Each MLB team's best roster last 25 years: NL Central

We've reached the quarter mark of the 2000s, and to celebrate, theScore's MLB editors constructed each organization's best 26-man roster from the last 25 seasons. We continue with the NL Central.

Jump to:
AL EAST
AL CENTRAL
AL WEST
NL EAST
NL WEST (Sat.)

Most important player: Anthony Rizzo. The backbone of the Cubs, Rizzo was one of the NL's finest first basemen for nearly a decade in Chicago. He appeared in three All-Star Games, won four Gold Gloves, and was an integral piece of the curse-breaking 2016 World Series squad.

Best pitcher: Jake Arrieta. The right-hander's five-year stretch from 2013-17 was some of the best pitching in franchise history. Arrieta's 2015 Cy Young campaign is one of the all-time great seasons by a starting pitcher, winning 22 games and logging a 1.77 ERA with 236 strikeouts in 229 innings.

Most underrated: Kyle Hendricks. The "Professor" never had dominating stuff, but boy could he pitch. Hendricks quietly put together a tremendous 11-year tenure, winning an ERA title in 2016 and amassing 97 victories in 276 appearances. Not too bad for an eighth-round draft pick.

Best acquisition: Anthony Rizzo. The Cubs acquired Rizzo in a 2012 trade with the San Diego Padres involving Andrew Cashner. He went on to hit 242 homers, 784 RBIs, and receive multiple accolades in Chicago.

Best homegrown player: Kris Bryant. The Cubs drafted Bryant second overall in 2013. He went on to win NL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and NL MVP and a World Series in 2016 before finishing his tenure with the sixth-highest OPS (.886) in franchise history.

Toughest omission: Mark Prior. The right-hander had his fair share of injuries, leading to a shortened five-year career, but he was elite when healthy. Prior finished third for the 2003 NL Cy Young after he logged a 2.43 ERA, a 2.47 FIP, and 245 strikeouts in 211 1/3 frames.

Most important player: Joey Votto. The first baseman played every one of his 2,056 big-league games with the Reds and did some pretty special things. Votto claimed the 2010 NL MVP and finished with a .409 on-base percentage. With 356 homers, 1,144 RBIs, and a .920 OPS over his career, Votto might be the next Hall of Famer donning a Reds cap.

Best pitcher: Johnny Cueto. Cueto was brilliant in his eight seasons with the Reds, especially in his prime when he posted an ERA below 2.82 in five consecutive seasons between 2011 and 2015. The entertaining right-hander also won 92 games and finished top four or better in NL Cy Young voting twice.

Most underrated: Eugenio Suárez. The third baseman might have been MLB's most underrated slugger during his Reds tenure. From 2016-21, Suárez's 176 home runs ranked fifth in the bigs, while his 476 RBIs ranked 12th.

Best acquisition: Brandon Phillips. Acquired in a trade from Cleveland in 2006, Phillips went on to make three All-Star Game appearances and win four Gold Gloves. He also ranks eighth among Reds players in games played.

Best homegrown player: Joey Votto. His aforementioned accolades make him one of the best players in recent club history. Votto was drafted in the second round in 2002, and, aside from 31 minor-league games, suited up for only the Reds.

Toughest omission: Mike Leake. He never appeared in an All-Star Game nor was he a Cy Young candidate, but Leake did some fine work for the Reds after they picked him eighth overall in 2009. The right-hander led the Reds in innings pitched from 2010-15 and ranked second with 62 wins during that stretch.

Most important player: Ryan Braun. He's one of the most productive Brewers of all time, ranking first in homers, while amassing the third-highest fWAR. Between 2007 and 2012, he won NL Rookie of the Year, appeared in five All-Star Games, and took home NL MVP.

Best pitcher: Corbin Burnes. Burnes was unreal for the Brewers, making three All-Star Game appearances and winning a Cy Young before he was traded. He sits first in franchise history in FIP, second in strikeouts per nine innings, third in ERA, and sixth in total strikeouts.

Most underrated: Geoff Jenkins. Jenkins might not be a big name outside Milwaukee, but he was a key contributor during his tenure. He posted 212 homers and an .843 OPS, and he ranks ninth in franchise history in fWAR.

Best acquisition: CC Sabathia. The Brewers have a history of making solid acquisitions, but none were more impactful than Sabathia. The lefty helped Milwaukee reach the playoffs in 2008 after winning 11 games, logging a 1.65 ERA, pitching seven complete games, and throwing three shutouts in 17 starts after coming over from Cleveland at the trade deadline.

Best homegrown player: Ryan Braun. The Brewers drafted Braun, one of the franchise's greats, fifth overall in 2005. He spent his entire 14-year career in Milwaukee and ranks fourth among Brewers players in games played.

Toughest omission: J.J. Hardy. The one-time All-Star sits third all time among qualified Brewers shortstops in fWAR, so leaving him off this list was tough.

Most important player: Andrew McCutchen. Cutch has spent 11 of his 16 seasons in Pittsburgh, winning numerous accolades, including four Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove, and the 2013 NL MVP. He's hit 235 homers, posted a .375 on-base percentage, and appeared in 1,578 games for the Pirates.

Best pitcher: Gerrit Cole. He spent his first five big-league seasons with the Pirates before becoming a superstar in Houston and New York. Cole was solid in Pittsburgh, with his best campaign coming in 2015 when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting thanks to 19 wins and a 2.60 ERA in 208 frames.

Most underrated: Brian Giles. Giles might have been one of the most underrated players of his era, with much of his damage coming in a Pittsburgh uniform. The outfielder received MVP votes in four consecutive seasons and posted a .308/.426/.591 slash line with 165 homers and 174 doubles over his tenure.

Best acquisition: Bryan Reynolds. He became a mainstay and has arguably been the Pirates' best player since they acquired him in a 2018 trade with the San Francisco Giants. Reynolds is a two-time All-Star who owns an .821 OPS across six seasons in Pittsburgh.

Best homegrown player: Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates drafted McCutchen 11th overall in 2005, and he's gone on to etch his name in the franchise's record books in multiple categories. He ranks top 10 in fWAR, games played, hits, and total bases.

Toughest omission: Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, which made it difficult to omit him. The versatile infielder was a three-time All-Star, who won the NL batting title in 2006 when he hit .344.

Most important player: Albert Pujols. He's one of the finest baseball players ever, and his historic career began in St. Louis. The slugger hit 469 of his 703 career homers for the Cardinals and posted 1,397 RBIs and a 1.031 OPS. Pujols won all three of his MVPs with the club and was a member of two World Series squads.

Best pitcher: Adam Wainwright. Wainwright pitched every one of his 2,668 1/3 big-league innings in a Cardinals uniform. The savvy right-hander won 200 games, made three All-Star Games, and was a member of the 2006 World Series club.

Most underrated: Matt Carpenter. It's weird to call a three-time All-Star with 179 career homers underrated, but Carpenter was never the front man on stacked Cardinals teams. Even when he finished fourth for NL MVP in 2013 after leading his league in runs, hits, and doubles, he was outshone by teammate Yadier Molina, who received more votes.

Best acquisition: Adam Wainwright. Wainwright was actually a first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2000. The Braves flipped him to the Cardinals as part of a five-player deal involving J.D. Drew.

Best homegrown player: Albert Pujols. The Cardinals have developed numerous talented players, but none of them have reached Pujols' status. He ranks fifth or better all time among all MLB players in homers, RBIs, and games played.

Toughest omission: Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick was a solid player for the Cardinals, posting an .857 OPS with 305 RBIs in 488 games.