Central Casting

More Position Battles Every Day

Mar 07, 2026

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NL Central Battles

There’s a lot of interest in Konnor Griffin. Image from Google.

Pirates shortstop: I’ve written about this a few times. Everybody else is writing about it too. I have Nick Gonzalez and Jared Triolo with more at bats than Konnor Griffin, and Griffin earning more. If Griffin breaks with the club the difference grows, though Griffin is so young as his price goes up the bust potential grows. He’s 3-18 so far with three homers, which is about as concise a description of his paths to success and failure as you or me could craft.

Brewers closer: Trevor Megill was a solid closer until he got hurt last year, and Abner Uribe was no slouch when he took over. Both are healthy now and throwing gas, though Megill did have a platelet enriched injection earlier in the winter. I have them essentially at the same price with Uribe notching a few more strikeouts and Megill a few more saves. The consensus seems to be that Megill will start the season as closer, but given his health issues and Uribe’s strikeouts both are good bets for modest value, with a chance for much more of one gets all the saves (or if you play in a league that counts holds).

Reds first base: Spencer Steer was a Gold Glove winner not long ago but the Reds signing of Eugenio Suarez pushes their top hitting prospect, Sal Stewart, to first base and Steel into a utility role. I’m being wishy-washy, giving both of the Double Esses 500 at bats with similar power numbers, Stewart with a better average and Steer with more steals. Stewart has more breakout potential but he also saw a decline in his contact and plate discipline after arriving in the bigs last year. That doesn’t mean he’s going to fail but it might take him some more time to develop a consistent approach, especially as pitchers figure out his weaknesses and adjust.

Cardinals second base: This job became JJ Wetherholt’s when the Cards dealt Brendon Donovan in the offseason to Seattle. He saw 220 or so Triple-A plate appearances last year and he hit, and since his best tool is the hit one he brings after playing college ball he has a much lesser bust potential than the other young prospects a year or two out of high school. On the other hand, how much power and speed will he have against major league pitchers? It might be a surprising amount, though Busch Stadium is a better park for hitting than homering by lefties.

Cardinals closer: If he was healthy Riley O’Brien might have won the job outright, but he’s been hobbled. The Cards last year split chances between O’Brien and Jojo Romero after dealing Ryan Helsley and may end up doing that again this year, at least at the beginning of the year. Neither of these guys is a big strikeout pitcher, so the uncertainty should keep their prices low-ish, though if bidders think they have an insight costs could balloon. My insight is that Matt SV-anson is equally effective and should cost a lot less. I’m more likely to roster him at the end than chase the other guys.

Brewers back of rotation: Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, and Chad Patrick are in the rotation at season’s start, if Woodruff is ready as expected. Quinn Priester could join at any time but has yet to pitch in a game this spring. Until Priester returns the two spots seem to belong to Logan Henderson and Kyle Harrison, but the Crew has a lot of options, including Aaron Ashby, Robert Gasser, Brandon Sproat, and even DL Hall. Ashby and Hall are established enough in relief we don’t need to consider them here though if the situation gets dire they could fill in. Henderson should have his job, but unless Harrison busts out this spring I’d give the edge to Sproat on talent and Gasser on likelihood of making the team out of camp. In either case, that fifth spot should soon be Priester’s, until injuries mix things up.

AL Central Battles

Tigers shortstop: Kevin McGonigle hasn’t homered this spring, but he’s hitting .400 in 18 plate appearances. Javier Baez has not been an offensive plus for years, and while Zach McKinstry was solid offensively last year his defense is better suited to adaptability than everyday chops. McGonigle is young and hasn’t played above Double-A, but he burned up the Arizona Fall League. His bat to ball contact skills have been much better this spring than last year in Double-A, so maybe he’s getting better or he’s just feasting on early ST pitching. As with Konnor Griffin, this is really a question of whether the Tigers want him on their opening day roster so if he wins Rookie of the Year they get a draft pick prize, but surely if he stumbles out of the gate when the games matter there’s a good chance he’ll be sent down.

Guardians rotation: Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee are set, but behind them is an interesting gang of four. Consider Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, and Parker Messick, if you will. Logan Allen has the least stuff and the most experience, with 73 starts the last three years. Joey Cantillo has the best stuff but didn’t put it together until late last year. He’s a breakout candidate this year, but should still be cheap. Cecconi has good location but modest stuff that has so far in his career gotten hammered for homers. Cantillo and Cecconi have one option each, while Messick, who has the best location and okay stuff, has three, a reason that Messick might start the year in Triple-A. I would pay a little more for Messick than either Cantillo or Cecconi, but it’s going to come down to how the Guardians decide to play it to start the season to see if he’s available in the draft or on reserve.

White Sox center field: A platoon of Brooks Baldwin and Luisangel Acuna could generate homers and strikeouts against righties and steals and a weak average against lefties, but while Baldwin is easing into late prime age and likely to have his best season so far this year he’ll probably not grow his skills much, Acuna is young enough he might be able to transform his smack-the-ball-and-run approach into something valuable if he makes more and better contact, which is an improvable skill. That’s why I have him for a couple of bucks more than Baldwin.

HOUSEKEEPING

A reader asked for a list of hitters ranked by projected On Base Percentage. I filtered out those with fewer than 350 plate appearances and sorted by OBP. Members can access the Excel Sheet via a link after the paywall.

A link to the Perfect Pitching Staff article with password is after the paywall as well.

More western division position battles coming up on Monday. Send questions about which position battles you’re interested in here:

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