rodriguez (RP), Takashi Saito (RP)

Pittsburgh Pirates
Addition(s):
Erik Bedard SP - Signed 1yr/$4.5mil deal in early-December
2011 team: Boston Red Sox
Clint Barmes SS - Signed 2yr/$10.5mil deal in mid-November
2011 team: Houston Astros
Rod Barajas C - Signed 1yr/$4mil contract in early-November
2011 team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Nate McClouth CF - Signed 1yr/$1.75mil deal in early-December
2011 team: Atlanta Braves

Departure(s):
Ryan Doumit C - Signed 1yr/$3mil with Minnesota in late-November

Pending free agent(s): (5) Ronny Cedeno (SS), Derrek Lee (1B), Ryan Ludwick (LF), Paul Maholm (SP), Chris Snyder (C)

St. Louis Cardinals
Resignee(s):
Rafael Furcal SS - Signed 2yr/$14mil deal in early-December

Departure(s):
Albert Pujols 1B - Signed 10yr/$254mil deal with LA Angels in early-December
Gerald Laird C - Signed 1yr/$1mil deal with Detroit in mid-November
Octavio Dotel RP - Signed 1yr/$3.5mil contract with Detroit in mid-December

Pending free agent(s): (4) - Edwin Jackson (SP), Arthur Rhodes (RP), Nick Punto (INF), Corey Patterson (OF)

Management move(s):
-Longtime skipper Tony La Russa announces his retirement in early-November after 16 seasons with the club
-Team names former player Mike Matheny as manager in mid-November