After a tremendous four team pennant race in the first year of division play, only Cincinnati seemed interested in making major changes this offseason. The division winning Dodgers stood pat excepting picking up a potential reliever from the Reds in righty Jose Pena. Fourth place Houston, who suprised many and won 87 games to finish just 3 games out, looked for some bullpen help but little else, signing Mike Marshall from Milwaukee for cash, picking up lefty reliever Jack Dilauro as a Rule 5 draftee from the Mets, and sending money to the White Sox, as well, for righty Dan Osinski. A deal of lefty swinging first baseman brought the Astros Joe Pepitone from the Yankees, who received Curt Blefary after just one summer in Texas.
Second place Atlanta dispatched Felipe Alou from the East Coast outfield to the other side of the country, believing Tony Gonzalez to be the better choice for center field, and received a much needed starting pitcher in right-handed throwing Jim Nash from Oakland. Jim Britton was sent to Montreal for lefty swingman Larry Jaster in a minor deal. Hal King, a catcher in the Boston organization, was picked up via Rule 5.
The Padres and Giants completed an interdivision deal, with the former sending their best reliever, Frank Reberger, to the Bay while bringing back reliever Ray Herbel, catcher Bob Barton, and infielder Bob Etheridge. San Diego also hoped to help their rotation and infield, getting Pat Dobson and Dave Campbell for those respective positions in exchange for Joe Niekro. Ramon Webster was brought in to help the bench and spell first baseman Nate Colbert, with infielder Roberto Pena heading to the A's. A swap of pitchers brings in lefty Gerry Nyman, who tossed a no-hitter for the White Sox last season, while Tommie Sisk headed to the South Side of Chicago. A late spring deal with the Cards brought in infielder Steve Huntz for southpaw reliever Billy McCool.
The Giants neared hibernation status with the Dodgers as they only completed minor deals. One with the Mets brings in shortstop Bob Heise to challenge weak hitting Hal Lanier, along with backup outfielder Jim Gosger. Lefty swingman Ray Sadecki and outfielder Dave Marshall head to New York. Russ Gibson was purchased from Boston to replace a spot held by Jack Hiatt, whom the Expos took for cash.
Finally, the Reds brought in a new manager in Sparky Anderson and gave up some offense to hopefully shore up a pitiful staff of hurlers to complement a top-notch offense and immediately plant a pennant in the new Riverfront Stadium that is scheduled to open in June. Left fielder Alex Johnson was deemed expendable despite his lofty offensive production of .300 hitting with 20 plus homers for some badly needed arms, which come in righty starter Jim McGlothlin, bullpen candidate Vern Geishert, and a young righty reliever, Pedro Borbon. Super sub Chico Ruiz was also a part of this deal. Angel Bravo was obtained from the White Sox for lefty pitcher Gerry Arrigo to compete for the left field job. Cincinnati also swapped back of the rotation members with the Cards, with Ray Washburn heading to the banks of the Ohio River, while George Culver will be able to stand by the mighty Mississippi. Pittsburgh gave up reliever Bo Belinsky for Dennis Ribant, and Jay Ward will compete for a backup outfielder job as Cleveland snatched pitcher Steve Mingori from the Redlegs.
