The National League Central features the 2016 World Series Champions and baseball's darlings, the Chicago Cubs. But there are two other solid teams as well in the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. The Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds are likely in for long 2017 seasons, but that doesn't mean they are devoid of talent nor that there won't be fantasy-significant production coming from Wisconsin and southwest Ohio.

Today we are here to discuss the closer depth chart for the NL Central, including fantasy baseball items like closers, saves and holds. To read about the other divisions, just click here.

Here's a look at the back of the bullpen depth charts for the division.

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Chicago Cubs

Closer: Wade Davis

Volatility Rating: Solid

Other Relevant RPs: Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Koji Uehara

The World Champion Chicago Cubs decided they weren't happy with one World Series title and went out set on improving their roster this offseason. The traded outfielder Jorge Soler to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for elite closer Wade Davis. Davis had forearm issues that kept him on the shelf for some points last season, but he passed the Cubs physical and is expected to be ready for the beginning of Spring Training. In 45 games in 2016, Davis posted a sparkling 1.87 ERA with 27 saves and a 9.76 K/9.

For holds leagues, both Hector Rondon and Koji Uehara should have value. Guys like Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards Jr. could develop value in holds leagues as the season goes on, but it seems Rondon and Uehara will serve as the primary set up men. Rondon was the Cubs closer for parts of 2016, posting 18 saves and a 3.53 ERA to go with a 10.24 K/9 rate. He'd likely step in as closer if anything happened to Davis. The 42-year-old Uehara is another new addition to the Cubs bullpen. He has 93 career saves, but will serve as a setup man in 2017. Last season, he turned 47 innings with the Boston Red Sox into a 3.45 ERA and a 12.06 K/9 rate. He's a good arm to roster in holds leagues and as a high-strikeout bullpen option.

Fantasy must-own: Wade Davis

Worth fantasy consideration: Hector Rondon, Koji Uehara

 

Cincinnati Reds

Closer: Raisel Iglesias?

Volatility Rating: Volatile

Other Relevant RPs: Michael Lorenzen, Drew Storen

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has talented relievers, but no firmly set roles as of yet. Reds GM Dick Williams has stated that the closer role will be determined during Spring Training. While the door has been left open, it's hard to imagine anyone but Raisel Iglesias filling that role to start the season. He posted a 1.98 ERA and 54 Ks in 50 innings as a reliever in 2016 and ended the season as the closer. If he retains his ninth inning role, he'd be a worthy fantasy closer despite the low projected win total for the Reds. Bad team play close games, and Iglesias can rack up the strikeouts, so there are plenty of worse relievers to own in fantasy baseball.

Michael Lorenzen and the newly acquired Drew Storen are also ninth inning options for the Reds who should fall into setup roles if Iglesias claims the job. Storen has closing experience and used to be a very valuable fantasy asset, but he's coming off a very rough 2016 (5.23 ERA). If he can right the metaphorical ship, he could develop holds league value or even challenge for saves down the road. Michael Lorenzen posted a 2.88 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning in 2016 and should also work in the late innings.

Fantasy must-own: Raisel Iglesias (if named closer)

Worth fantasy consideration: Michael Lorenzen, Drew Storen

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: Neftali Feliz

Volatility Rating: Questionable

Other Relevant RPs: Corey Knebel, Carlos Torres

The Milwaukee Brewers signed former Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz to take care of their ninth inning leads in 2017. As long as everything goes well for Feliz in the Spring, he will enter the season with a somewhat firm hold of the closer job. Feliz earned 30 holds last season in 53.2 innings, posting a 3.52 ERA and 61 Ks. He's a solid relief pitcher who should be owned across all formats.

His main setup man will likely be Corey Knebel. Knebel was the favorite to serve as the team's closer before they signed Feliz. Knebel pitched only 32.2 innings last season, but put up 13 holds and 38 strikeouts. His 4.68 ERA was less than stellar, but he showed flashes of upside. Carlos Torres is the veteran in the Milwaukee Bullpen

Fantasy must-own: Neftali Feliz

Worth fantasy consideration: Corey Knebel, Carlos Torres (both in holds leagues only)

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

Closer: Tony Watson

Volatility Rating: Volatile

Other Relevant RPs: Daniel Hudson, Felipe Rivero

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded away excellent closer Mark Melancon last season and handed the reigns to lefty Tony Watson. Watson was okay at best, blowing three saves in 18 chances, but still posting a solid 3.06 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 67.2 total innings. The ninth inning is his going into Spring Training, and he'll hold onto it unless things go extremely poorly, but he's backed up by new Pirates Daniel Hudson and Felipe Rivero.

Hudson signed a two year, $11 million deal this offseason and despite a rough 2016, he's always had tantalizing back-of-the-bullpen upside. The Pirates didn't pay him $11 million to work in middle relief, so he could challenge for saves if he straightens things out. Rivero was part of the return in the Melancon deal, and he's a huge strikeout arm that will rack up tons of Ks in few innings. He has an outside shot at saves, but is worth more in holds leagues and leagues that count K/9 or K% as a stat.

Fantasy must-owns: Tony Watson (but keep an eye on Daniel Hudson)

Worth fantasy consideration: Daniel Hudson (holds leagues), Felipe Rivero (K/9 leagues)

 

St. Louis Cardinals

Closer: Seung-Hwan Oh

Volatility Rating: Solid

Other Relevant RPs: Kevin Siegrist, Trevor Rosenthal

Likely the most solidly set in stone ninth inning situation in the NL Central comes out of St. Louis. The closer with the best nickname in baseball history, Seung-Hwan Oh or "The Final Boss," is locked in as the Cardinals closer after saving 19 games and posting a 1.92 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 79.2 innings in 2016. He did not begin 2016 as the closer, but he will begin 2017 as such.

Bridging the gap from the starters to the Final Boss will be Kevin Siegrist, Brett Cecil, and perhaps Trevor Rosenthal. Siegrist earned 17 holds last season and posted a 2.77 ERA along with 66 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. He's a solid setup man and would likely be first in line for saves if Oh were to be injured. Cecil was signed to a four year deal this offseason and will likely serve as a lefty specialist, but that can be a sneaky source for holds. He also racks up a lot of Ks, striking out 45 in only 36.2 innings last season. He's unlikely to pick up any saves though, making Siegrist the more tempting pick up in case of injury.

Finally, Trevor Rosenthal was an elite closer as recently as 2015, but there is already talk of the team trying to stretch him out into a multiple-inning reliever. He has a chance to be an elite setup man and an excellent source of holds and strikeouts if he can regain his previous form, but he may just as easily become fantasy irrelevant. He'll be interesting to watch throughout Spring Training and the beginning of the season.

Fantasy must-owns: Seung-Hwan Oh

Worth fantasy consideration: Kevin Siegrist (holds), Brett Cecil (holds and K/9)

 

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