NL Central

ST. LOUIS — There were times when he was on a naval ship somewhere on the other side of the world that Lt. Mitch Harris wondered if his dream to play major league baseball would ever become more than that or would remain only a dream.

He knew the odds were against him. Having to complete a five-year active duty requirement following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy meant that he could not begin a professional career until 2013, when he was 27 years old, an age when many baseball careers are ending, not just getting started.

The Kris Bryant era in Chicago will begin in 2015. The question is: When? Or alternatively: How soon?

The St. Louis Cardinals made their biggest roster move in 2014 when they sent Allen Craig and Joe Kelly to Boston in exchange for Corey Littrell and John Lackey. It was a move that fans questioned, both logically and emotionally.

Devin Mesoraco and the Cincinnati Reds apparently have no interest in fighting each other in the arbitration process. The All-Star catcher agreed Monday to a four-year contract that buys out his three arbitration years and his first year of free agency.       

The Reds confirmed the move:

Friday night, the Chicago Cubs, which had been used to getting good news during the past few months, got a piece of devastatingly bad news: "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, the greatest player in franchise history, died at the age of 83, per ESPN.com.

To some people, being a dedicated fan of the Chicago Cubs can seem like a struggle at times. Years—even generations—have come and gone without experiencing the long-coveted celebration of a Cubs World Series championship.

Legendary Chicago Cubs player and Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks has died at the age of 83. 

According to Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune, Banks' wife Liz confirmed the news of her husband's passing.

Changes are everywhere on the North Side of Chicago this baseball season. The bleachers—which won't be fully constructed until May—are undergoing renovations, a big board is going up in left-center field, and the product on the field is changing drastically.

Obviously, any change from the past five miserable years of Chicago Cubs baseball is welcomed by a fanbase hungry for a World Series title that has eluded them for over a decade.

In the modern age of baseball, there are two types of teams when it comes to the offseason. Those looking to make an immediate run to the World Series, and those willing to offload talent to get a jump-start on a rebuild.