CENTRAL DIVISION

1. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Arrivals: C Einar Diaz, SS David Eckstein, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, SP Mark Mulder, RP Mike Myers.

Departures: RP Kiko Calero, SP Danny Haren, RP Steve Kline, C Mike Matheny, SS Edgar Renteria, SP Woody Williams, 2B Tony Womack.

On the way up: We’ll just assume the four-and-out World Series was an utter fluke, and that nobody was overly damaged by it. Albert Pujols is 25 and already has four MVP-type seasons behind him, but with no trophy. With age and injuries probably keeping Barry Bonds from an eighth MVP award, a typical 40-plus homer, 120-plus RBI, 100-plus win season should get Pujols his first.

On the way out: Mulder, Chris Carpenter, Matt Morris and Jeff Suppan, four-fifths of the Cardinals’ starting rotation, could be free agents at season’s end. Presumably, Mulder stays ($7.25-million option). The rest is iffy.

Story lines: MVP3 -- Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds combined for 122 home runs, 358 RBIs and 344 runs -- returns intact and the rotation is better with Mulder. There is sentiment that the Cubs could gain ground, but not 16 games’ worth, and the Astros have fallen back. Another division title, in a walk. Rick Ankiel is an outfielder now, starting in the Florida State League. Root for a September call-up.

At Dodger Stadium: July 29-31.

*

2. CHICAGO CUBS

Arrivals: C Henry Blanco, RF Jeromy Burnitz, LF Jerry Hairston, RP Stephen Randolph.

Departures: LF Moises Alou, C Paul Bako, SP Matt Clement, C Mike DiFelice, OF Tom Goodwin, OF Ben Grieve, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, RP Kent Mercker, RF Sammy Sosa.

On the way up: Aramis Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra could become two of the notable free agents of next winter, but in the meantime they’ll be left to clean up an off-season in which the organization shed Sosa and Alou. Ramirez hit a career-high .318 last season, and Garciaparra appears to have his head and body on straight again. Jason Dubois, a 6-foot-5 power hitter, is the left fielder of the future.

On the way out: A year removed from a .204-batting, 61-game, thanks-for-coming effort for the Dodgers, Burnitz found Coors Field and true love, batting .283 with 37 home runs and 110 RBIs. Burnitz has moved on to the next hitters’ paradise, but he also has taken the place of Sosa in right field.

Story lines: It’s all about moving past the Sosa era and into the Kerry Wood-Mark Prior era, which would be OK if not for Wood’s shoulder and Prior’s elbow. Closer Joe Borowski, who broke his hand in camp, will sit out at least the first month of the season, meaning the ninth inning belongs to LaTroy Hawkins.

At Dodger Stadium: May 30-June 1.

*

3. CINCINNATI REDS

Arrivals: RP Kent Mercker, SP Eric Milton, SP Ramon Ortiz, 3B Joe Randa, RP David Weathers, RP Ben Weber.

Departures: SS Barry Larkin, OF Jason Romano, RP Todd Van Poppel, OF John Vander Wal, RP Gabe White.

On the way up: Doesn’t Ken Griffey Jr. get to be Ken Griffey Jr. again, just for one year? The man hasn’t played 85 games in a season since 2001 and, therefore, hasn’t hit as many as 23 home runs in a season since 2000. He had surgery last summer to reattach his torn right hamstring and spent most of spring as a designated hitter. Perhaps, while the attention is elsewhere -- on steroids, mostly -- Griffey, at 35, will retake his place among the game’s elite. In 83 games last season, Griffey hit 20 home runs and had 60 runs batted in.

On the way out: More than half of the team’s ownership group. Three part-owners have put their 51.5% of the club up for sale, which could bring twice the $67 million Carl Lindner and friends paid Marge Schott for a controlling share six years ago.

Story lines: The starting rotation is Milton, Paul Wilson and Ortiz, and then the Reds begin to worry. If the right guys show up -- Austin Kearns, Adam Dunn, Sean Casey and Griffey -- the Reds will score runs. They’ll have to.

At Dodger Stadium: July 25-28.

*

4. HOUSTON ASTROS

Arrivals: RP John Franco.

Departures: CF Carlos Beltran, 2B Jeff Kent, RP Dan Miceli, SP Wade Miller, RP Darren Oliver.

On the way up: The Astros let Kent walk for several reasons, second-base prospect Chris Burke being the most tangible of them. If Willy Taveras starts the season in the outfield, Craig Biggio probably returns to second base, meaning Burke could spend the early part of the year in the minor leagues. If the Tigers give up on Bobby Higginson, the first phone call might come from the Astros. Manager Phil Garner, after two seasons and six games in Detroit, still likes Higginson.

On the way out: Of the remaining Bs, Biggio is 39 and Jeff Bagwell will be 37 in May. Biggio can be a free agent after the season. Bagwell remains a hard-edged gamer, but he hit .266 last season, falling for the third time in four seasons, and his OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was its lowest in 12 years.

Story lines: The Astros finally won a playoff series and were a game from the World Series, but they took a big hit in the off-season while awaiting a decision from Beltran, who signed with the New York Mets. Now they’ve slipped again into the middle of the NL Central, and their best players -- Bagwell, Biggio, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte -- are beginning to age.

At Dodger Stadium: Aug. 26-28.

*

5. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Arrivals: RP Ricky Bottalico, LF Carlos Lee, C Damian Miller, RP Derrick Turnbow.

Departures: C Gary Bennett, IF Keith Ginter, RP Dan Kolb, OF Scott Podsednik, RP Luis Vizcaino, SS Craig Counsell, RP Brooks Kieschnick.

On the way up: Off-season trades of closer Kolb and setup man Vizcaino could make Mike Adams, 0 for 5 in save situations last season, the full-time closer. Starting shortstop J.J. Hardy will be making his major league debut on opening day. Brady Clark, who played well in the second half, starts in center field. First baseman Prince Fielder, Cecil’s son, is at least a year away, but with his predictable power (6-0, 260) comes promising patience and relatively few strikeouts.

On the way out: A good pitcher waiting for a good organization, Ben Sheets last season managed a 2.70 earned-run average and 14 losses. He pitches with composure and has learned how to get left-handers out, traits that should land him in a pennant race someday, somewhere.

Storylines: Even with a new owner, L.A.’s Mark Attanasio, and a chance for a winning record for the first time since 1992, the Brewers walk the small-market walk. The big off-season addition was Lee, who will be protected in the lineup by Lyle Overbay, who hit 53 doubles last season, but only 16 home runs.

At Dodger Stadium: June 2-5.

*

6. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Arrivals: RF Matt Lawton, SP Mark Redman, C David Ross, C Benito Santiago.

Departures: C Jason Kendall, OF Tony Alvarez, RP Brian Boehringer, RP Frank Brooks, INF Abraham Nunez.

On the way up: Jason Bay, the Pirates’ first rookie of the year, injured his wrist and had only a few spring at-bats, but is expected to be OK by opening day. He led all rookies in home runs, runs batted in and slugging last season, and now must carry more of an offense that replaced Kendall with Santiago.

On the way out: The Pirates don’t have a lot of options, but Santiago is 40, old for any position. He caught only 49 games for the Royals last year because of a broken hand, and became expendable when John Buck arrived. He’s a short-term solution. The Pirates on Wednesday acquired Ross, who could not hold on to the catcher’s spot with the Dodgers after Paul Lo Duca was traded last season.

Story lines: Things have gone from bad to worse when you’ve got to buy back your trophy from the 1979 World Series. But so go the Pirates, once one of the National League’s signature franchises, now unable to keep up in a largely mid-market division, even with a new stadium.

At Dodger Stadium: Sept. 23-26.