About a week ago, I wrote a piece on PECOTA’s projections for the St. Louis Cardinals . Yu Darvish had not signed with the Cubs, and Bud Norris had not signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Both moves helped each team, with the Cubs’ move being much more significant – at least “on paper”.
The St. Louis Cardinals, before signing Norris, were projected to win 84 games. This would have put them in second place in the National League Central, five games behind the Cubs. Their projected win total would have been good for the fifth best record in the National League, tied with the San Francisco Giants.