With free agency underway, the offseason is going to pick up steam. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams?

We now turn to the NL Central, where the top three teams have each won the division once in the past three years.

NL East team-by-team preview

St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals always have pitching, but how will they evolve on offense?

2019 record: 91-71
2020 World Series odds: 20-1

The Cardinals ranked 11th in OPS and 10th in runs scored in the National League in 2019 despite trading for Paul Goldschmidt last offseason. After a good power year in 2018, St. Louis reverted to some of its old ways: They led the league in stolen bases but had the fewest home runs of any playoff team.

With Marcell Ozuna expected to reject St. Louis' qualifying offer to become a free agent, the Cardinals can embark on increasing their production at third base and in the outfield. One place they're bound to get it is with a full season from the dynamic Tommy Edman. His .850 OPS in 92 games led the team as his play teased of what he could become: a four-plus-tool player who can wreak havoc on the opposition. Third base is more murky. Matt Carpenter will turn 34 later this month and transitioning to a super-utility role could be best for the team while it pursues a slugging third baseman. Josh Donaldson, anyone? -- Jesse Rogers

Milwaukee Brewers: Will the Brewers target innings-eaters?

2019 record: 89-73
2020 World Series odds: 18-1

The definition of an innings-eater has changed drastically over the years, but whatever your current parameters might be, the Brewers didn't have one in 2019. There were four teams that didn't have a single ERA qualifier, including the Brewers. GM David Stearns and manager Craig Counsell have done a remarkable job of piecing together staffs of "out-getters" the past couple of seasons. Their task would be so much simpler with at least three-fifths of a stable rotation, and with bloated September rosters now a thing of the past, there may no longer be another choice.

One pitcher we know isn't the answer: Chase Anderson, who finished strong and was second in innings for Milwaukee. He's gone, having been dealt to Toronto in one of the offseason's first trades. However, Brandon Woodruff might be ready to become a staff anchor, a pitcher capable of putting up 180-190 above-average frames. Now it's a matter of augmenting him. Based on Cot's Contracts payroll projections, Milwaukee should have $40 million to $50 million to spend before reaching last season's payroll level, plus a modest increase. You figure an increase is warranted as the Brewers look to make the most of the two years left in which they can count on having Christian Yelich around.

The Brewers won't be a factor in the Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg chases, but they should be in play for any pitchers among the tiers beneath those stars. Milwaukee has other needs -- a catcher, an infielder -- but the mantra ought to be innings, innings, innings. -- Bradford Doolittle

Chicago Cubs: What will the Cubs look like in 2020?

2019 record: 84-78
2020 World Series odds: 14-1

Retooled. Already, they've done a coaching and behind-the-scenes purge as they change things up after missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. The Cubs want their team to grow with first-year manager David Ross. He'll likely do that with several new players as the organization continues to move further and further from its 2016 championship season.

When the Cubs take the field again in March, there may be only a handful of players left from that team, with a star or two likely to move this offseason. Theo Epstein has declared no one is untouchable, a normal sentiment expressed by executives, but one that might ring true for Chicago this winter. -- Rogers

Cincinnati Reds: Will they pay the price to contend?

2019 record: 75-87
2020 World Series odds: 40-1

The Reds might have been among the unluckiest teams in baseball, winning five fewer games than expected per their run differential, but this is not a roster strong enough to rely on "positive regression." They're weak up the middle in every sense, offensively and defensively, and away from their homer-happy home park, their lineup was a feeble 12th in the NL in weighted on-base average (wOBA).

Their core strengths are straightforward: Four strong starting pitchers and some rotation depth behind them. Eugenio Suarez in his prime as an MVP-caliber hitter. And a good pair of young corner outfielders to believe in, Jesse Winker and Aristides Aquino, plus counting on Nick Senzel's growth as a hitter. That's a strong enough group to keep the Reds in games, which is why everything else should be questioned if they want to paint themselves into the playoff picture.

One problem they can't do much about is Joey Votto's decline at the plate -- his $107 million due through 2023 will keep him rooted atop the payroll. Cincinnati is stuck hoping that he can bounce back while on the downslope of his 30s. Recognizing there isn't much help to be found in center available on the market might keep Senzel there, but the right trade for a center fielder could make him a long-term answer for their hole at second. -- Christina Kahrl

Pittsburgh Pirates: Can you blow up something that was already bad?

2019 record: 69-93
2020 World Series odds: 150-1

The Pirates aren't just in the midst of a rebuild. They've seen their attempted retrenchment around players such as Chris Archer and Gregory Polanco blow up in their faces at the same time that their reputation for a well-stocked farm system provided more than a few hiccups. Now the cream of their young pitching talent is injured, shelved and/or overrated, while the lineup lacks its former depth. Belatedly noticing a disaster exacerbated by their cheapness, the owners have fired everybody they could and need to choose a new GM, manager and sense of direction.

Whoever the Pirates hire, more than a few front-office candidates might try to sell the owners on tanking outright, but barring something really depressing -- like putting Josh Bell on the block -- there isn't a lot of value to peddle that might radically alter the franchise's fortunes. Two years of control of Starling Marte would at least find a few takers, while it will be up to the new manager's new pitching coach to see if they can rehabilitate Archer's performance and value.

Whoever winds up calling the shots, salvaging Archer, seeing if Kevin Newman can cut it at shortstop and enjoying Bell's bashing might be the best-case scenario for Bucs fans in 2020. -- Kahrl

DEARBORN, Mich. – Three of the brightest stars in the Ford vehicle lineup will be prominently on display on track at Ford Championship Weekend beginning Friday as NASCAR crowns champions in its three major touring divisions at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The new Mustang Shelby GT500 is set to lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400.

Before Sunday’s season finale, however, fans will get to see the Ford F-150 pace the field in Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200.  That will be followed by Ford Performance’s latest SUV, the new Explorer ST, leading the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ford EcoBoost 300 on Saturday afternoon.

“Ford Championship Weekend has always been one of the highlights of the year for Ford,” said Rob Johnston, global marketing manager, Ford Performance.  “This is our opportunity to give race fans who attend in person a truly immersive experience with our vehicle lineup while those watching at home get to see three of the most popular vehicles on the road today at the front of the field.

“With the NASCAR schedule changing next year and the season-finale moving to Phoenix, this will be the 18th and final Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead,” added Johnston.  “It’s been a tremendous event for us to interact with the NASCAR fan base all these years, and we want to give them one more great weekend with great products and great racing.”

Ford will have one driver competing for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship as ThorSport Racing’s Matt Crafton qualified for the Championship 4 after a sixth-place finish last weekend in Phoenix.  Crafton has won the series championship twice, but this would mark his first title with Ford.

Cole Custer advanced to his second straight Championship 4 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series after a second-place run on Saturday at ISM Raceway.  Homestead-Miami Speedway has been a good track for Custer, who won his first series race in the Ford EcoBoost 300 in 2017 and then led Stewart-Haas Racing to its first owner’s championship in last year’s event.

Kevin Harvick advanced to the Championship 4 for the fifth time in the last six years with a victory at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago and will be going for his second career title.  Since coming to Ford at the beginning of the 2017 season, Harvick has registered 14 wins.

“Our goal every season is to win the championship,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.  “We all know it comes down to one race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and we’re confident that the teams and drivers we have in the Championship Four can get the job done.”

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Drew Herring will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend for Gaunt Brothers Racing during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Herring spends most of his time in Salisbury, N.C., testing setups on behalf of Toyota Racing Development and their partner race teams. He’s made 22 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts during his career, earning one top-five and five top-10 finishes as well as two poles.

Parker Kligerman, the team’s regular driver, has a schedule conflict that will prevent him from competing this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am,” said Herring. “I spend so much time getting to fine tune these awesome race cars, to get back out there on track, in real racing conditions, at maybe the biggest race of the season, it’s really an incredible opportunity.”

“So much of Toyota’s success on track comes from preparation,” said Gaunt Brothers Racing owner Marty Gaunt. “The teams, engineers, crew members, drivers, and TRD as an organization are always working so hard to be the best, and Drew plays a very big role in that. Not only am I confident he’ll run a good race, I also believe his feedback will make us an even better race team.”

SHERRILLS FORD, N.C. – Logan Puckett has purchased the assets of the JJL Motorsports team previously owned by driver and owner Jesse Little.

Puckett will take ownership of the team following Friday’s NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Puckett’s company, Diversified Utility Group LLC, will sponsor Little in Friday’s Ford 200.

“I am really looking forward to taking over an outstanding program that JJL has put together as it provides a great foundation to build on and hopefully grow,” said Puckett. “I think the growth potential is what excites me the most.”

Puckett plans to rebrand the team as Diversified Motorsports Enterprises. The team will contest a limited Truck Series schedule next season beginning in February at Daytona Int’l Speedway, with Little set to return to the team as the primary driver.

“I am certainly looking forward to the challenge that this provides, and I hope that I can bring some value to the team and ultimately it would be awesome if I can bring value to the sport as a young owner with a fresh outlook,” said Puckett.

Little, 22, was confirmed last week as a full-time driver for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for next season.

“Logan has been so excited about the opportunity to enter the Truck Series as an owner in 2020, but to have his company be a part of our last race under the JJL Motorsports banner as a sponsor is even more awesome,” Little said. “Hopefully we can have a good performance for him on Friday night before looking ahead to 2020.”

PORT ROYAL, Pa. – As soon as the final laps of the season were completed and the victory lane celebrations wrapped up on the front stretch of the Port Royal Speedway, the track team began work on what will be a busy offseason.

While many things will remain the same, several large projects are in the works.

When entering the speedway, one of the first improvements fans will notice will be the addition of a new handicap accessible concrete tunnel that will replace the old outdated tunnel that enters the infield under the speedway entering turn one.

Also looking vastly different will be victory lane, as the old raised stage will be torn up, along with the old infield tower. A new victory lane is being built near the middle of the frontstretch.

The current infield bathrooms under the old stage and the infield concessions stands are also being removed and will be moved further back and in an area between turns one and two, where new structures are being built.

This is being done to open visibility for fans and will allow for the track to widen the frontstretch racing surface by 10 feet.  Another big change will be the addition of a time trial staging area, to include a lane for push trucks and for drivers to fire their cars. This is a residual of the new time trial format, where after hot laps cars will remain inside the track in the staging area with their mules/carts.

This will not only improve on safety for time trials, but it will give fans an up-close view of last-minute preparations and adjustments being made to cars prior to heading out for their time trials laps. Lastly, the old flag stand will be torn down and a narrower structure is being built a few feet to the left of the old one to align with the scoring loop and new grandstands are being built inside the pit viewing area.

All projects will be completed in in time for the annual test and tune, which will be held March 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. That will serve as the lead up for the 78th Port Royal Speedway opening day on March 8 at 2 p.m.

This will be the second consecutive season that the speedway will attempt a Sunday evening opener and will feature the 410 sprint cars and the super late model division in full programs of racing.

Last year Dylan Cisney picked up the win in sprint car competition and Jason Covert picked up the late model feature.

If the March 8 events are affected by weather and speedway officials are forced to cancel, the track will try again on March 14.

Several other confirmed dates for the racing season include a March 21 visit by the ULMS Late Models, visits by the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series on April 19 and a two-day show Aug. 28-29, with the Saturday night finale paying $50,000 to the winner. The 53rd annual running of the Tuscarora 50 will be held Sept. 12.

We’re back with a new edition of the SPEED SPORT Power Rankings! Who sits atop the Power Rankings this week? Click below to find out.

CINCINNATI -- Veteran linebacker Preston Brown has been cut by the Bengals, the team announced Tuesday.

Brown, who was waived two days after he was replaced by rookie Germaine Pratt in the starting lineup, had started Cincinnati's first eight games before coming off the bench during Sunday's loss to Baltimore.

The Bengals had signed Brown to a three-year, $16.5 million deal in March that included $4.8 million guaranteed and made him the highest-paid linebacker on the team's roster.

The sixth-year player out of Louisville tallied 54 tackles and had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season.

On Monday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the team needed to see significant improvement from its linebackers.

"Someone needs to step up and be a leader there," Taylor said. "We've been waiting on that and shuffling the lineup around, waiting on someone to step up and be consistent and be a leader in that room. We're still waiting on that."

Brown, who attended Cincinnati's Northwest High, was coming off an abbreviated 2018 season after missing the final seven games with a knee injury. Before that season, he had signed a one-year deal worth $5 million to return to his hometown after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Buffalo Bills.

With Brown's departure, Cincinnati will have roughly $2.5 million in dead money on its books for the next two seasons.

Five-star guard Bryce Thompson announced his commitment to Kansas on Tuesday morning, giving the Jayhawks their first five-star recruit since the 2018 class.

Thompson -- a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma -- chose Kansas over a final four that included Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.

There were different front-runners in Thompson's recruitment in the past few months. The Jayhawks were always contenders, and Bill Self has known the Thompson family since coaching Bryce's father, Rod, at Tulsa -- but the NCAA hitting Kansas with a notice of allegations earlier this fall raised questions.

Oklahoma had been involved in Thompson's recruitment, and he took two official visits to Norman. The strongest push down the stretch came from Oklahoma State, which was hoping the commitment from No. 2 senior Cade Cunningham on Nov. 5 would put the Cowboys over the top. Thompson went to both Oklahoma State and Kansas last week unofficially, and also met with coaches from both staffs on Sunday.

Thompson is one of the better perimeter scorers in the 2020 class. He averaged 24.4 points and shot 45.8 percent from 3-point range for the Oklahoma Run PWP grassroots program on the UA Association circuit last spring and summer.

"Thompson is one of the most improved players in the senior class," ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi said. "He has a tremendous knack in scoring the ball. His ability to make open shots and contested shots is impressive. His passing skills are better than most know about. He's a high-end, go-to recruit for Kansas."

Thompson is Kansas' third commitment in 2020, joining elite junior college wing Tyon Grant-Foster and high school center Gethro Muscadin. A mainstay among the top recruiting classes every year, Kansas has taken a step back the last two classes -- with the potential NCAA issues playing a factor. In the 2019 class, Kansas had just one ESPN 100 prospect in its five-man group and the Jayhawks are not involved with any other five-star prospects in 2020.

But Thompson gives Self a ready-made scorer for next season, and he will be expected to provide perimeter punch immediately in 2020-21. Kansas will lose Isaiah Moss and Udoka Azubuike, and Devon Dotson could also explore his NBA draft options. Expect the Jayhawks to look for point guards to round out their class.

The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to bring back free-agent pitcher Adam Wainwright on a one-year deal for 2020, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms were not announced.

Wainwright, 38, is coming off his best season since 2014. The right-hander went 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA and 153 strikeouts. He made two starts in three postseason appearances, pitching 16⅔ innings with 19 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA.

The veteran of 15 seasons -- all with the Cardinals -- ranked sixth in the National League in wins and ninth in walks allowed (64).

For his career, Wainwright has a 162-95 record with 1,776 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA.

Andy Murray believes he is closer to beating Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic than he was "seven or eight" weeks ago, leaving him feeling "excited" about his future.

Murray, 32, won the European Open title last month, only his seventh singles tournament since January's hip surgery.

"I know if I played against the top players tomorrow there would be a very small chance of me winning that match," the ex-world number one told BBC Sport.

"But I do feel I could win."

Briton Murray feared he might have to retire after the hip resurfacing operation, but capped a remarkable return to singles action by beating fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in Antwerp to win his first title since March 2017.

"That's one of the performance goals I want - when I go out on court against all of the players I want to feel like I have a chance of winning," Murray said.

"Seven or eight weeks ago I wouldn't have felt that was the case. Before Antwerp the conversations I was having with my team were 'I'm not sure where I can get to'.

"If I continued along that path then I wouldn't continue playing.

"It has been an up and down few years but I feel like I'm coming through the other side of it and excited to see what I can do over the next couple of years.

"It's difficult to say exactly where I am. I'm not where I was when I was 25 but I don't expect to be and I don't need to be [in order] to be competitive at the highest level and that's why I'm excited.

"I'm not going to set a target of top 10 or trying to make the semis of a Grand Slam because I've done all of that before and I don't need that.

"I'm happy just being pain free, healthy and love what I'm doing."

Murray on his doubts and almost not playing in Antwerp

After a successful doubles comeback where he won the Queen's title, the two-time Wimbledon champion lost the opening two singles matches of his return and then continued his comeback out of the spotlight on the ATP Challenger Tour in Majorca while the world's leading players were competing at the US Open.

Two straightforward wins on the Spanish island were followed by another defeat, this time by 240th-ranked Italian Matteo Viola, before he started to show signs of improvement on the Asian circuit, including a win over US Open semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini in Beijing.

"I watched videos of myself in Majorca and I looked a bit slow and I didn't really like what I was seeing when I was watching myself," added Murray, who has risen to 125th in the world rankings.

"From the beginning of the trip to Asia when I played the first tournament there, after the first day of practice, I was saying to my team 'I'm not feeling this'.

"But once I started playing matches again I started to move a little bit better and stopped thinking about my hip during the matches. That was quite a big step for me to take.

"I almost didn't go to Antwerp, I had a problem with my elbow which I had in Shanghai and I left Sunday afternoon on the train there and I didn't know if I was going to play.

"Obviously, I'm thankful I did and ended up getting the title. It was completely unexpected."

Murray on his return to Australia

After spending a few weeks at home in London following the arrival of his third child, Murray goes to Madrid on Wednesday to link up with the Great Britain squad for the inaugural Davis Cup week-long finals.

Then he will continue to build his fitness during the off-season before returning to the ATP Tour at the start of the 2020 season in Australia.

Murray has used a protected injury ranking to ensure his nation can play in the new ATP Cup, where he had been set to face Swiss great Federer in the group stage.

However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of the tournament and Murray says it is "unfortunate" their meeting will not happen.

Murray hopes it will not be too long before he gets the chance to test himself against Federer, plus the other 'big three' players Djokovic and Nadal who are among the world's top eight playing at the ATP Finals in London this week.

That could happen when he hopes to return to Melbourne, 12 months after Australian Open organisers played a farewell video following his first-round defeat by Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

"I genuinely did feel there was more chance of that being the last time I played in Australia than the position I'm in now," said Murray, who was speaking to the BBC at the launch of his new clothing range with sportswear brand Castore.

"I'm very lucky I get that chance again in January if I stay fit in the next couple of months and it'll be fun to see what I can do."

Murray on the arrival of his third child

Murray's wife Kim gave birth to their third child at the end of October, a boy to join their two daughters, Sophia, who was born in 2016, and Edie, born in 2017.

"It's been good so far, a bit hectic at times but for the most part it has been good. It has been nice to be at home for the last few weeks," Murray said.

"Before our first daughter was born I wanted a boy and was convinced it was going to be a boy first time round and then we had two girls.

"I would have been more than happy with another girl as well, but it is nice and the kids have been excited to have a brother."