The NL Central is likely the most competitive division in the NL. Two of the NL’s top teams, the Cubs and the Brewers, are consistently battling for the top, with squads very good and similar to the other. The Cardinals and Pirates are above average teams, although some parts of their teams need serious help. The Reds have some great hitters, like Eugenia Suárez, Scooter Gennett, and Joey Votto. In this article, I’ll breakdown 5 trades, one for each team in the NL Central. Keep in mind, most of these trades are not likely, but they’re ones that, in my opinion, would help each team.

Chicago Cubs

Cubs receive: 1B/2B/3B/LF/RF Derek Dietrich

Marlins receive: SS Aramis Ademan, RHP Erich Uelman

The Cubs are in an unbelievably close divisional race with the Brewers. Both teams have ammassed some great hitters and pitchers in the offseason and this season, but the Cubs are falling back a bit with the Brewers acquiring Mike Moustakas. Acquiring Dietrich would help the Cubs even out the Moustakas addition for the Brewers. Although he is having a bit of a career year so far this season, Dietrich has hit well. He has a .282 BA, 13 HR, 36 RBI, .347 OBP, .453 SLG, .800 OPS, 21 walks, 99 strikeouts, 99 H, 19 2B, and 1 3B in 389 PA. Dietrich would likely replace Tommy La Stella, who’s not been good this season, with a .274 BA and .657 OPS in 132 PA. Dietrich is under contract until 2021 also, so he could help replace Ben Zobrist, when he inevitably retires, with his defensive versatility and bat.

The Marlins would get a decent prospect haul for Dietrich. Ademan, the Cubs’ number 5 prospect, is having a bad season in the minors, posting a .214 BA, 3 HR, 33 RBI, .300 OBP, .288 SLG, .588 OPS, 31 walks, 80 strikeouts, 67 H, 8 2B, and 3 3B in 313 at-bats in Class A Advanced. The upside of acquiring Ademan for Miami would be his age, as he’s incredibly young at 19, so his stats should get better. While the Marlins have a some young shortstops, Ademan could really help their future infield as it’s getting somewhat older. Uelman, the Cubs’ number 12 prospect, has been good as a starter this season in the minors, posting a 8-7 record, 3.67 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, 26 walks, and a .264 BAA in 81 innings pitched. The Marlins do have a lot of pitchers in their farm, but Uelman could be decent for their future rotation or bullpen, because you can’t go wrong with too many pitchers.

Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers receive: RHP Kyle Gibson

Twins receive: RHP Zack Brown, OF Larry Ernesto

The Brewers have made some solid moves so far in the deadline, such as trading for veteran reliever Joakim Soria from the White Sox and rental third baseman Moustakas from the Royals. They still could use a starting pitcher though, even though their rotation ranks 9th in ERA in the MLB at 3.81. Gibson has been very solid so far this season, posting a 5-7 record, 3.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 126 strikeouts, 50 walks, and a .224 BAA. The only issue that could come up with getting Gibson is his inconsistency, as last year he posted a 5.07 ERA. The plus with getting Gibson is the fact that they have him for another year after this, so they still have in case an injury issue arises.

The Twins would get a decent haul for this trade. Brown, the Brewers’ number 11 prospect, has had an incredible season in Double-A so far this season, posting a 9-0 record, 2.34 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 108 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a .203 BAA in 111.2 innings pitched. If he keeps up these stats, he could be a killer piece for the Twins’ future rotation. However, people say he may likely pitch out of the bullpen when he gets to the majors. Ernesto, the Brewers’ number 26 prospect, has been having a decent season in rookie league, posting a .256 BA, 5 HR, 20 RBI, .313 OBP, .433 SLG, .746 OPS, 11 walks, 56 strikeouts, 42 H, 12 2B, and 1 3B in 164 at-bats. He is incredibly young at 17, so he could pair with an already killer Twins outfield in the future.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates receive: RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Alex Wilson

Tigers receive: LHP Taylor Hearn, OF Lolo Sanchez, RHP Luis Escobar

The Pirates, surprisingly, are now likely buying at the trade deadline after trading away their star right fielder Andrew McCutchen and star pitcher Gerrit Cole in the offseason. Their team’s pitching ERA for starters is 4.21, and for relievers its 4.25. Fiers would be a solid addition to their solid rotation, even though Fiers would have the best ERA on it if he were to be traded there. He has a 7-6 record, 3.54 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 86 strikeouts, 26 walks, and a .258 BAA in 117 innings pitched so far this season. He’s also not a rental, as he’s entering arbitration 3 in 2019. Wilson would be a good addition to their bullpen, as he’s posted a 1-3 record, 3.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 25 strikeouts, 10 walks, and a .214 BAA in 40.2 innings pitched this season. He’d be a good pitcher to get holds for them, as their bullpen has been inconsistent and he could definitely help. He’s also under contract until 2020, so he can help next year as well.

The Tigers woild get a really solid haul for Fiers and Wilson. Hearn, the Pirates’ number 7 prospect, has been pitching well in Double-A this season, posting a 3-6 record, 3.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 107 strikeouts, 38 walks, and a .198 BAA in 104 innings pitched. He could be a solid number 2-3 or even the one starter for the Tigers if he develops more. Sanchez, the Pirates’ number 12 prospect, has been bad this season in Class A, posting a .233 BA, 3 HR, 26 RBI, .318 OBP, .326 SLG, .644 OPS, 33 walks, 57 strikeouts, 65 H, 15 2B, and 1 3B in 279 at-bats. He is still very young though, as he’s 19, and he’s in Class A,  so he could pan out more. Escobar, the Pirates’ number 13 prospect, has been decent in Class A Advanced and Double-A, posting a 9-6 record, 3.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 91 strikeouts, 43 walks, and a .217 BAA in 104.2 innings pitched. If he pans out, as he’s just 22, he could be a solid 2-4 starter for the Tigers in the future.

St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals receive: C/1B J.T. Realmuto, RHP Kyle Barraclough, RHP Brad Ziegler

Marlins receive: OF Tyler O’Neill, RHP Dakota Hudson, SS/3B Edmundo Sosa

This trade is by far the most impactful for each team on this entire list. The Cardinals would get a big and good haul from the Marlins, which they desperately need right now. Realmuto has been having an exceptional season, posting a .311 BA, 13 HR, 51 RBI, .362 OBP, .534 SLG, .897 OPS, 18 walks, 62 strikeouts, 95 H, 23 2B, and 3 3B in 336 PA. He is under contract until 2021, so they would keep him for awhile with Yadier Molina. Barraclough has been an absolutely incredible reliever for the Marlins this season, as the Cardinals have the seventh worst bullpen ERA in the MLB at 4.64. So far this season, Barraclough has been phenomenal, posting a 0-4 record, 2.54 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 51 strikeouts, 24 walks, and a .160 BAA in 46 innings pitched. The Cardinals would also have him for awhile, as he’s not even in arbitration yet! Ziegler has produced decent stats out of the bullpen this season, such as a 1-5 record, 4.06 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 35 strikeouts, 17 walks, and a .258 BAA in 51 innings pitched. However, Ziegler is 38 and a rental, so he’d probably be a short-term piece in this deal. Both of those guys would significantly help their bullpen, as they’d combo with Jordan Hicks and Bud Norris.

Now, the big question here is about Molina. Both him and Realmuto are mainly catchers, so how would they flourish together? Well, Realmuto would likely play first base while Yadi stays behind the dish. That way, they could really flourish together. In this scenario, José Martínez, St. Louis’ current first baseman who rocks a .295 BA and .822 OPS, would likely move to left or right field. Although Martínez is ranked as an awful defensive player, as his defensive WAR is -1.4, the move could transition a struggling Dexter Fowler to a bench role or in center field. If they move Fowler to center, Ozuna to right, and put Martínez in left, then they can use Harrison Bader as a potential trade piece for more bullpen pitchers or hitters, or they can keep him and let him develop under these guys to build a potentially deadly outfield.

Now, this trade brings a solid haul of prospects to Miami. The best of the bunch is O’Neill, the Cardinals’ number 4 prospect and the number 48 prospect in the top 100. He’s been incredible this season in Triple-A, posting a .311 BA, 26 HR, 61 RBI, .388 OBP, .711 SLG, 29 walks, 62 strikeouts, 70 H, 8 2B, and 2 3B in 225 at-bats. He could be an incredible outfielder for the Marlins if his power develops more for the majors. Hudson, the Cardinals’ number 4 prospect, has also been incredible in Triple-A, posting a 13-3 record, 2.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 87 strikeouts, 38 walks, and a .254 BAA in 111.2 innings pitched. Some scouts say he’ll mold into a reliever, but he would be a good piece in the Marlins’ rotation for the future. Sosa, the Cardinals’ number 14 prospect, is having a subpar season at the plate this year at Double-A and Triple-A, posting a .276 BA, 8 HR, 42 RBI, .312 OBP, .417 SLG, .728 OPS, 14 walks, 65 strikeouts, 96 H, 23 2B, and 1 3B in 348 at-bats. He does have a good fielding rating at 60 though, so he could turn into a solid defensive man on the left side of the diamond.

Cincinnati Reds

Indians receive: RHP Jared Hughes, RHP David Hernandez

Reds receive: RHP Luis Oviedo, OF Conner Capel, RHP Aaron Civale

If this trade happened, it would really help both Cleveland and Cincinnati. The Indians have an absolutely horrendous bullpen this season, which ranks 4th worst in the MLB at 5.08 ERA. They made a good trade for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber, but they could use at least two more guys and these could be them. Hughes has been awesome this season, posting a 3-3 record, 1.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 42 strikeouts, 17 walks, and a .224 BAA in 55.1 innings pitched. He also is under contract until 2021, so they’d have him for awhile. The only problem is that he’s 33, but his career ERA is 2.67, so he hasn’t shown any signs of regression. Hernandez has also been incredible this season, posting a 4-0 record, 1.83 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, 13 walks, and a .184 BAA in 39.1 innings pitched. Although he is also 33, he is under contract until 2020, so he’s not a rental. Both of these pitchers, combined with Hand and Cimber, could create a deadly combo in the postseason.

The Reds would get a solid prospect haul for these two guys. Highlighting the haul would be Oviedo, the Indians’ number 12 prospect, who’s been having a good year Class A Short Season, posting a 3-2 record, 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 55 strikeouts, 9 walks, and a .199 BAA in 42 innings pitched. If it all clicks, scouts say he could be a mid-rotation guy, and the Reds desperately need rotation help. Capel, the Indians’ number 16 prospect, has been average in Class A Advanced, posting a .263 BA, 6 HR, 44 RBI, .356 OBP, .392 SLG, .748 OPS, 49 BB, 71 SO, 84 H, 17 2B, and 3 3B in 319 at-bats. The Reds could use a good outfielder, as right now it’s a bit rocky, so if 21-year-old Capel can develop more then he could be deadly for the Reds. Civale, the Indians’ number 18 prospect, has had a slightly subpar season in Double-A, posting a 5-4 record, 4.08 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 60 SO, 15 BB, and a .283 BAA. He’ll likely be a bullpen asset for the Reds, unless they decide to test him as a starter, which could really help their terrible rotation, which ranks fourth worst in the MLB at a 5.24 ERA. Overall, this trade should help each team well.