NL Central

Cincinnati Reds fans will get to see Bronson Arroyo's high leg kick again in 2011.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the Cincinnati Reds and starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo have agreed on an extension worth $35 million for the next three years.

Arroyo is coming off his best season with the Reds where he won 17 games, a career high.

Growing up in the Chicago area, Cubs baseball is more than just a game. It is a lifestyle. 

There is a dedication behind being a Cubs fan that very few teams possess; not only in baseball but in all of sports.

For years, Ron Santo sat by his phone and waited. He waited for the Hall to call. But it never did.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, via Twitter, that Carlos Villanueva has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. In return the Brewers will be getting that mysterious player to be named later.

Villanueva is eligible for arbitration again this year. He struggled much of last year and was apparently deemed expendable in favor of younger, cheaper relief help.

Chicago Cubs icon Ron Santo has passed away due to complications in his struggle against bladder cancer, according to WGN Radio.

Santo was a great third baseman for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973 and later became part of the Cubs radio team in 1990.

Regarded as one of the best players to never earn induction into the MLB Hall of Fame, Santo was a nine time All-Star in his 15 major league seasons.

It is with a heavy heart that the Cubs announced today the death of famed player and announcer Ron Santo.

The iconic third baseman played for the Chicago Cubs for thirteen of his fourteen MLB seasons (1960-1973), during which time he was a nine time All-Star selection, a five time Golden Glove winner and the recipient of the 1973 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

Ron Santo also had his number, No. 10, retired in September of 2003.

Reports have surfaced that the Chicago White Sox have signed free agent first baseman Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million deal. After reading that statement, a collective sigh may have been audible on the other side of town, though each individual may have had a different reason for joining the chorus.

In baseball, divisions can be won or lost based on what a team does in the winter months, and perhaps more so than any other division, the NL Central could be decided by a few key off season moves.

The division looks to be a three team race between the Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs. The Brewers are also capable of making some noise, while the Astros and Pirates are in the middle of rebuilding and could see marked improvement in the years to come.

Since the tragic signing of Jeff Suppan in 2007, the Brewers have continued to look, albeit not very hard, for solid and consistent starting pitching. Randy Wolf finally came on at the end of last season, but he is no better than a No. 3 starter despite the bill of goods Doug Melvin has been trying to sell us.

The free agent market is pretty barren after Cliff Lee, so the Brewers will have to trade for pitching. Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart and an array of prospects are what the Brewers have to offer. Let's take a look and see who's out there.

The St. Louis Cardinals made their first move toward upgrading their offense on Tuesday, trading right-hander Blake Hawksworth to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Ryan Theriot.

Theriot became expendable earlier this week when Los Angeles signed Juan Uribe, who can play multiple infield positions like Theriot, but has a little more pop.