MLB insider believes bottom of NL Central is bound for a makeover this offseason

Since 2018, the National League Central has been controlled by the Milwaukee Brewers. They have won the division five out of the last eight seasons, including each of the past three, with the St. Louis Cardinals clinching in 2019 and 2022 and the Chicago Cubs during the shortened 2020 season.

On the contrary, the bottom of the division has consistently belonged to the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite holding the first overall draft picks in 2021 and 2023 along with several other high selections. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has struggled to find steady footing. The Reds spent the early 2020s shedding payroll before a wave of young talent finally began to emerge, culminating in a 2025 playoff appearance as a Wild Card team.

With all that in mind, fortunes are bound to shift eventually, and one MLB insider believes this offseason could be the turning point that sparks a resurgence for both the Pirates and the Reds. Notably, this was projected around the time that Pittsburgh pulled off a major five-player trade with the Boston Red Sox, netting them prized outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia.

MLB insider believes bottom of NL Central is bound for a makeover this offseason

In The Athletic, Jim Bowden, now-MLB insider who was once the Reds' GM, outlined where he believes several top free agents should land. He projected Cody Bellinger to sign with the Pirates and Kyle Schwarber to join the Reds. Bowden’s reasoning centered on giving Bellinger the chance to finally become the centerpiece of a franchise, along with securing the long-term deal he has sought for multiple offseasons, while envisioning Schwarber returning to his home state to provide Cincinnati with a much-needed boost in both offensive firepower and clubhouse leadership.

Moves like these would undoubtedly give the Pirates and Reds, two clubs that have spent much of the past decade near the bottom of the NL Central, a legitimate chance to climb back into contention. Splashy signings, however, aren’t Milwaukee’s typical approach, and the Cardinals haven’t shown much lately to position themselves as an attractive destination for top free agents. That leaves Chicago as the other potential big spender in the division, but like the Brewers, the Cubs’ front office tends to operate with financial restraint, making their major additions more calculated than headline-chasing.

Even if a world where Bellinger becomes a Pirate and Schwarber lands in Cincinnati isn’t far-fetched, it won’t alter Milwaukee’s approach. The Brewers’ sustained success over the past decade has been built not on splashy signings, but on sharp scouting, strong player development, and value-driven trades. So while the Pirates, Reds, and others may aim to reshape their futures through aggressive spending, Milwaukee will stay committed to the blueprint that has kept them atop the NL Central.