2022 NL Central Preview: Who stands out in what may be baseball's weakest division?

At this time just over a month ago, it didn’t look like we were going to make it to an early April start to the season. Fresh off the latest round of failed collective bargaining agreement negotiations, commissioner Rob Manfred announced MLB was cancelling the first two series of the season and pushing back Opening Day a week.

The more days that went by without the league and MLB Players Association reaching a deal, the more games that would be cancelled. Over the course of a few long days, it looked like no longer like a question of when we would get baseball in 2022, but if.

Then, somehow, someway, on the 99th day of the lockout, they figured things out. The season – all 162 games no less – was saved. And we couldn’t be happier.

With Opening Day just three days away, here is a team-by-team look at the National League Central division, which figures to be one of baseball's weakest.

2021 Record: 83-79

Key Additions: OF Tommy Pham, P Mike Minor, P Justin Dunn, P Hunter Strickland

Key Losses: C Tucker Barnhart, 3B Eugenio Suarez, OF Jesse Winker, OF Nick Castellanos, P Amir Garrett, P Sonny Gray, P Michael Lorenzen, P Wade Miley

The Reds made the playoffs in 2020 and finished runner-up in the wild card race last season, but management didn’t appear sold on this group as a contender for 2022. They either traded or let a number of their veteran players walk, losing 14.5 wins in fWAR with the departures of Barnhart, Suarez, Winker, Castellanos, Gray and Miley. For a team whose off-season additions were headlined by Tommy Pham and Mike Minor, that’s a lot to lose.

The Reds have some interesting pieces in the lineup. Rookie of the Year winner Jonathan India and catcher Tyler Stephenson look like cornerstones. Outfielder