NL Central

Gerrit Cole is a Cy Young-caliber talent for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the hard-hurling right-hander doesn’t feel as though he’s being financially compensated as such.

Veteran outfielder Shane Victorino signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training on Friday, according to Bruce Levine of WSCR. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com confirmed the report. 

Call the Dexter Fowler re-signing a fantasy-turned-reality for the Chicago Cubs, because any hope that the team could entice Fowler to come back for the 2016 season didn’t seem possible a short while ago.

It appears Dexter Fowler had a last-second change of heart, opting to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs for at least one more season. 

The Cubs announced Fowler agreed to terms on a one-year deal for 2016 with a mutual option for 2017.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will return for an 11th season with the team despite the fact he was almost traded twice this offseason.

Once an elite prospect destined to help the Chicago Cubs become relevant again, Javier Baez is now a former prospect hoping to latch onto a Cubs team that became relevant without him.

But there's a line between "former prospect" and "afterthought." Baez is still only 23, and he still has the talent that made him a top prospect in the first place. He also has what most afterthoughts don't.

An opportunity.

Manny Parra signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Monday, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is working his way back from a hip injury that had him miss 139 games in 2015. 

Continue for updates.

Andrew McCutchen doesn’t care if spring training is still a week away—he’s already in Florida, lifting, swinging and preparing to push the Pittsburgh Pirates even further than the 98 wins they posted last season. 

On Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers announced they acquired catcher Jacob Nottingham in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

The Brewers also received minor league pitcher Bubba Derby in a deal that sent outfielder Khris Davis to Oakland.